Good Spirit Farm Winery

January 26, 2024.  What a difference a week makes.  Seven days ago, the temperature had been suppressed below 20 degrees for days and piles of snow blanketed the landscape with a sense of permanence.  But we emerged more each following day from the Polar Vortex so that by the Friday when we set out to the wineries it was in the upper seventies and the snow beaten back to tiny resistant enclaves of shade. 

To celebrate leaving our cocoon, we drove out to Good Spirit Winery near Round Hill in Loudoun County.  Good Spirit is just one turn off of the scenic Snickersville Turnpike, less than a mile from the cross-roads that is the community of Airmount.  Disabled parking is a quick jog to the right on the winery driveway.  There is a fairly steep path from the main parking to the wrap-around porch that leads to the tasting room.  The porch is made of stones that resemble light Emperador marble.

Good Spirit is the retirement project of Mike and Luanne Gutermuth who bought the 42 acres in 2019, renovated the house that was on the property, planted vines and built a production facility. They have 7½ acres under vine growing six varietals (Albariño, Petit Manseng, Pinot Blanc, Merlot, Malbec, and Petit Verdot).  They opened in March 2023.  At not yet a year in age, there is much potential for Good Spirit.

 

                                                               Production facility to left; Guest Cottage in center

We had a good time talking with Jack Gutermuth, Mike and Luanne’s oldest son, and with staffer Shelby. 

 

While the vines are maturing, the winery leases space in existing Loudoun County vineyards.  For example, Chambourcin from vineyards in Lovettsville.  They have started production of their Merlot on-site.  But most production is managed by their winemaker Nate Walsh at Walsh Family Wine in Purcellville.  According to Shelby, they processed 1 to 2 tons of juice in 2023, which comes out to only around 120 cases.  Jack says that by 2025 their plan is to reach around 75% estate grapes. But they will probably always need to get grapes from elsewhere in the county.

The tasting room was bright on this warm January day.  There is ample indoor seating on two levels.  When they have music, the players generally set-up in a corner of the lower level.  Down the hall from the Tasting Room there are several small rooms and two larger rooms available for meetings and events.  The largest room has a high ceiling and beautiful hardwood floors.  Good Spirit is hosting its first wedding in June.  They can accommodate smallish events of up to 75 people. 


We were able to sit outside on a wide deck overlooking the vines, production facility and the newly renovated guest cottage.  Your own food is welcome (a limited food offering on-site).  Pets welcome outside.  Children are welcome too.  We looked Northwest off the deck where the dormant vines were spaced over the hillsides with their white collars like the markers at Arlington.  Jack tells us that they plan to build a gazebo on the lower level for outdoor events.  This would be especially sweet at sunset.

Good Spirit is featuring a mix of their own label wines and non-Virginia wines that Mike and Luanne present as what the winery aspires to.  I focused my tasting on winery-labeled wines.  Kim tried those and some aspirational offerings. 

2021 Pazo Señorans Albariño.  This is a wine from Galicia, Spain.  Light and balanced.  We agree heartily with the notes that this is a great seafood wine.  It went well with our crab dip!  B+

2022 Elk Cove Vineyards Pinot Blanc.  This is a wine from the Willamette Valley.  Another light wine – appely and melon.  Kim rated it a B.

2020 Good Spirit Farm Chardonnay.  Kim rated the Chardonnay a B+.  More complex than the previous whites.  Green apple and some floral notes.  A touch of vanilla indicates some oak aging although the tasting notes don’t mention it.  Another good seafood wine.

2021 Good Spirit Farm Rosé.  This rosé is pale red to light brown in color.  Tart nose, floral.  No tannins.  We rate it a B+

2020 Good Spirit Farm Red Blend.  Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot contribute to this blend.  Medium body, plummy nose.  Some tannin grip.  Blueberry.  Short finish.  Good legs.  Some sediment.  B.

2021 Good Spirit Farm Cab Franc.  The Good Spirit Cab Franc has a vegetal-brambly nose, lots of green pepper and spice.  But not too complex for all of that.  I rate it a B. 

2020 Good Spirit Farm Petit Verdot.  The Petit Verdot is the better wine.  Still with a vegetal nose.  Blackberry.  Mild.  Some tobacco.  Light tannins that build.  Longer finish.  B+

Good Spirit is certainly a winery to check back on in the coming years as they bring-in their own harvests and as they try new things on this promising property.  Best to Jack and his bride on their approaching wedding!

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