Located in Mt. Crawford, VA
Can you provide a brief overview of the history and founding of your winery?
Nestled in the rolling hills of Virginia lies CrossKeys Vineyards, a hidden gem founded in 2001 by Bob & Nikoo Bahktiar. As lovers of the land's natural beauty, they sought to cultivate the acres of vibrant meadows and woodlands surrounding their home. What began as an endeavor to further landscape their property blossomed into a full-fledged vineyard as the couple discovered an ideal climate and soil for wine grapes. Nearly two decades later, CrossKeys Vineyards remains family-owned and committed to sharing the wine country experience with visitors near and far. Against a backdrop of vine-laden fields and scenic vistas, guests are invited to taste award-winning pours, enjoy live music on weekends, and discover why this Virginia winery is truly one-of-a-kind. At CrossKeys, majestic views are only rivaled by the world-class wines within reach.
What inspired the establishment of your winery, and how has it evolved over the years?
It was the majestic blue ridges and vibrant meadows surrounding their property that first inspired Bob and Nikoo Bahktiar to cultivate the land and establish CrossKeys Vineyards in 2001. What began as a 25-acre vineyard has blossomed over the years as the acres now yield over 12 different Vinifera and Hybrid grape varietals. Driven by a passion for the region's unspoiled landscape, the Bahktiars have continued to expand the vineyard to spotlight the best of what this terroir can produce.
Are there any unique stories or anecdotes associated with the founding of your winery?
The founding vision for CrossKeys Vineyards was born during a picnic on the property shortly after Bob and Nikoo Bahktiar purchased the expansive acreage, when the couple was inspired by the scenic views and countryside while sharing wine. Fueled by their twin passions for wine and the pastoral landscape before them, they sketched plans amongst the future grapevines for a vineyard customized to the native terrain and a tasting room that would welcome guests. Over two decades later, those seeds initially planted on that fateful picnic have flourished wildly beyond imagination into rolling vineyards and a tasting room welcoming visitors.
Can you highlight a few of your flagship or signature wines and what makes them stand out?
Joy White - Fresh flavors and refreshing feeling. The blue bottle is a signature look for this flagship wine. Meritage - Contains our high quality Bordeaux Blend and aged for several years.
How do you approach the creation of new wine varieties or blends?
When harvest rolls around each year, our team closely monitors the quality and flavor profiles of the grapes in our vineyards. If we find ourselves with an exceptional crop across multiple varietals - with vivid concentrated flavors and balanced acidity for example - that gets the creative juices flowing on trying out new blends that vintage. Or perhaps aging one a little longer for small batch release down the line as a reserve.
Are there specific grape varieties that thrive in your vineyards, and why were they chosen?
Both our Vinifera and Hybrid grapes thrive in these rolling vineyards we're so blessed with. I'd say the European Vinifera varieties do exceptionally well here. We meticulously tend to the canopy and positioning to get the sun exposure just right. The Petit Verdot in particular is one we are quite proud of - it soaks up all the hot summer days and cool nights we get, developing all these rich dark fruit flavors. Come harvest, it's always one of our superstars!
Are there any unique events or activities that you host for visitors at your winery?
We host Salsa Under the Stars every month - an evening of dancing and wine drinking against a backdrop of mountain sunsets and our vine-laden fields. Live Latin music fills the courtyard while dance instructors guide both novice and experienced guests in salsa, with award-winning vintages flowing all the while. Blending vibrant movement, wine, and views, it creates memorable evenings for attendees.
What do you hope guests take away from their visit to your winery?
We hope our customers not only appreciate the beauty of the land and surrounding areas, but also the taste of what this land can offer with hard work. If they take a bottle home with them, we hope when they drink they get to remember where it came from.
Are there certain dishes or cuisines that complement your wine portfolio particularly well?
We tend to recommend pairing our wines with complementing sauces rather than specific dishes. The sauces accentuate each cuisine's flavors. So we'll suggest our bright and citrusy Sauvignon Blanc to accent the acidity in tomato-based Italian sauces. Or our buttery Chardonnay to echo classic French sauces with cream and butter. Our Cabernets that have beautiful oak and spice can stand up to richer meats in reductions. It's about finding the right balance and enhanced experience in each sip and bite. So consider how the sauce enhances the dish first, then find a wine from our diverse portfolio that either contrasts or complements.
How do you help customers enhance their dining experiences with your wines?
We have a full service restaurant and we offer specific pairings with each course. The customer can enhance their experience with these different pairings.
How does your winery engage with the local community?: Our local community has embraced the local wine making in the region and realized its potential for increasing tourists to the area.
Do you support any charitable or environmental causes?
Every year, we donate to St. Judes Children Hospital. Over the last fifteen years, we have had the privilege of helping raise over $500,000.
To learn more about CrossKeys Vineyards, visit their website here!
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About the VWDC
Established by the Virginia General Assembly in 2007, the Virginia Winery Distribution Company (VWDC) is a non-profit, non-stock corporation housed within the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) to provide wholesale wine distribution services for licensed Virginia wineries and farm wineries.