The Virginia Classics Collection

CABERNET FRANC produces graceful, structured reds with floral and peppery complexity that have become a signature style for the region. PETIT VERDOT, historically a blending grape in Europe, achieves remarkable ripeness here in Virginia, resulting in deeply colored, full-bodied wines that express both power and precision. NORTON is notable in Virginia as a hybrid grape originally developed in Richmond, acclaimed internationally from the 1800s to today.

Together, they tell the story of the diversity and craftsmanship in Virginia’s winemaking tradition, and our evolution as a world-class wine region.

2020 CABERNET FRANC

Below purple skies / Lights glow and dance – behind us / The music changes

78% Cabernet Franc, 22% Petit Verdot, barrel-aged 17 months in French oak. Our 2020 vintage is richly aromatic, led by dark fruit notes of plum, raspberry, and sour cherry. Medium-bodied and balanced, this wine shows pronounced warm wood expression from French oak aging, with a persistent and bright lift of black peppercorn through the finish. A touch of Petit Verdot in the blend enhances the dark fruit and depth of character.

Cabernet Franc overtook Chardonnay as our state’s most widely-planted grape in 2025, and Virginia vineyards now farm over 620 acres of this intriguing, elegant red.

2022 PETIT VERDOT      

Warm plums and coffee / As we glimpse through the window / Violets in the snow

78% Petit Verdot, 16% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, barrel-aged 16 months in 27% new French oak. Our Petit Verdot is deep and layered, showing rich raspberry, black cherry, and bramble flavors, with vanilla, toasted wood, and dark cocoa notes shining through. The palate is bold and structured, with a lovely balance of vibrant dark fruit and well-integrated oak.

Petit Verdot thrives in Virginia’s temperate climate with its thick skin and small berries, and winemakers welcome it for strong character, color, and structure in varietals and blends. Across the state, Virginia grows over 410 acres of Petit Verdot, making it #4 for total vineyard acreage.

Gold medal – 2026 Virginia Governor’s Cup

2022 NORTON     

Last fruit of autumn, / Smoky woods whispering tales / Through burgundy leaves

88% Norton, 6% Petit Verdot, 6% Cabernet Franc, barrel-aged 17 months in 50% new American oak. This richly pigmented, deep purple wine opens with aromas of black plum, gentle smoke, and violet. The palate is juicy and bright, exhibiting jammy bramble and blackberry notes alongside spice, toasted wood and soft tannin.

Our Estate Norton block runs across the bottom of the hill at the south end of the vineyard. Norton was originally hybridized in Richmond in 1830 by Dr. Daniel Norton, who worked with both Vitis vinifera and indigenous Vitis aestivalis vines. We age our Norton in American oak barrels in recognition of its history.

Best Red Hybrid – 2025 Loudoun Wine Awards