Virginia
Valley Road Vineyards wins top honor at Virginia’s 44th Governor’s Cup Gala – WTOP News
Over 670 wines were submitted to clinch a top prize in Virginia, but only one took the top prize for the 44th annual Governor’s Cup Gala.
Richmond played host to the 44th annual Governor’s Cup Gala at the historic Main Street station, celebrating the best wines in Virginia.
More than 130 wineries across the state submitted a total of 670 wines for a chance to win a gold medal and earn a place in the Governor’s Cup case, which features the top 12 red and white wines.
One of the 12 wines earns the distinction of the Governor’s Cup, as well as the title of “Best Wine in the Commonwealth.”
A world class panel of wine judges evaluated each wine on its merit using a 100-point scale — an industry standard — to rate the most outstanding wines Virginia has to offer.
This year’s case features a wide variety of styles and taste:
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger ultimately handed out the Governor’s Cup to winemaker Corry Craighill, of Valley Road Vineyards.
“Valley Road Vineyards’ 2023 Cabernet Franc Reserve showcases the exceptional craftsmanship and quality on display tonight, and I look forward to supporting these incredible vineyards over the next four years,” she said.
The governor underscored that the “dedication, innovation and agricultural strength” highlighted at the event “continues to elevate Virginia as one of our nation’s premier wine regions.”
Spanberger spoke to the tradition of excellence and accolades the Virginia wine industry receives across the country and around the world. She also pointed out its place in two of the top three industries in the Commonwealth, including agriculture and tourism.
Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Katie Frazier also pointed out how “wine and cider are important agricultural products for our Commonwealth and key contributors to our rural economy.”
“Valley Road Vineyards’ Governor’s Cup win highlights the innovation and talent driving Virginia’s wine industry forward, and winemakers like Corry Craighill continue to set new standards for quality across the Commonwealth,” Frazier said.
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RICHMOND, Va. — Friday will be sunny and seasonably warm, with highs in the upper 70s and low 80s.
The pattern of cool nights and mild afternoons will continue through the weekend and through much of next week as upper-level flow continues to bring reinforcing mild and dry air out of eastern Canada.
Rain chances will be very limited over the next week, with only a slim chance with a frontal passage on Monday.
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PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY, Va. (WSET) — Ressie Keen, a 107-year-old Pittsylvania County woman, is safe after escaping a house fire that destroyed her more than 100-year-old home, leaving behind a yard filled with charred debris and scattered belongings.
Keen said she has no special secret to her longevity.
“I ain’t got no secret, just thanking the Lord to let me stay here to see 107,” she said.
Keen said she moved to the home decades ago and built a life there.
“I’ve moved there in 1969, our first crop was made in 1970, and I been living there ever since,” she said.
The fire broke out in Keen’s bedroom on Thursday afternoon. Keen said she and her sitter got out as the fire grew.
“I don’t know what happened, only thing I knew to do was to get out of there. So me and my sitter we got out. She tried to put it out but she couldn’t,” Keen said.
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Pittsylvania County Fire Marshal Scott Hutcherson said investigators believe the fire started with an electrical issue.
“We think we had an electric outlet failure, more or less; an adaptor on the outlet probably failed,” Hutcherson said. He said the fire spread quickly once it ignited nearby items. “It set the bed on fire and the clothes that was on top of it, the material on top of it, what’s pretty much what got the fire going. And then it easily spread to the second story.”
Keen’s son, Ronnie Keen, said the loss has been painful for the family.
“It was devastating real devastating, lot of memories lost. But I know those memories and emotions the things that were sentimental were still right here,” he said.
A family photo album was among the few items recovered. Pointing to one image, Ronnie Keen said, “That’s a picture of the house.”
He added that the album was badly damaged. “It’s so charred it’s kinda hard to open,” he said.
Keen also held onto her favorite cast-iron pan.
“I knew this wasn’t going to get burnt up,” she said.
The home was considered a total loss, but the family said the most important thing is that Ressie Keen survived. She is now living with her son.
“I’m overjoyed that she’s here with us and she’s safe,” Ronnie Keen said.
Hutcherson said to prevent this, make sure that there is a smoke alarm in your home. He says you can reach out to the Pittsylvania County Public Safety office for a free installation of a smoke alarm.
WISE COUNTY, VA (WCYB) — Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger has requested the Virginia Attorney General’s Office investigate the 2025 homicide of a Wallens Ridge State Prison inmate.
The Attorney General’s Office confirmed the development to News 5 on Tuesday, May 27.
“The circumstances around the death of Aubrey McKay are of a very serious and troubling nature. Governor Spanberger has requested that the Office of the Attorney General conduct an investigation and initiate any criminal prosecutions that arise. This office will continue its thorough, complete, and timely investigation into these consequential matters,” Attorney General Jay Jones said in an emailed statement.
McKay died on June 4, 2025, while inside the Wise County correctional facility.
The Virginia Department of Corrections confirmed his death is being investigated as a homicide and said at least one officer was either reprimanded or placed on leave.
The Virginia medical examiner’s office listed McKay’s cause of death as multifactorial asphyxia. Virginia State Police also confirmed it is investigating the case.
The Smyth County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office also confirmed it will no longer be involved in the case.
A spokesperson for the Wise County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office told News 5 on May 25 that Smyth County would oversee the prosecution because of the nature of the investigation.
Smyth County Commonwealth’s Attorney Phillip Blevins later confirmed he has recused himself from the case.
In a court order provided to News 5 dated May 22, Blevins wrote that he has an association with at least one potential witness involved in the investigation. He was excused from the case.
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