Walsh Family Winery, the latest exciting addition to Loudoun County’s celebrated wine scene, opened its doors last month in Purcellville, Virginia, and has already captured the hearts of the community. What began as a passion project for owners Nate and Sarah Walsh – cultivating grapes and crafting wine from a single Catoctin Ridge vineyard near Waterford – has blossomed into a thriving family venture. Today, Walsh Family Winery farms five vineyards encompassing over 50 acres and has revitalized an existing winery location to bring their vision to life. Their grand opening weekend saw an incredible turnout of over 500 guests, a testament to the anticipation and warm welcome for this new winery. Co-owner Sarah Walsh expressed that the overwhelming community support fueled their energy and enthusiasm, transforming any potential exhaustion into excitement for the future.
Taking the reins after beloved predecessors is always a delicate endeavor. In this case, Walsh Family Winery follows in the footsteps of Mark and Vicki Fedor, the cherished founders of North Gate Vineyards. The Fedors were deeply admired for their relentless work ethic, building their winery from the ground up through farmers markets and intimate garage tastings. Their unwavering commitment to eco-friendly practices and the numerous accolades they garnered for their exceptional wines solidified their place in the hearts of Virginia wine lovers.
Lush grapevines at Walsh Family Winery in Loudoun County, Virginia, showcasing the vineyard's dedication to quality wine production.
However, Nate and Sarah Walsh are far from newcomers to the Virginia wine landscape. They have been active members of the community for over a decade. Nate has earned recognition as a gold-medal-winning winemaker during his tenure at Sunset Hills Vineyards in Purcellville, while Sarah brings extensive experience in fine wine sales and hospitality to the partnership.
To gain deeper insight into their journey and aspirations for Walsh Family Winery, we spoke with Nate Walsh about their experiences and future direction.
Nate Walsh on Winemaking Expertise and the Vision for Walsh Family Winery
From Sunset Hills Vineyards to Walsh Family Wine: A Winemaker’s Journey
Nate reflected on his formative years at Sunset Hills Vineyards, stating, “Sunset Hills was and remains an exceptional Virginia wine producer. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity Mike and Diane Canney provided me. They entrusted me, despite my lack of prior experience as a head winemaker, allowing me to cultivate my unique farming and winemaking style. During my time there, Sunset Hills experienced significant growth, expanding from 20 to 70 planted acres. I was fortunate to contribute to this expansion and to work with their vineyards, which include some truly outstanding blocks of vines.”
Walsh Family Wine: From a Side Hustle to Center Stage
Describing the genesis of Walsh Family Winery, Nate explained, “Walsh Family Wine initially began as a side project for Sarah and me. With Sarah’s background in fine dining, wine distribution, and sales, combined with my winemaking expertise, it felt like we had the perfect synergy to create something truly special. In 2014, we were presented with the opportunity to lease Bethany Ridge vineyard, an exceptional site, and we eagerly seized it.”
Nate Walsh, co-owner and winemaker at Walsh Family Winery, standing amidst the vines and embodying the passion behind their Loudoun County wines.
He continued, “For the 2014 and 2015 vintages, we dedicated our evenings and weekends to working the Bethany Ridge vineyard. Each year, we produced a Sauvignon Blanc, which we proudly sold to local restaurants. This period allowed me to share my knowledge of vineyard management with Sarah, while she educated me on the intricacies of wine sales. Together, we worked towards crafting a product that we were confident would reflect our shared dedication to quality.”
Embracing Ownership and Elevating Wine Quality
Addressing the potential challenges of winery ownership impacting hands-on winemaking, Nate offered an insightful perspective: “There’s a valid concern that the daily demands of running a business could detract from the core winemaking goals. However, for us, it’s been the opposite. We’ve become even more meticulous in our vineyard management and winemaking processes. We are deeply invested in every detail, ensuring the highest quality wine production because, ultimately, the responsibility for success or failure rests solely with us. There are no external factors to blame. I would honestly say that I am even more focused on the vines and the wine now than ever before.”
Carving a Unique Niche in Loudoun Wine Country
Discussing Walsh Family Winery’s approach within the thriving Loudoun wine region, Nate highlighted their distinctive vision: “Our model differs slightly from many of our neighbors. We are focusing on providing an elevated level of hospitality, emphasizing in-depth tours and longer, more personalized tasting experiences. We aim for fewer guests but deeper connections with each visitor. We pour immense effort and passion into our wines, and our hope is that by sharing this dedication with our guests, they will develop the same appreciation.”
Plan Your Visit to Walsh Family Winery
Experience the passion and dedication firsthand at Walsh Family Winery, located at:
16031 Hillsboro Road, Purcellville, Virginia.
Opening Hours:
- Friday: 12 PM – 8 PM
- Saturday & Sunday: 11 AM – 6 PM
Tasting Fee: $20 per person (reservations recommended)
Walsh Family Winery welcomes families and furry friends (dogs are welcome in outdoor areas). A light fare food menu is available, and guests are welcome to bring small picnics to enjoy outdoors. Reservations are required for groups larger than 6 people.
Special Event: Don’t miss “Bar Takeover,” a monthly Friday evening event where Walsh Family Winery hosts fellow Virginia winemakers, showcasing a diverse selection of wines alongside their own acclaimed vintages.
Walsh Family Winery is poised to become a must-visit destination in Loudoun Wine Country, offering exceptional wines and a truly memorable tasting experience.
