Three Creeks is located on Harmony Church Road, in Hamilton, Loudoun County. Owners John and P-J Lawrence are long-time Virginians and wine lovers who learned about viticulture by attending classes at Piedmont Community College, and got their feet wet with Vint Hill Craft Winery’s “Be a Winemaker” program – where they worked with their future winemaker. They purchased the old house farm in 2017, and the farm winery opened its doors in June 2020.
Wine: Tier II. Three Creeks wasted no time entering major wine tasting competitions. At the 2021 San Francisco International Wine Festival, Three Creeks came away with four silver medals (for their 2018 Cabernet Franc, 2019 Vidal, Petit Verdot and Melange Rouge) and two bronze medals (for their “sur lie” Chardonnay and Viognier. At the 2021 Finger Lakes Wine Competition, the winery was awarded two silver medals (again for the 2018 Cabernet Franc and the Melange Rouge), and three bronze medals (for their Vidal, Chardonnay and Petit Verdot). Three Creeks is growing a large range of European style vinifera grapes. Wines are currently available from their first two vintages, 2018 and 2019, all from outsourced grapes as the vineyard matures. Whites include Chardonnay, Viognier, Vidal Blanc and Petit Manseng, while reds include Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Pinot Noir (unusual for Virginia), and a pair of blends – one (GSM) is a Rhone-style combination of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre (again unusual for Virginia). Their first winemaker is well-known Ashton Lough (See below).
Setting: One star. As the winery’s name tells you, it has the good fortune to be on a property which counts no less than three creeks flowing it. The tasting room itself is on the small side, in a wood-siding century-old barn. There is an also small deck with tables, and a handful of tables outside. The owners encourage visitors to bring their own folding chairs and sit along the creeks. This is not an event venue, so one can enjoy the quiet. Snacks are available for purchase and outside food is also welcome. Dogs are allowed outside on the property, but no kids.
Stories: In high demand: winemaker with a track record. As more and more wineries start-up across Virginia, often with new owners who lack a background in either managing a vineyard and/or running a winery, experienced winemakers can find themselves in high demand. A good example – in spite of being a school drop-out – is Ashton Lough. Well, a drop-out of his PhD program, at least – in fairness Ashley has a Masters degree in both Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Georgia. But before the doctorate came along Ashton decided to pursue a career in commercial wine-making. That decision has not turned out badly. According to his profile on Three Creeks’ website, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is a perfect training for wine-making. It combines intense study of Organic and Inorganic Chemistry, Microbiology, Cellular Biology and Biochemical pathways. With degree and plenty of non-commercial experience, Ashton managed to garner the position as winemaker for Pearmund Cellars, in Fauquier County, and moved to Virginia in 2012. He followed Chris Pearmund’s entrepreneurial tendencies to Chris’ subsequent winery endeavors, becoming winemaker for both Vint Hill Craft Winery and Effingham Manor. From there Ashton has expanded his portfolio to become the winemaker at Fleetwood Farm Winery, his main gig as winemaker at the large Winery at Bull Run, and now Three Creeks. His wines have numerous gold medals in major wine tasting competitions. As a philosophy, Ashton strives for balance — getting the relationships between fruit, acid and tannins in the right concentrations to deliver the best tasting experience possible. With approximately 300 decisions from grape to bottle, some science helps too.