Chatham Winery
Posted by: 
max771
N 37° 27.224 W 075° 55.919
18S E 417570 N 4145616
Chatham Vineyards is owned and operated by the Wehner family at historic Chatham Farm which has been a working farm for four centuries. Chatham Vineyards is located on Virginia's historic Eastern Shore.
Waymark Code: WMBXN3
Location: Virginia, United States
Date Posted: 07/02/2011
Views: 1
Chatham Vineyards
Jon Wehner is a second-generation winegrower on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. He learned about grape growing from his parents who operated Great Falls Vineyard in Great Falls, Virginia for thirty years. He and his wife and their three children own and operate the vineyard and winery. Since 1999, more than twenty acres of high-density (1,740 vines per acre) French vinifera varietals have been planted. They are Merlot (clone 181 and 3 on rootstock 101-14 and 3309), Chardonnay (French Dijon clones 95/96 and 76, and California Clones 4 and 5 on 3309 rootstock), Cabernet Franc (clone 214 on 101-14 rootstock), Cabernet Sauvignon (clone 337 on 101-14 rootstock) and Petit Verdot (clone 400 on 101-14 rootstock). The vineyards are cane pruned during the winter months to balance the vines and limit yields to less than 4 tons per acre thereby concentrating wine flavors. The grapes are hand-picked and sorted before pressing to ensure the highest quality of the juice. Grapes not vinified at the winery are sold to other wineries in Virginia.
The Winery
The winery was constructed in 2005 and currently has a production capacity of 3,000 to 5,000 cases annually. Winemaking equipment includes a computerized Europress 2200 litre, a Zickler-Rauch destemmer/crusher A-12, French and Virginia oak cooperage, and stainless steel fermenters with dimpled glycol cooling jackets custom-made in Italy. Temperature in the winery is maintained at 50 degrees year round. A retail tasting room is located in the winery. Future plans include the relocation and restoration of an 1890s farmhouse adjoining the winery to serve as a tasting room and special events facility.
Winery Size: Small 500 to 1,499 Cases
Attached vineyard?: yes
Tasting Room Available?: yes
Days and hours of operation: complimentary tours and wine tastings Thursday to Monday, 10 am to 5 pm, and open Sunday, 12 pm to 5 pm.
Charge for tasting?: 0.00 (listed in local currency)
Tours Available: yes
Cost of Tour: 0.00 (listed in local currency)
Phone #: 757-678-5588
Address:
9232 Chatham Road
Machipongo, VA 23405
Winery, Wine Cooperative, or Tasting Center's Website: [Web Link]
Types of wines:
Cab Franc
Merlot
Steel and Oak Chardonnay
Rose
Best Wine Tasted: Steel Chardonnay
Rate the Best Wine Tasted: 
Price per Bottle: 18.00 (listed in local currency)
2nd Best Wine Tasted: Late Harvest Dessert
Rate the 2nd Best Wine Tasted:
Price per Bottle #2: 19.00 (listed in local currency)
Overall Comments::
Good tour and host for the tasting. Nice for a quick stop while traversing the Eastern Shore. The winery is poised for expansion in better economic times.
Winery Club: Not listed
Wine Club Description:: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
All logs must be the result of an actual visit to the winery, wine cooperative, or wine tasting center. Any logs posted otherwise will be deleted. After your tasting list the top 2 wines you liked and rate them on a scale of 1-5 (5 is great) and the price per bottle (see winery listing for an example). Original winery lister is exempt as they listed this information on the original winery listing.