On May 17th Howard O’Brien, owner of Chateau O’Brien, hosted the first ever “United by Wine: A Tannat Experience” wine tasting and private dinner for wine experts, wine makers from Uruguay and France as well as the media. The day began with guests and visitors sampling Tannat wine at the winery.

In the last eight years Virginia winemakers have been experimenting with different grapes to see what works well in Virginia soil. The days of Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Merlot as the leading sellers in the Virginia wine industry are numbered. Although some wineries do very well with these wines, the emergence of Cabernet Franc, Viognier, Norton, Nebbiolo, and Sangiovese has pointed Virginia in another direction. The introduction and success of Tannat is becoming one of these new wines.

Tannat is a varietal traditionally grown in the southeaster region of France and Uruguay. It makes up 25% of their vineyards. The grape thrives in humid climates so you can certainly understand why Virginia is already being hyped as a future leader in the US for its production.

The Tannat of Chateau O’Brien compared favorably with the Tannat of Bodegas Carrau Uruguay, which has produced Tannat for 250 years, and was picked superior to the Uruguay wine by some. The O’Brien Tannat has won awards in New York and overseas.

Look for a future article on the emerging tastes of Virginia winemaking.

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