Vineyard VIEW
Three Creeks Run Through It By Peter Leonard-Morgan
Helping Families and Friends Honor Their Loved One The Tasting Room at Three Creeks
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The view from the outside.
t’s always a treat to discover and review a brand new winery, and Three Creeks Winery, two miles south of Hamilton, is no exception. Owners P.J. and John Lawrence discovered their dream property on 28 acres off Harmony Church Road in late 2017. After finalizing its purchase, they set about renovating and remodeling, planting their initial vineyard on an eight-acre section of prime south-facing slope. The land, and working farms which surround it, are in conservation easements, ensuring the local countryside will remain undeveloped and unspoiled in perpetuity. The Lawrences met Ashton Lough, their winemaker, while studying winemaking at Vint Hill Craft Winery in Warrenton, With a Masters degree in biochemistry and molecular biology, Lough is a former head winemaker at the respected Pearmund Cellars in Broad Run and brings his skill and experience to Three Creeks to produce an excellent selection of reds and whites, plus a rosé. The original bank barn was extensively restored and enlarged, and forms the center of customer operations, as a tasting barn full of rustic character and warmth. Reclaimed wood is everywhere, with bar tops fabricated from an ash tree on the property, as well as local oak. The tasting room tables are handcrafted from a 54-inch diameter maple tree, also from the property. The lower level of the tasting barn includes abundant Catoctin Greenstone pulled from the vineyard, creatively used to produce an earthy setting in this working area of the building. A delightful new deck off the tasting room provides guests with a tranquil location overlooking the three creeks to the northeast, which provided the inspiration for the winery name.. The owners set about cleaning up the creeks when they originally acquired the property, and today, bass, trout and creek chub thrive in these fresh waters. Plantings include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Viognier and Chardonnay, which will eventually be used for estate wine production. Meanwhile, 80 percent of the wines currently offered come from Virginia grapes purchased and custom crushed off site by Three Creeks to produce some really excellent wines. Additionally, a state-of-the-art wine production building is currently being built, which will enable Three Creeks to expand its existing 1,500- to 2,000-case production. The Three Creeks Wine Club offers an excellent way to enjoy its wines both at the winery and at home. To join, members simply commit to four shipments or pickups annually, each consisting of three winemaker selected bottles. In return, members enjoy access to events, post COVID, and discounts on purchases. The property is currently open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and guests are welcome to bring their own food to enjoy with wines either in the tasting barn or a number of locations around the property, including socially distancing by the banks of the creeks. The staff is passionately keeping customers and themselves safe during the pandemic by requiring guests to social distance, limiting groups to no more than 10 people and requiring face coverings whenever inside the tasting barn. All surfaces are sanitized following each use, as are restrooms every hour. If you’re looking to enjoy truly nice wine in an intimate local setting, take a drive to Hamilton and Three Creeks; you will not be disappointed. Three Creeks Winery is located at 18548 Harmony Church Road in Hamilton. For more information, call 540-369-4655.
106 E. Washington St. P.o. Box 163 Middleburg, VA 20118 540-687-5400 FAX 540-687-3727 4125 Rectortown Rd P.O. Box 111 Marshall, VA 20116 540-364-1731 WWW.ROYSTONFH.COM
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Country ZEST & Style | Autumn 2020
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