Edward and I originally came to the Shenandoah Valley to retire, and here we are today! I was born in D.C., and my family migrated to California when I was two. However, our extended family stayed on the East coast. We traveled to Virginia, Maryland, and the New England area at least every other summer to visit grandmothers, uncles, aunts, and my cousins. When we returned, my heart always stayed on the East coast. I met Edward, a California boy, in high school. We raised three amazing kids and generally loved life, but I always wanted to go back and retire on the East coast. So.......I dragged my California man East and began searching for a place to spend the rest of our lives.
We finally settled here in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. Did we always want to start a vineyard and run a winery? No! When we bought this place we met a couple who had purchased property in Woodstock with a small vineyard on it. That's where we got the idea to plant some vines for our own consumption. After talking to a vineyard consultant, and having our soil tested by Virginia Tech, we went for three acres. Well, that evolved to six acres, which then evolved to deciding to build a winery!
No, we never knew anything about viticulture or wine making. Ed was in precision sheet metal, and I was a surgical tech for labor & delivery in California. We found perseverance and learned as much as we could for our new adventure.
Please come and enjoy the fruits of our labor, our wonderful wines and inviting tasting room, and celebrate "part 2" of our life with us.
The view of the property from a drone: vimeo.com/167020708
Thank you, Cornerstone Tech!
We finally settled here in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. Did we always want to start a vineyard and run a winery? No! When we bought this place we met a couple who had purchased property in Woodstock with a small vineyard on it. That's where we got the idea to plant some vines for our own consumption. After talking to a vineyard consultant, and having our soil tested by Virginia Tech, we went for three acres. Well, that evolved to six acres, which then evolved to deciding to build a winery!
No, we never knew anything about viticulture or wine making. Ed was in precision sheet metal, and I was a surgical tech for labor & delivery in California. We found perseverance and learned as much as we could for our new adventure.
Please come and enjoy the fruits of our labor, our wonderful wines and inviting tasting room, and celebrate "part 2" of our life with us.
The view of the property from a drone: vimeo.com/167020708
Thank you, Cornerstone Tech!
We are constantly in the vineyard - pruning, hedging, spraying, and mowing. You end up touching each plant during a season at least 7 times a year. We start with winter pruning and end with the actual harvest in the fall.
So much goes into one bottle of wine! It starts with your soil- your terrior, the weather that particular year, your pruning technique, and in Virginia - your pest regime. We have fungus in the summer due to our humidity, and if we get a lot of rain that particular summer, we have insects and an abundance of WEEDS! You have to stay on top of everything. We've also previously been wiped out by birds!
When it comes to the flavor, it's the yeast you use, the type of oak barrel, and how long you ferment it that contributes to what you love in a quality wine. When you drink a glass of wine - savor it! It's a labor of love.
So much goes into one bottle of wine! It starts with your soil- your terrior, the weather that particular year, your pruning technique, and in Virginia - your pest regime. We have fungus in the summer due to our humidity, and if we get a lot of rain that particular summer, we have insects and an abundance of WEEDS! You have to stay on top of everything. We've also previously been wiped out by birds!
When it comes to the flavor, it's the yeast you use, the type of oak barrel, and how long you ferment it that contributes to what you love in a quality wine. When you drink a glass of wine - savor it! It's a labor of love.
