Great Expectations for Acorn Hill

A review of a new winery for my new blog

October 23, 2007

Fruit flies buzz through the air, bulldozers dot the landscape, and the Blue Ridge Mountains loom in the distance on a warm day in mid-September. I’m on a “Vine to Bottle Tour” in Madison County, 20 miles north of Charlottesville, for a sneak preview of one of the newest wineries in Virginia: Acorn Hill Winery.

To say that Acorn Hill has entered the scene with a splash would be a bit of an understatement. Think more along the lines of CANNONBALL.

With 40 acres already under vine, a production facility outfitted with state-of-the-art equipment, and a 16,000 square foot tasting room currently under construction (scheduled to open to the public in Summer 2008), owners Jess & Sharon Sweely along with winemaker Frantz Ventre (pictured above, formerly of Jefferson Vineyard) are creating quite a stir in the Virginia wine industry.

Wineries typically grow gradually adding more vines as the years go by, figuring out what works and what doesn't. Acorn Hill is taking a different approach, planning to double their production every year until they reach 30,000 cases in 2009. This would put them in the game with Horton, Barboursville, Chateau Morrissette, and a few others, all of which have been on the Virginia wine scene for many years.

We tasted 5 offerings from its 2006 vintage: Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Viognier, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. All are quite impressive considering this is the first bottling for the young winery. I was most impressed with the Chardonnay, a dry Burgundian style with nicely balanced flavors of vanilla, citrus, and minerals. The Cabernet Franc is also not to be missed. Traditionally used for blending in Bordeaux, this grape has the potential to put Virginia Wine on the map and Acorn Hill's is a perfect example: a wonderful blend of berry and tobacco flavors that should go very well with a nice cut of beef.

Although the wines are not yet available to the public, it won't be long before this winery throws open its doors and puts out the welcome mat. When it does, be sure to make a visit here a top priority.

Photos pictured in blog courtesty of Eric Payne.