Much is made of Thomas Jefferson’s dream of producing fine wines in Virginia and especially his failure to do so. How happy he would be to learn that 200 years later Virginia is the 5th leading state in America in wine production and the Monticello AVA that includes his own homeplace near Charlottesville has recently been named by Wine Enthusiast as the ‘Wine region of the year” worldwide. Grape production and wine making are serious business throughout the state generating $6.4 billion annually and employing over 450,000 people in direct and ancillary jobs. Virginia has 8 distinct AVAs (American Viticultural Areas) defined by the diverse climate and topography that Virginia enjoys in its Tidewater, Piedmont and Mountain geography. Each has its own attributes and distinct terroir but the oldest and most prolific is the Monticello AVA with 40 of Virginia’s 300 wineries within 25 miles of Charlottesville.
Barboursville Vineyard, Barboursville Virginia
The Monticello AVA enjoys a near perfect terroir on the eastern slope of the Blue Ridge mountains and boasts many of Virginia’s most awarded wineries. The spectacular countryside, remarkable history and the dynamic, energetic city of Charlottesville encircled with some of the loveliest small towns in America make this one of the most enjoyable places in America to raise a glass.
As a Realtor specializing in farms and estates in this area I am often called to find land suitable for a vineyard. It is always a pleasure to discuss the prospect of creating a new vineyard or acquiring an established winery. We have access to some of the finest viticulture consultants in America locally and education opportunities at The University of Virginia and our Piedmont Community College that are a wonderful resource. Here are two active listings of turnkey wineries in the Monticello AVA: Burnley Vineyards, Stone Mountain Vineyard.
As wine aficionados know, much of the allure to wine tasting is the destination itself. It would be hard to find a destination more conducive to celebrating Thomas Jefferson’s dream than creating a vineyard at Frascati, a c.1823 estate built by Jeffersons preferred mason, John Perry, for Phillip Barbour, a Supreme court Justice and brother to James Barbour who built Barboursville — just six miles away and currently home to one of Virginia’s oldest and most acclaimed wineries.
We proudly offer Frascati for sale as one of Virginia’s most important historic sites with 62 fertile acres ideal for grape production.
$2,750,000
Active
9281 FRASCATI DR SOMERSET, Virginia
5 Beds 3.5 Baths 6,759 SqFt 62.74 Acres
For more information
call John Ince
at Charlottesville Country Properties
