Located in Barboursville, on the south side of Gordonsville, off of Route 20 headed towards Charlottesville. The small vineyard’s grapes were first planted in 2007, and the winery was recently purchased by Janet Bolla. Plantings focused originally on Petit Manseng and Viognier and have since diversified. Chestnut Oak uses bio-intensive management in the vineyard. Michael Shaps was the first winemaker until 2013, with David Eiserman being the current winemaker.
Wine. One of the Top 100 wineries in Virginia. Five Chestnut Oak wines received silver medals at the Virginia Governor’s Cup state-wide wine competition: their 2019 Chestnut One red blend, 2021 Petit Verdot and Nebbiolo, 2023 Alba Viognier and non-vintage sparkling Blanc de Blancs. This was a bit of a comedown from their two gold medals at each of the previous two years’ Governor’s Cups. In 2024, their 2019 vintage Petit Verdot and 2021 Chestnut Oak were gold medalists, and their 2019 Petit Verdot and Nebbiolo reds both were awarded gold medals at the 2023 Governor’s Cup. The previous year at the 2022 Governor’s Cup, the 2019 vintage Chestnut One (a red blend) was awarded a gold medal, while the winery’s 2019 Tannat and 2017 “Euclid” (a Viognier and Petit Manseng blend) came away with silver medals. Some grapes – Chardonnay, Vidal and Petit Verdot – are sourced from elsewhere in Virginia. Total production of about 300 cases a year.
Setting. Small-winery ambience. High wood-ceilinged tasting room with colorful painted murals. Nice view over vineyards and the eastern end of the Piedmont hills.
Stories. The Revolutionary War — General Thomas Sumter. A Historical marker off of Virginia Route 231 nearby indicates the birthplace of Thomas Sumter, born here in 1734. Sumter served as a lieutenant colonel in the Continental Army, becoming a Brigadier General in 1780. He was instrumental in defeating the British in the Carolinas, and went on to become a Senator. Sumter’s name is also indelibly associated with the Civil War, as Carolina’s Fort Sumter is named for him.