Vineyards For Sale in Virginia

Current Vineyard Properties For Sale in Virginia

New luxury home just minutes from C'Ville and UVA. Outdoor and indoor living spaces designed to maximize the stunning views of 17 acres of pasture owned by the Nature Conservancy, a private vineyard and The Blue Ridge Mtns. Large veranda in back with stone sitting wall, pergola and gorgeous outdoor stone fireplace provide an oasis unlike any other so close to town. Understated elegance full of rich details and amenities. The County Assessor gives this home an exceptionally rare grade of A+. 5 bedrooms, 5/1 baths, List Price $1,995,000

For immediate personal assistance and detailed information on this Virginia Vineyard for sale call Toby Beavers, Virginia vineyard realtor: 434-979-0005.

The Information Data Exchange is an innovative program between cooperating members to provide complete listing information to the public. Through the cooperative effort of Real Estate III, we have selected the above property for your inspection.

Maisson du Lac, a most charming, two story, French Provincial sporting a fabulous 2003 master bedroom addition and one of the nicest kitchens you'll see on the market today. Perfectly sited on 16.3 acres near Earlysville overlooking its own two acre lake, this very private property offers peace and quiet and dark night skies just fifteen minutes from Charlottesville. The land is ideal for horses with some fencing or maybe your own small vineyard. 4 bedrooms, 2/1 baths, List Price $915,000

For immediate personal assistance and detailed information on this Virginia Vineyard for sale call Toby Beavers, Virginia vineyard realtor: 434-979-0005.

The Information Data Exchange is an innovative program between cooperating members to provide complete listing information to the public. Through the cooperative effort of Charlottesville Country Prop., we have selected the above property for your inspection.

At Veritas Vineyards sits Highland View Farm boasting more than 10 ac of pasture and woods w/ pole barn, paddock , creek, mtn views; custom built home features decking, high ceilings, double staircases, rock fireplace, cherry cabinets, hardwood floors, 1st floor master, bonus and rec rooms, and partially fin basement. 80 acres of common area with riding trails and 2 stocked ponds; Convenient to Charlottesville and Wintergreen. 5 bedrooms, 4/1 baths, List Price $897,000

For immediate personal assistance and detailed information on this Virginia Vineyard for sale call Toby Beavers, Virginia vineyard realtor: 434-979-0005.

The Information Data Exchange is an innovative program between cooperating members to provide complete listing information to the public. Through the cooperative effort of Real Estate III, we have selected the above property for your inspection.

Breathtaking mountain views and 19 +/- acres of gently rolling mostly open pasture are just 2 of the magnificent features of this mini estate situated overlooking the Barboursville Vineyard. This well built 3 Bdrm, 2 Bth brick ranch has a spacious open floor plan, updated kitchen appliances, corian countertops, attached 2 car garage & det. workshop/garage, jalousie porch,and small barn. Enjoy the private setting of country living with a convenient location only 15 min. to Charlottesville! 3 bedrooms, 2/0 baths, List Price $550,000

For immediate personal assistance and detailed information on this Virginia Vineyard for sale call Toby Beavers, Virginia vineyard realtor: 434-979-0005.

The Information Data Exchange is an innovative program between cooperating members to provide complete listing information to the public. Through the cooperative effort of Premier Virginia Properties, we have selected the above property for your inspection.

Virginia Wines Take Home Gold

The next time you need in bring a fine bottle of wine to your best friend's dinner party, skip the French, California, and South African wines, and head over to the local Virginia section.

There you will find a variety of wines to suit whatever taste you are in need of.

There is no doubt that you will be impressed by the quality and taste that is now found in Virginia wines, not to mention the pride in drinking something that has been created so close to your home.

The numerous countryside wineries found just a short drive from the hustling nation's capitol are expanding and impressing more palates than ever before.

 For Virginians, their pride in their wine is not only just about the taste but also about the family businesses and the atmosphere of the Virginia wineries.

Children can stomp grapes and celebrate the harvest, while adults can enjoy an aged bottle of wine over a three-course dinner. Wine makers today hope that your choice of Virginia wine will continue to spread the knowledge and pleasure that comes along with saying, "Make mine Virginia wine!"

Virginia is a state that is recognized for its rich history, rolling Blue Ridge Mountains, sweet tasting ham, and, more recently, wine.

Wine country in Virginia has flourished immensely over the last few years with the help of a new generation of very talented wine makers.

The wine industry in Jefferson's Virginia has sprouted from only six wineries in 1979 to ninety-two wineries and 262 vineyards today.

Wine now annually contributes over one hundred million dollars lo the state's economy.

Virginia is now ranked the 10 largest grape producer in the country and attracts almost 500,000 tourists to the wineries each war.

With time, wine producers have learned through research, new technology, and experimentation how to make a better wine.

A better wine means more recognition, and Virginia wines continue to garner awards every year, making them a more prestigious competitor in the market for wine.

Earlier this summer, wine lovers congregated at the 23rd annual Virginia Governor's Clip wine competition, which developed from one of the ideas of the Virginia Wineries Association.

Thirty-five wine buyers, writers, consumers, restaurateurs and sommeliers gathered in our nation's capital to enjoy 261 entries of Virginia's most outstanding wines, and Governor Mark Warner of Virginia presented 183 award medals.

Governor Warner, Virginia's sixty-ninth governor and an avid lover of wines, instituted the first ever strategic plan for the Virginia Wine industry last year, in which he challenged the wine industry lo strive for nothing but excellence in their wine quality.

This year's award winning wines were no doubt the product of hard work and met the high standards set by the Governor.

One Governor's Cup judge, Joe Borello, Executive Director of the Tasters Guild, noted that he "was pleasantly surprised at the variety of wines in the competition," and felt that the industry held a bright future.

Governor Mark Warner presented five Charlottesville area wineries with gold medals.

The winners included Keswick Vineyards 2003 Chardonnay in the Varietal: Chardonnay Barell category, the Barboursville Winery Inc. 2001 Octagon for the Varietal: Meritage-Red category, the 2003 Kenmar Dessert Wine by Veritas Winery in the Dessert Wine category, Autumn Hill Vineyard's 2004 Petite Verdot/Merlot won the Proprietary-Red category, and the Blenheim Vineyards 2002 King Family Merlot won the gold in the Merlot category.

The Virginia Governor's cup also handed out twenty-four silver medals to Charlottesville area wineries in several different categories including Sparkling Brut, Merlot and Cabernet Franc.

This year's Virginia Governor's Cup went to the James River Cellars of Hanover County for their 2004 Dolce Vino dessert wine.

This wine incorporates pear and lychee flavors to produce a sweet wine that is perfect for an after dinner treat, or paired with cheeses or cheesecake.

The Best White wine award went to the local Keswick Vineyards 2003 Chardonnay and the Best Red was awarded to the AmRhien Wine Cellars 2003 Petit Verdot.

The awards presentation was followed by a reception in which all gold medal-winning wines could be sampled.

lt is clear from the work of these dedicated grape producers that Virginia is well on its way to becoming established in the world of wine.

The competition for the highly prized Governor's Cup becomes fiercer each year and the superb quality of the wines submitted makes it harder and harder to choose a winner.

The praise for Virginia wine keeps rolling in and the wine continues to live up to the high standards.

As Washington Post wine columnist Michael Franz has said, "The best wines in Virginia are really comparable to the best wines in the U.S. and. in some ways, the better wines in the world, and Virginia has real first-rate beauty."

So, the next time you are searching for that perfect bottle, don't give in to the allure of a fancy European wine, stick to your roots and make yours Virginia wine.

Barboursville Vineyards Blends Antebellum History with Italian Winemaking

 by Jason Tesauro

Thirty miles southeast of Madison County - where you can experience the best native brook trout fishing on the East Coast - is Virginia's most honored winery.

Barboursville Vineyards is also home to Palladio Restaurant and the historic ruins of Governor Barbour's man¬sion, designed in 1814 by Thomas Jefferson.

Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains on an idyllic 900-acre estate, classic Italian vines of Pinot Grigio, Barbera, Sangiovese and Nebbiolo mature next to French varieials such as Viognier, Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

To sip these wines is to sup not only upon the most intrepid winemaking in the state, but the most sophisticated vineyard dining and wine tourism in the Commonwealth.

Two centuries, one estate.

The grandest residence in Orange County was quite filling for one of early Virginia's governors. James Barbour, like his neighbor James Madison, served as President of the Albemarle Agricultural Society. He was also a U.S. Senator, Ambassador to Great Britain, and Secretary of War during John Quincy Adams's administration.

The Barbour Mansion is defined by a pair of Palladian porticoes and stalwart brick walls surrounding Jefferson's signature octagonal parlor.

On Christmas Day 1884, fire razed the residence, though the family had time to rescue themselves and many furnishings before resuming their holiday feast - as legend has it - on the lawn.

The mansion was never restored, and the ruins stand as they were, with many artifacts on display at the Visitor's Center. Barbour and his family are buried on the estate in a simple gravesite adjacent to the vineyard.

Once a working plantation and sheep farm, the Barbour estate was reborn as a winery in 1976. Barboursville Vineyards was founded by Italian visionary Gianni Zonin, patriarch of the largest family-owned wine group in Italy.

With seven generations of winemaking experience, the Zonin family extended its broad holdings from Italy's Piedmont to Virginia's Piedmont by reinvigorating the clay soil of Barboursville to plant the first vast selections vitis vinifer-vines in Virginia.

Winemaker Luca Paschina and viticultrist Fernando Franco have since led Barboursville Vineyards to over five hundred wine competition awards, including 2003 gold medals al the Governor's Cup, Virginia's top competi¬tion, for the Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2001 and Chardonnay Reserve 2001.

Luca's passion for Virginia and a world-class style of small yield, high quality wines earned him accolades as Virginia Wine Industry Person of the Year in 2002.

Taste the Octagon

Raised in the Piedmont region of Italy, Luca Paschina is at home again in the Virginian countryside. Barboursville Vineyards is the largest producer in terms of acres planted to vines, yet a philosophy of character over volume restricts the total number of cases per year to 25,000-30,000, which ranks only third or fourth in the state depending on the vintage.

The premier white grape of Virginia is Viognier, a Rhone varietal heralded for floral and apricot flavors. Barboursville's Viognier Reserve 2002 is exceptional; though arguably not even its best white grape.

The Italian wine-maker's best selling white is a soft, ripe Pinot Grigio 2003 that bespeaks apple, pear, and tropical notes.

For Chardonnay fans, there are two options: the barrel-fermented Chardonnay Reserve 2002 evokes white Burgundy with medium-full body and restrained oak influence, while the non-reserve is a crisp version fermented in stainless steel.

Cabernet Franc, famous in Bordeaux and the Loire Valley, is the venerable red grape of Virginia, and Barboursville's Cabernet Franc 2000 is the house wine at The Inn at Little Washington.

The Italian heritage is evident in the vineyards where Tuscany's favorite son, Sangiovese, mingles with Piedmont-inspired Barbera and sumptuous Nebbiolo grapes.

Nonetheless, Barboursville's marquis label is Octagon, the namesake of Jefferson's eight-sided parlor design at the Barbour mansion.

This Merlot-based Bordeaux blend is produced only in outstanding vintages - six times in the last sixteen years - prompting Sir Michael Broadbent of Decanter magazine to declare the Third Edition, "Impressive...and seriously good."

Eat with your wine, drink with your food. Adjacent to the winery is the elegant and authentic Palladio Restaurant, named after Andrea Palladio, the 16th century architect who inspired Jefferson.

Chef Melissa Close, a James Beard Foundation honoree, creates monthly menus incorporating Virginia's finest farm-raised produce, which Maitre d' Alessandro Medici classically pairs with vintages from Barboursville and other Zonin producers.

Southern Living reviewed the Northern-Italian-meets-Old-Dominion experience last autumn as, "The best meal I have ever eaten."

The reservation book swells with singular romantic dinners, sterling business luncheons, and yearly events celebrating harvest, morel mushrooms, black truffles, and guest chefs such as Roberto Donna of Galileo Restaurant.

Before clinking glasses of sparkling Barboursville Brut at Palladio, tour the winery, stroll the rolling vineyard hills, and sip with friends in the Tasting Room where $3 buys a souvenir glass in which to sam¬ple more than a dozen wines. Besides daily tastings.

Barboursville hosts perennial events not to he missed, including "Opera in the Vineyard" (6/12) when the Virginia Opera performs under the stars at the Ruins, and The Annual Shakespeare at the Ruins" (throughout August) whence wine and food are enjoyed as Much Ado About Nothing is staged in the round.

More than a bed and a bottle

Where else can you find century-old boxwoods, flowing Cabernet Franc, and a James Beard-honored chef all within walk¬ing distance?

The Main House at Barboursville Vineyards lavishes guests in secluded luxury with history, wine, and food.

Built in the late 1700s as the Barbour family guest house, the Main House transports you 200 years back in time while affording the modern amenities of three large suites.

Period furnishings and reproduction antiques turn a bedroom, bath, and reading room into an exclusive winery retreat.

Only fifty feet from the Barbour mansion, guests soak in the Monticello Viticultural Area vistas during the afternoon, and then relax on a private balcony to enjoy the lighted ruins in the evening.

Breakfast is included, and catered private dining from Palladio is available; Grand Opening is slated for harvest 2004.

Predating the Barbour mansion is The Vineyard Cottage Inn. Erected in the late 18m century, the rustic cottage was lovingly restored as a serene private getaway.

Perfect for two couples, the cottage features a glass-enclosed sunroom that inspires languid vineyard gazing and intimate sipping.

A short drive away, Gordonsville and Orange offer charming B&Bs, antiques shopping, and James Madison's Montpelier, while a scenic route speeds you to nearby Charlottesville, University of Virginia, and Jefferson's Monticello.

A delicious daytrip

If you haven't yet explored wine country, Virginia's Piedmont and Italy's Piedmont are ripe for discovery at Barboursville Vineyards.

More reasons to imbibe Barboursville, Palladio Restaurant, and the fascinating flavors of Virginian viniculture can be found at BarboursvilleWine.com and PalladioRestaurant.com.

Very Virginia Vino

Over the centuries, there have been a variety of bars - beer and alcohol bars, coffee bars, ice cream bars and Spanish tapas bars.

Now in Charlottesville, we have a wine bar. VA Vino opened last week at Fourth and Main streets on the Downtown Mall.

The wine bar is devoted exclusively to Virginia wines. "We are striving to have at least one wine from each of the eighty-seven Virginia wineries.

In many instances there will be more than one wine from a single producer," said Michael Shaps, co-owner of VA Vino with his wife, Christie, and Ellen and David King, owners of King Family Vineyards.

VA Vino is the brainchild of Michael and Christie Shaps, both of who have been involved with Virginia wines for a number of years.

Michael Shaps is a well-known Virginia winemaker and is associated with King Family Vineyards.

He also consults with a number of other Virginia wineries. Christie Shaps has been prominent in the marketing of Virginia wines.

This new venture is a wonderful opportunity to taste a cross-section of Virginia wines - ranging from the familiar Chardonnays and Cabernet Francs to unusual varieties and blends.

VA Vino has indoor and outdoor seating on the mall.

Its informal atmosphere is conducive to lingering awhile and enjoying a tasting, a flight of several wines or a full glass of a single Virginia wine.

A tasting of Virginia wine starts at $2.

A flight of Virginia wines consists of four 1½-ounce pourings of wine. A single wine is available by the glass or for purchase by the bottle. A minimum of 30 different wines will be available at all times.

Small plates of cheese designed to accompany either red or white wines are available for purchase. There are also baguettes, pates and special desserts to accompany the wines.

VA Vino has outdoor seating for 40. The inside features banquettes and tables. The elegant tasting bar also has seating on bar stools.

"We have designed a special room for seminars, which we will hold periodically," Michael Shaps said.

"They will feature talks on wine making, and food and wine pairings by wine experts," Christie Shaps added. They eventually hope to establish an Internet wine club.

Michael Shaps has been very much a part of the Central Virginia wine scene for almost 10 years.

Shaps is originally from New York and graduated with a degree in economics from Skidmore University. One of his first jobs was buying wine for a large Boston restaurant.

This got Shaps interested in the nuances of wine and led him to the Wine University in Bonne, France. After completing the two-year, course he graduated with a degree in enology and viticulture.

Once back on the East Coast, Shaps moved to Charlottesville in 1995 and joined Jefferson Vineyards. With the 2000 vintage, he produced wines under his own label, "Michael Shaps," from grapes grown by his partners at King Family Vineyard in Crozet. He continues to serve as winemaker there.

Another recent new venture for Michael and Christie Shaps is a partnership in a French winery in Burgundy, just south of Bonne, near where he went to school. He hopes to produce Pinot Noir there and hopefully bring back some to this area in the near future.

"We are pleased to be involved in VA Vino and hope to raise the awareness of Virginia wines," Ellen King said.

Best of luck to VA Vino, the Shaps and the Kings.

Hilde G. Lee is a food writer and co-author of "Virginia Wine Country III" with her husband, Allan Lee. She can be reached at hildelee@adelphia.net.

Which are the best grapes to invest in?

There are hundreds of different varieties of grape. The more popular grape varietals naturally fetch top dollar when sold. Grapes grown in Napa Valley continue to bring the highest price per ton of any premium grapes grown in California.

The 1999, average prices for ultra premium Virginia grapes were as follows: Cabernet Sauvignon $2,000 to $3,000 per ton, Merlot $2,000 to $2,800 per ton, Cabernet Franc $1,950 to $2,500 per ton, Chardonnay $2,000 to $3,000 per ton, Pinot Noir $1,800 to $3,000 per ton, and Zinfandel $1,800 to $3,000 per ton.

It follows that the more valuable the grape, the more valuable the vineyard. It is particularly important when evaluating a vineyard for purchase to take note of whether or not the varietal is properly matched to the vineyard.

Chardonnay, for example, likes warm days and cool nights for best results. Cabernet Sauvignon favors a warm environment.

 If the varietal was not properly matched to the soil, water and temperature characteristics of the vineyard, it will not produce the quality of grape that will bring top dollar. These factors need to be considered when appraising a vineyard.

"Think of the world's great travel destinations," says Luca Paschina, wine maker at Barboursville Vineyards near Charlottesville. "Each has history, landscape, food and wine. That's the beauty of Virginia. It has all these things."

Jefferson's Virginia: America's hottest new wine country

Washing down a morsel of Virginia Pecorino with Barboursville's deliciously sweet Malvaxia Passito at Palladio, the winery's restaurant, I find it easy to concur.

Outside, history and landscape await -- the homes of America's third, fourth and fifth presidents nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. But they'll have to wait a bit longer. After a four-course lunch with wine pairings, I need a nap.

I have come with my wife, Heather, to explore the wineries of the Monticello appellation, the largest of six designated viticultural regions in a state that has a quickly growing wine industry. Having resettled from New York to the nearby Shenandoah Valley, we want to learn more about the expanding local wine market and follow those white road signs emblazoned with a grape cluster and the word "Tours."

The first sign led us here, to the 850-acre Barboursville estate, the birthplace of Virginia's modern wine industry and an ideal starting point on the Monticello Wine Trail.

Thirty years ago, Italian wine maker Gianni Zonin bought this land and sent vineyard manager Gabriele Rausse to grow European grapes, a dream that had eluded Virginians since the early 1600s, when delicate French vines imported by Jamestown colonists succumbed to heat, humidity, and pests.

Through expertise and patience, Rausse succeeded, and today, the state boasts more than 250 vineyards and attracts half a million winery tourists every year.

Now the head viticulturist for Monticello, Rausse passed the Barboursville mantle on to Paschina, who oversees 150 acres of cabernet franc, sangiovese, viognier, pinot gris and other vinifera varietals, as well as the production of 30,000 cases of wine a year.

Like its wines, the Barboursville estate has aged well in its three decades.

 It now draws visitors from all over the world to taste wines or sample chef Melissa Close's northern Italian fare at Palladio while staying overnight at the sumptuous 1804 Inn, a restored manor house opened last year.

Decorated with antique chests, tables and oil portraits, the three-room suites overlook the ruins of the landmark Barbour mansion, which burned in 1884 and was one of only five residences designed by Thomas Jefferson.

The mansion's octagonal drawing room inspired the name of Barboursville's signature wine, Octagon, a Bordeaux-style blend.

After exploring the ruins and the tree-sized boxwoods surrounding them, Heather and I head to the tasting room. Smelling, swirling, sipping and chewing, we sample the wines we missed at lunch.

We learn which grapes prosper here and which vintages are considered tops from Alan Sarbin, a wine lover from Ohio who retired to Virginia and decided he'd rather sniff corks than chase golf balls.

Sarbin gives us a tour of the facility, with its crushers, stainless steel chilling tanks and stacks of oak barrels. Though we're here on a quiet weekday morning, "people line up six deep at the tasting bar on weekends," he says, a sign of the exploding popularity of the wineries.

That evening, we discover more evidence of the burgeoning local wine scene. With an hour to kill before our dinner reservations in Charlottesville, we pop into Vavino, a wine bar, retail shop and education center on the historic downtown pedestrian mall.

From a menu of more than 30 wines, we each order a flight of four samples.

(More than 150 wine selections are offered by the bottle.) "We're always rotating brands," says co-owner Christie Shaps, who gives us the lowdown on what we're drinking.

Her husband, Michael, is a wine maker who consults for several wineries in the Monticello appellation, including Keswick Vineyards and King Family Vineyards.

Dinner is yet another chance to try something different. At the nearby C & O Restaurant, sommelier Elaine Futhey's much-lauded wine list places local wines alongside heavy hitters from California and France.

I order a glass of Gabriele Rausse cabernet sauvignon, a light-bodied red with a cherry finish made all the more exciting by the fact that it's produced in quantities small enough to deliver by pickup truck.

That's the beauty of touring the Virginia wine country -- discovering the small producers, learning about their personal history (Rausse is a legend around here), and beginning to connect to something intimate and neighborly.

At Jefferson Vineyards, a few miles southeast of Charlottesville next to Monticello, you also feel a connection to historic soil.

The next day, Chad Zakaib, Jefferson's general manager, pours the winery's signature Estate Reserve, made from fruit grown on the same land where Thomas Jefferson and Italian Filippo Mazzei started a vineyard in the 1770s.

They nearly fulfilled Jefferson's dream of launching a wine industry in Virginia, but the vineyards were destroyed during the American Revolution. Two centuries later, the industry is thriving. We could spend a week visiting the 21 Monticello appellation vineyards alone.

"Our 30-year tenure shows in the way we understand soil and climate," says Paschina about Barboursville, "but the best is yet to come." Jefferson, who called good wine "a necessary of life," would certainly raise a glass to that.

Before You Purchase A Virginia Vineyard

Let's assume that you have picked a vineyard that you like. What questions should you ask the seller or the agent representing the owner?

Here's a checklist:

Is there a survey of the property?

Is there a soils analysis?

What are the sources of water? i.e., wells, springs, reservoirs?

Is there a well drillers report? (to establish gpm)

Is there a water analysis to test for bacteria, chemicals, or minerals?

If there is a reservoir, how many acre feet is it?

What is the source that feeds it?

Is it filled year round by a spring or is it seasonal?

How is the vineyard irrigated, if at all?

Does the owner have a vineyard layout or a plot plan showing:

a) The varietals of grapes by block?

b) The age of the vines?

c) The root stock that each variety is planted on?

d) Number of vines in each varietal?

e) Production per acre of each varietal?

f) Who buys the grapes and for how much?

g) Is there frost control and what type is it?

h) Are there any known diseases in the vineyard?

i) What equipment is included in the sale?

j) Is there a contract for the grapes?

Words of wisdom

There are excellent vineyard managers and viticulturalists in almost every wine growing appellation that will be happy to work with you to thoroughly investigate your potential vineyard acquisition for a minimal fee. I strongly recommend that all potential vineyard acquisitions be investigated by a professional before closing escrow. We will be happy to refer them to you. Feel free to call any time 434-409-6510. Happy hunting.

 Finding your way

A vineyard is such a specialized investment it is probably in your best interest to use a broker or agent experienced in vineyard transactions to make your purchase.Owning a vineyard can be financially rewarding and personally satisfying. Like any other investment, it takes forethought and patience to realize the most success.If you are interested in buying a vineyard, I invite you to go to my questionnaire. Fill out the questions and click on the submit button. I am looking forward to helping you discover your dream of living in the wine country.

All Aboard!

We are nearing the end of the third quarter of 2007 and it is our opinion that we (as grape growers) are in the worst of the bad times right now.

There are indicators that the economy at large is beginning to turn around.

If our predictions were right a year ago, by mid 2009 vineyard owners should begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

The wineries should be paying more money for our grapes starting in 2008, and wine sales should be gaining ground as well.

Since we will be a lagging indicator one must think of our upward momentum like a locomotive slowly starting and gaining steam over several years.

At this point the train conductor is checking tickets and getting ready to yell out All Aboard!

 It won't be long until vineyard values start to increase again and new comers will not wish to miss this train.

Some of the items that appear to be strong indications that a turn around may follow soon;

The DOW component of the Stock market has climbed 30% since the beginning of the year to or near it's all time high.

Unemployment is showing signs of easing after 2.5 years of job losses.

Grape prices are coming back in some varietals.

Very few grape vines have been planted in the last 3 years.

Tens of thousands of acres of grapes planted in Central Valley of California have been ripped out to be planted to other types of agricultural products.

July 2003 was the strongest economic growth in the USA in 3 years.

The American public spent more disposable income on GNP in July 2003 and used fewer credit cards than in the last 3 years.

Wine sales in the higher quality and priced wines are growing faster than the middle and lower priced wines.

Last but not least, it appears that Two Buck Chuck will have to be renamed Four Buck Chuck.

Virginia Wineries & Vineyards

Afton Mountain Vineyards
9.5 acres Nelson County. Savor the taste of fine wines in the mountain
grandeur of Virginia's most beautiful farm winery.

Wines: Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot,
Chenin Blanc.

Tours: Mar-Dec, Wed-Mon 10-6; Jan-Feb, Fri-Mon 11-5 or by appt.

Route 3 Box 574, Afton, VA 22920
Tel: (540) 456-8667

Autumn Hill Vineyards
13 Acres Greene County. Award winning wines since 1986. Modern winery
overlooking Blue Ridge Mountains.

Wines: Chardonnay, Riesling, Blush, Cabernet Sauvignon. Phone sales
year round

Tours: n/a

Route 1 Box 199C, Stanardsville, VA 22973
Tel: (434) 985-6100

Barboursville Vineyards
85 acres of European vinifera, Orange County. Historic ruins of Governor
Barbour's mansion designed by Thomas Jefferson. Picnic area & bus tours
welcome by appt.

Wines: Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Barbera, Malvaxia, Traminer Aromatico.

Tours: Sat 10-4:30 on the hour; tastings and sales: Mon-Sat 10-5, Sun 11-5.

P.O. Box 136, RR 777, Barboursville, VA 22923
Tel: (540) 832-3824

Burnley Vineyards
20 acres Albemarle Co. Monticello v.a. Tastings & banquet rooms overlooking
heart of Virginia countryside.

Wines: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Riesling, Rivanna Sunset (Blush),
Daniel Cellars Somerset.

Tours: Jan-Feb weekends only, Mar-Dec, Thur-Mon 11-5

Rt 1, Box 122, Barboursville, VA 22923
Tel: (540) 832-2828

Chermont Winery, Inc.
12 acres established in 1978 in the rolling hills of southern Albemarle
County.

Wines: Chardonnay, Riesling (Dry & Semi-Sweet), Cabernet Sauvignon.

Tours: Tue-Sat 12-5 pm. Sun by appt. (Jan-Mar by appt. only.) Closed
Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day, heavy snow days.

Address: Rt 1, Box 59, Esmont, VA 22937
Tel: (434) 286-2211

Horton Cellars Winery
65 acre vineyard Orange County. Taste nationally acclaimed wines in our
old world tudor winery. Winner of over 40 national medals in 1994. Our
unique wines bring new tastes to the palate.

Wines: Rhones-Viognier, Marsanne, Mouvedre; Norton & all Montdomaine wines.

Tours: Wine shop open daily 11-5.

6399 Spotswood Trail, Gordonsville, VA 22942
Tel: (540) 832-7440
http://web.archive.org/web/20041010111603/http://www.hvwine.com/

Jefferson Vineyards
16 acres Albemarle County. Tastings of the largest selection of vinifera variety
wines in the state.

Wines: Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Riesling.

Tours: Mar-Nov 11-5 daily, except major holidays, Dec-Feb by appt.

Route 9, Box 293, Charlottesville, VA 22902
Tel: (434) 977-0800
http://web.archive.org/web/20041010111603/http://www.jeffersonvineyards.com/

Montdomaine Cellars
40 acres produced by Horton Cellars. Come visit our winery overlooking
acres of vineyards. Gift shop, wooded picnic area. 1993 Governor's Cup
winner. Over 20 wines for sale.

Wines: Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Heritage & all Horton wines.

Tours: Shop open Mar-Nov 26, Wed-Sun 12-5, Dec-Feb by appt.

Address: Route 6 Box 188A, Charlottesville, VA 22902
Phone: (434) 971-8947

Mountain Cove Vineyards
12 acres in Nelson County.

Wines: Blended reds and whites, rose, peach, apple

Tours: Apr-Dec, daily 1-5; Jan-Mar, Wed-Sun 1-5.

Route 1 Box 139, Lovingston, VA 22949
Tel: (434) 263-5392

Oakencroft Vineyard & Winery
17 acres Albemarle County. Idyllic farm setting.

Wines: Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Countryside White,
Jefferson Claret & others.

Tours: Jan-Feb by appt; Mar open weekends, 11-5; Apr-Dec, open daily
11-5.

1486 Oakencroft Lane, Charlottesville, Virginia 22901
Tel: (434) 296-4188
http://web.archive.org/web/20041010111603/http://www.oakencroft.com/

Prince Michel Vineyards
100 acres. French Provincial winery houses restaurant, museum &
gift shop. Enjoy a unique self-guided tour & informative complimentary
tasting.

Wines: Chardonnay, Blends of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc &
Merlot.

Tours: Open 10-5 daily except major holidays.

HCR 4 Box 77, leon, VA 22725
Tel: (540) 547-3707
http://web.archive.org/web/20041010111603/http://www.princemichel.com/

First Colony Winery (formerly Totier Creek Vineyard & Winery)
Owner Randy McElroy bought the former Totier Creek Winery in December
2000, and has since made impressive renovations, including the addition of
a 5,000-square foot Tasting Room and plantings of over 1,200 grape vines.
The 2001 harvest produced the first wines under the new name and the
official release is set for early spring. 62 acres total production in Albemarle
County.

Wines: Chardonnay, Vidal Blanc, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet
Sauvignon

Tours: The inviting new tasting room, winery and gift shop are open daily
from 11am to 5pm for complimentary tours and tastings. A variety of indoor
and outdoor seating is available for picnics, group tastings and private
parties.Please call for group rates. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New
Year�s Day.

Harris Creek Road, Charlottesville, VA 22902
Phone: (434) 979-7105
www.firstcolonywinery.com

White Hall Vineyards
Modern winery with spectacular mountain views. Handicap accessible.
Wines: Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon

Tours: Call for tour info. Sugar Ridge Rd, White Hall, VA 22987

Tel: (434) 823-8615
http://web.archive.org/web/20041010111603/http://www.whitehallvineyards.com/

Wintergreen Winery
Experience renowned hospitality and award-winning wines while soaking in
panoramic mountain views at this family owned and operated winery and
vineyards. Located in the beautiful Rockfish Valley on the eastern slope of the
Blue Ridge near the Blue Ridge Parkway and Wintergreen Resort, the winery
offers spectacular scenery throughout the seasons. Part of the original historic
Highview Plantation, the vineyard sites are well-suited to the growing of
Vinifera and Hybrid varieties that produce a wide array of premium wines.
Nestled inside a 19th century farm building is the state-of-the-art winery
operation, a comfortable tasting room and one of the finest winery gift shops in
the state.

Wines: Black Rock Chardonnay, Chardonnay, Three Ridges White, Thomas
Nelson White,Riesling, Blush, Three Ridges Red, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon,
Cabernet Franc, Mill Hill Apple Wine, Mill Hill Apple Mulling Kit and a specialty
Raspberry dessert wine.

Tours: Open daily, year round, for complimentary tastings, tours, and shopping.
(Please call for group reservations and rates.) April through October daily
10am - 6pm; November through March daily 10am - 5pm (Closed Thanksgiving
Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day)

PO Box 648, 462 Winery Lane, Nellysford, VA 22958
Tel: (434) 361-2519
http://web.archive.org/web/20041010111603/http://www.wintergreenwinery.com/

What does it cost to produce a glass of wine?

The next time you are drinking that $12.00 glass of "Premium" wine your favorite Four Star restaurant, remember that the actual cost to produce that glass of wine was under $2.00.

However, this price does not take into consideration millions of dollars of wine making equipment, the time that it took to grow the "Premium" grapes, and all of the people that had a hand in getting it to your lips. Just enjoy it for what it is. It's well worth the $12.00 you paid.

If you are interested in becoming involved in wine making or growing "Premium" wine grapes in central Virginia, let me know. We would be very happy to get you on the right path. You may wish to fill out the Vineyard Shoppers Questionnaire and let us know what your dream of living in the Piedmont wine country is all about.

LUDIVINUM - The wine School

Bernard BRUZAC propose you to discover Languedoc wines and vineyards and initiate you to oenology

Robert Parker On line& The independent consumer's guide to fine wines

Into Wine Exploring the world of wine

Virginia General Assembly's web site, Get involved and let your representative know how to help support the Virginia wine industry. http://web.archive.org/web/20041010111603/http://legis.state.va.us/

Commercial Grape Varieties for Virginia, Virginia Cooperative Extension publication number 463-019, published in 1999, has recently been posted to a public web site. The full-color publication can be downloaded for free (save the $10 cost of hardcopy version). Here is the direct URL for the publication http://web.archive.org/web/20041010111603/http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/viticulture/463-019/463-019.pdf

Mid-Atlantic Winegrape Growers Guide. This 1995 publication is currently out of print (and out of date) but can still be downloaded at the following url: HTTP://www.ces.ncsu.edu/resources/winegrape/ The Guide is currently in the process being revised. This is a team effort and about one-half of the chapters have been revised. Expected publication in print will be in the spring of 2004.

Free the Grapes!Five industry organizations�representing hundreds of wineries in 43 states--banded together in Spring 1998 to focus their collective resources on the critical issue of direct shipping. By working together we can augment the 3-tier system, provide necessary controls and regulations, and more efficiently serve the needs of adult wine lovers in a dynamic marketplace.

Map Muse- a great mapping site that lets you find wineries and vineyards in Virginia. We hope to be able to enhance the listings with input from our members. *This site works best (only?) in Internet Explorer.

Virginia Wine Guide: An independent consumers' guide to Virginia wines published six times a year on-line by the Virginia Wine & Food Society, Inc. The Virginia Wine Guide also includes The Virginia Wine and Food Society, Inc. - a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to broaden awareness of and foster appreciation for Virginia wines and the foods grown and prepared in Virginia that best accompany them.

WinerySite.com - clasified advertising for the wine and grape industry in Northern America.

CAWG - The California Assn. of Wine Growers. They have an excellent site and have a reciprocal link to the VVA.

North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. A state site that includes a wealth of information and puts the growers with the winemakers.
http://www.ncwine.org/

vinXchange is essentially a composite of its participants and the information they wish to share with others to promote their own businesses and services within the wine industry.

Dr. Tony Wolf, State Viticulture Specialist. Information for all Virginia winegrowers. http://web.archive.org/web/20041010111603/http://www.vaes.vt.edu/winchester/faculty/wolf/wolf.html

Dr. Tony Wolf's collection of bimonthly newsletters.
http://web.archive.org/web/20041010111603/http://www.ext.vt.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/Docs.woa/wa/getnews?cat=tt-news-viti

Dr. Bruce Zoecklin and the Enology & Grape Chemistry Group, part of the Department of Food Science and Technology at Virginia Tech.
http://web.archive.org/web/20041010111603/http://www.fst.vt.edu/zoecklein/index.html

Dougls G. Pfeiffer, Professor, Department of Entomology, Virginia Tech. Extension, Research and Teaching in Fruit Crops
http://www.ento.vt.edu/Fruitfiles/VAFS.html

Hundreds of links to wine and grape sites all over the world. The rest of the site is entertaining as well.
http://web.archive.org/web/20041010111603/http://www.clospepe.com/links.htm

Listing of vineyard suppliers and services. Pertinent to the mid-atlantic region. http://web.archive.org/web/20041010111603/http://www.agr.state.nc.us/markets/commodit/horticul/grape/supplies.htm

Weed identification:http://web.aces.uiuc.edu/weedid

Pesticide information from the Chemical & Pharmaceutical Press: http://web.archive.org/web/20041010111603/http://www.greenbook.net/

Pest Management guidelines from the University of California: http://web.archive.org/web/20041010111603/http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/selectnewpest.grapes.html

Cornell University - Viticulture "Grape Pages": http://web.archive.org/web/20041010111603/http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/hort/faculty/pool/GrapePagesIndex.html

Northwest Berry & Grape Information Network: http://web.archive.org/web/20041010111603/http://www.orst.edu/dept/infonet/index.htm

Thanks for visiting...

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