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A Meandering Valley Road
Valley Road Vineyards began almost by accident. Stan and Barbara Joynes lived in Richmond with their four children and built a vacation home near Wintergreen in 2008. They would visit when they could, and spend their free time visiting wineries in the area. They were not afficianados by any stretch, but they enjoyed tasting wine, and, most importantly, they enjoyed talking with people. As their children got older, they were able to visit more and build relationships with people at the vineyards. Eventually, the children started going off to school, with two attending Stan's alma matter the University of Virginia, and they decided to move to the area full time.
Through these relationships they built in the area among vintners, they realized that more grape production was needed to keep up with the demand. Stan began searching for a farm to grow vines, the idea being to sell off the grapes to local wineries, not to make their own wines. But, while there were numerous farms available, most were just too big with too little space for growing grapes. It just didn't make any sense to buy a huge 100 acre farm if only a fraction of the land was suitable for vines.
That's where an accident and Stan's natural penchant for building relationships comes in. He had visited not just wineries along 151, but also small farms in the area. One being the owner of AM Fog Farm, a local farm famous for its oyster, shitake, and maitake mushrooms frequently used in local area restaurants as well as its big red barn visible from Route 151. During one of his visits there, she mentioned that she had decided to sell the property and move the farm operation. Stan, Barbara, and the other founders of Valley Road had found the little bit of land they needed to plant their vineyard.
The AM Fog Farm property was only about 15 acres, but the land was a perfect for what they wanted. It was so perfect, in fact, that this land had been coveted for years by local grape growers. It needed a little bit of reconfiguration, but everything was there, not only for a vineyard but for a winery as well. It also had something that not every winery has, and that is the old business mantra "location, location, location." It is located just 1.1 miles down Rt. 151 and at the start of the Beverage Trail. It just made sense to grow grapes and make wine there.
The decision was made to build a winery on the site. Since none of the founders had any experience in the wine industry, they let their previous experience in business take over. They hired great talent. Well respected vineyard manager and grower Grayson Poats was brought on to run the growing operations. When cooking, the quality of ingredients matters most. The same applies to making wine, you need good grapes to make good wine. The first vines were planted in March/April of 2016 and Valley Road was off and running.
But, growing good grapes is only half the battle. You still have to know how to make good wine. This is where Stan's relationship building prowess shined once again. Through his many visits in the area, he had established a friendship with the owners of King Family Vineyards. With their permission, Stan engaged with KFV's winemaker, Mathieu Finot, to make wines for Valley Road on a contract basis as well. Finot is one of the top winemakers in Virginia and had recently won the Virginia Cup with his 2014 Meritage from King Family. Talent acquired.
After a lot of work, the tasting room was opened in August of 2016. The wine was pouring and people were taking notice - quickly. In 2017, Valley Road's 2014 Petit Verdot was selected for the Governor's Case. The next year, they one a gold medal in the Virginia Governor's Cup for their 2015 Viognier. They added three more silver medals from the Governor's Cup in 2019 for their 2014 and 2015 Meritage as well as the ultra popular Torn Curtain, a red wine blend. This year, they joining many of the other wineries in holding weddings onsite. Ceremonies and receptions take place in the iconic red barn that can be easily seen from Rt. 151.
Valley Road Vineyards is most definitely on the map.
My Experience
Let me preface this next part by saying I am not a journalist. I have never really written anything before. I have absolutely no experience and have no idea what I'm doing. I'm just a guy with a limo company who had an idea to visit some of the places that we take our customers. I wanted to get the word out about these great companies. When I contacted Valley Road Vineyards, all of that didn't seem to make a difference. They were as nice as they could be about my request and said to come on out. We'd love to have you.
On the day that I met with Stan and Barbara Joynes at their little slice of wine country heaven, I was startkly reminded that this year has been a bit different than most I can recall. It was mid-October, the fall colors on the leaves were breathtaking, and it was close to 80 degrees outside. It was a Tuesday and we had seen our busiest weekend since March. The weather that past weekend had been nothing short of spectacular. It was summer in October and it felt like everyone took the opportunity to break their pandemic fatigue by getting outside to do something, anything, fun. A winery is a great place to relax, especially one with views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the kaleidoscope of autum foliage in full swing.
We sat under at a table under an umbrella in their outdoor tasting area and introduced ourselves. I told them I wanted to ask a few questions and take some pictures, with the idea that it would be turned into a quick spotlight video for Facebook. Then, Stan started telling me the story of Valley Road and I got to experience his gift first hand. I've stated before that Stan has an uncanny ability to build relationships with people, and I can see why. When Stan talks, you're interested. Maybe it is carryover from his previous career as a lawyer, but while he was describing the history of the vineyard I found myself more intrigued than I thought I would be. Don't get me wrong. I do enjoy wine from time to time, but I'm not really a wine guy. Whiskey and beer are more my speed, but Stan had my attention from the start. He just has a gift for making connections with people and it has permeated into the vineyard. Valley Road has a gift of making you feel at home, just like Stan.
Visiting Valley Road
After Stan narrated the story of the vineyard, with Barbara adding in some details, I finally remembered that I had a list of questions to ask. This is probably the part that you readers will be most interested in - what to know when you visit Valley Road Vineyards.
First things first, they take safety very seriously and take a lot of precautions to ensure the health and well being of their staff and guests. You will be required to wear a mask when you visit, tables are spaced out for social distancing, and outside seating is plentiful. During my visit, they had an outdoor bar set up by the Library and a tent had been erected for guests to sit under. There is a relaxing tasting room onsite (seen above), but, it being a gorgeous Tuesday afternoon and only a few customers around, it was not in use. A pole barn is being built next to the Tasting Room where the tent is currently to allow for customers to continue visiting during the upcoming months when the weather will take a turn for the worse. They will also be utilizing the Barn for tastings now that wedding season is coming to a close, meaning even more space for guests to be able to enjoy wine and relax.
Even with all of their own safety precautions, and the current operating restrictions for all businesses, Valley Road is one of the few wineries that can still accommodate larger groups. It is definitely recommended that you call or email them first to make a reservation. Stan and Barbara have said that if you only have 2 or 3 people coming to visit, reservations are not really necessary. With all of the space on property, they have not had any issues being able to squeeze in smaller groups. A tip that my hosts shared was to bring blankets or chairs with you. If it is super busy in the tasting areas, you can always get some wine and find a spot on property to set up.
Valley Road does not have a restaurant onsite, but they do have a menu of some snacks for your visit. They also have food trucks that frequently visit on Saturdays, so be sure to check their calendar to see when your favorite is coming. They also have local musicians that perform on property, which is another reason to keep up to date with their calendar and events.
I asked Stan and Barbara to tell me what their favorite restaurants, breweries, bands, food trucks, and restaurants were, but I could only coerce them to divulge their favorite wine. For Barbara, it is hands down the Joie Sparking Rose. She did not even skip a beat when I asked the question. For Stan, he had to think a bit more about it. His answer was a wine that you cannot get anymore because it is sold out, but that his current favorite is the Savignon Blanc, which is definitely available.
Valley Road is open from Noon until 5:30 PM every day. They are located at 9264 Crizers Shop Road, Afton, VA, 22920. This is just a mile south of Rt. 250 down 151, on the right hand side. You can't miss the big red Barn on property. You can always call them at 540-456-6350 or email them from their website valleyroadwines.com (also where you can find the calendar). They also have some great content on their social media pages. You can find and follow Valley Road at:
Until next time, Ramble Virginia!
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