Located on Falling Branch Road in Fairlawn, between Interstate 81 and Radford, looking down on the New River. Christy Wallen is the owner and winemaker, and runs the family business with her spouse Mike and children Anthony and Elizabeth. They started planting grapes in the spring of 2012 on their 25-acre farm, and opened the winery in November 2016.
Wine. Tier II. New River is a certified craft winery, with the vineyards hand harvested and hand sorted. New River’s focus has been mainly on white varietals, with white wines presently including Muscadine, Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, Vidal Blanc, and a semi-sweet Traminette. The red varietal is a very unusual Leon Millot, with another dry red blend available. They also produce a number of sweeter wines from peaches, pears, and a Depot Red from Concord grapes. As a family owned and operated business, the winemaker or members of the winery’s family are always proudly pouring the wine.
Setting. One star. New River Vineyard & winery sits atop the picturesque city of Radford and overlooks the beautiful New River. The winery is also the family house, with the vineyards adjoining the house. Indoor space is limited, though the patio is large and with a nice view. With the limited space and staff, appointments are requested for more than two people.
Stories. Natural Virginia: The (Old) New River. The New River, which passes through the Blue Ridge of Southwest Virginia, on its way from North Carolina to West Virginia, is one of America’s most spectacular rivers. The 320-mile long New River eventually becomes the Kanawha River after its confluence with the Gauley River, near Charleston, West Virginia, not far from where it joins the Ohio River. Much of the river’s course through West Virginia is designated as the New River Gorge National River, and the New River is one of the nation’s American Heritage Rivers. The river’s 37 miles in Giles County includes the towering Palisade Cliffs in Eggleston, and Narrows, where the river cuts a gap fifteen hundred feet deep that separates the East River Mountain from Peters Mountain. The New River’s name has some irony, as it is actually one of the country’s oldest rivers, having pre-existed the Appalachian Mountains, and maintained much of its course as the mountains rose around it. Archaeological investigations in the New River valley suggest the presence of humans in the region for at least 10,000 years. Artifacts such as arrowheads, pottery shards and stone axes indicate that the Canawhay Indian tribe occupied the valley during the pre-colonial period, and it also was a hunting ground for bands of Creek, Shawnee and Cherokee Indians whose hunting trails led north to the Ohio River. The river was a major route of travel for transient hunters, but there were no known permanent settlements in the area, perhaps due to more aggressive northern tribes nearby. The earliest Europeans to enter the area encountered a land of wild beauty with dense forests, open meadows and an abundance of wildlife including bison, elk, black bear and beaver. Today paddling on the New River here is spectacular, with beautiful cliffs, bluffs, and mountain views making it one of the most scenic rivers on the east coast.