Sedale McCall

May is a celebration of white wines, with holidays dedicated to Sauvignon Blanc, Moscato, Pinot Gris, and Chardonnay. It’s also Finger Lakes Month, spotlighting the renowned Riesling grape. Amid these festivities, a noteworthy campaign is seeing renewed recognition – the quest for a white wine emoji. The campaign for a white wine emoji saw its first public rejection in 2019, spearheaded by California’s Kendall-Jackson.

The Virginia wine region has a bright future despite its dark past. Having lived in the state my whole life in three of its cities, I’ve seen firsthand the good and the bad. There’s much to discuss, particularly as Virginia has its moment among oenophiles; we need to address how we got here and who was involved. The state’s wine quality has increased dramatically in recent decades, with limited bottles finally showing up outside state lines on shelves and restaurant lists across the country.