Septenary - the Winery at Seven Oaks Farm

February 23, 2024.  About twenty minutes from downtown Charlottesville, along Route 250 in Western Albemarle County, near Greenwood, you would do yourself a favor by visiting Septenary – the Winery at Seven Oaks Farm.  The winery sits inside part of the Seven Oaks national historic site where original owner, the Reverend Samuel Black, had a tavern whose patrons included Meriwether Lewis, and William Clark of Lewis and Clark fame.  I doubt those gents drank as fine a wine as we had on the day of our visit.  In case you were asking, a hurricane in the 1950’s brought down six of the original seven oaks.  Only the one they call “Thomas Jefferson” is still standing. 

The physical space at Septenary is impressive.  A white manse with long verandas looks out to the vineyards on rolling hills.  Low clouds in the hollows were signaling the arrival of rain later in the day.  Most seating is outside on a covered portico or around a calming pool.  You’re advised to consult the weather forecast before visiting.  Also, be aware that this is an Adults Only 21+ winery.  You can bring the dog but not the child.  Light fare is available or you can bring your own picnic food. 

There is limited seating in the tasting room although there were enough chairs for weekday visitors.  We sat by a warm fireplace and chatted with energetic tasting room manager Marty Ragusky.  Septenary does not host weddings or large events, even though the facility looks ideal for it.  There are a number of events for Wine Club members.  In the future, they plan to open additional tasting rooms. 

Septenary is in its seventh year of operation.  Todd and Sarah Zimmerman incorporated the winery in 2014 and opened in 2017, if I do my math correctly.  Of the Farm’s 109 total acres, there are seven acres of vines at the site, growing Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Syrah and Viognier.  Septenary has nine more acres under an arrangement with the Rock Castle Vineyard in Goochland where they grow Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Petit Verdot.  From these two vineyards, they produce only around 250 cases per year.  They do their own production.  Marty mentioned that Septenary also is a “contract winemaking facility” for a number of clients.  See the Pricing Module for a discussion of Custom Crush.   

Marty said that the winery does not participate in the Virginia Governor’s Cup Competition because the Cup requires competing wineries to have available for retail sale at least 50 cases of wine by the time the winners are announced in March each year.  Obviously, reserving 20% of your annual production for one event makes no sense for small operations.  We have heard this criticism from other small wineries, and it may be something for the Virginia Wine Board to reconsider.

Septenary’s wine offerings were certainly more than equal to many Governor’s Cup entries we have sampled in our travels.  Here are our impressions on this stop:

2022 Viognier Reserve.  Kim rated this an A-. Full bodied.  Alcohol 13.60%.  We bought a bottle.

2021 Chardonnay.  Kim rated this Chardonnay an A as well.  Full but not buttery.  Good apple.  Alcohol 12.80%.  We bought a bottle.

 

2017 Carriage House.  Carriage House is a blend of 79% Merlot, 14% Petit Verdot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon.  This delivers tight astringency, leather, hint of fruit.  Smooth.  Small amount of sediment.  Alcohol 13.70%.  B+.  We bought a bottle.

2017 Merlot.  This was Septenary’s first single red varietal.  Some red fruit, some tobacco.  Managed tannin.  Alcohol 13.90%.  I rate it a B.

2017 Manor.  This is advertised as Septenary’s Bordeaux-style blend, being 61% Merlot, 16% Petit Verdot, 13% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.  Alcohol 13.60%.  Full-bodied, pleasant tannins.  Dark fruit.  Some leather and smoke.  A little burn at the finish.  Rate it a B.

 

Three bottles from one venue – that’s rare for us!  But an indication of the quality of Septenary.