Valerie Hill Vineyard and Winery

October 20, 2022.  Only about five miles from James Charles winery we came to our next stop on this Shenandoah wine trip.  This was the beautiful manor house of Valerie Hill Vineyard and Winery, Stephens City, Frederick County.  Built in 1807, the stately Federal style home house sits on a hillock by a circular drive.  Inside is split in small cozy rooms as you’d expect of a house of that period.  There is seating out on the back porch and eight tables under umbrellas in back on the patio.  Heaters are available in the cooler months.  The Virginia Wine Pass is not accepted.  Outside food is allowed.                     

 

Shawn and Kelly Steffey and Tyler and Tracey Newsome bought the property in 2011 and opened for business in 2012.  The property is for sale again for $1.290 Million.  The farm is around 18 acres, of which six acres are in grapes.  From these and other grapes grown in the Shenandoah Valley, they produce around 2,500 cases of wine per year.  Valerie Hill has a custom crush arrangement with Michael Shaps Wineworks in Charlottesville.  Thanks to Amanda for her helpful background information.

One claim to fame is that the house is haunted with several ghosts.  Prior owners and the current owners all report encounters with established ghosts, from the Union soldier on the staircase, to the stern woman in a grey frock.  Most disturbing is the ghost of a boy in the attic.  The story goes that in 1823, the local sheriff ordered the Rust family to confine their insane nephew from public view.  They confined him to an attic room.  Today, there are reports of footsteps and voices from the attic as if the boy is still confined there.  Check out the Ghost Hunters tv show – Season 14, Episode 7.

Back in the living day, on a late afternoon as the sun was thinking of setting, Kim and I sampled several wines on the normal tasting menu: 

2019 Chardonnay.  Kim rated this Chardonnay an A-.  Full bodied, bold, not too dry, aged for a time in neutral French oak barrels.

2018 Cabernet Franc.  This is 100% Cabernet Franc.  Medium bodied, light pepper.  Cherry notes.  Not deep.  French oak.

2020 Reserve Merlot.  Heavier tannin than the Cabernet Franc, more attack.  100% Merlot.  Minerally.  Some cherry.

2018 1807 Blend.  This very limited release is 50% merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 25% Cabernet Franc.  Not as minerally as a Right Bank Bordeaux.  Cranberry lightness.  Tannins appear later on the finish.

2018 John Barron Petit Verdot.  Full bodied with a smooth finish.  Flowery aroma.

 

Location: 1687 Marlboro Road, Stephens City, VA

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