Williamsburg Winery

September 13, 2023.  Real estate agents will tell you that the keys to success are “Location, location, location.”  The same holds to a lesser extent with wineries.  We have visited some very good wineries that are in the boondocks and some wineries with average product in great locations with guaranteed foot traffic.  Williamsburg Winery is certainly in a prime location, just south of Colonial Williamsburg, and just west of Busch Gardens-Williamsburg in James City County.  Williamsburg Winery has benefited from this prime location to welcome visitors for nearly 35 years.

Williamsburg Winery was a last minute add to our itinerary, and we did not contact anyone there in advance.  In one respect, our reception was a good example of what you would expect to encounter going there.  On the other hand, it may not show the winery to best example.

First, some basic facts:  Patrick and Francoise Duffler first planted grapes in this part of the Virginia Peninsula in 1985 on 300 acres they named “Wessex Hundred.”  They produced their first wine in 1988, the “Governor’s White,” which I believe continues to be their biggest seller (This is a semi-dry, 100% Riesling, non-Virginia wine).  They have produced award winning wines since at least 1990 when they received a medal at the Virginia Governor’s Cup.  In 2014 Williamsburg won the entire competition.  In 2023, the 2019 Petit Verdot Reserve made it into the Governor’s Case.

According to Wikipedia, Williamsburg Winery is the largest Virginia winery and accounts for a quarter of all wine produced in the Commonwealth.  They have 50 acres under vine, mostly Petit Verdot (11.6 acres) at the Wessex Hundred property and produce around 65,000 cases of wine annually.  Except for the Malbec, all wines are from Virginia grapes – either estate or purchased elsewhere. 

The approach is pleasing enough this time of year.  By the time you park, you will have driven through vineyards of Petit Verdot, Tanat, Cabernet Franc, and Albariño.  You will also pass their hotel, Wedmore Place, and a formal tavern, Gabriel Archer’s, named after the 17th Century ship’s captain who had an interest in what is now Wessex Hundred.  Williamsburg Winery can accommodate groups of most any size.

Unfortunately, walking up to the tasting room is underwhelming given the size of the operation.  It appears as a jumble of buildings in need of fresh paint and sprucing up overall. 

 


You enter the tasting room, Susan Constant Hall, through the gift shop.  Probably most people visiting Williamsburg take the winery tour, which concludes in the gift shop and tasting room.  Outside food is not permitted, and the available food choices are meager.  (I sense they want to move you to the tavern.)  We last visited Williamsburg Winery pre-COVID when patrons were served around a circular bar.  Today, you take your tasting samples to tables and chairs spread around a dark room with minimal adornments.   The serving staff was pretty knowledgeable and welcoming even if the environment was not particularly so.

 

Here is what we sampled on our visit:

2021 Stainless Steel Chardonnay.  Kim rates this a C.  Slightly floral.  Not much taste, honestly.  Kim thought it was priced okay at $9.00, but she’d rather pay $4.00.

2020 Barrel Aged Virginia Claret.  I rate the Virginia Claret a B.  It is a blend of six grapes led by Merlot.  Interesting raspberry with tannins.  Decent balance.

2020 Virginia Cabernet Sauvignon.  I rate this wine a C.  Medium body, some leather, and a slight medicinal aftertaste.  Tame.  Not much going on, not even tannins.

2020 Virginia Petit Verdot.  I found the Petit Verdot the best of the tasting set.  It has more earth and leather.  Medium body.  Dark fruit.  Short finish.  But I still rate it a B, edging to B+  Tasting notes suggest aging might be good.

2107 Reflective Malbec.  The Malbec is the product of a collaboration between Williamsburg Winery and the A16 vineyard in Mendoza, Argentina.  The 2017 Reflective is mostly Malbec from A16 but, for the first time, also blends Williamsburg’s Petit Verdot.  It is medium bodied with a little longer finish than the PV by itself..  Brambly and spice and dark fruits again.  I rate it a B. 

 https://williamsburgwinery.com/

5800 Wessex Hundred

Williamsburg, VA  23185

757-229-0999

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