2025 Award of Merit Winner
Michael Shaps
The 2025 American Wine Society Award of Merit winner, Michael Shaps, has been an integral part of the growth in, and quality of, wine production in Virginia. In his three decades in Virginia, no one has been more responsible for the growth of Virginia wine. Michael Shaps is recognized not only for his own wines, which have received more accolades than any other at the annual Governor’s Cup (83 Virginia Governor’s Cup gold medals and included in the Governor’s Case nine times since 2016 and two Governor’s Cup winning wines), but also for consulting with dozens of aspiring winemakers throughout Virginia. Many of the Commonwealth’s most esteemed wineries bear Shaps’ influence.
Developing a passion for wine while working at restaurants in Boston, Shaps enrolled in a program at the Lycée Viticole de Beaune in Burgundy to study oenology and viticulture. 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.
