Situated in the beautiful Rockfish Valley, Jeff and Tamara Stone’s Wintergreen Winery may be the most visitor friendly winery in all of the Old Dominion. Family owned and operated since 1999, Tamara runs the business side and the tasting room while husband Jeff focuses on winemaking.

Operating out of several converted farm buildings, Wintergreen has a wide variety of wines, from the much heralded Black Rock Chardonnay Reserve to the lesser know Chambourcin based Three Ridges Red. Each of the wines reflects Jeff’s hand crafted style.

At Wintergreen, wine is only part of the experience. The rugged outcroppings of three surrounding mountains (Brent’s Mountain, Black Rock, Three Ridges) provide an expansive backdrop for wine tasting. In addition, Tamara works with an array of vendors to select over a dozen imported and Artesian cheeses to accompany the fine wines.

A steady stream of visitors comes through the tasting room each day. While there are always a few new faces, many locals and returning visitors to the mountain resort stop in to restock their cellars. Some families make a point to visit each and every year. Over the course of a decade, Tamara and Jeff have enjoyed seeing the families grow to be a part of the larger Wintergreen family. Their shared stories and tall tales have filled the “unpretentious” tasting room with warmth and joy on many a winter afternoon.

The wines of Wintergreen are outstanding. The Black Rock Chardonnay is a perennial favorite. Aged 12 months in French and American oak, the wine features bright citrus notes of pineapple with a touch of Granny Smith apple and butterscotch. The extended period in oak minimizes the subtle minerality found on the finish. I recommend pairing this wine with solid grilled, seared fish (Tuna, Swordfish), crab cakes or even Eggs Benedict.

In 2006, Wintergreen launched their first Viognier. Fast becoming a staple in the “ABC” (anything but Chardonnay) crowd, Viognier grows very well in Virginia with rich flowery aromas. Wintergreens inaugural vintage does not disappoint, a nose of honeysuckle laced with apricot hints of the bright fruit tones in the mid palate. Stainless steel fermentation results in a crisp clean finish.

The red wine portfolio at Wintergreen is marked by patience. While many wines are ready to bottle after only a few months in barrel, Jeff regularly samples his inventory to determine the bottling date. As a family owned operation, Jeff can delay the release of any wine he believes is not yet ready.

After a year in French and American oak, Jeff deemed the 2004 Cabernet Franc had extracted all it could from its friendly confines. Today, almost three years after harvest, the ’04 Cab Franc is showing exceedingly well. This blend of 77% Cabernet Franc and 23% Merlot is fully integrated and smooth. The velvety wine features a memorable finish highlighted with cherry and spice. I recommend pairing this wine with prime rib or hearty Italian fare.

Much maligned in the movie “Sideways” Merlot is a great food wine. The simple elegance of its flavor profile pairs well with a variety of ethnicities. The 2005 vintage of Brent’s Mountain Merlot spent a year and a half in oak rounding out a well balanced tannic structure. The extended time in oak resulted in a nice toastiness without subduing the fruit of this 100% Merlot. The richness of the 2005 vintage might be too much for lighter grilled fish dishes but would pair well with heartier chicken, beef and lamb. The spice undertones on the finish will accentuate any peppercorn based sauces.

As further evidence of their lack of pretension, Wintergreen offers two fruit wines. My tasting notes from their raspberry wine indicate “if it tastes like Smuckers® it has to be good”. This unique fruit wine would pair exceedingly well with cheesecake. The bright raspberry flavors balance with the density of the dessert.

Wintergreen’s Mill Hill Apple wine is sold in the tasting room by itself or along with mulling spices. The combination of Virginia apple wine, brown sugar and spices served hot will warm you from the inside out. As you gaze across the wintry landscape, you may want to double up your purchases as you recognize spring is still a few months away.

A member of the Monticello Wine Trail (www.monticellowinetrail.com), Wintergreen is part of the richest appellation in the state. The winery is located south of Charlottesville in winery rich Nelson County. Whether you go as a part of your annual ski trip or a winter winery tour, Wintergreen Winery should be a part of your outing.

If you can’t get to the winery, Wintergreen wines (and many great Virginia vintages) can be found at the Old Dominion wine shop as well as many other retailers.

Neil Williamson is The President of The Trellis Group, a marketing consultancy focused on Virginia wineries. He can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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