Sharp Rock Vineyards

Sharp Rock farm was established in the late 1700s by the Yowell family. The farm was named after the sharp edge of a large granite outcropping now covered by a bridge over the Hughes River. The first farmhouse was a small cottage built in the 1790s. Johannes Yowell built the main house shortly after his return from the Civil War (circa 1866); he and his wife Elizabeth are buried in a small cemetery on the property.

The first vineyards were planted in 1992, three acres of Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc. The second planting consisted of two acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, special Chardonnay clones, and Sauvignon Blanc. The popularity of Sharp Rock reds led to the planting of another acre in 2003 split between Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

The winery opened in September of 1998. In 1999, the 1998 Sauvignon Blanc won the first Sharp Rock medal -- a bronze at the Virginia Vinifera Association competition. In 2000, the 1999 Chardonnay Reserve received the first gold at the Virginia State Fair. Every year since then Sharp Rock wines have won many awards in state, national, and international competitions.

Sharp Rock Vineyards is a "boutique" winery, with wines made in small lots from hand-selected grapes. All but two wines are made from grapes grown on the property: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon. The "Chamois" wines, named in memory of the Armors' late dog, Shammy, are blended with a small amounts of purchased Vidal and Chamboursin grapes.

Sharp Rock's newest wines are the Chamois label: a semi-dry white wine blended from Chardonnay and Vidal, and a semi-dry red blended from Chamboursin and Cabernet Franc.