[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 46 (Thursday, March 16, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E335]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       IN RECOGNITION OF THE BARNS AT HAMILTON STATION VINEYARDS

                                  _____
                                 

                         HON. BARBARA COMSTOCK

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 16, 2017

  Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate and commend my 
constituents, Andrew and Maryann Fialdini, and their winery, the Barns 
at Hamilton Station Vineyards, on receiving the Governor's Cup in the 
2017 Governor's Cup Wine Competition. This win not only speaks to the 
hard work, entrepreneurship and expertise of Andrew and Maryann, but 
also the growing and transforming Loudoun County wine industry.
  Since opening 8 years ago, their hard work has certainly come to 
fruition. Andrew, Maryann, and the vineyard's Wine Maker, Michael 
Shaps, have worked diligently to produce local, yet authentic-tasting, 
French-style wines on their eleven acre vineyard located in Hamilton, 
Virginia. And this year, two of their wines, the 2014 Meritage and 2014 
Cabernet Sauvignon, were named gold medalists in the Governor's Cup 
Wine Competition.
  The judges of this year's competition reviewed 494 bottles from 102 
different wineries, and only 23 bottles were named gold medalists. 
Impressively of those 23 bottles, Andrew and Maryann's 2014 Cabernet 
Sauvignon was named the best wine and awarded the Governor's Cup--a 
recognition that a Loudoun winery has never before received in the 37 
years of this stringent and prestigious competition.
  Risk-taking small businesses have always been the life blood of the 
Loudoun County economy and our national economy and entrepreneurial 
families like the Fialdini's have been leaders in fostering strong, 
local economies that will continue to thrive and grow for years to 
come.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in applauding Andrew and 
Maryann Fialdini and Michael Shaps for their successful small business 
and their special awards at the 2017 Governor's Cup Wine Competition. I 
also wish them and their family the best in all of their future 
endeavors.

                          ____________________