About 15 miles northeast of Charlottesville, Keswick sits between the clusters of wineries in Charlottesville and in Gordonsville (Horton, Barboursville). Al and Cindy Schornberg founded Keswick in 2000, relocating from Michigan where Al was an entrepreneur in the technology business. Al’s grandfather owned a winery in France. The winery is on the former Edgewood Estate. Winemaker Stephen Barnard, who hails from South Africa; he started his career at the revered Groot Constancia Winery, and after coming to Virginia spent two years at Rappahannock Cellars before becoming winemaker at Keswick in 2006.
Wine. Among the Top 25 wineries in Virginia. For four years running now, from 2020 through 2023, Keswick has garnered two gold medals at the annual Virginia Governor’s Cup state-wide wine competition. At the 2023 competition, Keswick’s 2019 Cabernet Franc and “Trevillian Red” (a Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon blend) were awarded gold medals; five other wines received silver medals: the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Reserve, 2021 Chardonnay, Norton, Viognier Estate Reserve, and “Lydian,” a white blend. At the 2022 Governor’s Cup, Keswick’s vintage 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Reserve and “Nektar” (a Vidal Blanc based dessert wine) came away with gold medals, while the same vintage Merlot Reserve and 2020 Chardonnay were awarded silver medals. The Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon also won a gold medal at the 2022 Monticello Cup. At the 2021 Governor’s Cup, it was the 2019 vintage Cabernet Franc and 2017 Heritage Reserve which came way with gold medals. There is a wide range of wines here and a wide range of appeal, with some seen as top-of-the-line and some… less so. Reds are unfiltered, in line with Keswick’s “minimal intervention” philosophy. Hugh Johnson’s annual global wine guide gave Keswick two stars in the 2020 edition.
Setting. One star. Beautiful views from the winery over the vineyards, fields and the southwest mountains of Albemarle County. Cheese, bread and crackers are available for purchase.
Stories. A Virginia Estate in the Revolutionary War: Castle Hill. A mile from Keswick is one of the many historical colonial estates of Virginia, Castle Hill. The original house was built in 1765 by Thomas Walker, renowned explorer and pioneer, and the guardian of the young Thomas Jefferson after the latter’s father’s death. Five US Presidents have been entertained here. During the Revolutionary War, British Commander Tarleton, raiding Charlottesville to capture Jefferson and the legislature, stopped here for breakfast, on June 4, 1781. This delay aided the patriots to escape. Castle Hill was also long the home of Senator William Cabell Rives, who built the present house. Two miles away and six days later, after reinforcements from Brigadier General “Mad” Anthony Wayne arrived on 10 June 1781, the Marquis de Lafayette moved south from his camp on the Rapidan River to prevent further raids by General Charles Cornwallis. British troops encamped at Elk Hill. By 13 June, Lafayette had occupied a position along the Mechunk Creek to challenge any British advance toward Charlottesville and Staunton. Lafayette and his troops reached this position by secretly repairing an abandoned road and were able to travel undetected. Cornwallis and his army left Elk Hill on 15 June.