Valhalla Vineyards

Valhalla Vineyards is a vineyard and winery located in Roanoke County, Virginia, founded by James and Debra Vascik in 1994.[1][2][3][4]

Valhalla Vineyards
LocationRoanoke, Virginia, USA
Founded1994
First vintage1998
Key peopleDebra Vascik, winemaker
Jim Vascik, vineyard manager
Known forGotterdammerung
Valkyrie
VarietalsCabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Norton (grape), Sangiovese, Viognier, Petit Verdot, Syrah, Chardonnay, Malbec
TastingOpen to the Public
Websitewww.valhallawines.com

History

The Vasciks paid $1.2 million for the 200-acre (81 ha) property in 1993.[5] Planting of the Valhalla vineyard began in 1994 on 21 acres (8.5 ha) of converted peach orchard.[6] Construction on the winery building and 200-foot (61 m) wine cave began in 1996.

The winery's first vintage was in 1998 and released in 2000. Valhalla was one of two Virginia vineyards to process its grapes underground in 1998.[5] The vineyard uses a "gravity flow"[1] system in which grapes are pressed through holes in the roof of the winery, which is set into the hillside. The goal of this pump-free process is to prevent damage to the grapes.[7]

Valhalla Vineyards has primarily received attention for their red wines, such as the Götterdämmerung Cabernet Franc/Merlot blend.[1][4][8][9] Their 1999 Syrah was praised by Wine Spectator as being the best of its class from Virginia and the US South.[10] Valhalla vineyards wines have won awards in east coast wine competitions since 2002.[11][12]

References
  1. DeBord, Matthew, Wine Spectator (December 10, 2002). "The American Way of Wine". Retrieved 2009-12-27.
  2. Davis Barrager (August 12, 1999). "Virginia's wines gaining praise with a little help from Valhalla". The Japan Times. Retrieved January 19, 2010.
  3. DeVito, Carlo, (2003) East Coast wineries: a complete guide from Maine to Virginia pp.308-09. ISBN 978-0-8135-3312-4
  4. Franz, Michael (September 23, 2002). "The Grapevine". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 19, 2010.
  5. Associated Press, Wilmington Morning Star (October 19, 1998). "Neurosurgeon turns mountain orchards into winery".
  6. Adams, Duncan, The Roanoke Times (October 20, 2005). "Taking a bite out of profits". highbeam.com. Archived from the original on November 2, 2012. Retrieved 2009-12-27.
  7. Frater, Elisabeth (2002). Breaking Away to Virginia and Maryland Wineries, by Elisabeth Frater. ISBN 9781892123794. Retrieved 2009-12-27.
  8. Oz Clarke (November 2004), Oz Clarke's Pocket Wine Guide 2005, p. 282, ISBN 9780151011001
  9. Apple, R.W. Jr.,The New York Times (September 13, 2000). "Jefferson Gets His Wish: At Last, a Decent Bottle Of Virginia Wine".
  10. Andrea Sutcliffe (2003), Romantic Virginia, p. 186, ISBN 978-0-89587-255-5
  11. "Virginia Wine Association Governors Cup 2009 Winners" (PDF). vawine.org. Retrieved 2009-12-27.
  12. "Wine growers: state wine harvest best in years". The Associated Press Wire, November 27, 2001.


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