United States Virginia Virginia Guide Things To Do Essentials Getaways All Virginia Foods to Try When You Visit Virginia By Rachel Cooper Rachel Cooper Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Rachel Cooper is a travel writer who has lived in the Washington, D.C., area for more than 25 years. She is also the author of several books covering the capital and mid-Atlantic regions. TripSavvy's editorial guidelines Updated on 10/07/19 Share Pin Email Virginia is known for a variety of foods, most notably its succulent seafood and award-winning wines. The region has become a real hotspot for food and wine tasting events and festivals. With its diverse geography stretching from the coastal areas of the Chesapeake Bay to the mountain regions along the Shenandoah Valley, the Commonwealth of Virginia is home to more than 44,000 farms. Agriculture is the state’s largest industry. Following is a guide to the specialty foods of Virginia. 01 of 05 Virginia Wine Virginia Tourism Corp. Virginia's wine industry has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years both in prestige and in numbers of wineries. Virginia has nearly 300 wineries - and counting - with locations in nearly every part of the Commonwealth. The region offers many wine and food festivals encouraging tourism and the discovery of local grapes and gourmet cuisine. Chardonnay is the most widely produced wine in the state, followed by Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Vidal. Virginia makes wine travel and discovery easy with its 16 wine trails. They are well-marked with grape signs along the roadways. Artisanal Wineries of Rappahannock Bedford Wine Trail Blue Ridge Whiskey Wine Loop Chesapeake Bay Wine Trail Fauquier County Wine Trail Foothills Scenic Wine Trail Heart of Virginia Wine Trail Loudoun Wine Country – Closest to the Washington DC Area Monticello Wine Trail Mountain Road Wine Experience Nelson 151 Trail Shenandoah County Wine Trail Shenandoah Valley Wine Country Trail SoVA Wine Trail Wine Trail of Botetourt County 211 Scenic Vino Wine Trail 02 of 05 Virginia Seafood Glowimages Although the Blue Crab is widely known as the "Maryland crab," Virginia is the nation's third largest seafood producer and its watermen thrive on the harvesting of blue crabs, oysters, clams, sea scallops, croaker, striped bass, spot, flounder, catfish, and many other species of fish. Tangier Island, located on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, is referred to as the 'soft shell crab capital of the world'. The Virginia oyster, also known as Eastern or Atlantic oysters, is designated as the state shell of Virginia.Related Information Virginia Marine Products Board Seafood Restaurants in the Washington DC Area 03 of 05 Virginia Peanuts Lars Klove View Map Address 1351 Richmond Rd, Williamsburg, VA 23185, USA Get directions Phone +1 757-229-4056 Web Visit website The Tidewater area of Virginia is famous for peanuts. Virginia peanuts are the largest of the four peanut types grown in the United States. Peanuts are a high protein and naturally low sodium food that makes a great snack. They are sold by local companies in a variety of styles: roasted-in-the-shell, salted, unsalted, seasoned with Old Bay, Smoked Cajun, Chili Lime, Mesquite Barbecue, and more.Virginia Peanut Vendors Whitleys Peanut Factory The Peanut Shop of Williamsburg Virginia Diner Virginia Favorites, Ltd. Plantation Peanuts of Wakefield Feridies 04 of 05 Virginia Ham Matt Bowney View Map Address 217 Main St, Smithfield, VA 23430-1325, USA Get directions Phone +1 757-357-1798 Web Visit website Virginia country hams have been famous since the 17th century. Most famous are the Smithfield Hams, which, by law, must be cured within Smithfield's town limits. Country hams are salt cured, slowly hickory smoked, and aged for several months to give it a distinctive flavor. Related meats like bacon and sausage are also local favorites.Virginia Ham Vendors Smithfield Hams Smithfield Marketplace Edwards Virginia Smokehouse Old Virginia Ham Shop Continue to 5 of 5 below. 05 of 05 Virginia Produce Rachel Cooper Virginia farmers grow a variety of fruits and vegetables. Below is a list of typical Virginia products.Apples, Asian Pears, Asparagus, Beets, Blackberries, Blueberries, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cantaloupes, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Grapes, Green Beans, Greens/Spinach, Herbs, Nectarines, Onions, Peaches, Peppers, Potatoes, Pumpkins, Raspberries, Squash, Strawberries, Sweet Corn, Sweet Potatoes, Tomatoes, WatermelonsRelated Information Virginia Farmers Markets Pick Your Own Farms in VirginiaSee also, Specialty Foods of Maryland Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Share Pin Email Tell us why! Submit