Honah Lee Vineyard

July 7, 2022.   This begins our 2022 annual wine trip to the Monticello AVA.  Last year, we endured blistering heat during the trip.  It was great to take a dip in the pool after a hard day’s tasting in the sun.  This year, the temperatures were mostly in the 80’s, but with some annoying rain each day, heavy at times.  I plan to post on each of the ten wineries we visited over the next week or so.

On the way to Charlottesville, we stopped at Honah Lee Vineyards in Gordonsville on the recommendation of our friends, Joe and Belle.  The name came to owners, Vera and Wayne Preddy, during a beach vacation; it is indeed named after the enchanted land where Puff the Magic Dragon lives, a land of independence and liberation.  Wayne died in 2016, and Vera carries on with Brandy Hopwood, a daughter-in-law, as a manager.

The vineyards were planted in 2000 on land that was a cattle farm.  This seems to have happened quite a bit around the state.  Now there are some 90 acres under vine.  All wines are made from grapes grown at Honah Lee.  But Honah Lee does not itself make or bottle the wines – that is a job left to Michael Shaps, who is their winemaker under custom crush arrangements.

The tasting room is small and rustic with very limited indoor seating.  Looks like an old country store.


There are firepits put out in the colder months.  There is also farm produce for sale.  The grounds can accommodate large groups under tents for special events.  Check out the nice gazebo out back.  Outside food is allowed.  Honah Lee does not accept the Virginia Wine Pass.  

We selected six wines to sample from Honah Lee’s extensive offerings that include several meads:

Chardonnay 2017.  Kim rated this a B- or C+.  She found it very lean with little taste.

Viognier 2017.  Likewise, Kim found the Vognier too light and weak, rating it a B-.

De la Merce 2021.  This is a 50/50 Malbec and Chambourcin blend.  It has light fruit and mild tannin.  Light body.  Some sweetness.  Would benefit from chilling.

Malbec 2017.  I got some vegetal aromas. The Malbec has higher tannin and astringency than the Dela Merce.  Medium body.  Some sediment, even in the small tasting glass.

Captain 2018.  I think this is the Honah Lee flagship wine.  It is 38% Malbec, 37% Petit Verdot, and 25% Tannat.  There is less fruit and more tannin than the Malbec.  Medium bodied.  Short finish.  Good balance between acid and alcohol.

 Petit Verdot 2017.  Very tannic.  Good finish.  Higher alcohol . More complex but still medium bodied.

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