Our Award Winning 2019 Meritage

Gold Medal | Virginia's Governor Cup 2024

2019 Meritage – Elegant, complex, and smooth.

Nose: Aromatic and complex. Light rose petal up front, earthy juniper berry, followed by dark fruit, cassis, smoky Italian plum, & coffee with light spicy notes of black pepper and cinnamon. Complex and well-integrated...just a whiff will leave your mouth watering and get you to the table quickly.

Palate: The attack is smooth with silky red fruits with a rich texture that envelopes the whole mouth. The wine finds its finesse and power in the mid palate where it present rich dark fruits, cassis, smoky plum, dried fruits, and a selection of spices: touch of white pepper, cinnamon, and clove. Finishes very long with flavors of candied fruits, licorice, and savory berry flavors.

Our Award Winning 2019 Port

Gold Medal | Shenandoah Cup 2023

Silver Medal | Virginia's Governor Cup 2023

Silver Medal | Virginia's Governor Cup 2024

2019 Port – 100% Petit Verdot. Deep purple in color, this ruby-style Port is infused with Virginia-distilled brandy and is full of dark cherry and a spicy, long finish that makes this a perfect digestif to share with friends after a great meal. This port will keep up to a week or longer after opening than a typical red wine. Try also with chocolate or a cigar.

Nose: Dark plummy & cherry notes and sweet black fruit, earthy, with notes of allspice, nutmeg, white pepper. Fruit is rich and dense with light notes of candied fruit.

Palate: Fore palate presents sweet rich fruit on tip on tongue. Envelopes whole mouth with its silky texture. Dark berries such as blackberry on the mid palate finding again the baking spices from the nose. Silky and smooth all the way through and into the finish which leaves the tongue tingling with a lasting impression of dark chocolate with cassis.

2021 Merlot – Excellent fruity, spicy, and complex Merlot. Pair this wine with a rosemary steak or mushroom risotto.

Nose: Aromatic nose with floral notes of rose petal with black cherry, licorice, baking spices and bay leaf.

Palate: The attack is characterized by fresh red crunchy fruit -black cherry followed by spicy notes and tobacco with delicious dried fruit notes. This wine is pleasant, long and complex with some lovely chewy tannins and finishes on fresh fruit. Let this one open up...it's like a mini Bordeaux blend all on its own.

Our Award Winning 2021 Petit Verdot

Silver Medal | Virginia's Governor Cup 2024

2021 Petit Verdot – Big, bold, and rustic. 100% estate grown, this wine is fruit forward and is well structured. Aged in French and American oak and cellared for 18 months, this wine will age gracefully in years to come, mellowing out its initial intensity and giving way to a bouquet of dark fruits, herbs, and spices. 

Nose: Violet, smoked plum, cassis, and earthy notes of Virginia clay and aromatic sage.

Palate: Red fruit followed by black with sage on the mid palate. Rustic and robust, this wine will continue to develop and grow on the palate...smoky & dark plum notes carry the wine towards the finish with some light earthy notes, white pepper and clove. Earthy, dense, and complex with surprising freshness and length. Good acidity gives the wine a nice structure. Tannins will soften and flavors evolve with proper bottle aging.

2022 Cabernet Franc - Light "French Style" Cabernet Franc full of freshness highlighting the distinct terroir of the Shenandoah Valley. Excellent food wine.

Nose: Sweet floral notes of violet followed by raspberry and red plum, spicy black pepper with a hint of licorice and a pleasant lingering earthy note.

Palate: Rich berry flavors and red fruit...full of raspberry and lush plum, tinged with dried currents. Throughout spicy notes of white and black pepper. Well integrated tannins add a depth and lively acidity keeps the wine bright and light....crisp on the finish where fruits and spices continue to play and linger.

2022 Chardonnay – Our Estate Chardonnay shows light aromas of fruit and flowers. Pairs nicely with creamy foods, roast chicken, salmon, and buttered shellfish or try with Chevre, Stilton, or nutty cream cheeses.

Nose: Fresh with light citrus, pear, and peach with light spices and baked lemon.

Palate: Juicy fruit up front with a round and creamy texture...light citrus, minerality, and gentle spicy notes.

2022 Red Barren – One of our most popular wines, Red Barren features a rich blend of Chambourcin, Petit Verdot, Merlot and Touriga. Easy sipping on the patio and very enjoyable chilled.

Nose: Aromatic. Floral, very fruity, and spicy. Black cherry and dark plum with aromas of mulled wine spices…cinnamon, white pepper, nutmeg, and licorice.

Palate: Fruity with some nice juicy acid in the mid palate, enough to balance the sweet fruit in the wine and carry the flavors long into the finish where spices and sweet fruit linger with cinnamon and cherry notes. Finishes on rich fruit with hints of cherry & candied fruit, pleasantly fresh and spicy.

2022 Touriga – A perennial favorite of Barren Ridge fans. Touriga Nacional is difficult to find and grow in Virginia but has a delicious delicate smoked fruit profile. Pair with rich creamy cheeses, roasted vegetables, smoked meats, grilled pork ribs, and fried chicken.

Nose: Fresh violet on the nose with crunchy red fruit, white spices, smoked plum....also light coffee, bay leaf, and hint of black pepper.

Palate: Attack is soft, driven by fresh red cherry, raspberry and plum. Well structured with light playful acidity, fresh red fruits and light spices...finishes clean and bright with lingering notes of nutmeg and cinnamon.

"Father of Apples" our apple wine has a sweet, bright apple aroma paired with a crisp, delicate apple palate, finishing off dry

The Tale of ALMA-ATA

Our travels shape our lives and our stories. The tale of Alma-Ata begins in a town in the Republic Kazakhstan….

During John Higg’s career with Philip Morris, he and Shelby spent years in Europe and Asia. John worked in Kazakhstan for 3 years. It was there John learned that Kazakhstan was the birthplace of the apple. The name Alma-Ata means “father of apples” in Kazakh.

Today, the Higgs family continues the legacy begun by the family patriarch, James Higgs. Join with them as they celebrate 4 generations of farming in the Shenandoah Valley by introducing the second vintage of their apple wine, Alma-Ata. 

2023 Christof - Ice Wine style dessert wine blended from Vidal Blanc and Traminette, named after our first winemaker from Baden-Württemberg, Christof Weibler. A product of excellent winemaking in Virginia, this well balanced "Ice Wine" could easily be confused with an Ice Wein or a Trockenbeerenauslese in Germany.

Nose: Intense nose is floral, fruity and fresh. Notes of honeysuckle, honey, rose petal, fresh cut pineapple and lemon, lemon zest, candied pineapple, and ripe vineyard peach.

Palate: Lightly sweet on the attack followed by harmonious ripe fruit...fresh cut pineapple and lemon play alongside baked and candied exotic fruits and citrus as well as ripe peach, pear and lightly honeyed notes.

2023 Harmony – Blend of Petit Manseng, Viognier, Vidal Blanc, Chardonnay, & Sauvignon Blanc. Harmony is great to sip on its own, and it pairs well with spicy foods and strong cheeses. This wine features a label with artwork by local artist P. Buckley Moss, and sales benefit her Children’s Education Foundation.

Nose: Aromatic. Citrus, pineapple, mango, and white pepper balanced by crispness.

Palate: Attack is pleasant, supple on the tongue with a round texture. Mid-palate presents clean notes of exotic fruits like candied pineapple, fresh pineapple, lychee, lemon, & white spices. Finishes light and spicy…with notes of pear, grapefruit, lemon all pleasantly balanced with lively acidity.

2023 Riesling – A light fore palate and a lively finish follow faint aromas of grated lime zest over crushed stone. Refreshing now, this wine will cellar gracefully. Foods: Go marine or freshwater, go spicy, go exotic, go international.

Nose: Sweet floral notes of apple blossom, candied pineapple, fresh maritime aromas, light notes of exotic fruits, citrus, pineapple, honey, and white pepper.

Palate: Clear expression of exotic fruits, pineapple, citrus, green apple, ripe peach, & toasted almonds

2024 Rosé -This Rosé is a delicious Provençal style..crisp, dry, and refreshing made for sitting on our patio, by the pool, or sitting on a beach - imagine the aromas of southern France.  Try on its own or with summertime and Provençal fare like ratatouille, goat cheese, charcuterie, grilled dorado with olives, tapenade, fruit salad, chicken Ceasar salad, and salad Niçoise.

Nose: Crisp, mineral, maritime - with a beautiful creamy texture accentuated by light floral aromas & notes of ruby grapefruit, sliced peach, and light spices.

Palate: Spicy white pepper upfront followed by peach then citrus notes....spicy with prevalent grapefruit on the mid-palate then finishing long, clean, spicy, and again with grapefruit.

2023 Tinkling Spring – A fresh and inviting wine that showcases our signature blend of Riesling, Traminette and Vidal Blanc to enhance the aromatics. Enjoy in the Spring and Summer as a refreshing aperitif, paired with leafy plates, or indulged with fresh shellfish. This original label from P. Buckley Moss generates proceeds that benefit her Children’s Education Foundation.

Nose: Rose petal, honeysuckle, white fruit, pear, exotic fruit, flinty mineral, white pepper

Palate: Spicy on the palette with round, ripe fruit, juicy pineapple, tangerine, apricot and peach accompanied by peppery notes and citrus peel. Finishes long and pleasantly spicy with white fruits and nutmeg

2023 Traminette – Aromatic hybrid grape related to Gewürtztraminer...pairs excellently with spicy and exotic foods like Thai, Indian, and Vietnamese...the dense texture helps tame the spice and bring forward fresh exotic fruits from the wine. Perceived sweetness also lends towards pairing with barbecued ribs and chicken. Delicious with strong blue cheese, melon, cured meats and nuts. Although dry, perceived sweetness will satisfy those who like sweet wines.

Nose: Aromatic nose...fruity, floral, and spicy. Light rose petal & exotic fruits like pineapple & lychee mingle with pear and baked citrus and a collection of white spices such as nutmeg and white pepper.

Palate: Light sweet notes on the fore palate with lemon. Mid-palate presents pineapple and light peach. Finish is clean and crisp finding again notes of citrus.

2023 Vidal Blanc – A refreshing, rich, aromatic & versatile wine, our estate-grown Vidal Blanc is food friendly and pairs well with a broad range of dishes. Try with fresh shellfish, oysters, crab cakes, grilled vegetables, goat cheese, feta and cucumber salad.

Nose: Aromatic nose. Citrus blossom, vineyard peach & freshly cut lemon; spicy notes of nutmeg

Palate: Interchange between spiciness and rich fruit...juicy peach, lemon, pineapple, nutmeg all harmonize well

2023 Viognier – Big and aromatic. Perfect with roasted chicken with apricots and almonds and spicy exotic foods. Works well with a wide variety of shellfish and seafood....roasted or grilled chicken, veal, pork, root vegetables and both creamy and fruity hard cheeses.

Nose: Very aromatic, fresh, and sweet. Floral notes of almond blossoms accompany a rich bouquet of ripe peach, Mirabelle plum, apricot, pineapple, and grilled almonds.

Palate: Fresh and zippy up front with juicy tangerine followed by apricot, peach, and baked citrus with light notes of grapefruit and exotic fruit. Finishes mineral, spicy and very long. Delicious.