Dive Brief:
- Loving Cup Vineyard and Winery is operating in North Garden, Virginia, making it the first organic vineyard in the region.
- It is certified by National Organic Plan, which is managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
- The vineyard extends around four acres and currently grows three variants of white grapes and two types of red, enough to produce hundreds of cases of wine.
Dive Insight:
Loving Cup Vineyard and Winery co-owner Karl Hambsch said that it was a long process to get to this point, four years to be exact. "You have to follow NOP regulations for three years before you can be certified. There are annual inspections. About five percent of places also get surprise inspections. It needs to be challenging in order to mean something. It gives customers assurance that we do what we say we do."
It's interesting that they should opt for a vineyard in an non-traditional "wine country" area. But perhaps they have a market for their product nearby, as regional preferences seem to swing sales. In general, though, being able to put "organic" on a label can win customer loyalty from those who consider themselves health-conscious shoppers.