CrossKeys Vineyards & Winery
CrossKeys Vineyards & Winery
- United States
- Virginia
- Shenandoah Valley
History
It was on a beautiful hot day in August of 1999, when we first laid eyes on this property. From the road it looked like just a jungle with overgrown cedar trees. Once we opened the metal fencing and attempted driving through, we were overcome with an amazing magical feeling. The realtor suggested stopping the car and walking the rest of the way to the top of the hill because there were no roads on the property. Once we got to the top and saw the beautiful Massanutten Mountain between the trees we knew we had found our heaven on earth. A few months after we purchased the land, while picnicking with family and friends and appreciating a bottle of California Pinot Noir Wine, the seeds of a dream were planted in our minds about all of the possibilities that this land has to offer. Not too long after, in 2001, we planted our first vines on the property. After 7 years of hard work, sweat, passion, and most importantly perseverance, our dreams were realized when we opened the doors to our tasting room in May of 2008 and offered the first vintage of (our first crop was harvested in 2006) our 100% estate grown wine from this beautiful, magical land.Aside from the sheer beauty of the land, the old Cross Keys Tavern is one of our biggest inspirations. Cross Keys Tavern served as a town center for the community in the 19th Century. Friends and neighbors could gather, take in the beautiful scenery, and unwind after a long day. On June 8th, 1862 the village of around 100 became surrounded by Union and Confederate troops. The small community rallied together and used the Cross Keys Tavern as a hospital for the wounded soldiers of the infamous battle at Cross Keys. We strive every day to be for our community, what the Tavern was over a century and a half ago. CrossKeys Vineyards is a place where both the community and visitors can gather and enjoy the beauty that is the Shenandoah Valley. Aside from being a gathering place, we strive to be an establishment the community can rely on. Every year we hold a New Year’s Eve Ball to benefit St. Jude Children’s Hospital, so far we have donated close to $100,000 to St. Jude’s.
The two gold crossed keys are an ancient symbol of hospitality, excellence, and a place of prestige. These keys embody our goal of producing exquisite wines, delicious food, and fabulous events, but most of all they are a daily reminder that we are here to provide an excellent experience for every guest that walks through our doors.
Thank you for believing on our dreams and the magic of this land,
The Bakhtiar Family
Vineyard & Terroir
We are proud to create exquisite estate wines that are grown, produced, and bottled right here at CrossKeys Vineyards. Our first vines were planted in 2002 and we have only grown since then. Our 125 acre estate currently houses 23 acres of vines and we are planting 8 additional acres this year. We currently grow 10 varietals of grapes used to produce our 11 different wines.Cabernet Franc: We currently have 2.5 acres of this Bordeaux varietal planted. Cabernet Franc thrives in the cooler climate of the Shenandoah Valley. We bottle this as a single varietal and use it in our Fiore and Meritage blends.
Chambourcin: One of the 3 hybrids grown here at CrossKeys Vineyards, we currently have 2 acres of Chambourcin planted. Since coming to North America in the 1970s, Chambourcin has become one of the most popular hybrids. We bottle this as a single varietal, our Joy Red.
Chardonnay: We currently have 2 acres planted of Chardonnay. It is one of four white varietals we grow and we bottle it as a single varietal. Chardonnay is one of the most widely planted white grape varieties in the world because it can adapt to almost any soil.
Merlot: Our 2 acres of Merlot was originally grown purely to be part of our Meritage blend. In 2009 we began harvesting enough to use it both in the Meritage Blend and as a single varietal. We also use it in our Fiore.
Petit Verdot: We currently have 3.5 acres of this Bordeaux varietal planted. Though there is very little of Petit Verdot still planted in its French Home, it has become widely popular in the New World Areas. The climate and soil of the Shenandoah Valley is very conducive to this difficult to grow grape. We bottle this both as a single varietal and as part of our Meritage Blend.
Pinot Noir: We currently have 2 acres of this classic Burgundy planted, though everyone said we would never be able to grow it here. We are one of very few Virginia Vineyards that grow their own Pinot Noir. We bottle this as a single varietal and use it in our Fiore Blend.
Touriga Nacional: This is our only Portuguese grape varietal we grow here at CrossKeys Vineyards. We currently have 2 acres of this grape here and use it to produce our Port-Style wine, Tavern. We have had limited releases of a single varietal Touriga when we have enough crop to do so.
Traminette: One of 3 hybrids grown here at CrossKeys Vineyards, we currently have 2 acres of Traminette planted. This is one of four white varietals we grow. It is used to produced our Eiswein style Ali d'Oro.
Vidal Blanc: One of 3 hybrids grown here at CrossKeys Vineyards, we currently have 2 acres of Vidal Blanc planted. This is one of the four white varietals that we grow and is bottled both as a single varietal, Joy White, and used in producing our Eiswein style Ali d'Oro
Viognier: This Rhône Valley native is the last of our four white wine varietals. We currently have 2 acres of Viognier planted. Our first harvest of this varietal should be 2014.
Winemaking & Aging
Joy Red: Named after the friend that suggested to the owners to start the vineyard, Joy Red is our 100% Chambourcin Red Table Wine. This well balanced barrel-aged wine is perfect for summertime with its fresh sweet finish balanced with a touch of acidity, it may be enjoyed chilled or at room temperature. It pairs wonderfully with stew, pot roast, and ripened cheeses.Joy White: Named after the friend that suggested to the owners to start the vineyard, Joy White is our 100% Vidal Blanc White Table Wine. After being aged and fermented in stainless steel, it has a great balance between sweetness and acidity. This wine is perfect chilled by itself on a hot summer day or paired with a spicy dish, a salty cheese, or milk chocolate.
Chardonnay: Our Chardonnay is half stainless steel and half French-Oak barrel fermented, giving this wine a clean acidity and rich mouth feel. This wine is great with roasted poultry, light seafood, and soft cheeses.
Fiore: Our off-dry rosé is crisp and slightly sweet with a beautiful deep rose color. This wine is a blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Pinot Noir. It pairs beautifully with feta cheese, salads, and cheesecake.
Pinot Noir: We are one of very few vineyards here in Virginia are able to grow and produce their own Pinot Noir. This classic burgundy has crisp acidity and distinctive earthy qualities. It pairs perfectly with almonds, baked or roasted poultry, and Gouda cheese.
Merlot: Our Merlot is a well balanced medium bodied wine aged in French and American Oak barrels and is on the fruitier side. It pairs very well with barbeque, beef roast, and Asiago cheese.
Cabernet Franc: Our Cabernet Franc is aged for 9 months in French oak barrels and has a beautiful deep ruby color. This wine pairs wonderfully with grilled meats, Gorgonzola cheese, and dark chocolate.
Petit Verdot: Our Petit Verdot has a very intense and deep violet color. This full bodied Bordeaux is great with grilled meats, Roquefort cheese, and dark chocolate.
Meritage: This classic Bordeaux Blend is comprised of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Merlot. It is aged for 15 months in both French and American oak barrels to create a smooth finish. It pairs beautifully with grilled meats and salty and complex cheeses.
Ali d'Oro: The Ali is produced Eiswein style with Vidal Blanc and Traminette grapes and aged for one year in neutral oak barrels. It has a beautiful deep honey color. It is perfect on its own as a dessert or paired with white chocolate or Mascarpone cheese.
Tavern: This red garnet wine is our version of the famous aperitif port wine. It is made with 100% Touriga Nacional and aged 2 years in French and American oak barrels. It is great paired with Stilton cheese, rich chocolate desserts, or dried fruits and nuts.
At The Winery
(Tasting room)- Open daily from 11 am to 7 pm April through October and 11 am to 5 pm November through March. We offer wine tastings throughout the day. Our knowledgeable tasting room associates will guide you through tasting our wines whether you are a novice or a seasoned veteran.
We love large groups and want to make sure your experience at CrossKeys Vineyards is extraordinary. We request that large groups call the vineyard, (540) 234-0505, 48 hours in advance to set up a reserved group tasting. The group tasting fee is $15 per person and includes a reserved table, staffing, and a cheese plate.
(Bistro)- Nothing pairs better with exquisite wine than delicious food to complement it. Executive Chef Dexter Burgess has an amazing menu using only the freshest ingredients to be combined with our wine for the ultimate palate experience. Join us in our bistro daily from 11:00 am to 6:30 pm April through October and 11:00 am to 4:30 pm November through March.
(WineClub)- The CrossKeys Vineyards Key Club is our VIP clientele. There is no cost to sign up, just for the quarterly shipments of 3 or 6 bottles of wine. Our Key Club members get free tastings, limited releases, early releases of new vintages, and discounts on wine and events. The Key Club Freedom selection allows you to choose the variation of wines you will receive, while our Key Club Select features wines handpicked by our winemaker depending on the season.
Opening Hours
| Monday | 11:00am - 5:00pm |
| Tuesday | 11:00am - 5:00pm |
| Wednesday | 11:00am - 5:00pm |
| Thursday | 11:00am - 5:00pm |
| Friday | 11:00am - 5:00pm |
| Saturday | 11:00am - 5:00pm |
| Sunday | 11:00am - 5:00pm |
Our Wines
- Vintage
- Name
- Type
- Appelation / Production Area
- Price (USD)
Events
Promotions
Direction
Find Our Wines
Restaurants
United States
- CrossKeys Bistro
- 6011 E. Timber Ridge Rd.
- Mt. Crawford, Virginia, United States
- 540-234-0505
- brad@crosskeysvineyards.com
- http://crosskeysvineyards.com
Gallery
