Guest Regions

Each year the Virginia Wine Expo features a different national and international guest region at the Walk-Around Grand Tastings, SMOKED!, POP NAPA!, and other events on the schedule.  In 2023 you'll taste hundreds of Virginia wines, spirits and ciders and top-scoring wines from our National Guest Region, Napa Valley, and our International Guest Region, Argentina.   

National Guest Region: Napa Valley

Napa Valley is one of the most famous wine regions in the world, consisting of more than 400 wineries and famous for its prized Cabernet Sauvignon.  Napa is also renowned for its beautiful landcapes and gourmet food.  About 43,000 acres of wine grapes are cultivated at both small, family-run estates and large corporate wineries.  

International Guest Region: Argentina

Argentina boasts one of the world's most beautiful wine regions, running primarily north-south in the wide valleys and sloping plains straddling the Andes mountains.  Recently, producers have been planting vineyards at higher altitudes in search of cooler temperatures, ocean breezes, and more interesting flavor profiles.  Cuyo, which includes Mendoza and several other smaller areas, is considered Argentina's premier wine region, and boasts 95% (463,334 acres) of the total vineyard area planted in the country.  This region offers a diverse terroir including semi-arid areas, frigid and windy vineyards (located at higher altitudes), and hot temperatures in the summer, especially at lower altitudes found in the valleys.  Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Bonarda, Syrah and Torrontes are the predominant grape varietals cultivated in Cuyo.