Nestled in a valley of rolling farmland and surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains, just east of Charlottesville, you'll discover the quaint, beautiful and exceptional Keswick Vineyards!
Al and Cindy Schornberg: Owners
After six years of searching the country, Al and Cindy Schornberg finally settled on the Edgewood Estate in Keswick, Virginia as their new residence. “Since we didn’t move because of a job relocation, the entire country was open to us,” says Cindy. In moving from Holly, Michigan, the Schornbergs sought a desirable place to raise their children and a milder climate, particularly one that was well suited to grape growing.
When Al Schornberg moved to Virginia, he left behind the hi-tech corporate world he created in Michigan and traded it for the lifestyle he had dreamed of since childhood – as a vineyard owner. Having been an entrepreneur most of his adult life, Al was looking for an area that offered the excitement of a burgeoning wine industry. He found that potential in Virginia. Al recalls his grandfather’s stories of working at his family’s winery, Massena Cellars in France, and like his predecessor, his goal was straightforward: “ I just wanted to be able to enjoy a really good wine that I made. There’s something very natural and satisfying about that.”
With the Southwest Mountains as a backdrop, the vineyards at Edgewood Estate create a truly picturesque landscape. In the evenings, Al, Cindy and their two youngest children can be found enjoying a nightly stroll through the vineyards of their 400-acre estate. They can also be spotted on the second story porch of their old manor home watching the sun set over the rows of vines. Al and Cindy’s oldest daughters also enjoy this wine country lifestyle and reside nearby.
Upon purchasing the estate vineyard, the Schornbergs decided to dedicate themselves to producing the best wines in Virginia. The Schornbergs spared no expense in installing top-quality winery equipment, irrigation and root wells. Al and Cindy’s ultimate goal is that within ten years, Keswick Vineyards will be considered one of the finest wineries in the country. Al still holds on to the vision that he has made a reality: the image of himself sitting under an olive tree and sipping his own wine. Just as Jefferson once did at nearby Monticello and as did Al’s grandfather in France, Al is making wine and living his dream.
Stephen Barnard: Winemaker and Vineyard Manager
Stephen started working in the wine industry at Groot Constantia Winery, the oldest winery in South Africa, as a pourer and tour guide. Through various courses of events he managed to find a position in the cellar as a cellar worker and then eventually became the assistant winemaker there. He studied Enology and Viticulture at Elsenburg Agricultural College. Upon completion of his studies Stephen became the assistant winemaker at Flagstone Winery where he worked exclusively with red wines.
Through the Ohio State Internship program he came to Virginia in 2002 and joined Keswick Vineyards as an intern and held that position until May 2004 when he took the position of Winemaker at Rappahannock Cellars. In June of 2006 he re-joined Keswick Vineyards as the Winemaker.
Stephen’s philosophy for winemaking is minimal intervention. He prefers to focus on the vineyard to produce optimal fruit for winemaking. Keswick Vineyards is one of the few wineries that ferments most of its wines without the addition of yeast and do not fine or filter any of their reds since the 2006 harvest. Keswick Vineyards is committed to producing world-class wines and are now seeing the potential Virginia, as well as Keswick Vineyards, has to offer.
With it's award winning wines, breathtaking views, friendly and knowledgeable staff, what else could Keswick Vineyards have to offer? Well, how about being pet friendly, live music on Saturdays and an out of this world spectacular wedding venue! Yep they've got it all!!Our Story
Keswick Vineyards is family owned and operated small farm winery located in the heart of Virginia wine country just east of Charlottesville, VA and is one of the premier Virginia wineries that makes up the acclaimed Monticello Wine Trail. Our tasting room is adjacent to the winery so you can observe all the harvest activity while enjoying some breathtaking views that nature has provided us.
Enjoy a relaxing afternoon on the covered porch or bring a picnic to enjoy at one of our outdoor tables in the courtyard or picnic area while sampling some of our tasting room exclusive selections.
We host a variety of special events throughout the year including concerts by local musicians, visits from local food vendors, educational events, charity events, and more that you can learn more about here http://www.keswickvineyards.com/Events/Winery-Events.
We are not only family friendly but pet friendly as well, especially with the recent addition of our fenced in dog park for your dogs to run around and play in while you are relaxing and enjoying some wine. Please keep in mind that dogs are not permitted inside the tasting room and must remain on a leash when they are not in the fenced-in dog park.
Nestled in a valley of rolling farmland and surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains, the beautiful vineyard and historic estate house also create the perfect backdrop for your outdoor wedding ceremony and reception. Your guests will be blown away by the elegance of the included tent and personal attention, while the full 12 hour access gives you plenty of time to relax and enjoy your day.