Virginia Wineworks and Michael Shaps Wine

(Been there, checked it!)

Located in the former Montdomaine winery just 12 miles south of Charlottesville, Virginia Wineworks is a multifaceted winery operation. Virginia Wineworks produces wines under both the Virginia Wineworks label & the Michael Shaps label. In addition, we are focused on the increasing the popularity of custom winemaking. “Custom crush”, as it is known, allows individuals, grape growers and wineries to use our expertise and facility to create wines for their own brand. Virginia Wineworks prides itself in offering a winemaking environment where the focus is on the wine quality.

Open weekends (11-5) for tasting and sales. Tasting costs $5 (waived with purchase; no wine glass).

We visited Virginia Wineworks on 24 July. Here’s a link to Nancy’s post on our visit. We’d heard so much about Virginia Wineworks, we were expecting something a little more than a tasting bar made from particle board balanced on wine barrels. There’s no vineyard view here, no Amish cheese, no chairs. Just some of the most exciting wine you’ll taste in the state.

All photos from this winery

These folks are busy; as you travel the winery roads, you’ll hear Michael Shaps’ name a lot, as in “we ship our grapes over to Michael and he makes our wine.”

Virginia Wineworks creates two labels: under the Michael Shaps label, the winery produces small lots of high-end, old-world style whites, and reds that require cellaring.

The Virginia Wineworks label produces fun and easy-to-drink wines at reasonable prices, all crafted from over supplies of grapes and wines from other local wineries.

This is also the first “custom crush” location in Virginia. A venture that has taken off on the west coast, custom crush allows would-be winemakers to get the support they need, whether as a high-end hobby, or as a step toward a winery lifestyle.

The winery is undergoing an expansion, so maybe we’ll see some more creature comforts in the future, but for now, it’s all about the grape.

Michael Shaps Viognier; Michael Shaps Chardonnay; Wineworks Viognier; Wineworks Chardonnay; Wineworks Rose (Cab Franc); Wineworks Red (Cab Franc and Cab Sauvignon blend); Wineworks Merlot; Michael Shaps Cabernet Franc; Michael Shaps Petit Verdot; Michael Shaps Merlot; and Michael Shaps Raisin d’Etre. The winery also has a Michael Shaps Mertiage (Michael Shaps does it as a blend of Petit Verdot, Merlot, and Cab Franc), which was not available for tasting when we were there.

Note: Our iPhone had no AT&T cell signal at Virginia Wineworks, so make sure you have your GPS or directions fired up before you go!

Directions from Charlottesville:
Take Rt. 20 south for 12 miles.
Turn right at the sign for First Colony Winery (Harris Creek Road).
Continue into the woods on the dirt road past the First Colony Winery for about 1/4 mile. We’re at the end of the road!