Copyright Mechanicsburg Patriot News
Chatham Vineyards, owned and operated by the Wehner family, is located on the historic Chatham Farm. It’s a working farm on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. Jon Wehner is a second-generation winegrower who brings his expertise from his family’s Great Falls Vineyard to Chatham, which he runs with his wife, Mills, and their three children. Since 1999, the vineyard has been dedicated to growing high-density French vinifera varietals, including Merlot, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot, according to the Chatham Vineyards website. The property is located in the Eastern Shore American Viticultural Area (AVA). The farm, overlooking Church Creek, dates back to 1640 when the land was first patented. The Federal-period brick house, built in 1818 by Major Scarborough Pitts, was named after William Pitt, the Earl of Chatham, a supporter of the American Revolution. Over the years, the historic outbuildings, barns, and early 1900s homes on the property have been carefully renovated. For over four centuries, Chatham Farm has remained a working farm, preserving its heritage while embracing modern agricultural practices. The winery, constructed in 2005, has a production capacity of 3,000 to 5,000 cases annually. It’s open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week. Self-guided flights are $16 for six wines and $8 for three wines. Visitors can also purchase wine by the glass or bottle. Here’s a link to the wine menu, all sporting the Church Creek label. The wines, including a late-harvest dessert wine, run from $22 to $28/bottle. Chatham has a wine club. The winery, at 9232 Chatham Road, is located in Virginia’s Northampton County, on the southern end of the Eastern Shore. It’s almost a two-hour drive to Ocean City, Virginia, and four hours to Washington, D.C., but just an hour’s drive north from Virginia Beach. Thanks to Mills Wehner for her response to these questions. Q, What kind of vibe do you shoot for there? A, We sell the Shore first, wine second. This is a beautiful coastal area, unlike anywhere else in the world. No light pollution, no noise, very little development – the last undeveloped strip of land on the east coast (except for parts of maybe Maine?). Q, I read about the history there ... what kind of refurbishments did you do to the buildings on the property? A, The Wehner family has fully restored every barn and home on the property, mostly with their own hands. Q, Tell me about the Shore experience? So many wineries are in the hills/mountains, in a remote spot. Obviously, the water offers a whole different experience. A, We are surrounded by water – Atlantic Ocean to the east and bay to the west, a peninsula only 3 miles wide here. You can watch the sun rise and set over water on the shore. Q, What are you growing there? I’m sure it’s somewhere on the website, but how many acres? And it is all estate, yes? A, 22 acres, 100% estate, French vinifera: Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Q, As compared to a lot of wineries, it appears you keep your portfolio to a handful of wines. What has been the thought of the kinds of wine you make and the number you offer? A, We farm for flavors with premium viticulture and make wines in each vintage that are most expressive of the vines, a light touch on the winemaking side of things – always looking for pure expression of our AVA. Q, Saw you have a wine club, and some food choices. I see music on the website. Do you do many events? A, We have an annual concert, Dead on the Vine, a Grateful Dead show, which is huge and popular. We offer winter wine and oyster weekends to highlight the amazing oysters grown along our coastlines and the vineyards. Q, Besides the obvious, what keeps you both going? Or .. What are a couple of things you both enjoy most about the business? Jon and I have never looked back since leaving DC/NOVA and starting a life here on his family farm. It is a magical community and a special place to raise a family and make a life working in agriculture and hospitality.
