Rogers Ford Farm Winery

November 1, 2026.  I’m afraid I have to report a case of neglect.  Surface appearances give only a hint that a winery is bleeding dry from lack of attention.  This is Rogers Ford Farm Winery near the southern Fauquier County village of Summerduck. 

 n 1820’s farmhouse is a charming place for a tasting room with a well-seasoned tasting bar and several small rooms on the main floor.  Kentucky coffeetrees, reputed to be as old as the farmhouse, stand sentry along the driveway.  They border the small front lawn where you can have your wine.  Picnic tables are setup in the side yard where you may bring your own food because there is only limited lite fare available in the tasting room.  Children and pets are welcome. 

John Puckett, Sr. bought this property and planted his vineyard in 1980, but it wasn’t until 2002, when he was in his 60’s that he released his first vintage as a farm winery.  In 2012, John’s son, Johnny Puckett took over running the winery.  John Sr., passed away in 2021.  I presume that John, Jr., has ambitions in the wine trade because two years later he opened the Curio Wine Bar about 40 minutes away in downtown Fredericksburg.  Curio took a lot of Johnny’s attention and continues to do so.  That and with the Curio Wine Bistro restaurant opening next door in August of 2026, there is little time for sleepy Rogers Ford Farm Winery. 

In September 2024, Johnny opened the Summerduck Craft Brewery taphouse on the grounds of the winery.  When you park your car, you will walk past the taphouse on your way to the tasting room.  The taphouse is a small nondescript shed which is now closed until further notice.  You can’t get beer in the tasting room either because they ran out of CO2 canisters to power the taps.  Ownership has not responded for more than a week to the workers trying to get the taps flowing.  Perhaps the CO2 is in use for the wine dispensers at Curio? 

 

There used to be events at the winery.  No more.  The winery website contains directions for tying up your horse if you visit on horseback.  I think that is happening less and less.  We also note that the entrance is not handicapped accessible.

As of this writing, Rogers Ford has nine wines on offer.  Very soon that will be down to seven as inventory is being consumed.  There has been no harvest for the past two years and no new wines will be produced this year.  It’s sort of a forlorn place, which is a shame because the tasting room is quaint and the wines are decent.  

We enjoyed the wine with our cheese and crackers on the front porch of the farmhouse on an idyllic afternoon while we noted our impressions:

2022 Jacob Christopher Chardonnay.  Medium bodied, dry and crisp product of stainless steel.  Kim gave it a B-.

2024 Petit Manseng.  Peach blossom and pineapple.  Crisp acidity but somewhat weak.  We gave it a B.

2024 Petit Verdot.  Still young.  Full-bodied.  Whiff of chocolate on nose and dark fruits on the palate.  Leather.  Nice overall.  B+.

2024 Cabernet Franc.  Toast and some green pepper in an old Virginia taste for the Cab Franc.  Tobacco.  It there’s fruit, I guess there’s a dark stone fruit.  B-.

2024 Virginia Select Red.  A blend of 50% Chambourcin, 37% Petit Verdot, and 13% Cabernet Franc.  I found it a little barney, but I suppose that’s the spice.  I gave it a B. 

We had a nice visit to Rogers Ford and thank the staff for their frankness.  It is fairly convenient to the Culpeper area.  We also plan to visit Johnny Puckett’s other ventures – the Curio Wine Bar and bistro – next time we’re in Fredericksburg.