IRONTO, Va. (AP) — Despite the theft of nearly its entire crop of grapes, a Virginia winery will be able to raise a glass of its 2018 vintage to a new friendship.
The Roanoke Times reports Washington state’s Alexandria Nicole Cellars has offered to donate the replacement for more than 2 tons of grapes stolen from Firefly Hills Vineyard two weeks ago.
Firefly co-owner Allison Dunkenberger says they’ve received in-state offers, too, despite the rain that hurt this year’s crop. But the Pacific Northwest had a great grape year, and her husband is set to fly out this week to help harvest them.
No leads on the theft have been reported. Virginia Department of Agriculture spokeswoman Elaine Lidholm says grape heists have happened in France and California, but were previously unheard of in Virginia.
— The Associated Press
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