Hardware Hills Vineyard

October 25, 2025.  The old river town of Scottsville is found at the bottom of a long downhill run where State routes 20 and 6 cross at the southern end of Albermarle County.  Before you come to the small town on the river plain, the shoulders on both sides of the road rise sharply to houses and businesses  striving to keep level as the ground drops away.  In the 19th Century, Scottsville was the center of the farming community that stretched all the way into the Shenandoah Valley.  From here farmers loaded their produce on barges to ferry down the James River to Richmond and even into the Atlantic.  Plans were made to link to the Ohio River from a starting point at Scottsville, but the Civil War and the efficiency of the railroads put an end to that scheme.

Today, Scottsville features casual dining, canal history and river adventures.  Most of the dining is along Valley Street, where you can get a good sandwich at the Tavern on the James, or a coffee at Baine’s, or a beer at the James River Brewery.  Quaint old shops line the streets.  There is canoeing and paddling on the river in the summer, and the town is a mecca for dirt fly fishing. 

                                                    Photo Credit: Visit Charlottesville/Sanjay Suchak

One thing about Scottsville worth mentioning for our blog is a thing that defines most old river towns.  Until the Corps of Engineers built a levee in the 1980’s, the wild James River would routinely flood the town.  At those times, high, fast water made barge traffic from Scottsville impossible and forced farmers to load their crops several miles down river at the confluence of the James with a small tributary called the Hardware River, at a  place called “Temperance Landing.”  (The Route 6 bridge over the river is where “Temperance Bridge” used to be.)

It was on the Temperance Landing property that George and Leslie Cushnie established Thistle Gate Winery in 2007, becoming the first winery in Fluvanna County.  They retired in 2021 and sold the winery – lock, stock, and barrel – to Andrea and Rob Nickels from Davidson, Maryland.  The Nickels renamed the winery “Hardware Hills” because it’s bordered on two sides by the Hardware River and because the vineyards are on gently sloping south-facing hills.  Foliage was turning a muted orange on our approach.

 

Since buying the property, the Nickels have raised the patio and completed extensions to the original tasting room so that the whole facility is accessible on one level and offers more indoor seating.  They have a cottage on site for overnight stays.  Rob’s next project is to install a fireplace on the patio for the winter months.  In the future, they may expand trails to the river on the backside of the vineyard.

Six months ago, they opened their banquet space adjoining the tasting room. 

They have hosted six or seven weddings so far but don’t particularly want to be a wedding venue because that means closing the tasting room.  Andrea and Rob are still learning the wedding business just as they had to learn the vineyard and winemaking business.

Hardware Hills has four and a half acres of Chambourcin under vine.  They supplement their juice from other growers mostly within the Monticello AVA to produce 600 – 900 cases of wine depending on the year.  Next, the Nickels are working with a local distillery to produce a Port-style wine based on their Chambourcin.

Rob Nickels reminds me of Luke Wilson while Andrea has a mature Melanie Griffith-vibe.  We greatly appreciate the time they spent with us. 

Andrea is both vineyard manager and winemaker while Rob is tasked with “fixing what’s broken.”  Responsibility is all on these two, which is different from the corporate stress they gladly left behind to take on the winery.  Even though they have the land to double their vineyard size, they have no immediate plans to do so to avoid overtaxing Andrea and considering that it’s easier and cheaper right now to buy juice rather than expand the vines and wait the three years or so for them to produce.  The Nickels each have grown children from previous marriages, but it doesn’t appear that the children play a part in the operation or ever will. 

Most customers to Hardware Hills drive down from Charlottesville or, surprisingly, drive over from Richmond on Route 6.  Outside food is welcome at Hardware Hills although they offer lite fare and have contracted with Mt Ida’s chef for special events.  (I think that’s Chris Humphrey.) For example, you might want to stop by after the 5K Trail Run that Hardware Hills sponsors around the property.  Another draw are the Market Days at the winery.  Check their website for dates.  

The tasting room is pretty basic with limited indoor seating.  Their covered patio has nice views of the vines.   

 

Take note: Hardware Hills is not a 21+ venue, but guests are discouraged from bringing children to the winery.  Keep close watch on them.  Leashed dogs are allowed outside.

Onto the wines we tried:

2023 Chardonnay.  Kim rated this wine a B.  Too light for her tastes.

River Bend White.  Several of Hardware Hills’ wines are nonvintage blends from different harvest years.  According to the winery website, the River Bend White is a blend of Seyval Blanc and Vidal Blanc.  Kim rated it a B- - still too light for her. 

Cottage White.  Compared to the River Bend White, the Cottage White is a more complex blend of Petit Manseng, Seyval Blanc, and Vidal Blanc.  With more to it, Kim gave it a B.

2023 Traminette.  Kim gave the Traminette a B+, which you’d anticipate from the light use of oak in the process of this semi-dry wine.  It has a kick at the end.  We bought a bottle.

2023 Cabernet Franc.  Very bright fruit and light herbs.  Light tannins.  No pepper.  B+.

2022 Petit Verdot.  This wine has a little subtle sweetness.  Floral and dark fruit.  Some sparkle on the finish.  Some sediment.  I gave it a B. 

River Bend Red.  Andrea used two Chambourcin vintages to make this blend along with Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.  Bordeaux-style except for the Chambourcin. More tannin, lingering fruit and cocoa.  It gets a B from me.

2022 Legacy Red Reserve.  This is Hardware Hills’ flagship offering made with estate Chambourcin.  Prominent chocolate notes.  Toast and longer finish.  I gave it a B+ and bought a bottle.

Come to Scottsville for the history, for fishing or paddling, and spend the afternoon at Hardware Hills for the wine.