Thatch Winery (formerly First Colony Winery) is located south of Charlottesville. In April 2019, Richmond business partners David Fratkin and Jeff Miller bought out the previous owners of First Colony. The new name comes from the roof on the building in which the wine is produced. Thatch is the reportedly the only winery in the country with a thatched roof, made entirely of Turkish water reed. In July 2022, Thatch was purchased by Michael Shaps, and will become part of the Michael Shaps Wineworks.
Wine. One of the Top 100 wineries of Virginia. Thatch last participated in wine competitions in 2021, when two wines – the 2019 Mount Juliet Farm Vineyard Merlot and the 2017 vintage Block 8 Tannat – were awarded gold medals at the Virginia Governor’s Cup state-wide wine competition. At the same event, their 2019 Amazing Grace Viognier was awarded a silver medal. The winery also produces Riesling and Petit Verdot. It will be interesting to follow the winery’s new vintages as it gets incorporated into Michael Shaps’ wineworks.
Setting. One star. The Charlottesville area is one of the prettiest in the country to drive through, and the drive to Thatch is no exception. The roof from which the winery’s new name stems is remarkable. “Rustic yet modern” say reviews. Snacks available. Look for the scrabble board if you want to make it a long afternoon.
Stories. Sometimes it doesn’t last forever. In April 2019, the former First Colony Winery became Thatch Winery. This was not the first ownership change of the winery. In 1982, it began life as Totier Creek Winery, and is now on its fourth set of owners. Businesses of all kinds change ownership frequently, and if anything wineries tend to be bought and sold less often than many others. Yet for devotees of a special winery, it can be difficult to see new people and new approaches arriving: it may work out very well… or not. But its good news for all those out there who have wanted to some day own a winery, and have a hard time seeing themselves planting new vines and waiting several years before anything is in a bottle. Instead of starting a vineyard, you can buy one! In recent years half-a-dozen vineyards across the state have changed hands every year, and a handful of real estate websites specialize in advertising wineries for sale. Keep your eyes open – your big chance may come!