Virginia's Eastern Wine Region
Wine Trail Tasty Way to Explore Virginia
Virginia's 80 wineries produce 576,000 gallons of wine annually and offer over 300 related events a year. Their are eight wineries on the Eastern Virginia Wine Trail.
Since 1607, when Captain John Smith first noticed grapes floating in the water in Jamestown, Virginia has had an on-again, off-again love affair with winemaking. The state now boasts over 80 wineries producing 576,000 gallons of wine annually and offering over 300 wine-related events a year. Virginia is not only for lovers, but for wine lovers as well.
Of the state's six designated grape-growing regions, the Eastern region has eight wineries, less than any other of the regions except the Shenandoah. This means a wine tour here can be more leisurely, allowing more time to enjoy the beauty and many attractions of this area .
Driving up to the Lake Anna Winery in Spotsylvania is a lovely experience. Winding roads and acres of green grapes on the vine greet the visitor. Located near Lake Anna on the western edge of the Eastern Wine Region, it's an excellent place to start a tour.
Owners Eric and Jeff Heidig bought the winery from their father Bill in 2001. The brothers immediately began working to expand production while continuing to produce fine wines.
"Our philosophy is simple," said Eric. "We strive to create a wide palette of diverse wines to accommodate an equally wide range of diverse palates of settings."
Head east from Lake Anna and you'll find Ingleside Vineyards in Oak Grove, one of Virginia's oldest wineries. It's also one of the largest, part of a 3,000-acre estate that has been in the Flemer family for over 100 years. The winery is located in Virginia's Northern Neck region, an uncommonly beautiful area. Two nearby rivers, the Rappahonnock and the Potomac, are credited with providing a favorable climate for the vines.
Although they are separated by over 60 miles, the two wineries have much in common. Both are family operations - brothers Eric and Jeff at Lake Anna, and at Ingleside, Doug Flemer, great-great grandson of original owner Charles Flemer, heads operations.
Both have wineries in former dairy barns. The Heidigs remodeled an old dairy barn with the help of family and friends in 1990. The Flemers property has been a boys' school, a Civil War garrison, a courthouse, and a dairy. The barns from the plantation now house the winery there.
Both operations cite climate and soil conditions similar to grape-growing regions in France as keys to their wine-making success.
Three other wineries on the Wine Tour are concentrated in the same general area as Lake Anna and Ingleside; Oak Crest Vineyard and Winery, Hummel Vineyards and James River Cellars. There's also Williamsburg Winery to the south and Bloxom Vineyard and Winery, located south of Chincoteague Island on Virginia’s Eastern Shore.
There are plenty of sources available to help you plan your own tour of Virginia's Eastern Wine Region. The Virginia Wine and Food Society can be reached at (703) 448-5566; they also have an excellent tour guide online .
There's no better time to, as the guide says, to "Swirl, sip and savor" Virginia's wines.
Lake Anna Winery is located at 5621 Courthouse Rd, Spotsylvania, VA. Their phone number is 540-895-5085 - or visit their website .
You'll find Ingleside Vineyards at 5872 Leedstown Rd., Oak Grove, VA. Their phone number is 804-224-8687 or visit their website .
