Church Vineyards
Located adjacent to our Main Entrance, with historic St. Luke’s Church in the background, this site is home to our Pinot Gris vines.
Upper Vineyards
Our most historic site, this vineyard sits on land purchased by Philip Mazzei in 1774. It is also our oldest vineyard, planted in 1981.
Apple Vineyards
Planted with a southeast aspect, this site is protected from the blaring late afternoon heat, helping the vines to retain their natural acidity.
Sunnyfield Vineyards
Strategically located near the base of Montalto, this site has excellent water drainage, allowing the vines to reach optimal sugar levels.
Vineyards
Thomas Jefferson and Philip Mazzei chose the very same land when they grew grapes here more than 240 years ago. Back then, our estate became known as the Birthplace of American wine. Continuing this tradition, in 1981 we re-established vineyards which became one of the earliest plantings in recent Virginia wine history.
Upper Vineyard
Our most historic site, this vineyard sits on land purchased by Philip Mazzei in 1774. It is also our oldest vineyard, planted in 1981. Totaling over twelve acres in size, the aspect, slope, and soil make it an exceptional site. Home to eight varietals, some of the best Petit Verdot and Viognier are grown here.
Soil:
Rabun Clay Loam
Acreage:
12.13
Varietals:
Riesling, Petit Verdot, Viognier, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Manseng
Year Planted:
1981
Elevation:
608 feet
Apple Vineyard
Planted with a southeast aspect, this site is protected from the blaring late afternoon heat, helping the vines to retain their natural acidity. 12 foot row spacing and the VSP (Vertical Shoot Positioning) trellis system help promote air circulation in the vineyard, helping minimize disease pressure.
Soil:
Rabun Clay
Acreage:
5.01
Varietals:
Viognier, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot
Year Planted:
1998
Elevation:
560 feet
Sunnyfield Vineyard
Strategically located near the base of Montalto, this site is protected by the mountains from prevailing weather patterns. The natural geography of it further helps shed water on three sides of the vineyard, a benefit during particularly wet growing seasons. These factors are highly beneficial to wine grapes, since an abundance of water can dilute grapes and ultimately prove detrimental to wine quality.
Soil:
Rabun Clay Loam
Acreage:
3.60
Varietals:
Petit Manseng, Merlot, Cabernet, Franc, Petit Verdot
Year Planted:
2003
Elevation:
605 feet
Church Vineyard
Located adjacent to our Main Entrance, with historic St. Luke’s Church in the background, this site is home to our Pinot Gris vines. Replanted in 2014, this vineyard is visible to guests as they drive along Rt. 53 and arrive through our Main Entrance.
Soil:
Myersville Silt Loam
Acreage:
1.25
Varietals:
Pinot Gris,
Chardonnay
Year Planted:
1983
Elevation:
530 feet