Chestnut Oak Winery: Capturing Virginia’s Beauty in Every Bottle
Janet Bolla wanted to remain active during her retirement so she decided to pursue a love for wine. Little did she know, this passion would blossom into a new career – so much for retirement! – and Chestnut Oak Winery was born.
From travelling through Virginia, tasting wines and experiencing the beauty, the team knew they wanted to be a part of the wine-making process. So, they got started. Just north of Charlottesville, Virginia, Chestnut Oak follows the wine from grape to bottle in-house – growing, harvesting, aging and bottling on site. The first vines produced in 2009 were Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Manseng, capturing the key varieties of Virginia. They bottle the estate-made wines in their small, modern facility, making it easy to quality-control. In 2014, doors opened to the tasting room and they haven’t looked back since. They welcome guests from all over to enjoy featured wines by flight, glass or bottle, overlooking the six acres of beautiful vines. Since the original vines, Chestnut Oak’s selection has expanded to include Merlot, Petit Verdot, Viognier, and Nebbilo. With this, the goal remains the same: capturing the key features and flavors of Virginia.
Jan Durkin and Sarah Leake are familiar faces and important team members at the vineyard alongside Janet Bolla. Jan is a knowledgeable staff member, guiding tasting room visitors in wine selection, while Sarah is the tasting room manager. They are joined by David Eiserman, the winemaker who has been with the team since the beginning. David’s dedication to the craft has won Chestnut Oak numerous awards, most recently a 2021 Governor’s Cup gold medal for the 2017 Dessert Wine.
Visitors are welcome Friday – Sundays from 12-5 p.m. at their tasting room in Barboursville, Virginia. You can visit their website at https://www.chestnutoakvineyard.com/visit for more information.
Our best seller: Virginia Blend
