"Commonwealth Quality Alliance" Program Unveiled at Virginia Wineries Association Annual Membership Meeting

RICHMOND, VA, November 16, 2012 (Press-News.org) The Virginia Wineries Association unveiled the "Commonwealth Quality Alliance" program November 13th at Vertitas Vineyard & Winery amongst nearly one hundred fifty Virginia vinters and wine enthusiasts. The CQA program - established to both reward and raise awareness of Virginia-grown wines - is now accepting all 100% Virginia-grown wines to be analyzed in an effort to raise the bar of Virginia wine quality and highlight the state's choice wines.

"Despite being the oldest grape-growing region in the United States, the modern-day wine industry in Virginia still has a lot of growing to do," says Laurie Aldrich, Executive Director of the Virginia Wineries Association. "The Commonwealth Quality Alliance is the VWA's way to help increase Virginia wine production and consumption, enhance its national and international reputation, and perhaps most importantly, to continue to improve the overall quality of Virginia wines."

While the modern Virginia wine industry has slowly flourished since its inception in the 1970's, several other wine industries have been booming, gaining greater market shares each year. Washington, Oregon, New York, Canada, Argentina, South Africa - all were also in their infancies during the 1970's but strived to improve the quality of their wines through quality assurance programs and local education. Moving forward, these are initiatives that the Virginia wine industry is striving to adapt into its own culture.

In order to obtain approval by the Commonwealth Quality Alliance program, a Virginia wine must undergo the following steps of analysis:

• A juice sample that will analyze the Brix of grapes
• A laboratory analysis of the ready-to-bottle or bottled wine
• A sensory panel evaluation of the ready-to-bottle of bottled wine

Currently, 12 Virginia wineries have produced wines that have been analyzed and approved by the Commonwealth Quality Alliance. To view a list of these approved wines and to learn more about how to become a part of the CQA, visit CommonwealthQualityAlliance.org.

About The Virginia Wineries Association

The Virginia Wineries Association has served Virginia Farm Wineries since 1983. VWA is a non-profit trade association that acts on the behalf of the wine industry. The VWA promotes viticulture and vintner practices, provides a multitude of wine resources and benefits to its members. The wineries association hosts Vintage Virginia and supports the Virginia Wine Expo and other wine tasting events. In addition, VWA hosts wines awards such as the Governor's Cup . VAWine.org