Horton Vineyards
Address: 6399 Spotswood Trail, Gordonsville, VA 22942
Phone number: 800-829-4633
Website: www.hvwine.com
Hours of Operation: Daily 10 am – 5 pm
Tasting: $5.00
Wine Trail: Monticello Wine Trail
Winemaker: Mike Heny
Horton Vineyards Story
Located directly on U.S. 33 in the northern portion of the Monticello Wine Trail, Horton Vineyards tasting room features vaulted ceilings and an assortment of fun wine related gear and apparel. Walking up to the tasting bar, it is easy to be overwhelmed by the number of tasting choices presented. The unpretentious staff at Horton goes out of the way to help with tasting decisions.
Clearly not cut from the same cloth as many wineries, Horton has a vibe and feel all its own. The wine portfolio includes stalwarts such as Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc but also includes a wide variety of lesser known varietals and proprietary blends. The high level of wine quality is consistent. Winemaker Mike Heny has been creating the award winning wines of Horton Vineyards for well over a decade.
Heny has traveled the world honing his techniques. Without being overbearing, Heny’s winemaking touch allows the fruit to express its true character in a well balanced and often fruit forward flavor profile (especially in the white portfolio). The vision of Horton Vineyards is not to be just like somewhere else but to grow grapes ideally suited to the climate of the Old Dominion.
The Virginia summers are warm enough to ripen almost any grape variety; the humid conditions favored growing grapes with thicker skins and loose clusters. There began the search for varieties that would flourish in Virginia’s climate and had the capacity to produce some of the finest wines of the world.
Early in Horton history, founder Dennis Horton traveled to the Rhone valley in France. There he was struck by wines he felt had beautiful texture, grace, and finesse. In his research, one grape in particular seemed to keep coming up as perfect – Viognier. It was a grape of wonderful potential – it had a thick skin and loose clusters, perfect for the Virginia climate.
At this point, only a few California Vineyards were growing Rhone varietals, including Viognier, those leaders that did were dubbed the ‘Rhone Rangers.’
Horton made the decision to go big into Viognier along with smaller amounts of other grape varieties. About this time, Horton Vineyards also reintroduced the famous Norton wine, the original Virginia Claret. Norton is a native Virginia grape that produced the internationally prize winning clarets of the Monticello Wine Company of Charlottesville in the late 1800’s.
In addition to Winemaker Heny, Horton Vineyards has a number of co-conspirators who were mission critical to the wineries eventual success. Dennis’ wife Sharon, a nurse by trade, tends the vineyards. It is her meticulous nature that is reflected not only in the manicuring of the East Coast’s most unique vineyard but in the glass.
Long time business partner Joan Bieda, has defined the Horton brand and, along with Neil Glaser, served as the foremost ambassadors of the winery. Beyond just founder Dennis Horton’s bold vision, the persistence, expertise and integrity of the people of Horton Vineyards have established the wines and the winery as market leaders in the Virginia wine industry.