Zephaniah Farm Vineyards
by
Kathy Sullivan
Summary: Zephaniah Farm Vineyards is open to the public on weekends. Enjoy a visit to a petite one-of-a kind-winery. The farm also produces honey, lamb and pasture-fed Angus.
Zephaniah Farm Vineyards offers visitors an unusual tasting room experience. Upon arriving at the winery, visitors will see a large brick home built in 1830. In 1950 a large addition was added to the manor house. Outside of the manor house a summer flower garden bursts with flower colors and butterflies. A small stone fence adds charm to the colorful garden.
Bill Hatch and his family own the winery and vineyards. The Mill Road Farm property has been in the Hatch family for three generations. Bill's parents moved to the manor house in 1950. Bill grew up on the farm. He began looking for a viable way to keep the property as farmland and seized upon the idea of planting grapevines. The farm also produces lamb, pasture-fed Angus and honey. These can be purchased at the Loudoun Farmers’ Market on Saturday mornings.
The vineyards are located up the hill past the flower garden. Bill Hatch started the vineyards in 2002. He began with Cabernet Franc and now has Chardonnay, Petit Manseng and Petit Verdot. He and his family own the winery. Bill is also the winemaker. Bill believes the winery is “all about small handcrafted” wines. In the vineyards Bill uses a ballerina trellis system. He believes the winery will become a sustainable fulltime business. Currently the winery produces 150-175 cases and is the smallest winery in Loudoun County.
The entrance to the wine tasting room is through the manor house front door. Walking through a narrow hallway leads visitors to the tasting room that is located in the 1950 section of the home. The room has an abundance of antiques that have been collected while traveling. There is no tasting counter, rather the room offers the elegance and charm of the nineteenth century.
We tasted wines in the tasting room and were fortunate to follow Bill to the basement for barrel tastings. No whites wines were available for tasting as the winery has sold out of them. In the tasting room we began with 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon that was opened the day before. The color was a light red with a hint of brown. The aroma was peppery with a hint of blackberries. There was a light blackberry taste. The finish was crisp and acidic. Bill suggested we compare the same wine that was opened less than an hour earlier. This same wine was light red and the grapes seemed to have been harvested early. The wine was acidic. Cabernet Franc 2007 was a red-ruby fruit. The aroma and taste was of dark fruit and pepper. The finish was crisp and fruity.
The barrel tastings began with Cabernet Franc 2008. This wine was a red/purple color. The aroma and taste is of dark fruit with a bit of spice. The finish is crisp. Currently the wine is young and will age. A Cabernet Franc 2008 aged in a medium plus toasted oak barrel, offered an aroma and taste of spice. The finish was crisp. The Merlot was a beautiful reddish purple color with pepper on the nose. There were also notes of red berries. As these barrels continue to age the wine, the wines will continue to increase their characteristics.
Enjoy a tasting at Zephaniah Vineyards where the preservation of farmland, family and antiques are important. Sit down tastings take place on Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5:30 pm..
Zephaniah Farm Vineyards
19381 Dunlop Mill Rd.
Leesburg, VA 20175
GPS: N39º 04.914’ W77º 37.369’
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