Annual Award Winners

2025 Award of Merit

There he worked two vintages at the Maison Chartron et Trebuchet in Puligny Montrachet. While in France, he spotted a 1989 Wine Spectator article that described Virginia as an up-and-coming wine region. After completing his internship, he returned to the US seeking a winemaker position. At that time there were less than 40 wineries in the state, compared to 300+ now. He was convinced Virginia had the potential to make world class wines like those he made in France. He initially worked at Jefferson Vineyards as head winemaker, but soon began consulting with others as he accumulated numerous awards and acquired a reputation as one of Virginia’s up-and-coming winemakers. After six vintages, Michael ventured out on his own and began producing wine under the now highly regarded Michael Shaps label. He partnered with King Family Vineyards, where he helped launch their brand as well as his own. 

In 2004, he and his old mentor, the head winemaker at Maison Chartron et Trebuchet, opened a winery in Meursault, France where he produces a line of burgundies. In 2012 Shaps bought out his partner and began to acquire vineyards in the Côte de Beaune, where he now farms 4 hectares under the Maison Shaps label. In 2007, he and partners purchased Montdomaine, one of the wineries featured in that original Wine Spectator issue that lured him to Virginia. Now renamed Michael Shaps Wineworks, he produces not only his own wine, but also created Virginia’s first and largest custom crush winemaking operation, making wine and managing vineyards for other wineries. There have been three expansions at the facility over time that have made the operation bigger, more efficient and extremely well managed. In 2018 Shaps and his Wineworks operation purchased Shenandoah Vineyards in Edinburg, currently the oldest operating winery in Virginia, where he produces old vine Riesling and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Michael Shaps Wineworks now produces wines from a wide range of varietals for himself and more than 20 clients. He strongly believes in choosing grape varietals that represent the potential of Virginia viticulture and chooses specific plots around the state to highlight its unique terroir. Shaps is known for innovative and expert winemaking, and his wines have been featured in publications such as Saveur, Wine Spectator, Decanter, and Wine Advocate.

The American Wine Society’s (AWS) Award of Merit is a highly regarded award given to individuals who have made significant contributions to the wine industry. The award can be given to people who work in winemaking, marketing, education, grape growing, or writing.