Virginia wine has earned increasing recognition in recent years, but its reputation has not always traveled as far or as well as its best bottles deserve. Within the state, great wines have inspired loyalty, pride, and serious respect. Elsewhere, they are still too often received as a curiosity or a pleasant surprise.
That is part of what makes the recent recognition of Barboursville Vineyards’ 2017 Octagon by Decanter magazine feel so meaningful: At the end of last year, the 2017 Octagon was named among the magazine’s top American wines, and then, early in 2026, it was included in the publication’s top selection of merlot-based wines.
That list included bottles from regions such as Bordeaux, Tuscany, and Napa Valley, placing the 2017 Octagon in company rarely kept by a Virginia vintner. The news casts an even brighter light on Virginia wine, and particularly on the Monticello AVA…