HOMETOWN : A 'Private Oasis'
March 14, 2018
Winery To Debut Vintage With Valley-Grown Grapes
In June, she and her husband Steve Pence opened Brix and Columns Vineyards in McGaheysville. They planted their vines three years ago, and will harvest them this year.
In 2019, the Pences will sell the first bottles of white wine with grapes from their McGaheysville property, which has 8 acres of grapes. In 2020, they will sell their local red grapes as well.
By next year, they will sell wine with Valley-grown grapes. Since opening, their grapes have been grown on land the family leases in Charlottesville and Roanoke, she said. Michael Shaps, owner of Virginia Wineworks in Charlottesville, makes their wine.
“We would like everything to be here,” she said, “so it will be great to grow our grapes here and know that they’re grapes that we’ve tended, that we’ve grown, and it’s the care that we’ve put into them.”
In the past, the family has grown hay and raised cows on their land. About four or five years ago, the Pences decided to diversify, Stephanie Pence said. She and her husband began taking courses at Piedmont Virginia Community College in Charlottesville to learn about the wine industry.
Virginia’s wine sector is “very open,” she said, and has helped her family begin the new business venture.
“I know we have competition with other vineyards,” she said, “but they’re very willing to help out and do what we need. We all work together. We feel like if our vineyards are successful, if one of us is successful, it’s good for all of us.”
The winery, just off Dave Berry Road, is aptly named for its white-columned, brick building. The name is also a play on words, Pence said. Brix is a unit of measurement for sugar content.
The tasting room is open Wednesday through Sunday, and will be open seven days a week when it warms up in the spring.
With a fireplace and indoor and outdoor games, Pence said she wants people to enjoy an afternoon in the “private oasis” of a tasting room. The property also offers a 360-degree view of the mountains.
Being in the business has been fascinating, she said. Grapes can produce different flavors from year to year based on the weather. While her 2016 viognier has peach-apricot notes, she said, the 2017 will contain citrus flavors.
“I think it’s really cool how a grape can make so many flavors of wine and be so different,” Pence said. “We impact it some, but a lot of it is just God-given.”
Brix and Columns sells seven types of wine and will add another three this summer. Over time, Pence said, she would like to offer 12 wines throughout the year.
In addition to wine tastings, the venue also serves as an event space, hosting reunions, weddings and other gatherings, she said.
On Saturday mornings, people visit for yoga and wine, she said. Starting March 23, the winery will feature live music on Friday nights as well.
Her family believes in supporting area businesses, she said, so they began selling local artists’ work in the tasting room.
Rather than taking a cut of the sale, the Pences require the artists to donate a percentage to Kerus Global Education. The Harrisonburg-based organization works to train church leaders and organizations to help prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS and care for suffering families.
“For me, it’s very important to give back to our community,” Pence said. “We’re trying to do that in different ways.”
Caitlyn McAvoy and Will Hantzmon taste wine at Brix and Columns, named for its white-columned, brick building on the property.
Erin Baugher pours wine for tasting at Brix and Columns Vineyards on Saturday. Brix and Columns sells seven types of wine and will add another three this summer. Stephanie Pence said, over time, she would like to offer 12 wines throughout the year.
- By ELLIE POTTER Daily News-Record 3/14/18
In June, she and her husband Steve Pence opened Brix and Columns Vineyards in McGaheysville. They planted their vines three years ago, and will harvest them this year.
In 2019, the Pences will sell the first bottles of white wine with grapes from their McGaheysville property, which has 8 acres of grapes. In 2020, they will sell their local red grapes as well.
By next year, they will sell wine with Valley-grown grapes. Since opening, their grapes have been grown on land the family leases in Charlottesville and Roanoke, she said. Michael Shaps, owner of Virginia Wineworks in Charlottesville, makes their wine.
“We would like everything to be here,” she said, “so it will be great to grow our grapes here and know that they’re grapes that we’ve tended, that we’ve grown, and it’s the care that we’ve put into them.”
In the past, the family has grown hay and raised cows on their land. About four or five years ago, the Pences decided to diversify, Stephanie Pence said. She and her husband began taking courses at Piedmont Virginia Community College in Charlottesville to learn about the wine industry.
Virginia’s wine sector is “very open,” she said, and has helped her family begin the new business venture.
“I know we have competition with other vineyards,” she said, “but they’re very willing to help out and do what we need. We all work together. We feel like if our vineyards are successful, if one of us is successful, it’s good for all of us.”
The winery, just off Dave Berry Road, is aptly named for its white-columned, brick building. The name is also a play on words, Pence said. Brix is a unit of measurement for sugar content.
The tasting room is open Wednesday through Sunday, and will be open seven days a week when it warms up in the spring.
With a fireplace and indoor and outdoor games, Pence said she wants people to enjoy an afternoon in the “private oasis” of a tasting room. The property also offers a 360-degree view of the mountains.
Being in the business has been fascinating, she said. Grapes can produce different flavors from year to year based on the weather. While her 2016 viognier has peach-apricot notes, she said, the 2017 will contain citrus flavors.
“I think it’s really cool how a grape can make so many flavors of wine and be so different,” Pence said. “We impact it some, but a lot of it is just God-given.”
Brix and Columns sells seven types of wine and will add another three this summer. Over time, Pence said, she would like to offer 12 wines throughout the year.
In addition to wine tastings, the venue also serves as an event space, hosting reunions, weddings and other gatherings, she said.
On Saturday mornings, people visit for yoga and wine, she said. Starting March 23, the winery will feature live music on Friday nights as well.
Her family believes in supporting area businesses, she said, so they began selling local artists’ work in the tasting room.
Rather than taking a cut of the sale, the Pences require the artists to donate a percentage to Kerus Global Education. The Harrisonburg-based organization works to train church leaders and organizations to help prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS and care for suffering families.
“For me, it’s very important to give back to our community,” Pence said. “We’re trying to do that in different ways.”
Caitlyn McAvoy and Will Hantzmon taste wine at Brix and Columns, named for its white-columned, brick building on the property.
Erin Baugher pours wine for tasting at Brix and Columns Vineyards on Saturday. Brix and Columns sells seven types of wine and will add another three this summer. Stephanie Pence said, over time, she would like to offer 12 wines throughout the year.
