VINES
Williams Gap Vineyard Invites Visitors to New Tasting Room BY NORMAN K. STYER
When McLean veterinarian Jack Sexton bought 30 acres on the outskirts of Round Hill in 1983, little could he or his family have known the adventure to follow that investment. Over the years he bought neighboring parcels growing the land holdings to 200 acres. In 2006, he decided the rolling terrain could be ideal for growing grapes and began planting a vineyard to supply other area winemakers with fruit. âOne day he said to me, âletâs build a vineyardâ just out of the blue,â recalled his wife, Jeanne on a recent visit. âAnd here we are.â Today, Williams Gap Vineyard grows 10 varieties on 35 acres.
The vision changed again a couple of years ago, as Sextonânow semi-retired as his son, Jeb, took over the McLean Animal Hospitalâ began envisioning the vineyardâs barn as an event space. In 2019, he launched his own label bottling six wines created by Rob Cox, of Paradise Springs Winery in Clifton. In April, the reimaged barn opened as a fullfledged tasting room making Williams Gap the newest stop on Loudounâs popular winery circuit. Later this year, the family plans to begin on-site wine making operations. âNo, we did not see this coming,â Sextonâs daughter, Caroline, said of the familyâs journey. Industry veteran Bridgette Smith joined the team in February to manage the tasting room. WILLIAMS GAP
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Norman K. Styer
The former equipment barn on the 200-acre Williams Gap Vineyard has been reimaged as a tasting room overlooking the Town of Round Hill. Itâs the newest stop on Loudounâs winery circuit. MAY 2021
GetOutLoudoun.com
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