Orange County is home to few wineries, but they are among the most productive and respected in the Virginia Wine Industry. Leading the way are Barboursville Winery (owned by Italy’s Zonin family) and Horton Vineyards. Orange County vineyards are located in the rolling hills near the towns of Barboursville and Gordonsville, at elevations close to 600 feet. The region’s climate is similar to the rest of Virginia with warm humid summers and erratic winters making varietal and trellising system choices as critical here as it is in the rest of the state. This county is located in the larger Monticello AVA and produces a number of styles of wine coming from a stunning array of grape varietals. In addition, Orange County produces award winning Viognier and Cabernet Franc, two vitis Vinifera varietals with established histories in the region. These wineries are focused on the ecological suitability of varieties, as opposed to allowing short sighted marketability dictate the cultivar selection. California and Oregon may presently get the most attention on the appellation front, but if trends continue, Virginia may soon be recognized as the cutting edge in terroir-cum-appellation consciousness in America. The decision of these Orange County wineries to focus on varietals such as Norton, Petit Manseng and Nebbiolo amongst others is proving to be a breath of fresh air on the North American wine scene.