“Founded 1734” by Chateau MerrillAnne of VA Takes Best of Show
August 29, 2025 — Celebrating twenty years of recognizing the top wines of the Atlantic coast, the Atlantic Seaboard Wine Association is pleased to announce the 2025 Best of Show: Chateau MerrillAnne’s “Founded 1734” 2022. Ranked highest among the 367 entries, owners Kenny and Emily White’s Chateau MerrillAnne is the only Virginia winery to win seven or more medals per competition five years in a row, 2021-2025.
ASWA’s annual competition is the largest in the nation focused exclusively on the wines of the East Coast, covering the seventeen states from Maine to Florida that border the Atlantic and including Vermont, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. This year’s competition was held the second weekend of August at the Marriott Tysons Corner, VA.
Working with winemaker Mike Heny, Kenny White sourced fruit from some of the Commonwealth’s finest vineyards, leading to a Virginia AVA. “Founded 1734” is a blend of 57% merlot, 38% cabernet sauvignon, and 5% petit verdot. Aged in neutral oak, the fruit-forward wine is characterized by subtle spice notes married with rich, dark berry flavor. Owner Kenny White describes the wine: “Done in the ‘Claret’ style, it is silky with bold flavor and a velvety mouthfeel. With a lasting finish this easy drinking red is perfect for sipping on its own or pairing with food, it is a very versatile wine.”
Located in Orange County, VA, Chateau MerrillAnne’s first vineyard was planted in 2010, with 2012 producing the first vintage. They currently craft 20 unique labels and were recently named the official winery of the Montpelier Races.
A panel of sixteen judges from around the country scored 367 wines made in the eastern US over the two day event. The 2025 competition produced 89 gold medal winners, 162 silver, and 116 bronze. ASWA President Grant Crandall says “The results of the Competition demonstrate the continuing maturation of the East Coast Wine industry with so many outstanding wines. We are pleased to be able to show off that quality to audiences who otherwise might not get to taste and appreciate the wines of the East Coast. People are very open to learning more.”
Winning wines are traditionally showcased at the Unified Wine and Grape Symposium in Sacramento, CA, the leading wine industry convention typically drawing 15,000 attendees. ASWA Board members host dinners in California with industry professionals to highlight the strengths of eastern wines, give educational presentations at UC Davis and additional California venues, and bring focus to Atlantic Seaboard wines through a leading wine and food radio broadcast. Opportunities for increased exposure then continue throughout the year.
ASWA hosts an awards ceremony on Capitol Hill every year after the completion of the competition under the auspices of the Congressional Wine Caucus. The sterling silver perpetual Jefferson Loving Cup will be engraved with the winning winery’s name and presented in March 2026 to the Best of Show winner.
See the complete list of medal-winning wines here.
About the Atlantic Seaboard Wine Association
The Atlantic Seaboard Wine Association promotes American wine produced in the seventeen eastern states: all those that touch the Atlantic Ocean plus West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Vermont. This trade organization was founded in 1973 as the Vinifera Wine Growers Association, and renamed in 2008 to reflect an expanded regional focus.
ASWA’s mission is to increase awareness of the fine wines of the Atlantic seaboard through trade and consumer education. Members liaise with national, state, and regional wine organizations to identify opportunities to highlight the wines and winemakers working here.
