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Explore the Wine Journal's of your favorite vineyard!
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Often the most interesting roads lead to the most interesting wine. Located just south of Charlottesville, visitors to Virginia Wineworks can’t be faulted for a touch of trepidation as the gravel driveway leads them back into the dark woods. Just as the driver thinks they must have missed a turn, the winery appears on your left.
Founded by Michael Shaps and Phillip Stafford, Virginia Wineworks is full of surprises. The winery itself is a bit of a phoenix with both a winery and a commercial custom crush operation bursting at the seams of the old, and long dormant, Mondomaine Cellars property.
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Despite its agrarian appearances, the wine business requires great courage. When John and Shelby Higgs came home to the Shenandoah Valley after many years living abroad, it was with a bold vision of a winery on their family apple orchard. They converted the old apple barn into a state-of-the-art winery, preserving the original structure and exposed wood beams.
The Higgs return to Augusta County was an indirect route and included several European postings that helped hone their palate and their vision. A fortuitous posting in Switzerland exposed John to European grape varietals and winemaking tradition. Recognizingthe similarity in terrain, John thought establishing a vineyard could save the family apple orchard.
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Tucked in between the hills of Stafford, Potomac Point Winery is a welcome sensory delight. Containing a winery, a bistro as well as a 2,500 square foot ballroom, the warm red brick façade of the U-shaped building hides as much as it reveals. Located just minutesfrom Route 1, the visitor feels as if they have arrived in Italy rather than the Virginia piedmont.
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