Visiting Winemaker Tasting!

This Wine Wednesday, we’re excited to have another visiting winemaker when we welcome Assistant Winemaker Reid Dougherty from Hark Vineyards!

Aaron Hark and his wife had a dream of starting a vineyard and winery despite Aaron already being the head of a local software company. In 2015, they took a big step when they purchased land in Earlysville. That same year, Aaron Hark serendipitously met winemaker Jake Busching at a PVCC viticulture class, and the two hit it off with similar ideas on what it would take to build a Virginia winery. From those interactions, Busching agreed to consult with the nascent Hark Vineyards.

In 2016, they did their first plantings — French grape varieties Chardonnay, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc. By the next year, Busching had signed on as their full-time winemaker. In 2018, the Harks purchased more land and began construction on their production facility. In the next year, with production completed (despite 2018’s torrential rains) and a good 2019 growing season, Hark finally opened its doors. Today, they thrive under the hands of their second winemaker, AJ Greely (who is also the current president of the Virginia Vineyards Association).

Stop on by this Wednesday any time between 5:00 and 6:30 PM. Take a break from your week to talk to Reid Dougherty and taste some of the Hark Wine that he’s helped to make. We’ll see you here!