A Favorite Spot on the Monticello Wine Trail
Situated in the heart of the Monticello AVA (American Viticultural Area), our farm is home to some of the best vineyard sites in Virginia. Only 16 miles from where Thomas Jefferson first planted European grape vines at his Charlottesville home, Monticello, we continue the centuries’ old viticultural traditions of Virginia.
From the original eight acres we planted in 1998, our vineyards have expanded to cover 46 acres. Located between 780 and 820 feet above sea level, the distinctive dyke-loam soils found in this part of Albemarle County, combined with a favorable aspect, help us grow exceptional fruit for distinctive wines.
Learn more: See Virginia Wine 101
Hover over the vineyard to display technical information per block
Hover over the vineyard to display technical information per block
Hover over the vineyard to display technical information per block
Hover over the vineyard to display technical information per block
Hover over the vineyard to display technical information per block
Farming
Spanning almost the full course of recorded history, grape growing and wine production have been part of the human story for millennia. Science and technology have revolutionized our understanding of viticulture, but in many ways grapes are farmed today much like they have been since ancient times.
Each vintage brings with it a unique set of challenges and learning opportunities but one thing remains constant: hard work, stamina, and attention to detail are the keys to success. Early mornings and long days spent out in the elements are the price we happily pay to turn the fruit of our farm into a beautiful glass of wine.
Soils
Virginia’s Piedmont region is noted for its diversity of red clay soils with several types that are differentiated by their structure, composition, and depth. The specific type of soil found on our farm, called dyke-loam, has a thin surface layer of granular loam (composed of sand, silt, and clay) covering a deep bed of dense, iron-rich clay. These soils encourage downward root growth and retain enough water to avoid the need for irrigation in all but the driest of years. This water retention also maintains cool temperatures in the summer heat, helping to moderate the vineyard’s mesoclimate and to slow ripening in particularly hot vintages.
Monticello AVA
In recognition of the unique qualities imparted to grapes by their region of origin, wine growing areas have been defined and delimited in some manner for centuries. In the US, these regions are known as American Viticultural Areas. King Family Vineyards is located in the heart of one of Virginia’s premier wine regions: the Monticello AVA. This area is named in honor of Virginia’s first wine growing pioneer, Thomas Jefferson, and is home to over thirty wineries. While each vineyard is unique, we share a similar environment and face many of the same challenges. Experimentation of all kinds can be found throughout the AVA, but staple varieties such as Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Merlot, Petit Manseng, Petit Verdot, and Viognier are widely grown.
