50 West Vineyards

WINERY SUMMARY

50 West Vineyards sits on Route 50 above Aldie near Middleburg, Virginia, where the tasting room—housed in a converted horse stable—perches on a bluff with direct sightlines to the Bull Run Mountain range. 50 West Vineyards places terroir and provenance at the center of its story, crafting 100% Virginia Bordeaux-style wines from more than 80,000 vines spread across five properties in Northern Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley. The first impression here is visual: rows of vines descending toward the horizon, winter light on limestone-influenced soils, and the tactile intimacy of a tasting room that still remembers its life as a horse farm. Visitors seeking a Middleburg wine tasting find clarity of purpose: varietal expression, restrained oak use, and a sense of place delivered in every flight. Corry Craighill leads the cellar and vineyard program, blending practical viticulture with classical Bordeaux technique and contemporary sustainability. A trained winemaker and vineyard manager, Craighill stewards fruit from on-site Cabernet Sauvignon, Albariño, and Sauvignon Blanc blocks as well as purchased lots from the Shenandoah Valley. 50 West Vineyards emphasizes hand-tending, selective picking, and careful fermentation that preserves acidity and varietal aromatics; aging protocols favor French oak for structure while retaining freshness. The estate gained statewide recognition when its 2019 Ashby Gap won the 2022 Governor's Cup Gold Medal and was named the Governor's Case Winner, a distinction that elevated 50 West Vineyards among Virginia producers and affirmed its Bordeaux-style focus. Notable practices include collaboration with the solar-powered production facility at sister winery Sunset Hills Vineyard, reflecting a commitment to renewable energy and responsible farming. The production team balances traditional bench work—sorting, fermentation management, and barrel selection—with modern monitoring to ensure vintage variation serves quality rather than unpredictability. Signature wines at 50 West Vineyards tell a cohesive story of place and craft. The 2019 Ashby Gap, a Bordeaux-style blend, demonstrates the region’s ability to produce balanced, structured red blends; it was awarded the 2022 Governor's Cup Gold Medal and selected as a Governor's Case Winner. The 2021 Aldie Heights Cuvée and the 2021 Roots are positioned as premium bottlings, priced in the $70–$87 range, and built from site-specific fruit and careful blending choices. Lighter expressions—an Albariño and a Sauvignon Blanc—highlight stainless-steel-forward fermentation to capture bright citrus and saline notes while preserving acidity. Across reds and whites, the estate leans on measured French oak aging to add tannic frame and subtle spice without obscuring fruit. Limited releases and allocations are distributed through a bi-monthly wine club with curated shipments, exclusive bottlings, and member pick-up or shipping flexibility. For collectors, allocated releases and reserve bottlings provide access to small-production cuvées that reflect selected vineyard blocks and deliberate aging. The tasting experience at 50 West Vineyards is deliberately intimate: appointment-recommended tastings in a converted stable offer indoor and outdoor seating, picnic areas, and short trails that allow guests to walk the vines and read the landscape on-site. The architecture retains equestrian character—exposed beams, wide plank floors, and large windows framing the Bull Run ridge—paired with refined service that emphasizes education and sensory discovery. Private events accommodate up to 75 guests, making the estate suitable for rehearsal dinners or curated wine-paired meals. Practical details matter: tastings are typically appointment-based with a $10 standard flight; the winery posts limited public hours (Monday and Thursday 12:00–17:00, Tuesday and Wednesday closed), so booking ahead is recommended. Bring a jacket for breezy bluff-side weather and reserve weekends in advance for peak viewing and special releases. For travelers seeking a measured, terroir-forward visit, 50 West Vineyards offers a calibrated blend of history, winemaking craft, and intimate hospitality. Plan a tasting or join the wine club to secure allocated bottles, taste reserve cuvées, and experience the Bull Run Mountain vistas that shape these wines. Make reservations at 50 West Vineyards and discover Middleburg’s distinctive Bordeaux-style expressions.