Wine and Country: Discover Your Favorite New Virginia Winery
- Aug 20, 2023
- 2 min read
EXPLORE THE BEAUTIFUL NEW WINERIES IN VIRGINIA 2023
words by Matthew Fitzsimmons
a Virginia-based wine writer and blogger who has visited nearly every winery in the DMV – most of them twice.
Everleigh Vineyards & Brewing Company
A New Virginia Winery in Mineral
Co-owner Joe Evers started as a wine collector and home winemaker. In 2012 Joe and his wife Barbara purchased land not far from Lake Anna, VA, planning on using it for personal recreation. Upon advice from their friend Jeff Cooper, then owner of nearby Cooper Vineyards—now Fifty-Third Winery & Vineyard—they decided to plant a four-acre vineyard there instead.
While the initial plan was to only sell grapes, the Evers shifted gears and decided to make their own wine. Since their son Ryan was a cider maker, Barbara and Joe added cider to the business plan. As brewing uses much of the same equipment as cider making, they later added beer to their growing roster. With each change the floor plan got bigger and bigger, with Everleigh Vineyards & Brewing Company finally opening in October 2022.
Plan your visit to Everleigh Vineyards & Brewing Company. The tasting room now spans three stories with a large patio. The first thing guests notice as they walk inside is the beautiful wooden bar topped with copper. Huge windows flood the interior with natural light. A baby grand piano awaits guests.
“Let’s do something big and fun and showcase the vineyard,” Barbara explained when giving a tour of the Everleigh Vineyards & Brewing Company tasting room. “We love a soaring ceiling and grandeur but we also wanted separate spaces for guests, so we have several distinct sitting areas.”
Ryan has recently finished his second batch of ciders, including a dry champagne-like cider currently on tap. Peach and blueberry-lemon ciders are coming soon. The wine they produce includes Chardonel, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Merlot and a traditional-method sparkling Chardonel all made from estate grapes. Several beers are on tap.
Everleigh Vineyards & Brewing Company is open Friday through Sunday and allows children, as well as leashed pets outside.
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