Mattaponi Winery
February 18, 2023. Kim and I decided to shake off the mid-winter doldrums in favor of road trip down the ever-busy I-95 corridor. Our first stop was Mattaponi Winery in Spotsylvania a short side-trip from the interstate. Named for the nearby river, the Mattaponi property owned by Janette and Michael Evans began as a Christmas tree farm and branched out as a hobby around 20 years ago. Mattaponi Winery, Inc., was formed in 2002 with Janette as President and Michael as the winemaker, specializing if fruit wines. The tasting room opened in 2014. The winery has suffered much with Michael’s passing in 2019 and then COVID. Janette is continuing the operation. She wanted me to thank the whole local winemaking community in the Fredricksburg-Spotsyvania area for their support in those trying times. In particular, she asked for a “shout-out” to Hal Bell at Bacchus Winery for helping her son, Calab, take over the role of winemaker from his father.