grain-to-spirits report
Virginia’s distilling industry represents a growing opportunity for regional grain producers, processors, and rural economies—but important infrastructure and coordination challenges still limit local sourcing. Developed through Common Grain Alliance’s work with the Virginia Spirits Board, the Virginia Grain-to-Glass Report maps the supply chain connecting growers, maltsters, millers, logistics providers, and distillers across the Commonwealth.
The report identifies key barriers to growth, including gaps in grain cleaning, milling, malting, storage, and aggregation infrastructure, while also highlighting promising examples of successful farmer–distiller partnerships already taking shape across Virginia. Rather than focusing only on challenges, the report explores practical opportunities to strengthen relationships, improve market access, and support a more resilient grain-to-glass economy.
Virginia farmers generated more than $10.3 million in revenues from grain and agricultural products purchased by local distilleries in 2022, pointing to significant potential for continued growth through stronger regional supply chains.
Explore the full report for findings, maps, recommendations, and opportunities for future collaboration.
Virginia Grain-to-spirits Supply Chain Map
As part of CGA’s Virginia Grain-to-Glass work, we developed a companion asset map documenting the infrastructure and relationships that support regional grain sourcing in Virginia. The map helps visualize the systems that move grain from farm to finished product and highlights the businesses and infrastructure that make grain-to-glass supply chains possible.
The map includes grain-growing regions, cleaning and storage facilities, aggregation points, milling and malting assets, distilleries, and transportation and logistics pathways. By increasing visibility into these resources, the tool helps identify existing strengths, infrastructure gaps, and opportunities for stronger regional coordination.
This map is intended as a living resource and will continue evolving as new businesses, infrastructure assets, and partnerships emerge.
Funding: This report reflects a body of work produced through CGA's Virginia Spirits Board-funded project, Strengthening Virginia's Spirits Industry Through Regional Grain Supply Chain Development. The project advances efforts to identify infrastructure assets, gaps, and opportunities needed to strengthen regional grain sourcing across Virginia's spirits industry.
Common Grain Alliance encourages sharing and use of this report for educational and noncommercial purposes with attribution.
Please cite as:
Roberts, Jessica, and Common Grain Alliance. Virginia Grain-to-Spirits Infrastructure Report: Mapping assets, gaps, and opportunities across Virginia’s grain supply chain. 2026.