Creek’s Edge Winery
by
Kathy Sullivan
Summary: Creek’s Edge Winery is a relatively new winery in Northern Virginia. Discover this countryside Amish-style building located between Catoctin Creek and Furnace Mountain. Tedd Durden, owner, expects the winery to produce all-estate wines by 2019.
We discovered Creek’s Edge Winery in Northern Virginia’s bucolic countryside in Taylorstown. The mailing address is Lovettsville. The winery is located in a large Amish barn-style facility that includes an immense tasting room. An architecturally round staircase reminding one of a large oak barrel is a silo. Visitors can see where black walnut wood, from trees on the property, was used in construction of the facility.
The highlights of the tasting room include a stone fireplace, leather and wood seating areas, and a baby grand piano. Ornate ceiling fans add to the ambiance. Wood framed glass doors lead to a deck with tables and chairs. Move to the silo and take a winding staircase to a cozy tasting room area, available on an upper level amid the rafters.
Creek’s Edge Winery opened in the spring of 2014. At the time of our September 2015 visit, a dedicated event building was under construction close to the winery and tasting room. Tedd Durden is the owner of Creek’s Edge Winery. Prior to planting vineyards and building the winery, Tedd owned a construction company. His children, Caroline, Craig and Christopher work at the winery on weekends. The management staff at Creek's Edge Winery mentors high school students. Friends of Tedd's children: Matthew Whalen, Adam Eckenrode, Sean Whalen, Michael Whalen and Jeremy Huskie helped build and finish the inside of the tasting room.
Perhaps it is Tedd’s background of construction that influenced his design of the Creek’s Edge Winery. The wood tasting counter has a golden glow adding to the ambiance of the wine tasting experience.
Vineyards at Creek’s Edge Winery
The Creek’s Edge Winery vineyards were planted in 2009 and the 4.5 acres are currently planted with Chardonnay, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. The winery owners also own a farm with a vineyard three miles down the road from the tasting room. Creek’s Edge Winery sources grapes from Virginia and the state of Washington. Durden expects the winery to produce all estate wine by 2019
On the opposite side of the road, Catoctin Creek is just past the tree line, thus the name for the winery located on the creek's edge.
Winery Production Area
The winery production area is located below the tasting room. On this lower level, there is an extension outside for the covered crush pad. The crush pad area is large and contains a destemmer/crusher, press and storage of crates for grapes. Inside the production area, there are numerous stainless steel tanks and oak barrels. The liquid in the airlocks was bubbling.
Food at Creek’s Edge Winery
We met Kolin Giuliano, the enthusiastic chef that works for some of the events at the winery on the weekends. Kolin mentioned how it was his grandmother who started his interest in food. At the age of 14, Kolin started cooking. He eventually attended Le Cordon Bleu. At Creek’s Edge, a weekend light fare menu includes: charcuterie, salads, and sandwiches. One of our favorite wine related quotes is at the end of a menu. “A meal without wine is like a day without sunshine” by Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, author of “The Physiology of Taste.”
Creek’s Edge Wines
Wine labels show a meandering creek and a small square marks the location of the winery along the creek’s edge. The labels also show fishing lures to reflect the creek.
The Pinot Gris 2014 was a dark yellow colored wine. The taste was of yellow stone fruit and the finish was crisp. This wine would be good with food or alone as an aperitif. Chardonnay 2014 was produced in a stainless steel tank. It was a dark yellow color. The wine offered notes of apple and pear with a buttery, soft mouthfeel. The finish was crisp and fruity. In contrast, the Chardonnay 2012 was in neutral oak for 23 months. The grapes were sourced from Trump Vineyards. The wine was a yellow color. It offered notes of pear, apple and a very slight hint of caramel. The finish was crisp with layers of fruit, butterscotch and caramel.
Chambourcin 2012 was full-bodied with notes of black and red raspberries. The finish was dry and lingered. Consider pairing this wine with steaks and other beef dishes. Merlot 2009 was a translucent ruby colored wine. The wine had notes of black cherries. It was medium/full bodied with silky tannins. The finish was crisp and fruity.
Events at the Winery
Creek’s Edge Winery offers music events and space for private events including weddings. They have refurbished a civil war era barn for wine tastings and events in order to provide additional venues to patrons when events are going on in the main winery.
Enjoy tasting wines in the Creek’s Edge Winery tasting room or on the deck with photographic views of the countryside. The spiral staircase in the silo is also photogenic. Watch for the completion of the dedicated event room.
Creek’s Edge Winery
41255 Annas Lane
Lovettsville, Virginia 20180
GPS: N39º 15.373’ W77º 34.363’
Article written October 2015
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