Sanctuary Vineyards: Cheers to family farms

Sanctuary Vineyards: Cheers to family farms by Summer Stevens

For seven generations, John Wright’s family had been farming in Currituck County. But small family farms, according to Wright, are endangered.

So in 2001, his family farm made the decision to remain viable by choosing a new path: winemaking. Wright earned a certificate in viticulture and the family opened up Sanctuary Vineyards, which seeks to provide sanctuary to migratory birds and weary travelers alike.

“Many people tend to come here on the way to the beach,” Wright said. “They’re stressed. They like to come here and look at the farmland and rest,” he said.

The vineyards stretch along thirty acres of neat rows and gentle trellising. Wright grows fourteen different types of grapes in the rich sandy soil.

And as it turns out, Currituck County is perfectly positioned for vineyards. “A lot of people don’t know that the best wines in the world are grown in maritime climates,” Wright said. The area does not get extreme hot or extreme cold, and the wind helps keep vines clean. The soil is sandy and welldrained. “People don’t realize you can make really high-quality wine in this corner of North Carolina.”

So why aren’t there more vineyards in Currituck County? According to Wright, the land is more valuable when you develop it. “Currituck is growing rapidly – not with crops, with housing,” he said. Thankfully, the Wright family is committed to keeping the family farming tradition alive.

In 2015, they gained the attention of the North Carolina Winegrower’s Association and were awarded Grower of the Year, an esteemed award given to one vineyard out of several hundred growers.

As a smaller vineyard, they produce 50,000-75,000 bottles per year, ranging from really dry to really sweet. The best seller is Wild Pony White, a dry white wine blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnel; a portion of the proceeds benefit the Corolla Wild Horse Fund. Another winemaker favorite is Morton, an everyday red table wine. “It’s easy drinking and not very oaky,” Wright said. “And at $15 a bottle it’s very affordable for a wine made in North Carolina and bottled by hand.”

In fact, Sanctuary Vineyard’s entire process is free from the mechanization common in larger operations. It’s all done by hand, from the bottling to the hedging and pruning and positioning of the fruit. On a typical day, Wright spends several hours a day in the field. His favorite times are in the early morning and the late afternoon, when the light is gentle.

Wright also heads up the marketing for the vineyard. “We’re always looking to innovate,” he said. He looks for unique ways to “bring customers in, maintain their trust and find new ways to market and package the wine.” One of his principal goals in the family business is to make it sustainable in the long term. He accomplishes this through special events and weddings. “We like to offer places for people to congregate,” he said.

Pre-COVID, Sanctuary Vineyards hosted family-friendly festivals for up to a thousand guests with hayrides, food and games. Though nothing major is planned for 2021 thus far, Wright hopes to bring back special events as well as tours through the vineyard.

In the meantime, customers can still enjoy wine tastings at the vineyard, and all wines are available to purchase in a variety of methods. For local customers, Sanctuary Vineyards delivers directly, or customers can choose to have bottles shipped through sanctuaryvineyards.com. Enthusiasts can join the “The Bunch” wine club and opt to agree to purchase two shipments per year.

Sanctuary Vineyards is located at 7005 Caratoke Highway in Jarvisburg. They can be reached at 252-491-2387 or on Facebook and Twitter. 