Jefferson Vinyards
N 37° 59.406 W 078° 26.653
17S E 724439 N 4207798
Located off of Highway 53, Thomas Jefferson Parkway
Waymark Code: WM1E59
Location: Virginia, United States
Date Posted: 04/17/2007
Views: 72
Excerpt from the vineyards description:
The story of Jefferson Vineyards, and the modern Virginia wine industry, begins in 1773 with a meeting at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello between Mr. Jefferson and Italian winemaker and industrialist Fillipo Mazzei, who planned to produce wines, oils and silks for sale in the Colonies. The idea intrigued Jefferson, famous for his love of the wines of Bordeaux,
and he invested in Mazzei’s company. Jefferson’s influence attracted other investors, including George Washington, George Mason and Lord Dunmore, the Royal Governor of the Virginia Colony.
Mazzei started with 400 acres of land adjoining Monticello on which he would plant vineyards and build his home, Colle. After surveying the property, Mazzei declared, much to Jefferson’s delight, “I do not believe that nature is so favorable to growing vines in any country as this." While overseeing the construction of his home, Mazzei stayed with Jefferson at Monticello, and so began their life-long relationship.
With the construction of Colle underway, Mazzei began planting in the early Spring of 1774, marking the beginning of the commercial wine industry in the Colonies, and what would become – some 200 years later -- Jefferson Vineyards.
The Revolutionary War ended Mazzei’s efforts to make wine, when our country's founding fathers sent him back to Italy to solicit war funds from the Duke of Tuscany. While away, Mazzei rented Colle to an imprisoned Hessian Calvalry General captured at Saratoga and housed in the Charlottesville barracks. The general’s horses made quick work of the vineyards, which then fell to ruin, and all – for a time -- was lost.
In 1981, the owners of Mazzei’s old property decided to resurrect the vineyards. Under the guidance of farm manager and winemaker Gabrielle Rausse, they replanted the vineyards Mazzei had first established in 1774. And thus was the modern-day Jefferson Vineyards established, truly fulfilling Jefferson and Mazzei’s vision conceived some 200 years earlier.
Today, Jefferson Vineyards produces award-winning wines from 20 acres of vineyards, all within sight of both Colle and Monticello.
Winery Size: Medium 3,000 to 4,999 Cases
Attached vineyard?: yes
Tasting Room Available?: yes
Days and hours of operation: 10am to 6pm
Charge for tasting?: 5.00 (listed in local currency)
Tours Available: yes
Cost of Tour: 5.00 (listed in local currency)
Phone #: 800-272-3042
Address:
1353 Thomas Jefferson Parkway
Charlottsville, VA 22902
Winery, Wine Cooperative, or Tasting Center's Website: [Web Link]
Types of wines:
Dry whites, Semi-dry whites, Red wines
Best Wine Tasted: Late Harvest Vidal Blanc
Rate the Best Wine Tasted: 
Price per Bottle: 25.00 (listed in local currency)
2nd Best Wine Tasted: Viognier
Rate the 2nd Best Wine Tasted:
Price per Bottle #2: 15.00 (listed in local currency)
Winery Club: No
Overall Comments::
N/A
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.