Three Creeks Winery

February 6, 2022.

We continued our February excursion into Loudoun County with a visit to the new Three Creeks Winery in Hamilton.  Three Creeks was incorporated in February 2020 and is a fictitious name for the Harmony Creek Vineyards.  Three Creeks indeed does sit on a small rise overlooking the confluence of three creeks.  Even in the winter, the creeks were burbling along.  With these creeks, the Winery does not allow visitors under the age of 21 because there are no fences to keep children, for instance, from falling into the waters.   Outside food is allowed.  The tasting room is small and cozy.

We had a nice conversation with Paula-Jean (“P.J.”). Lawrence, co-owner of the winery who told us about building the tasting room onto the original old barn and the work to bush-hog the land and plant vines.   We should not forget how much hard work vineyarding is.  We enjoyed the casual atmosphere and the very hospitable and approachable staff.

Three Creeks has 11 acres under vine, had their first harvest in 2020, and opened in June 2020.  Most fruit comes from the estate or from within Virginia, although their “GSM” blend (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre), intended to be like a Chateauneuf-du-Pape, uses West Coast grapes.

Three Creeks offers three tasting flights: White, Classic Virginia, and Premium Red for $14 or $19.  I sampled three wines in the Classic Virginia flight:

2019 Cabernet Franc.  I found the Cab Franc to have subdued fruit and little pepper.  There was some tannin but over-all a good balance.

2018 Petit Verdot.  The Petit Verdot had more spice and tannin but was not too fruity.

2018 Mélange Rouge. The tasting notes say this wine is a blend of four Bordeaux varietals with a long finish.  I found the Mélange with heavier tannins, true, but not too complex for what sounds like it should be a more complex wine.  Probably not worth the $44 per bottle price.

Kim had a glass of Chardonnay and rated it A-.  She found it a little buttery for her taste. (It is barrel-fermented in French oak.)  It had a medium finish.

While we did not buy a bottle at Three Creeks, it is certainly worth a return visit and watching their development.

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