Eastwood
Athena Eastwood knows all too well how difficult it is to get a winery off the ground. When the commodities lawyer-turned-vineyard owner was first trying to plant her roots in Central Virginia’s wine country nearly a decade ago, alongside her two daughters and partner, she knew those roots would grow only an inch at a…
Eastwood
Virginia Wineries Association Announces 2025 Virginia Governor’s Cup® Gold Medalists Richmond, VA (February 24, 2025) – The 2025 Virginia Governor’s Cup® Competition marks another milestone year for the Virginia wine industry, showcasing the depth and quality of winemaking across the Commonwealth. With more than 600 entries, 87 producers were awarded a total of 155 gold medals, underscoring…
Eastwood
Every once in a while something really unexpected shows up in my life, and that’s what makes writing this blog worthwhile. Just a week or so ago, Jake Busching reached out to me to ask if I would be a judge at Eastwood’s Meritage Blending Workshop. An opportunity to taste and rate wines? That one of my…
Eastwood
If 2023 was the year that all the things came together for a literally perfect harvest season, then 2024 was a return to Virginia’s variable and extreme climate and a reminder of why it’s hard to grow grapes here – for some winegrowers it was as much of a dream vintage as 2023, for others…
Eastwood
The area will welcome a variety of new culinary and craft beverage offerings, recreation opportunities, accommodations, and things to do CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – The Charlottesville Albemarle Convention & Visitors Bureau (CACVB) is excited to welcome several new additions to the area’s robust tourism offerings. Highlights of what’s new and noteworthy for 2025 in Charlottesville and Albemarle County include…
Eastwood
I wrote my first “Year In Review” in 2020, mostly as a way to summarize my favorite articles of the previous year and post the latest winery openings & closings. Over time I added new material to these yearly updates, focusing on events and themes that stood out. To see my other ‘Years in Review’,…
Eastwood
Whether you’re looking for a crisp, refreshing taste to toast in the new year or a complex, layered red to reflect on the past year, you’re covered The new year isn’t just about marking time; it’s an invitation to explore, taste and toast what’s ahead. As the calendar flips to a new year, there’s a…
Eastwood
By: The Local Palate Athena Eastwood is the cofounder and co-owner of Eastwood Farm and Winery in Charlottesville, Virginia, along with her partner and daughters Hannah Velie and Megan Taub. Athena is also a commodities lawyer, recognized for her work helping agricultural clients develop innovative strategies to combat and adapt to climate change. Eager to focus on the…
Eastwood
Charlottesville and Albemarle County, Virginia and the Monticello American Viticultural Area have been at the epicenter of Virginia’s recent viticultural expansion, even landing Wine Enthusiast’s coveted “Wine Region of the Year” accolade at the end of 2023—a distinction that saw this relatively new wine region eclipse centuries-old winemaking destinations like Provence, France, and Lambrusco, Italy. And in…
Eastwood
Written By: The Local Palate Published: 2.21.2024 The Charlottesville area has solidified its position as a premier destination for wine lovers looking for culinary pairings. Charlottesville was recently named Wine Region of the Year in Wine Enthusiast’s prestigious Wine Star Awards. Among five global nominees, the Charlottesville area was the only one in North America, surpassing renowned wine growing regions…