Early Mountain Winery
- In Madison, Virginia, 20 miles southwest of Culpeper off of Highway 29. The winery’s name derives not from its being one of the Virginia’s earliest wineries, but from the name of the first owner of the property, Revolutionary War veteran Lieutenant Joseph Early. The winery was first launched in 2005 as the Sweely Estate, and then purchased by Steve and Jean Case in 2010 and renamed as it is today (the winemaker, Frantz Ventre, stayed on for the transition). Case, the former co-founder of AOL (and a Williams College graduate), set out from the beginning to be “an ambassador for Virginia products” in this venture. The winery has the unusual business model of showcasing not only their own production, but also wines from other Virginia wineries, along a “best of Virginia” theme. The idea extends into food, especially cheeses, also from Virginia farms.
- Wine. Rated by us as the #5 winery in Virginia. Early Mountain is a perennial success at wine tasting competitions. Four of their wines were awarded gold medals at the 2023 Virginia Governor’s Cup state-wide wine competition: their 2020 vintage Eluvium (a Merlot-led red blend) and Quaker Run Cabernet Franc, and their 2021 vintage Madison County and Shenandoah Valley Cabernet Francs. The Early 2021 Chardonnay and 2020 Petit Verdot received silver medals, and their 2020 Novum (also Merlot-led red blend) a bronze medal. At the 2022 Governor’s Cup competition, Early Mountain was awarded two gold medals, for their 2019 Petit Verdot and Eluvium, along with six silver medals. Early also received four gold medals at the 2021 Governor’s Cup, including for two of their 2019 vintage Cabernet Francs, the 2017 Eluvium, and their 2019 “Five Forks” (a Petit Manseng and Sauvignon Blanc white blend). Hugh Johnson’s authoritative annual global wine guide gave Early Mountain three stars in his 2020 edition.
- Setting. Three stars. Early Mountain was voted the number 1 Tasting Room in the country by USA Today readers in 2016. Breathtaking views of the vineyard, fields and mountains from the patio, and an outdoor fireplace. Aside from their own wines, Early Mountain also offers wines from several other Virginia producers, and here one can uniquely enjoy a flight of wines from multiple Virginia wineries. Food is available, and also fits the “taste of Virginia” theme; as noted on the website, “We are proud to pair the best wines in Virginia with the best seasonal produce from local farms, artisanal cheeses from craft cheesemongers and charcuterie made in-house.” The property includes a guest cottage if you want to make a night of it, though the winery closes at 5. Do check for occasional special events ongoing which may affect crowds and your experience here.
- Stories. Two stars. (1) Founding Fathers: James Madison. Early Mountain is in the town and county named after one of America’s most important Founding Fathers, James Madison. Madison was the 4th President of the United States, following Thomas Jefferson into office in 1809. Among a very long list of accomplishments, Madison had a major role in drafting the US Constitution, co-wrote the Federalist Papers with Alexander Hamilton, is known as “the Father of the Bill of Rights,” and as Secretary of State oversaw the Louisiana Purchase from France – doubling the size of the young American republic. Madison’s estate was nearby at Montpellier, 15 miles southeast of Early Mountain. From 1901 to 1983 the estate was owned by the Dupont family, who donated it to the National Trust for Historical Preservation. The mansion has been restored to reflect the Madison era. It also hosts a Wine Festival in early May. (2) Helping Virginia move forward. The Early Mountain “Best of Virginia” model is itself a great story. by cooperating with several wineries and farms and being willing to showcase their products, Early Mountain makes it easier for visitors to the state to get a broader experience of Virginia’s land and agriculture. One of the benefits of having made a fortune to begin with and to be less concerned about the proprietary financials of a winery.