BARBOURSVILLE VINEYARDS
Tesauro served twenty-three vintages (2002-2025) under Estate Director Luca Paschina, helping to establish Virginia as a world-class wine region and Barboursville Vineyards as the most revered winery on the East Coast.
Founded in 1976 by Gianni Zonin,
patriarch of Vinicola Zonin – an Italian family wine company started in 1821 – Barboursville is the most respected and honored winery in Virginia. The 900-acre estate is located in the Monticello AVA along the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains just outside Charlottesville – named 2023 Wine Region of the Year by Wine Enthusiast magazine. Estate Director Luca Paschina has been at the helm since 1990 and viticulturist Fernando Franco began his tenure in 1998. Tesauro joined in 2002 as National Brand Director & Chief Sommelier.
With 178 acres (72 hectares) to vine, Barboursville is known for terroir-driven, estate-grown fruit and minimal intervention in the cellar. The wines’ elegance and structure bridge New World geography with Old World philosophy focused on Vermentino, Viognier, Cabernet Franc, and Nebbiolo, as well as three flagship blends: Nascent (white), Allegrante (rosé), and Octagon (red).
Barboursville Vineyards is also home to:
• The 1804 Inn & Vineyard Cottages, Discovery Room, Library 1821 & Wine Barn
• Historic Ruins of 1814 Barbour Mansion designed by Thomas Jefferson
• Virginia Governor’s Cup Awards: 1992, 2007, 2009, 2013, 2021
• Palladio Restaurant
Overview of Estate for consumers and trade. Shot and edited by Tesauro.
Over his 23-year tenure, Tesauro’s major contributions to the Estate include:
• Design and execution of Library 1821. A decade after its founding, the Library is renowned as the Commonwealth’s premier tasting room experience, blending back-vintage wines and farm-to-fork cuisine with exceptional hospitality.
• Decades of distribution network relations across 26 states and 3 countries
• Launch of Nascent, the Estate’s flagship white blend
• Launch of Allegrante, the Estate’s flagship rosé
• Development of in-house wine training program
• TUESDAYS with LUCA series
• Consumer and trade education
• Industry-leading events
• Bespoke experiences
• Barboursville book
Tesauro helped establish the culture of large format bottles at Barboursville, leading to a deeper connection with collectors and, later, the Estate’s recorking program for older vintages.
(L-R) Estate Director Luca Paschina, Associate Winemaker Daniele Tessaro, Vineyard Manager Fernando Franc, National Brand Director JASON TESAURO
TUESDAYS with LUCA | 2020-2025
Tesauro developed, produced, and edited Barboursville’s weekly video series. Four years and 200+ episodes later, TUESDAYS with LUCA continues to drive brand recognition, consumer loyalty, trade engagement, wine sales, and education in viticulture and viniculture.
1000 Miglia Warm up
Barboursville hosts Italy's 1000 Miglia, an historic and stunning vintage car event that Enzo Ferrari himself called "The most beautiful race in the world!"
Bringing the region’s top culinary and hospitality professionals to the Estate and into the vineyards was always a top priority. Pictured here, Chef / Owner David Guas and his front- and back-of-house team for Neutral Ground, touted by The Washington Post as “Northern Virginia’s Best New Restaurant.”
Setting the scene for a trade show.
When wine lovers can’t make it to the vineyards… bring the vineyards to them.