New Winery coming to Gloucester VA

Virginia Governor Ralph Northam announced that Zoll Vineyards will open a new farm-to-table winery in Gloucester County. Located in the small community of Dutton, Zoll Vineyards will become only the second winery on Virginia’s Middle Peninsula, and the only one in its eastern region.

Sourcing grapes, honey, and apples from throughout the Commonwealth, Zoll Vineyards will produce a variety wines, meads, and ciders, highlighting the quality and diversity of Virginia agriculture. The commitment to 100 percent Virginia sourcing will lead to $221,000 in purchases from Virginia farms over the next three years. Owner Frank Zoll, a chef by training, also plans to offer food pairings to winery visitors, featuring meat and produce grown on-site and at other farms across Virginia.

Acres of white and red grape vines have already been planted. The tasting room should open in the spring of 2019 so people can sample the products or participate in events like educational food and wine pairings or “yoga in the vines,” Zoll said.

“I’m more than happy to make this investment in Gloucester, in this community, in this state because I see the passion that so many local farmers have and there’s a lot of wine enthusiasts here,” Zoll said. “I feel like we’re in the right place to do this.”

“With this new winery and a commitment to source exclusively from Virginia, Zoll Vineyards is harvesting opportunity for Virginia producers and brewing new vitality in this corner of the Commonwealth,” said Governor Northam. “We thank the company for investing in rural Virginia and look forward to toasting their sweet success in the Commonwealth.”

“Connecting locally grown food with locally produced wines, ciders, and meads is a great way to leverage Virginia’s culinary resources for tourism and greater economic impact,” said Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Bettina Ring. “I am pleased that the Commonwealth and Gloucester County could partner through the AFID fund to support this project and help bring this exciting new winery to this region of Virginia.”

“I am excited to open the first farm winery in Gloucester County and have the opportunity to highlight all of the great products from local Tidewater farms, watermen and other artisans that will be paired with our wines, ciders, and mead,” said Zoll Vineyards owner Frank Zoll. “I hope that our vineyard-to-table parings will help showcase our community and the winery will provide a venue for local wine enthusiasts to celebrate all the bay has to offer.”

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) worked with the Gloucester County Economic Development Authority (EDA) and Zoll Vineyards to secure this project for Virginia. Governor Northam approved a $10,000 grant from the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development (AFID) Fund for the project, which the EDA will match with local funds.

“Zoll Vineyards will make a fantastic addition to Virginia’s burgeoning wine industry,” said Senator Thomas Norment, Jr. “Every day, more consumers learn that Virginia wineries produce some of the most distinctive wines available. And, communities across the Commonwealth have learned that wineries are good for business, good for the economy, and even good for tourism. Zoll Vineyards’ decision to locate in Gloucester will add to the rich character of the Middle Peninsula, making a great addition to the community.”

• The region is quickly becoming a destination for Foodies and wine, beer & spirit aficionados. The list of destinations in the area include
• The Colonial Wine Trail:  The Colonial Wine Trail features five of Virginia’s best wineries, including the Williamsburg Winery, and all within a one-hour drive of Williamsburg. No matter where you start or finish your wine trail adventure, you are sure to enjoy great wines, great food and lots of fun along the way.
• Silver Hand Meadery: The area’s first meadery opened in early 2016 to offer this ancient honey-based fermented drink, entirely produced on the premises. 

• James River Cellars
• Upper Shirley Vineyards
• New Kent Winery
• Saudé Creek Vineyards
• The Williamsburg Winery
• Gauthi Winery

Breweries

• Amber Ox: Williamsburg’s newest brewpub, the innovative Amber Ox, serves creative cuisine with seasonal and regionally grown food and select regional wines, spirits, and craft beers, including beer brewed on site in its seven-barrel brew house. Located across the street from the College of William & Mary, the 180-seat dining room, bar and open-air patio offers both communal and private tables. It’s named for the oxen with reddish coats that used to pull grain carts through the streets of Williamsburg.
• Alewerks Brewing Company: Alewerks has been brewing award-winning beers in Williamsburg since 2006. Weekend tours and guided tastings are offered in its taproom and outdoor biergarten, with up to 16 beers on tap, from year-round offerings to special small batches of great variety, as well as cask ale served weekly. A second 3,000-square-foot tasting room offers 10 beers on tap at the Williamsburg Premium Outlets.
• The Virginia Beer Company: The Virginia Beer Company is a new brewery, taproom, and beer garden located a mile from the heart of downtown Williamsburg. Virginia Beer Co. focuses on a high quality core lineup and a rotation of limited edition beers. VBC’s family friendly taproom and pet friendly outdoor beer garden feature a weekly schedule of food trucks, events, live music, and more! 
• Brass Cannon Brewing Co.: Brass Cannon Brewing offers kegs, growlers and draft selections in its brand new location on Mooretown Road. In addition to five year-round brews, enjoy four rotating seasonal selections and a quickly rotating line of langrage beers in its tasting room and outdoor patio. 
• Billsburg Brewery: Opened in the fall of 2017 by Virginia native Dave Baum, the Billsburg Brewery is a destination brewery and event venue in Jamestown that produces small-batch beers using a 10-barrel system. With its location at the James City County Marina, guests can enjoy views of the water along with their craft brews.
• Precarious Beer Hall-Opening in 2019 in Colonial Williamsburg- in the Henry Street Shops at the corner of South Henry and Francis Streets in the Colonial Williamsburg Merchants Square district. This is the second downtown location for the duo behind the Amber Ox, with the existing Amber Ox Public House located at 521 Prince George Street, just blocks off the iconic Duke of Gloucester Street. Amber Ox’s new project is expected to feature a street-style taqueria reminiscent of a food truck within the design of the microbrewery tasting room, vintage arcade games, live music, as well as ample outdoor seating areas where patrons can enjoy their locally brewed craft beers.
• That Damn Mary Brewing Company– opened in mid-July in the rear of the former Goodfella’s restaurant in Gloucester. Owner Mary Jane “MJ” Anderson partnered with restaurateur Dean Tsamouras who opened Mobjack Tavern in the front of the building. The brewery takes up 2,500-square feet of the 8,000-square foot building. It has an open, bright tasting room with a relaxed, fun vibe, much like it’s owner. Anderson, who retired as a YMCA executive director to pursue her passion of beer making, is a whirlwind of energy. Anderson rolled years of beer making knowledge into a 30-minute lesson for me. It was a little overwhelming but entertaining and educational.
• Gloucester Brewing Company  Many have been anxiously awaiting the official opening of Gloucester Brewing Company and with good reason…..they have original recipes and quality home-town service! Mike Brewer (The Wild Card), Myron Ware (The Brains), Laura Brewer (Voice of Reason) sure know how to brew up a good time! “We love beer. We love Gloucester. It just made sense to bring the two together.”

Psst, Mr Williamsburg is a different sort of real estate agent. 
This post was authored by local resident and REALTOR, John Womeldorf. John is known around town as Mr. Williamsburg, for both his extensive knowledge of the Williamsburg/ Hampton Roads/ Richmond VA area and his expertise helping buyers and sellers in the local real estate market. If you are a homeowner searching for someone innovative to sell your home I would love to share my thoughts on marketing. 

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