Tale of Two Harvests: Why 2026 is the Year for Northern Virginia Red Wine

Friends enjoying premium Northern Virginia red wine at a local winery in Loudoun County Virginia.

If you've been scrolling through local wine guides or visiting tasting rooms in Loudoun and Fauquier County lately, you've likely heard the buzz.

I was recently spending some quality time in a tasting room in Waterford, when I caught a snippet of conversation from the group next to me: "If you aren't stocking up on the '22s and '23s right now, you're missing a golden era of Virginia wine."

They were right. As we move through February 2026, those legendary reds are finally hitting their peak. Here is the insider story of why the 2022 and 2023 harvests are the best in recent memory and why now is the time for the "Must-Buy" bottles of the decade.

The 2022 Vintage: A Masterclass in Timing

The story of the 2022 Virginia wine harvest is inextricably linked to the Washington, D.C. Cherry Blossoms. In the year of 2022, the blossoms hit their peak bloom significantly early—some have said it was the third earliest on record—with the blossoms having come and gone before the official festival even started. It was a national news story that caught the attention of many Americans.

In 2022, the cherry blossoms hit peak bloom early—some have said it was the third earliest on record—with the blossoms having come and gone before the official festival even started.

Well, just a few miles west, our vineyards were following the same clock. Because of that unseasonably warm start, the vines woke up early, budding on the same schedule as the Tidal Basin trees.

Chasing the Perfect Moment: While the early start gave the vines a long runway, 2022 required a steady hand. A key stretch of September sun and low humidity created the perfect finish for a much better than average growing season. Because the season started so early, winemakers weren't "chasing the clock" against the late-fall rains. Instead, they were chasing physiological ripeness. They had the luxury of time, waiting for the exact second the tannins softened and the fruit reached its full potential.

The Result: Look for the 2022 Cabernet Francs and Merlots. They are sophisticated, balanced, and drinking with an "Old World" elegance right now in 2026.

The 2023 Vintage: Resilience, Luck, and a Touch of the Divine

If 2022 was about timing, 2023 was about resilience and luck. Many of NoVa's vineyards were healthy and strong coming off of a long, near perfect growing season in '22. The 2023 growing season began with another early spring, followed by the heart-stopping moment every farmer fears: a late-season frost.

In many years, this would be a disaster. But in 2023, it felt like luck—or perhaps a bit of divine intervention—was on our side. The frost only lasted just long enough to kill off the weakest, most vulnerable clusters. Nature essentially "self-pruned" the vines, selecting only the champions to survive.

The Concentration of the Survivor: When the vineyard crews went out for their annual thinning, the work was already half-done. The vines poured 100% of their energy into those remaining, more resilient clusters.

The "Power" Vintage: The result was a "Powerhouse" vintage. The heat of the summer concentrated those survivor grapes into something dark, dense, and structurally massive. One local grower noted it was the most perfect fruit he had seen in his career.

The Proof is in the Podium: Virginia vs. The World

While the reds were maturing in oak, the 2023 whites were already out conquering the world. Northern Virginia Sauvignon Blancs have recently dominated on the global stage, proving the 2023 fruit was truly special.

• Endhardt Vineyards: Their 2023 'Upper Block' Sauvignon Blanc took the Chairman's Grand Award at the Loudoun Wine Awards—the highest possible honor, judged as the best overall wine out of nearly 150 entries.
  

• 8 Chains North: A perennial powerhouse, their 2022 Albariño swept top honors with a Gold at 2024 Virginia Governor's Cup. This is particularly impressive because 2024 was the first year the competition required entries to be 100% Loudoun-grown fruit.
  

• Doukénie Winery: A local legend celebrating 40 years under vine, Doukénie has been on a tear, recently taking Gold for their 2022 Chardonnay and securing major accolades at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.
  

If the whites were this good, imagine what the Reds—which have spent the last two years maturing in barrel—are going to taste like as they are finally uncorked this year.

The 2026 "Keep Your Eyes Peeled" List

The whole region enjoyed a wonderful 2023 harvest so the list of great wines would be too numerous to mention here. That said, here is a sampling of what I know is out there. When you're out on the wine trail in the coming months, look for these specific labels that capture the best of these historic years:

• 8 Chains North (Loudoun / Waterford): Their Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon show a ripeness and structure that defines the 2023 vintage and likely will be award winning when released.
  

• Walsh Family Wine (Hillsboro): Known as "winemakers' winemakers," their 2023 single-vineyard reds are essential for tasting the specific "terroir" of the Blue Ridge foothills. Barrel tastings suggest great things – they will be coming out soon.
  

• Williams Gap Vineyard (Loudoun): Their 2023 fruit concentration is a masterclass in what Virginia soil can do when Nature does the pruning.
  

• Doukénie Winery (Hillsboro): Their Gold Medal 2022 Chardonnay and upcoming 2023 Reds are top-tier examples of the region's longevity.
  

• Carriage House Wineworks (Waterford): Small-batch and artisanal. 2022 Petit Verdot took Gold in San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition and their 2023 reds are true "hidden gems" of the coming vintage. Word on the street is to keep an eye out for an exciting 2023 Tannat.
  

• Arterra Wines (Delaplane): Their 2023 Petit Verdot and Tannat are built for the long haul—these are the ones you may want to buy by the case.
  

Conclusion

In the wine world, timing is everything. Because premium reds spend years in oak and glass before they reach you, 2026 is the magic window where these two historic years meet on the shelf. Whether you're visiting for the day or stocking a cellar, there has never been a better time to be a fan of Northern Virginia wine.