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Top Virginia Merlot
30 wines from 24 wineries · 1 Case Winner · 1 Best in Show · 2018–2026
Every Virginia Governor's Cup Gold Medal and above Merlot wine from the 2018–2026 competitions, sorted by prestige: Governor's Cup first, then Case Winners, Best in Show, and Gold Medals. Click any winery to see their complete award history.
Gold Medal and Above — 2018–2026
| Pollak Vineyards | 2023 Merlot Reserve | 2026 | 🏆 Governor's Cup Case |
| Pollak Vineyards | 2022 Merlot Reserve | 2025 | ⭐ Best in Show |
| Capstone Vineyards | 2023 Merlot | 2026 | 🥇 Gold |
| Chiswell Farm and Winery | 2023 Merlot | 2026 | 🥇 Gold |
| Doukénie Winery | 2021 Merlot | 2026 | 🥇 Gold |
| Endhardt Vineyards | 2021 Merlot | 2026 | 🥇 Gold |
| Fifty-Third Winery and Vineyard | 2021 Merlot | 2026 | 🥇 Gold |
| Fox Meadow Vineyards & Winery | 2023 Merlot | 2026 | 🥇 Gold |
| Gadino Cellars | 2021 Merlot | 2026 | 🥇 Gold |
| Granite Heights Winery | 2021 Merlot | 2026 | 🥇 Gold |
| King Family Vineyards | 2023 Merlot | 2026 | 🥇 Gold |
| Narmada Winery | 2021 Merlot | 2026 | 🥇 Gold |
| The Barn at 678 | 2023 Estate Merlot | 2026 | 🥇 Gold |
| The Winery at Sunshine Ridge Farm | 2023 Merlot | 2026 | 🥇 Gold |
| Williams Gap Vineyard | 2023 Merlot | 2026 | 🥇 Gold |
| Ashton Creek Vineyard | 2023 Merlot | 2025 | 🥇 Gold |
| Reynard Florence Vineyard | 2023 Merlot | 2025 | 🥇 Gold |
| Eastwood Farm and Winery | Merlot | 2024 | 🥇 Gold |
| Hark Vineyards | 2019 Merlot | 2024 | 🥇 Gold |
| New Kent Winery | Merlot | 2024 | 🥇 Gold |
| Pollak Vineyards | 2019 Merlot Reserve | 2023 | 🥇 Gold |
| Eastwood Farm and Winery | Merlot | 2022 | 🥇 Gold |
| Granite Heights Winery | 2017 Merlot | 2022 | 🥇 Gold |
| Jefferson Vineyards | 2019 Merlot Reserve | 2022 | 🥇 Gold |
| Pollak Vineyards | 2019 Merlot Reserve | 2022 | 🥇 Gold |
| Bluestone Vineyard | 2014 Merlot | 2021 | 🥇 Gold |
| Thatch Winery | 2019 Merlot - Mount Juliet Farm Vineyard | 2021 | 🥇 Gold |
| Breaux Vineyards | 2016 Merlot | 2020 | 🥇 Gold |
| Hark Vineyards | 2017 Merlot | 2020 | 🥇 Gold |
| Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards | 2015 Merlot Reserve | 2018 | 🥇 Gold |
Cup Winner = top overall wine in that year's competition. Case Winner = top 12 wines. Best in Show = top wine in category (introduced 2025). Gold = 90+ point score. Silver medals (87–89) are shown on individual winery pages but not collected here.
