Since you are in central virginia, it may be a good idea to check out central Virginia nurseries instead of a California one. In this area we have lots of cedar trees, so a key to selection is avoiding anything that is susceptible to cedar apple rust. I've used Edible Landscaping (http://ediblelandscaping.com/) and there are several other good apple suppliers here in Virginia. For my home orchard, I want high disease resistance and varieties insects are more likely to leave alone. I chose an Arkansas Black because I've had some experience knowing that Blacks are not as attractive to insects. My second is a Liberty - highly disease resistant. Don't know that I have space for anything else.

Try Vintage Virginia Apples, just south of Charlottesville, VA. They sell many different varieties. (I have no affiliation with them.)

Even if you don't get your apples from Vintage Virginia Apples I would look over their listings as they have many years of experience growing apples in Virginia and describe how various apples do.

Scott

Ditto on the VVA suggestion. They are nice and helpful folks too.

for what it is worth I have chosen Liberty and enterprise for our house in the northern part of Virginia. They ripen at slightly different times, I believe liberty is more of a fresh eating apple and enterprise can be used for cooking with good results. We have a lot of cedar trees and from people I have spoken to these two varieties resist the rust very well and are disease and somewhat insect resistant. That being said all of our trees are only two years old and have not born any fruit so I am just speaking from the input that I received before I planted them.

VVA! Great source of info & trees. Be sure to consider MonArk as one of your choices.
Also, Big Horse Creek Nursery; in your part of the country, as well.