Currently, we farm more than 55 acres of vineyard, which includes 35 acres at Early Mountain and 20 acres at Quaker Run, a mountainside vineyard 14 miles north of the winery. Our Early Mountain estate's rolling green hills offer an array of aspects and mixed soil types dominated by clay. Our Quaker Run vineyard's old vine plantings and unique microclimate are perfect for growing complex, high-quality grapes. We are in a constant state of growth and revitalization and Early Mountain has recently increased its acreage of classic Bordeaux-type varietals such as Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Merlot and added new plantings of Petit Manseng, Sauvignon Blanc, Albarino, and Tannat. In our quest to make wines that reflect our unique place, we seek out distinctive vineyards and grape varieties particularly suited to the climate and growing conditions in Virginia.
Cabernet Franc is the most planted grape variety in Virginia and we love its expression of site. Similarly to Merlot, Cabernet Franc ripens earlier than other Bordeaux grape varieties and so it does well in most growing seasons. In addition to extensive plantings at Early Mountain and Quaker Run (including a new planting in 2015), we seek out distinctive sites in the Shenandoah Valley and Northern Virginia with the goal of creating distinct site-specific bottlings. We love the Cab Franc in our Block 10 at Early Mountain because it allows us to make fruity, charming expressions that contribute to Foothills and Soif. Cabernet Franc makes its way into most of our red blends, bringing a pop of aromatic interest and florality. Cabernet Franc from our Quaker Run vineyard forms the base of our Novum red blend because it has nice ripeness and intensity with wonderful tea leaf and raspberry notes. We also capture this expression in our site specific "Quaker Run" wine. Our Shenandoah Valley Cabernet Franc blends two high elevation vineyards, Baer Run and Shenandoah Springs, with the cooler climate and limestone soils giving ethereal, velvety tannins. In warm vintages, we love bottling Shenandoah Springs on its own, showcasing the power and ripeness possible in that site.
