Hark Vineyards

October 27, 2023.  We continued our meandering journey to Hark Vineyards in Earlysville, almost due West from Burnley crossing Route 29.  Once you get out in this vicinity, cell service can be spotty so take care with your navigation. 

To me, the optimum development for a winery is to get the vineyard growing first since no great wine comes from inferior grapes.  Next build a production facility and make the investment to make wine on your own terms.  Lastly, build a tasting room to sell your product. 

Hark seems to have its priorities straight.  Aaron and Candace Hark bought their property in 2015, began planting grapes in a cattle field in 2016, and had their first harvest in 2017.  They opened to the public in October 2019.  We spent some time talking with assistant winemaker Luke Hintz, who was doubling as wine server that afternoon.  Earnest and younger than his years, we greatly thank Luke for his time with us.  A.J. Greely is the winemaker.


You will not see a swank tasting room when you arrive at Hark Vineyards.  The business is run from a small temporary building with outdoor tented seating and the vineyards encircling you.  There is no indoor seating.  The 20+ acres of grapes under vine include eight grape varieties which produce between 4,000 and 4,300 cases per year.  They will be taking over full care of the vineyard next year.  All wines on the Hark label are 100% estate grown. (See, JBW label wines noted below.)  Importantly, the Harks completed their large production facility in 2019.  You can see it tucked under the vineyard hill to the south east.  This will help them keep close control and higher quality.  According to Luke, the plan is to break ground on a tasting room next year in roughly the area that is now outdoor seating for patrons.  Parts of the old barn on-site may be repurposed for the tasting room.  It will have views westward toward Buck Mountain with great sunsets in store.  Sounds like a solid plan. 

 

In their current configuration, they may have an occasional wedding or event, but that is not the goa or capability.  With a winery site so small, it gets crowded easily.  Hark wines are available at Whole Foods in Northern Virginia (Tysons and Vienna).  They have been added to the wine list at the Inn at Little Washington. 

Luke was proud of Hark’s Virginia Verde, their most popular wine.  This is a 100% Vidal Blanc, Hark’s only hybrid, made in the vinho verde style, low alcohol with a little sparkle.  Hark is also making its first port-style wine and is experimenting with Albariño grafts. 

We had a Reserve Tasting and here are our impressions:

2021 Pinot Gris.  Kim rates this a B+.  Floral aroma of honeysuckle.  Nice acidity.  Straw color. 

2021 Petit Manseng.  This gets a B rating.  It has a light savory aroma.  Pale yellow color.  Medium body.  It won a Gold Medal in the 2023 Virginia Governor’s Cup. 

2021 JBW Cabernet Franc.  The tasting includes this Cab Franc on the Jake Busching Wine (JBW) label.  Jake has been a vineyard manager and winemaker for a number of wineries in the Monticello AVA for more than 25 years.  He was a consultant at Hark at the beginning.  He began his private label in 2015.  Jake chairs the Research and Education Committee for the Virginia Wine Board, and has taught viticulture classes at Piedmont Virginia Community College in Charlottesville.  This wine is sourced from Lovingston and central Virginia, not the Hark property.  It has the traditional green pepper.  Mild tannin, light fruit – cherry.  Medium body.  I rate it a B. 

2019 Petit Verdot.  This is a B+.  Smoke aroma.  Vegetative.  Complex, light fruit.  Better character than the JBW selection. 

This is a winery that is doing it right and promises to make some top wines.  Worth the visit.

Location: 1465 Davis Shop Rd, Earlysville, VA 22936, USA

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