Mattaponi Winery

February 18, 2023.  Kim and I decided to shake off the mid-winter doldrums in favor of road trip down the ever-busy I-95 corridor.  Our first stop was Mattaponi Winery in Spotsylvania a short side-trip from the interstate.  Named for the nearby river, the Mattaponi property owned by Janette and Michael Evans began as a Christmas tree farm and branched out as a hobby around 20 years ago.  Mattaponi Winery, Inc., was formed in 2002 with Janette as President and Michael as the winemaker, specializing if fruit wines.  The tasting room opened in 2014. 

The winery has suffered much with Michael’s passing in 2019 and then COVID.  Janette is continuing the operation.  She wanted me to thank the whole local winemaking community in the Fredricksburg-Spotsyvania area for their support in those trying times.  In particular, she asked for a “shout-out” to Hal Bell at Bacchus Winery for helping her son, Calab, take over the role of winemaker from his father.

                                                   Janette Evans (r) and Natalie McKinney, Tasting Room Manager


Mattaponi is a small operation of between 3 and 5,000 cases annually.  They lease or control nearly 60 acres of Virginia fruit, and while there are no vines at the Spotsylvania tasting room location, all wines are produced there.  They even do their own bottling.  The tasting room is long and dark, with a fireplace at one end and the bar at the other.  The porch was wrapped in opaque plastic when we visited, to keep out the cold and wind.  Outside food is welcome as are families.  


Drawing from Janette’s Cherokee heritage, Mattaponi has a strong Native American feel from the Native American wall hangings to the names of wines themselves.  Mattaponi is famous for their strawberry wine which should be available again starting in March.  Janette was proud that the strawberry wine is made from 100% fruit with no flavoring or concentrate used.  They also feature seven wine-based cocktails including Sangria, Mojito, and a Caramel Apple-tini.  We didn’t sample the cocktails but their popularity and the Mattaponi drive-thru and delivery service were strategies that kept the winery kept afloat during COVID.

We are not big into sweet wines.  Nevertheless, we can recognize wines that are well made.  Here are our impressions:

Chardonnay.  Kim did not favor this deep gold colored Chardonnay.

Seyval.  Kim liked the Seyval better and rated it a C.

Wabamin.  The name is Algonquin for “white berry.”  Wabamin is made from the Niagara grape which is part of the Concord family (Vitis labrusca).  Kim rated this wine a “C.” as well.  Both Niagara and Concord fruit used at Mattaponi comes from Wenger Grapes in Waynesboro.

Golden Horse Shoe.  Kim found this Traminette wine too sweet for her liking and rated it a “C.”   I found it off-dry.

Merlot.  I got red plums and a kick of alcohol from this wine.  It was almost like a light Port.  Mattaponi makes the Merlot in California Flex Tanks to preserve the fruitiness.

Chambourcin (dry) 2021.  All three versions of Mattaponi’s Chambourcin come from Hartwood Winery in Fredricksburg.  Less fruit and more floral.  Still some bourbon overtones.

Chambourcin (semi-sweet) 2021.  Smooth; a little alcohol; cherry on the finish.

Miskwamin.  Miskwamin is Algonquin for “red berry.”  This wine is made from the Concord grape. It had an aroma of resin, almost off.  I got some raisin or dried fruit in the taste with a sweet light finish.  

Sweetheart Chambourcin.  Very definite chocolate on the nose.  Very sweet with some tannin.  Some strawberry on the backend.  Mattaponi actually inserts some chocolate in the blend.

One more point.  We visited Mattaponi during their special Valentine Cheesecake Pairing event.  Raspberry Cheesecake paired with the Golden Horse Shoe Traminette; Chocolate Cheesecake paired with the Merlot; Peanut Butter Cheesecake paired with the semi-sweet Chambourcin; and Strawberry Cheesecake paired with the Sweetheart Chambourcin.  All great choices for pairings.  And hats off to Janette for baking all of those cheesecakes!

If you favor the sweeter end of the palate, Mattaponi should be on your Bucket List.

Location: 7530 Morris Rd, Spotsylvania Courthouse, VA 22551, USA

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