Virginia’s Cup Runneth Over As New Wineries Open

April 19, 2002
Contact: Pamela Jewell (804) 786-0481
pjewell@vdacs.state.va.us

The wine is bottled. The glasses are ordered. The finishing touches are being put on the tasting room. This scenario is being played out at 11 new wineries in Virginia that will be opening their doors to the public this year for the first time.

With the opening of these new wineries, Virginia will be home to 75 farm wineries. In 1982 there were 17 wineries in the state. This represents an increase of more than 400 percent in twenty years.

From Virginia’s Northern Neck region on the Potomac River to the far southwest part of the Commonwealth, Virginia farm wineries will be inviting wine lovers to sample their new releases and take home a bottle of their favorite Virginia juice. Some of the new releases finding their way to retail shelves and restaurants this year include Chardonnay, Chambourcin, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon as well as Smith Mountain Lake Red and White, Symphony, New World Red and a Virginia Champagne.

First Colony Winery in Charlottesville officially opened for tastings and tours on April 13. Open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., First Colony offers guests the opportunity to taste the winery’s new releases of Vidal Blanc, Chardonnay, Chardonnay Reserve, Viognier, Blush, Cabernet Franc, Claret and Late Harvest Vidal Blanc.

In Clarke County near Berryville in the northern part of Virginia, Veramar Vineyard will open to the public on May 3 and host a Murder Mystery Dinner the following weekend. Cabernet Sauvignon, Chambourcin, Chardonnay and Norton will be among their first wines bottled.

In June, three more wineries will open. Grand opening celebrations will take place June 1 at both Old House Vineyards in Culpeper and Veritas Winery in Afton. At Old House Vineyards visitors will be able to tour the winery, take hayrides through the vineyard, enjoy live entertainment and sample the winery’s first releases of Ice Wine, Rubiatt and Vidal Blanc. Veritas Winery will offer winery tours and tastings of their wines, which include Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Tannat, Chardonnay and Traminette.

Hickory Hill Vineyard, which has named two of its new wines in honor of nearby Smith Mountain Lake, will also open in June with a grand opening celebration on July 4. July 4th is also the opening date for Lost Creek Winery near Leesburg, where guests can sample the first releases of Chambourcin, Merlot, Vidal Blanc and Chardonnay. Christensen Ridge in Madison has a July opening planned as well. Their first releases include Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Viognier and Chardonnay.

Oak Crest Vineyard in King George, not far from the Potomac River, is planning a mid-summer opening. Wine aficionados will be able to tour the winery and enjoy tastings of Dry and Sweet Symphony, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot.

Three wineries with openings planned later in 2002 are Hidden Brook Winery near Leesburg, which will be bottling Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Vidal Blanc; Kluge Estate Winery and Vineyard in Charlottesville, which will offer guests winery tours and tastings of New World Red and a Virginia Champagne; and Highlands Harvest and Farm Winery in Castlewood in the southwest Virginia. Highlands Harvest, located on a Century Farm, will be bottling Seyval Blanc, Chambourcin and Norton.

Virginia’s wineries are open to the public for tours and tastings, and most have special events planned year-round. To find out more about Virginia’s wineries visit www.virginiawines.org. To receive a free copy of the 2002 Virginia Wineries Festival and Tour Guide, contact the Virginia Wine Marketing Office at (800) 823-4637. Copies may also be obtained by writing VDACS, P.O. Box 1163, Richmond, VA. 23218, Attn: Winery Tour Guide.

NEW VIRGINIA WINERIES 2002
More information about these wineries and opening events.
(Opening dates and events are subject to change. Please call in advance to confirm.)

First Colony Winery
Opening April
Charlottesville, VA

Veramar Vineyard
Opening May 3
Berryville, VA

Old House Vineyards
Opening June 1
Culpeper, VA

Veritas Winery
Opening June 1
Afton, VA

Hickory Hill Vineyard
Opening July 4
Moneta, VA

Lost Creek Winery
Opening July 4
Leesburg, VA

Christensen Ridge
Opening July
Madison, VA

Oak Crest Vineyard & Winery
Opening mid-Summer
King George, VA

Hidden Brook Winery
Opening September
Leesburg, VA

Kluge Estate Winery and Vineyard
Opening Autumn
Charlottesville, VA

Highlands Harvest and Farm Winery
Opening late 2002
Castlewood, VA

Blenheim Vineyards
NO TOURS
Charlottesville, VA