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Address: Annefield Plantation, 3200 Sunny Side Road, Saxe, VA 23967
Phone: 434.454.7559
Geo Coords: 36.923702, -78.619973
From the Winery’s Blurb:
We are implementing all necessary vineyard practices to optimize the quality of our fruit. These include the use of the Vertical Shoot Positioning system to train the vines, shoot thinning and leaf pulling throughout early summer, two hedgings per season, and fruit thinning on vigorous varieties.
In April 2006, we planted our first three acres. We started with Viognier, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, each grafted onto 3309 rootstock, which we selected because it is less vigorous than other rootstocks and grows well in our rich Virginia clay.
Tasting / Visiting Hours: (from the winery’s website)
Our Visit:
The owners, D.C.-based Stephen Ballard and Mike Leary, bought the land and 1850’s manor house in 2005, and planted in 2006. Open by appointment only until 2011, the duo drove down on weekends to work on the house, meet with the winemaker (the highly respected Michael Shaps of Virginia Wineworks), and host a few small, private events.
When we visited, the elegant tasting room was set up in the parlor, just inside the front door. Mistake: the high ceilings, huge windows bringing in the light, and Ella in the air, singing her smoky blues, makes a visitor want to stay way beyond what’s reasonable.
Stephen and Mike were still experimenting with flow—they live in the house—so things may look a little different when you visit. For now, guests have run of the house (including the comfortable tasting room, a second parlor, a bright kitchen) plus seating in the back yard, near the picturesque old barn or under the tree canopy.
With any luck, Stephen will still be serving complimentary tasting plates of morsels he whips up himself (when we visited: country pate, farmer’s cheese, curried zucchini soup, and dense chocolate cake).
Wines were impressive, including Chardonnay, Viognier, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and a Bordeaux-style blend, with plans to add two Italian whites (Vermentino and Pinot Grigio), plus a Vidal Blanc.
Very low AT&T reception.
Directions:
From Charlottesville, US 20 south to US 15 south, take US 15 BR North exit toward Farmville/Keysville, right onto S Farmville Road/US 15 south, merge onto US 15 South/360 W King Hwy toward /South Boston/Clarksville, right onto Craftons Gate Hwy/VA 47 for about 2.5 miles, left onto Sunny Side Road, after about 3.5 miles, winery is on right
Links:
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