Wednesday, Jan 17, 2018

Virginia Wine: Four Centuries of Change

 

Andrew Painter, a shareholder in the Firm’s Land Use practice group, is pleased to announce the publication of his book, Virginia Wine: Four Centuries of Change. The book chronicles the history and modern rise of the Commonwealth’s $1.3 billion wine industry from the earliest Spanish accounts in 1570 through its rebirth in the modern era. Cultivation of the grape — whether for agriculture, horticultural curiosity, or the production of wine — has absorbed the ambition of countless over the past 400 years. Indeed, no state can claim a longer history experimenting and promoting viticulture — nor can any boast a more spectacular record of initial failure and ultimate success — than Virginia.

Both academic and recreational interests in Virginia’s wine industry have exploded in recent years. Wineries have sprung up in all regions of the Commonwealth and prosper in places heretofore unimagined. “I have sought to provide readers with a detailed yet readable history that addresses an unmet need for a written record similar to those already available for the world’s more established wine regions,” Painter said. “Virginia viticulture and winemaking have come of age, and deserve no less.”

Andrew spent nearly a decade researching the growth of the industry and interviewing industry leaders. Firm shareholder John Foote and administrative assistant Jacqualine Allison assisted with drafting and editing the piece.

More information on the book, as well as copies for purchase, may be found here!