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Early Mountain Vineyards

Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Madison, Virginia, Early Mountain Vineyards comprises more than 300 of central Virginia’s lushest acres. Inspired by Bordeaux but with a flair that reflects the climate and soil of Virginia, Early Mountain wines are classic and simple.

Early Mountain produces Viognier, Chardonnay, Muscat Dolce, Merlot, Pinot Gris, Handshake, and Petit Manseng.

Early Mountain Vineyards is a social enterprise owned by former America Online (AOL) executives. The vineyard is dedicated to showcasing what it refers to as the “Best of Virginia,” which it accomplishes by partnering with other award-winning Virginia wineries and by serving local food each day in the Market Place.

Visitors gather in Early Mountain’s elegant, spacious tasting room to sample the vineyards current releases along with whichever Best of Virginia foods and wines are being showcased at the moment. The warm and inviting tasting room is adjoined by the terrace and the picnic area on the lawn, giving visitors the freedom to explore the breathtaking property while as they enjoy a glass of Early Mountain’s wine.

Tours of the property allow visitors to catch of glimpse of how the handcrafted wine they enjoy was made. The tours begin at the vineyard where visitors are immersed in the beauty of the central Virginia countryside and experience the historic property on a more intimate level.

Then, tours move to the winery’s state-of-the-are production facilities where visitors learn about fermentation and vinification processes.

Early Mountain is dedicated to preserving the property’s historically bountiful ecosystem. In order to do this, the vineyard maintains nectarine, apple, plum, and pear orchards, gardens with rare local flowers, and sheep. The commitment Early Mountain makes to biodiversity and sustainable farming is reflected everywhere you turn.

The vineyard uses organic processes in order to preserve the fragile balance of the vineyard’s ecosystem and to produce the best grapes possible.