Early Mountain Vineyards

Made w/ grapes selected from our most productive vineyard block, from the moment we first tasted it we knew our merlot would be a crowd pleaser.

As​ the first variety harvested under early mountain vineyards ownership, this easy-to-love pinot gris comes w/ sentimental value.

Of dedicated wine & hospitality professionals make your visit memorable.

The most celebrated sparkling wine producer in Virginia, Claude Thibault’s “method champenoise” style pays homage to the region in which he grew up, Champagne, France. His global winemaking experience & prestige is apparent in these two gorgeous sparkling wines from vineyards near Charlottesville. A wine producer of choice at the Whitehouse!

Jim Law, Linden Vineyard’s owner, grower, & winemaker, is one of the most respected in the business. A great teacher, he hosts aspiring young winemakers for two-year apprenticeships. The winery is located in the town of Linden in Northern Virginia, & it’s known for its range of consistently outstanding Bordeaux-inspired wines.

The Wehner family operates this winery on a four-century-old farm located on Virginia’s Eastern Shore, between the Atlantic & the Chesapeake Bay. The moderate maritime climate lends itself to their unique European-styled wines.

Ankida is Sumerian for “where heaven & earth join.” And Virginia has certainly glimpsed a bit of heaven coming from this mother & son team. Christine & Nathan Vrooman are giving us a taste of Burgundy on the Blue Ridge, sustainably growing Pinot Noir & Chardonnay on their 1800-foot mountainside vineyard.

One Case Sweely 2007 Cabernet Franc One Case A: We do not currently ship wine, but sign up for our mailing list at the bottom of the homepage for upcoming announcements about purchasing & shipping wine. Inspired by Bordeaux but distinctly Virginian, each bottle reflects our conviction that Virginia can be one of the top wine regions in the world. Our wines speak purpose. All of our profits go to strengthening the Virginia community & to promoting local wine & viticulture. But most of all, our wines speak place. Early Mountain Vineyards proudly offers a wine portfolio that tells the story of this remarkable land.

Great wines tell a story, speaking the language of the Earth. Because Virginia has a temperate climate & varied soil composition similar to many great European wine regions, we’ve carefully selected grape varieties w/ an eye towards the Old World to best express our uniquely New World terroir.

Terroir Part of the Monticello Wine Trail, our ideal vineyard site is comprised of mostly Virginia red clay & quartz soils. Our temperate climate further benefits from a cooling mountain breeze that helps our grapes achieve fresh & more precise flavors. The mountains also shield the vineyard from some of the rain & extreme weather of locations even just a few miles away. Within the vineyards, the grapes are affected by varied microclimates, the different aspects & slopes of the hills, & their relative exposure to the sun. We’ve planted different grape varieties in specific parcels, known as blocks, to take advantage of & to express our varied terroir. Grape Varieties Merlot Merlot, along w/ Cabernet Sauvignon, is the signature grape of Bordeaux’s famous blends & the dominant grape of Bordeaux’s Right Bank. Merlot berries are larger, fleshier, & less tannic than Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, yielding softer & more opulent juice. Merlot thrives in Virginia in part because it ripens early, producing sensuous wines characterized by ripe berry flavors. Chardonnay Chardonnay is the signature white grape of Burgundy & Champagne. The grape results in both sleek mineral-driven wines w/ cool fruit flavors as well as rich full-bodied wines w/ tropical fruit and, when combined w/ oak, buttery flavors. In addition to being well suited to Virginia’s relatively mild weather, the versatile grape has found a home in Virginia for this reason; winemakers are able to give Chardonnay the stamp of their particular vision. Viognier As much as any French variety, Viognier has found great success in Virginia. Viognier is prized for producing nervy, yet fragrant & floral dry wines. While the grape imparts a rich almond flavor in France, in Virginia, reflecting the terroir, the wine frequently takes on a distinctive & more delicate honeysuckle character. Muscat The incredible variety of Muscat grapes suggests that it’s the oldest grape in the world. Muscat is typically grown to produce simple, aromatic wines characterized by citrus fruit & floral aromas; it’s also a common table grape. In Virginia, Muscat is usually a blending grape, cultivated to lend its appealing aromatic profile to wine. Petit Manseng Petit Manseng, from South West France, is another rising star in Virginia, valued for its ability to produce both dry & powerful but elegant late-harvest & dessert wines. Small, thick berries yield juice w/ great intensity of flavor & a backbone of acidity. Tropical fruit, apricot, quince, honey, exotic spice, & orange peel flavors are typical of the rich flavors this grape yields. Pinot Gris Also famously known as Italian Pinot Grigio, this variety truly thrives in Alsace & Oregon where it is the basis of smoky, mineral, & spice-driven wines of great intensity. A relative of Pinot Noir, the grape is blue/gray, but produces white juice. The grape is also increasingly popular in Virginia, where the terroir tends towards expressing the lighter, more floral side of the grape. Petit Verdot Petit Verdot is another Bordeaux blending grape that has had exciting results in Virginia. In Bordeaux the grape has difficulty ripening & is used sparingly usually to add tannin & another dimension of complexity to the blend. But Virignia winemakers have found that this tiny grape ripens more evenly here, producing dark & expressive juice. As a result, you will find some winemakers in the Commonwealth giving this variety a featured role in their blends & as single varietals. Cabernet Franc Historically Cabernet Franc has usually played a supporting role because of its ability to impart complexity & acidity to blends. However, Cabernet Franc is also the dominant grape in the famous “first growth” of the Right Bank, & in other great bottlings around the world. And this early ripening grape especially thrives in Virginia, resulting in wines w/ both juicy & earthy flavors ranging from raspberry to tobacco, all supported by a backbone of refreshing acidity. Cabernet Sauvignon The world’s most famous grape, Cabernet Sauvignon is featured in many premier & age-worthy wines. Prized for its ability to produce single varietal wines, as in Napa, & also as a dominant blending grape in Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon is a small, thick-skinned, tannic grape that produces intensely flavorful juice, characterized by notes of cassis & blackcurrant. Cabernet Sauvignon has had great success in Virginia both as a single varietal & as a blending grape, but it is especially sensitive to vintage character. Malbec Like Petit Verdot, another Bordeaux blending grape, Malbec has thrived in the New World, especially as the signature grape of Argentina. Malbec is far less cultivated in Virginia where, as in Bordeaux, it is used mainly for blending. But its dark flavors & velvety texture, combined w/ its good acidity, make this a variety worth watching.

A​ physical or electronic signature of a person authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed; Identification of the copyrighted work claimed to have been infringed, or, if multiple copyrighted works on the Site is covered by a single notification, a representative list of such works on the Site; Identification of the material that is claimed to be infringing or to be the subject of infringing activity & that is to be removed or access to which is to be disabled, & information reasonably sufficient to permit us to locate the material;

Identification of the material that has been removed or to which access has been disabled & the location at which the material appeared before it was removed or access to it was disabled; A statement under penalty of perjury that the user has a good faith belief that the material was removed or disabled as a result of mistake or misidentification of the material to be removed or disabled; & The user's name, address, & telephone number, & a statement that the user consents to the jurisdiction of Federal District Court for the judicial district in which the address is located, or if the user's address is outside of the United States, for any judicial district in which the service provider may be found, & that the user will accept service of process from the person who provided notification of copyright infringement or an agent of such person. Any articles, press clippings, or other third-party publications (collectively, "Publications") made available through the Web site are furnished by Early Mountain Vineyards for your convenience & information. Early Mountain Vineyards is a distributor (and not a publisher) of content supplied by third parties (including users) . Any opinions, advice, statements, services, offers, or other information made available by third parties, including program hosts, information providers, or any user of the Web site, are those of the respective author (s) or publisher (s) & not of Early Mountain Vineyards or its affiliates. EARLY MOUNTAIN VINEYARDS DISCLAIMS ANY REPRESENTATION, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, THAT THE INFORMATION IN SUCH PUBLICATIONS IS ACCURATE OR COMPLETE. constitute the sole agreement between you & Early Mountain Vineyards & its affiliated entities relating to your use & our provision of the Site & the subject matter hereof. If any provision of these Terms of Use is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, this will not affect any other provisions & the Agreement will be deemed amended to the extent necessary to make it legal, valid, & enforceable. The laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia govern these terms in all respects, without giving effect to conflicts of laws principles. Any cause of action brought by you against Early Mountain Vineyards or its affiliated entities must be instituted within one year after the cause of action arises or be deemed forever waived & barred.

Great wines tell a story, speaking the language of the Earth. Because Virginia has a temperate climate & varied soil composition similar to many great European wine regions, we’ve carefully selected grape varieties w/ an eye towards the Old World to best express our uniquely New World terroir.

Terroir Part of the Monticello Wine Trail, our ideal vineyard site is comprised of mostly Virginia red clay & quartz soils. Our temperate climate further benefits from a cooling mountain breeze that helps our grapes achieve fresh & more precise flavors. The mountains also shield the vineyard from some of the rain & extreme weather of locations even just a few miles away. Within the vineyards, the grapes are affected by varied microclimates, the different aspects & slopes of the hills, & their relative exposure to the sun. We’ve planted different grape varieties in specific parcels, known as blocks, to take advantage of & to express our varied terroir. Grape Varieties Merlot Merlot, along w/ Cabernet Sauvignon, is the signature grape of Bordeaux’s famous blends & the dominant grape of Bordeaux’s Right Bank. Merlot berries are larger, fleshier, & less tannic than Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, yielding softer & more opulent juice. Merlot thrives in Virginia in part because it ripens early, producing sensuous wines characterized by ripe berry flavors. Chardonnay Chardonnay is the signature white grape of Burgundy & Champagne. The grape results in both sleek mineral-driven wines w/ cool fruit flavors as well as rich full-bodied wines w/ tropical fruit and, when combined w/ oak, buttery flavors. In addition to being well suited to Virginia’s relatively mild weather, the versatile grape has found a home in Virginia for this reason; winemakers are able to give Chardonnay the stamp of their particular vision. Viognier As much as any French variety, Viognier has found great success in Virginia. Viognier is prized for producing nervy, yet fragrant & floral dry wines. While the grape imparts a rich almond flavor in France, in Virginia, reflecting the terroir, the wine frequently takes on a distinctive & more delicate honeysuckle character. Muscat The incredible variety of Muscat grapes suggests that it’s the oldest grape in the world. Muscat is typically grown to produce simple, aromatic wines characterized by citrus fruit & floral aromas; it’s also a common table grape. In Virginia, Muscat is usually a blending grape, cultivated to lend its appealing aromatic profile to wine. Petit Manseng Petit Manseng, from South West France, is another rising star in Virginia, valued for its ability to produce both dry & powerful but elegant late-harvest & dessert wines. Small, thick berries yield juice w/ great intensity of flavor & a backbone of acidity. Tropical fruit, apricot, quince, honey, exotic spice, & orange peel flavors are typical of the rich flavors this grape yields. Pinot Gris Also famously known as Italian Pinot Grigio, this variety truly thrives in Alsace & Oregon where it is the basis of smoky, mineral, & spice-driven wines of great intensity. A relative of Pinot Noir, the grape is blue/gray, but produces white juice. The grape is also increasingly popular in Virginia, where the terroir tends towards expressing the lighter, more floral side of the grape. Petit Verdot Petit Verdot is another Bordeaux blending grape that has had exciting results in Virginia. In Bordeaux the grape has difficulty ripening & is used sparingly usually to add tannin & another dimension of complexity to the blend. But Virignia winemakers have found that this tiny grape ripens more evenly here, producing dark & expressive juice. As a result, you will find some winemakers in the Commonwealth giving this variety a featured role in their blends & as single varietals. Cabernet Franc Historically Cabernet Franc has usually played a supporting role because of its ability to impart complexity & acidity to blends. However, Cabernet Franc is also the dominant grape in the famous “first growth” of the Right Bank, & in other great bottlings around the world. And this early ripening grape especially thrives in Virginia, resulting in wines w/ both juicy & earthy flavors ranging from raspberry to tobacco, all supported by a backbone of refreshing acidity. Cabernet Sauvignon The world’s most famous grape, Cabernet Sauvignon is featured in many premier & age-worthy wines. Prized for its ability to produce single varietal wines, as in Napa, & also as a dominant blending grape in Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon is a small, thick-skinned, tannic grape that produces intensely flavorful juice, characterized by notes of cassis & blackcurrant. Cabernet Sauvignon has had great success in Virginia both as a single varietal & as a blending grape, but it is especially sensitive to vintage character. Malbec Like Petit Verdot, another Bordeaux blending grape, Malbec has thrived in the New World, especially as the signature grape of Argentina. Malbec is far less cultivated in Virginia where, as in Bordeaux, it is used mainly for blending. But its dark flavors & velvety texture, combined w/ its good acidity, make this a variety worth watching. Chatham Vineyards: 2010 Steel Church Creek Chardonnay

With a full-time sommelier & a staff of dedicated wine & special event professionals, Early Mountain Vineyards is a perfect place to host your private event or to learn about & experience Virginia wine. Let the Early Mountain Vineyards team make your visit memorable.

A true Virginia pioneer, Barboursville was founded in 1976 by members of an Italian family w/ roots in winemaking dating back to 1821. Located north of Charlottesville on a historic property that includes the ruins of a Thomas Jefferson-designed building, Barboursville crafts critically-acclaimed & award-winning wines that continue to establish the great potential of Virginia terroir.

Breaux is an internationally-acclaimed family-owned winery located in the northwestern tip of Loudon County from vineyards around & on the Short Hill Mountain. As the red crustaceans on their wine labels suggest, the Breaux family hails from Louisiana, the crawfish capital of the world. This landmark winery produces wines of the highest distinction from eighteen different grape varieties.

A physical or electronic signature of a person authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed; Identification of the copyrighted work claimed to have been infringed, or, if multiple copyrighted works on the Site is covered by a single notification, a representative list of such works on the Site; Identification of the material that is claimed to be infringing or to be the subject of infringing activity & that is to be removed or access to which is to be disabled, & information reasonably sufficient to permit us to locate the material;

Identification of the material that has been removed or to which access has been disabled & the location at which the material appeared before it was removed or access to it was disabled; A statement under penalty of perjury that the user has a good faith belief that the material was removed or disabled as a result of mistake or misidentification of the material to be removed or disabled; & The user's name, address, & telephone number, & a statement that the user consents to the jurisdiction of Federal District Court for the judicial district in which the address is located, or if the user's address is outside of the United States, for any judicial district in which the service provider may be found, & that the user will accept service of process from the person who provided notification of copyright infringement or an agent of such person. Any articles, press clippings, or other third-party publications (collectively, "Publications") made available through the Web site are furnished by Early Mountain Vineyards for your convenience & information. Early Mountain Vineyards is a distributor (and not a publisher) of content supplied by third parties (including users) . Any opinions, advice, statements, services, offers, or other information made available by third parties, including program hosts, information providers, or any user of the Web site, are those of the respective author (s) or publisher (s) & not of Early Mountain Vineyards or its affiliates. EARLY MOUNTAIN VINEYARDS DISCLAIMS ANY REPRESENTATION, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, THAT THE INFORMATION IN SUCH PUBLICATIONS IS ACCURATE OR COMPLETE. constitute the sole agreement between you & Early Mountain Vineyards & its affiliated entities relating to your use & our provision of the Site & the subject matter hereof. If any provision of these Terms of Use is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, this will not affect any other provisions & the Agreement will be deemed amended to the extent necessary to make it legal, valid, & enforceable. The laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia govern these terms in all respects, without giving effect to conflicts of laws principles. Any cause of action brought by you against Early Mountain Vineyards or its affiliated entities must be instituted within one year after the cause of action arises or be deemed forever waived & barred.

Warm Albemarle bakery Garlic Flatbread w/ Feast Tomato Dipping Sauce