Ankida Ridge Vineyards
April 12, 2025. Years ago I had a revelation in the form of a glass of Pinot Noir at a Virginia winery, and I have been seeking to relive that experience ever since. What I know now is that revelatory wine was probably not from Virginia grapes because Pinot is a hard grape to grow, especially where the tropic and temperate zones clash in Virginia. However, there is one Virginia winery known for growing and producing Pinot Noir – and that is Ankida Ridge Vineyards northwest from the town of Amherst in Amherst County. Christine and Dennis Vrooman bought a wooded parcel as a retirement retreat in 1999. When the builder cleared the wrong area for their cabin, they took advantage of the mistake by consulting with noted viticulturist Lucie Morton about growing grapes in that space. The Vrooman's had been impressed with the Cabernet Franc at Veritas. Instead of Cabernet Franc, however, Lucie advised them that their property at 1,800 feet on a south-f...