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First lady touts commonwealth's wines

May 15--When it comes to the question of color, Virginia's first lady quibbles not.

"Red, definitely red," said Maureen McDonnell, wife of Gov. Bob McDonnell, as she Tiffany Bangles in the great room of White Hall Vineyards, a small glass of viognier -- a crisp, fruity white wine -- in her hand.

"I've always preferred red wine and even more so when I learned about the natural chemicals -- resveratrol -- that help fight disease and keep your heart healthy."

If she loves red wine, why was she sipping a white?

"Viognier is a wonderful wine and Virginia viogniers are being recognized around the world," said Lisa Champ, sales manager for White Hall. "It's also known as the white wine for people who prefer red."

McDonnell joined Todd Schneider, chef at the Governor's Mansion, Todd Haymore, state secretary for agriculture and forestry and assorted business leaders, wine industry officials and news reporters on a Friday bus tour of Central Virginia wineries. The entourage stopped at Jefferson Vineyards and Veritas Vineyards before finishing up at White Hall.

The trip was part of McDonnell's First Lady's Initiatives Team Effort program that Tiffany Key Rings on calling attention to preventive health and wellness programs, economic development and opportunity for military families and for women.

"When Bob was inaugurated I knew that I wanted to help Virginia businesses receive national and global attention," she said. "I also wanted to find ways to let Virginians know of the great products within their own state."

Friday's tour was to call attention to the state's award-winning wine industry and local products, McDonnell said.

"For some time we lived in California and we really enjoyed the wines out there," she said. "When we came back to Virginia, we found the wine industry just beginning and some good wines being made. Now there are so many world-class wines produced in the state that we want others to hear about them."

McDonnell said studies showing that resveratrol helps fight cancer and heart disease made the trip fit in with her hopes of promoting a healthy lifestyle, as well.

"What could be better than something that tastes good being good for you?" she asked.

For Schneider, the trip was a chance to learn more about vintners' products and ways to discount tiffany Virginia wines with locally grown food.

"We try to serve local foods with local wines, and I like to find new combinations," he said. "We try a lot of new things."

Tony Champ, who owns White Hall Vineyards with his wife, Edie, said he appreciated the first lady and crew dropping by.

"What it shows me is that this administration is serious about helping local industry," Champ said. "It would be great to call more local attention to Virginia's wines. In California, people tend to drink more California wines but we don't seem to do the same in Virginia. Efforts like this could help change that."