Decanter Names Early Mountain Petit Manseng “A Benchmark for the State”

We are honored to share that Decanter has recognized our 2023 Petit Manseng as “a benchmark for the state,” awarding the wine 95 points in a recent feature exploring why Petit Manseng may become Virginia’s signature grape.

The article highlights our winemaker Maya Hood White’s pioneering perpetual lees program and the precision, experimentation, and long-term vision shaping our wines, while also recognizing the broader community of growers, winemakers, and hospitality professionals continuing to elevate Virginia wine.

We are grateful to Sedale McCall and Decanter for spotlighting the innovation and momentum defining this exciting chapter for Virginia wine.

A Grape Uniquely Suited for Virginia

Petit Manseng is truly one of Virginia’s most compelling varieties. Its loose clusters, thick skins, natural disease resistance, and remarkable ability to retain acidity make it uniquely suited to our climate.

While many grape varieties struggle in Virginia’s humidity and warm growing season, Petit Manseng thrives. It produces wines of concentration and complexity while maintaining freshness and balance, making it one of the most exciting expressions of Virginia terroir.

Today, it is the second most planted white grape in the Commonwealth and one of the fastest-growing categories among Virginia wineries.

A Defining Wine at Early Mountain

From the beginning, Petit Manseng has played a central role in our pursuit of wines that express both place and possibility.

We have long believed in the variety’s potential, not only because it performs exceptionally well in Virginia’s climate, but because it is capable of producing wines of remarkable depth, energy, and ageability. Over time, it has become one of the defining wines of our program and an important part of our vision for Virginia wine.

In 2017, Maya began an experiment that would eventually become one of the defining elements of our Petit Manseng program.

Each vintage, a portion of Petit Manseng is aged in a dedicated barrel containing lees from every previous vintage. Rather than emptying the barrel completely, a portion remains behind, allowing the wine’s history to continue building year after year.

As the lees break down and the yeast regenerate over time, they contribute texture, complexity, and character while preserving the freshness and vibrancy that make Petit Manseng so compelling.

Today, the perpetual lees barrel contains nearly a decade of vintages. The result is a wine that reflects not only a single growing season, but an ongoing commitment to curiosity, craftsmanship, and continual refinement.

As Maya shared with Decanter, “The cells are constantly breaking down and regenerating, so you don't know exactly how much of any one vintage is in there, but it gives the wine a unique personality.”

In its review of the 2023 Petit Manseng, Decanter described the wine as:

“A brilliant display of what's possible for Virginia Petit Manseng from winemaker Maya Hood White.”

The publication awarded the wine 95 points and concluded with perhaps the highest praise possible:

“A benchmark for the state.”

For our team, this recognition is meaningful not simply because of the score, but because it reflects years of dedication in the vineyard, winery, kitchen, and tasting room.

While this recognition highlights our work, it also reflects the efforts of a much larger community.

Virginia wine has grown through the dedication of growers, winemakers, hospitality professionals, educators, chefs, and industry leaders who have spent decades pushing quality forward.

The momentum surrounding Petit Manseng today is the result of that collective commitment. We are honored to contribute to that story and proud to stand alongside so many talented producers helping define the future of Virginia wine.

Experience Petit Manseng

The 2023 Early Mountain Petit Manseng is available in our tasting room and online.

We invite you to experience firsthand the wine Decanter called “a benchmark for the state” and discover why Petit Manseng continues to capture the attention of wine lovers, critics, and winemakers around the world.

Cheers!