Name: Vinexpo Explorer Virginia 2024
Start: 2024-10-27
End: 2024-10-30
Location: Virginia

Exploring Virginia

with Vinexpo Explorer

The state of Virginia is located on the east coast of the United States between New York and Florida. Virginia stretches from the Chesapeake Bay to the Blue Ridge Mountains, with a long Atlantic coastline. Thanks to the mild climate and exquisite scenery, Virginia is the best place to experience all four seasons.

From 27 to 30 October 2024, the 5th edition of Vinexpo Explorer held to Virginia, where the region have welcomed more than 40 buyers from worlwide.

It was 3 days of discovering the vineyards of the winegrowing region, but also of meeting the local winegrowers.

Discover the concept

The Virginia wine market

300

wineries including 8 AVA's

5,000

acres

$146

million in sales in 2019

+30

varieties produced

2,64

million visits each year

A historical landmark...

With Virginia being one of the original 13 colonies, the Commonwealth is filled with historical landmarks and a long history of agricultural practices. The 3rd President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson, was born and raised in Virginia. "Jefferson encouraged agricultural societies as a means of spreading good stewardship of the land. He also vigorously supported sound conservation, agricultural education, and investigation at the university level."

Aerial view of a small town in autumn with colorful fall foliage, historic brick buildings, church steeples, and surrounding hills in the background.

Aerial view of a small forested peninsula surrounded by calm water, with a white boat leaving a wake near the shore and houses along the coastline in the background during autumn.

...and an agricultural area

Wild caught seafood is fished from the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Superior crops are grown and livestock roam freely on the plains of Virginia. Virginia's unique wine region produces high quality wine. With sustainable forestry, Virginia has a wide range of hardwood lumber species. Overall, Virginia's agricultural production is one of the most diverse in the nation.

The Virginia spirits market

distilleries

$1,1

billion in 2022

+20

varieties produced

230,000

visitors Virginia's distilleries in 2022

4,374

million gallons of bottles

Aerial view of a cultivated agricultural field with rows of green crops and a mountain in the background at sunset.

The wineries

Virginia is home to 10 regions and 8 distinct AVAs, with over 4,000 acres of grapes across the state. Virginia delivers a wide variety of red and white wines, using both classic and native varieties.

A lush green vineyard with rows of grapevines stretching across a gentle hillside, surrounded by dense forest and open fields under a clear sky.

The distilleries

From bourbon and whiskey aged to perfection in Virginia’s ideal mountain climate, to vodka, gin and everything in between, Virginia’s spirits industry is as diverse as the region itself. Distillers across the state produce world-class spirits inspired by both time-honored tradition and unique innovation.

The last hosts to have welcomed the event

Older man with gray hair wearing dark sunglasses, a dark jacket, and a light blue scarf, with a blurred autumn background.

Ken Chase

Chase International (Canada)

You have to wake up trying to find something new every day, so coming here to Virginia, with a relatively new industry, it's very exciting to see different things - so I'm actually in heaven right now.

Man with short gray hair wearing a gray blazer over a black shirt, speaking in front of a blurred outdoor background with greenery and autumn colors.

Kirk Wiles

Paradise Springs Winery (USA)

We really see this industry as All ships rise with a rising tide, and if we can help promote and make better Virginia wine, we're all going to benefit. We're able to promote and help each other, it's really collaborative

Man with curly dark hair, full dark beard, and neutral expression wearing a brown shirt.

Mario Delgado

Monsieur Touton Selection (USA)

I’m really connecting and engaging with a producer who knows what they’re making, who knows what they are talking about, and seeing the world as a bigger landscape than just what we have in our home market.