WSJ: Northern Virginia is America's next great wine region

Northern Virginia could be America's next great wine region, according to the Wall Street Journal's longtime wine columnist.

Why it matters: The northern part of the state is probably better known for traffic jams, suburban sprawl and transplanting folks to Richmond than for its viticulture.

The big picture: Virginia has been in the news for consistently producing great wine for more than a decade.

• It was famously Thomas Jefferson's dream , after all, for world-renowned wine to come out of Virginia. And he and the state are both credited for the birth of American wine.

Yes, but: The wineries around Charlottesville and Monticello usually get most of the great wine attention, not NoVA.

Zoom in: After visits and tastings at Boxwood Estate Winery , Delaplane Cellars , Linden Vineyards and Slater Run Vineyard , — all in the northwest part of Virginia stretching from Middleburg to Linden — the WSJ found "outstanding" chardonnays, exciting and well-balanced cabernet francs, and some very drinkable sauvignon blancs and rosés.

• NoVa winemakers, WSJ also found, lean more European than Californian in their technique, and the growing conditions are more similar to France than the Golden State.
• Plus, the NoVa winemakers are producing bottles that are far cheaper than many European imports, running at $30-$50.
• WSJ didn't visit RdV Winery and Vineyards in the same region, which is considered one of the best wineries in the state.

Worth noting: The wineries are considered to be part of Northern Virginia, but are as close to parts of the Shenandoah Valley as they are to D.C.-proper and the Arlington, Fairfax and Alexandria corridor that many Richmonders think of when the think NoVa.

Still, any good news for Virginia wine is good news for Virginia wine drinkers.

• And I guess it's time we let NoVa have something other than exhaust fumes and fleece vests.