2025 Wine Blog in Rewind

It’s hard to believe another year has gone by — and even harder to believe that this turned out to be the most successful year of this wine blog ever.

After feeling a little disappointed at the end of 2024, when views dipped below 2023 levels, 2025 came roaring back. Total reads crossed 30,000, and 2025 was the most-read year since I started writing. And while the broader media is busy reporting the collapse of wine (and alcohol) sales and interest, this little Virginia-focused wine blog quietly saw a very nice uptick.

And no, it wasn’t me clicking on every post from multiple browsers on multiple devices.
I promise.
I would never do that.
(Probably.)

A New Most-Read Post of All Time

We have a new champion. A Day at Crimson Lane has crossed 700 total views, officially becoming the most-read post on the blog. I honestly don’t know how people keep finding it — I didn’t even think it was one of my strongest pieces. To the best of my knowledge, it was never widely shared by the winery or anyone else. And yet… here we are. The internet is mysterious.

New Wineries, New Makers, New Discoveries

This year brought visits to several new-to-me wineries and winemakers — fewer than I optimistically planned back in January, but life had other ideas. Between job changes and some heavier home-life stuff, the year unfolded differently than expected.

That said, one of my favorite things? At least one faithful reader took the wine resolutions challenge seriously and spent the year visiting a ton of new-to-them Virginia wineries — many of them ones recommended here — had a blast, and ordered a bunch of wines- ones I recommend, and ones this couple found themselves. That makes me ridiculously happy.

Here are the wineries and brands we added to our list in 2025:

• Cunningham Creek
• Common Wealth Crush
• Lightwell Survey
• Midland Construction
• Love Echo
• Daring Wine Company
• Dogwood and Thistle
• Domaine Finot
• Joy Ting Wine
• Jump Mountain
• Rosemont
• Hedon State
• Zora Chloe
• Wound Tight Wine
• Novella
• Present Company

I may be missing one or two. I did not keep great notes at Two Up Wine Down this year, which featured a ton of new-to-me wines, (I tell my son things like this are a learning moment.)

My Top Ten Wines of 2025 post landed in early December, and honestly, it may have been one of the hardest lists I’ve ever put together. There was a lot of good wine this year, so I had to add an honorable mention list. I just couldn’t help myself.

More Fun, More Learning, More Wine Joy

This year was also just… fun. There were some truly great winery visits, memorable events, and days spent enjoying wine with really good people. I learned a lot — about vineyards, cellar work, vintages, and my own palate. I added a few new “favorite” wineries to my personal list, and if I ever get my finances fully in line to rejoin clubs… watch out. I’m still pretty uneducated about wine, but I’ve been exposed to a lot of fascinating information.

My Personal Top Ten Blog Posts of 2025

These aren’t the most-read posts — they’re the ones I loved writing and still enjoy re-reading, even if only a few of you ever saw them. (You did, though — and that means the world.)

10. The Art and Science of Pruning: A Morning with Mount Alto
Learning how pruning decisions shape wine quality — and getting to help set the stage for an entire vintage — was incredibly special. I can’t wait to taste what the 2025 vintage becomes after seeing how thoughtfully it began.

9. Arterra Estate Reds Release Pairing 2025
New releases paired with incredible food is about as good as it gets. Jason Murray’s ability to articulate the growing season and vineyard decisions behind each wine makes these events truly special. I will always show up for winemakers pouring their own wines and sharing what they’ve learned. I am so ready for the 2023 releases (and this event!) in January!

8. Hark Launches a New Tasting Room (and Why You Need to Get There)
Rustic Hark was great. Gorgeous Hark is something else entirely. The new tasting room brings a little Napa flair to the Monticello Wine Trail — stunning architecture, peaceful surroundings, and exceptional wine. I hope you’ve been. I’m overdue to get back.

7. Jeremy Ligon and Barrel Oak Winery
Give me time with a winemaker who is deeply invested in their craft and excited to talk about it, and I am over the moon. Jeremy is absolutely a winemaker to watch, and Barrel Oak’s wines are soaring right now. Get there and check them out.

6. Friday Funday: Winemakers Come Together for Good at the Generous Pour
Have you been? You really should go. Incredible wine, meaningful causes, and a room full of people who care deeply about Virginia wine. Everyone wins. Tickets for 2026 are already on sale.

5. Visiting the Collective and Bellefox Vineyard
An auction win shared by Kathy gave us a behind-the-scenes look at Jake in the vineyard — and an early peek at the Virginia Wine Collective before it opened. Listening to growers and makers talk passionately about what they’re building is pure joy. I wrote a lot about visits to the Collective after it opened, and I enjoy every single time I visit.

4. A Tour and Tasting with Matthieu Finot at King Family Vineyards
Another Generous Pour auction win, and my first extended conversation with Matthieu about his wines and work. Previews of upcoming King Family releases and Domaine Finot bottles? Yes, please. Mountain Plains Rosé stole my heart. Shocking to absolutely no one.

3. Who Will Win? Virginia Tannat Versus the World
We all know where I stand. Virginia Tannat is a rock star, and blind tastings make it even more fun. Matt’s blind tastings really are a blast, and often have surprising results. When Virginia wins, I’m especially happy. When I bring the most loved wine, well, you know I’m ecstatic.

2. United in Wine: Virginia Wine Brings People Together
Put great people together in a space designed for community and add excellent Virginia wine. Make it a celebration of Virginia Wine Month, and the bonus multiplies. If I could do this for a living, I absolutely would.

1. Ask for Virginia Wine Where You Love to Dine
I believe Virginia wine has arrived. Taste is personal, and discovery matters more than dogma. I spent years thinking I hated wine because I didn’t like what I was “supposed” to love. Once I found wines I enjoyed, everything changed. Restaurants and bars carry a lot of what we are “supposed” to want. I think sommeliers and restaurants should meet customers where they are — and Virginia wine deserves a place on more lists and by-the-glass programs. The post has a handy printout you can write some great Va Wines you’d want in your local restaurants and leave with them. You can also bring a great bottle to a favorite restaurant. Share it. Start the conversation. I am.

#1 there is one of my favorite things I’ve written on this blog.

Looking Ahead

We continue to see headlines about declining alcohol consumption and slower winery sales. Backlogs in inventory are real, grape availability is high as vineyards offload surplus they don’t intend to use to make wine themselves. Interestingly, this moment has opened doors for new winemakers without vineyards of their own, (incubators play a key role in this transformative opportunity). As “Dry January” culture collides with a desire for thoughtful experiences and great pairings, I hope more people choose to explore what’s being made locally.

Virginia has so much to offer.

I’m still under 100 Virginia wineries visited (my husband finds this unbelievable, though he knows I’m a creature of habit), but I tasted a lot of new wines this year. If I had unlimited disposable income and free time, I’d be at every wine dinner, vertical tasting, and auction experience. For now, I choose carefully — and I chase the experiences I truly love.

So tell me: what moved you this year?
Was there a Virginia wine that knocked it out of the park?
A vineyard visit or Virginia Wine Experience that hit every right note?
What made it special?

I hope you enjoyed this post reminiscing about a year in wine blogging. If you saw a post on here that you thought was really great, or gave you ideas for a place to visit or experience to have, let me know! And yes — if you’re wondering — it’s not too late to grab one of our shirts for the new year. 🍷