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Patrick Duffeler’s purchase of a farm in 1983 started the Williamsburg Winery story, though the history of Virginia wine extends back centuries from that on the very same land.

Making wine in the New World started with the first colony in Jamestown in 1609 when the earliest settlers, hopeful of producing a cash crop, planted vines on the land that today occupies the Wessex Hundred farm. That early attempt wasn’t successful.

The next British attempt to foster a wine industry in the colonies stems from an edict made in 1619. The House of Burgesses required every landowner to plant at least 10 vines in the name of King James, known as the Twelfth Acte of 1619. Four hundred years ago, abiding by the Twelfth Acte, settler John Johnson planted the first grapevines in an area named for the German who owned the land at the time, Jochen. Surrounded by water on three sides, the land — where today grapes thrive as part of Wessex Hundred — received the name “Jochen’s Neck” or Jockey’s Neck. Johnson’s was another unsuccessful effort, though certainly worth noting. Duffeler commemorated it with the naming of the 1619 Pavilion, which opened in 2019.

The names of the various buildings that comprise the winery all have historical significance. The Gabriel Archer Tavern is named for British explorer Gabriel Archer, who wanted what was called Archer’s Hope to be where the first settlement would be (he was overruled by Capt. John Smith, who favored Jamestown). Part of Wessex Hundred is on Archer’s Hope, and as homage to that the winery’s signature Bordeaux-style blend is the Gabriel Archer Reserve.

The names of many of the winery’s’ wines also reflect history. The Acte 12 Chardonnay, made from 100% Virginia grapes, is among the winery’s signature releases. Two Shilling Red also refers to the 1600s, the amount of rent paid to the crown for the land, which now occupies the Williamsburg Winery.

The Norton celebrates America’s oldest wine grape, first cultivated in Richmond in the 1820s.

Cattle, grain and beans became the primary crops over the next two centuries until Patrick and Peggy Duffeler’s exhaustive search for a farm narrowed down a field of 52 to one — Wessex Hundred. The use of “Hundred” to name a property dates back to the Colonial era and describes parcels of land sufficient to support 100 families regardless of actual acreage.

The Williamsburg Winery planted its first trial vineyard, a Chardonnay varietal, on a gentle South facing slope in 1985 but few predicted Virginia would emerge as a significant grape growing region.

There were only a handful of wineries in the Commonwealth, but Duffeler dismissed the doubters, passionate about continuing the legacy that began several centuries prior. Forty years ago, he was neither a viticulturist nor a winemaker but as a businessman who had achieved success in motor racing and the fragrance industry, he had the acumen to do his homework and find experts in viticulture. Pioneers persevere. Duffeler persevered.

In 1988, the Williamsburg Winery released the Governor’s White, still its most popular wine.

The next year, the Williamsburg Winery won the Governor’s Cup, the most stringent award for the best wine in the Commonwealth. Four gold medals were awarded that year. The Williamsburg Winery earned two: for its 1988 Williamsburg Reserve Chardonnay and its 1989 Acte 12 Chardonnay.

Treville Lawrence’s book released in 1989 titled “Jefferson and Wine,” included this reference to the Williamsburg Winery in the chapter “Jefferson’s Dream Come True.” The nation’s third president also had attempted to grow vines at Monticello, but it was another futile attempt.

Outstanding from another point of view was the establishment in coastal Jamestown -site of the first settler’s landing- of Williamsburg Vineyard and Winery by the Patrick G. Duffeler family. This was the spot where Captain John Smith exclaimed about the abundance of grapes growing in the trees and incorrectly predicted there would be unlimited winegrowing on the coast of the new continent. The Duffelers were the first after some 375 years to successfully plant the vinifera and make a quality wine in this heretofore inhospitable climate.

Virginia’s wine industry took root in the 1990s, and today the Commonwealth houses more than 300 wineries. The Williamsburg Winery remains at the forefront of that storied history that continues to thicken. The winery was instrumental in spearheading the Commonwealth’s eighth American Viticultural Area (AVA) in 2021. The eighth AVA, named for the Virginia Peninsula validates the unique terroir and growing conditions found there. The Williamsburg Winery is the largest winery in the Virginia Peninsula AVA, which contains seven others.

With over 4,000 acres of grapes that span the state, Virginia ranks among the 10 largest wine producers in the nation but as far as historical perspective, the Commonwealth is No. 1 as the birthplace of wine.

Williamsburg, Virginia — Cheers to the Williamsburg’s Winery’s 2019 Petit Verdot Reserve!

This full-bodied red wine with dark fruit flavors and layers of dark chocolate and vanilla earned a coveted spot in the 2023 Virginia Governor’s Cup® Case, announced Thursday at a gala in Richmond.

The Virginia Governor’s Cup® is among the most stringent competitions in the United States, hosted by the Virginia Wineries Association in partnership with the Virginia Wine Board and the Virginia Vineyards Association. In 2023, world-class judges sampled 614 of the best Virginia wines, awarding 142 Gold Medals, with the top 12 meriting selection to the Virginia Governor’s Cup® Case.

“We’re doing very well in Virginia with Petit Verdot,” said Williamsburg Winery Founder Patrick Duffeler. “As Petit Verdot is a signature varietal in Virginia, this honor is very gratifying to our operation.”                              

Judging was led by Director Jay Youmans, one of 51 Masters of Wine in the United States, who has overseen the competition for 10 years. All wines submitted must be made from 100% Virginia fruit.

Petit Verdot, a late-ripening Bordeaux varietal, is one of the most competitive categories in the competition that showcases Virginia’s terroir. Virginia Wine notes, “traditionally used as a blending grape in Bordeaux, Petit Verdot has come into its own as a star varietal in Virginia.”

As of 2019, there were nearly 300 acres dedicated to Petit Verdot throughout the Commonwealth, making it the third most planted varietal in Virginia behind Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc. In 2008, only 80 acres of Petit Verdot were planted in the state.

The 2019 Petit Verdot Reserve includes 65% of Petit Verdot grown at Wessex Hundred, the 400-acre farm that houses the Williamsburg Winery. Petit Verdot thrives at Wessex Hundred that is part of the Virginia Peninsula American Viticultural Area (AVA), distinguished by its subtropical climate, extended growing season and maritime features.

The remaining 35% of the grapes for the Petit Verdot come from growing partner Mount Juliet Farm in Crozet, Virginia.

The 2019 vintage stems from a near-perfect growing season that started with a mild winter that rolled into an early spring, leading to excellent fruit set and ultimately, a bountiful crop. A relatively mild summer that year followed by a warm autumn with cool nights and minimal rainfall the month before harvest were invaluable for maturing grapes.

“I believe the 2019 vintage to be the best I have experienced in Virginia for my tenure here,” said Matthew Meyer, winemaker at the Williamsburg Winery since 2002.

In his tasting notes, Meyer writes, “initially there are dates, figs and plums that give way to blueberry, dark cherry and blackberry. Next to the dark chocolate covered fruits is a lovely floral and fresh herb nuance. The oak comes through just enough to balance out the bold fruits. The tannins are firm yet approachable. Together, these attributes create a finish that is expressive, bold and well-integrated.”

The Williamsburg Winery’s decorated history in the annual competition includes winning the Governor’s Cup in 1989 and 2014. In 2022, the Williamsburg Winery earned a trifecta, awarded three Gold Medals for its 2019 Petit Manseng, 2017 Virginia Trianon and 2019 Wessex Hundred Petit Verdot — all signature varietals.

The Williamsburg Winery planted its first grapes and sold its first bottle of wine in 1987, back when only a few wineries existed in Virginia. It planted its first cluster of Petit Verdot in 2005. Today, wine is a burgeoning industry in the Commonwealth that is home to more than 300 wineries.

Petit Verdot pairs well with lamb, steak, rich sauces, barbecue and strong cheeses.

The 2019 Petit Verdot Reserve can be purchased for $49 at the Williamsburg Winery’s retail shop.

A new world opened up to Jen Allen when she moved to Williamsburg last year with her husband, Brenden, who is stationed at Fort Eustis.

Williamsburg Winery portrait of Jennifer Allen

Back in her hometown in Findlay, Ohio, Allen worked in upscale dining at The Hancock Hotel, where she educated herself about wine. Relocating to Virginia, she was hired as a tasting room associate at the Williamsburg Winery, where she discovered all there is to love about Virginia wine.

As the winery’s new Director of Retail Operations, Allen says, “I love educating tourists, guests and Wine Club members about Virginia wine. People underestimate it. When they try it, they’re impressed when they taste how good it really is.”

In her new role, Allen juggles multiple responsibilities that include festival planning, assisting with the Williamsburg Winery Wine Club and overseeing retail. She’s excited about upcoming changes to Susan Constant Hall, which will offer tasting again this spring in addition to flights. New merchandise will also be added to the retail shop.

Among all the picturesque spots at Wessex Hundred, Allen most enjoys the view of the vineyards from the top deck of the 1619 Wine Pavilion. She favors the winery’s red wines from 2019 and after tasting several reds from 2021, she looks forward to their release.

Allen is a mother to five, including two adults children, David and Dru, in addition to Sienna, 17, Jaelon, 12, and Quentin, 8. She’s invested in the many sports all of them compete in — volleyball, track, football, wrestling, rugby and cross country — and enjoys hikes and history. The Allens are expecting their first grandchild in March.

A high school graduation trip to Italy wasn’t just fun for Alex Frey.

It altered his life, introducing him to the world of wine. As a college student at William & Mary, he was excited to discover the Williamsburg Winery and worked weekends in Susan Constant Hall as a tasting room associate. After graduating last May, he interned during harvest.

Today he is the Winery’s new Direct Shipping Manager.

It’s not a career he foresaw as a double major in government and film, but he feels fortunate to continue his wine education at the Williamsburg Winery, where he is part of an enthusiastic team.

“I like the people who work here,” he says. “When we bring someone new into the fold, they get integrated into what we’re all doing no matter the role. We all have different jobs, but we come together and work well as a team.”

In addition to sampling new wines, Frey enjoys traveling, visiting with his family back in his hometown near Philadelphia and spending time with his rescue dog, Ami, a Labrador and Chow mix.

Kris Rideout is happiest at the Williamsburg Winery when she wraps up in layers and dons her leopard print hat with a head lamp and descends into the reserve cellar where she’s surrounded by aging wine. There’s no music, but “I groove down there,” says the winery’s new Wine Club Manager, an ardent student of the industry.

As much as Rideout enjoys a glass of Trianon, she’s always seeking to expand her own palate and wine knowledge so she can share it with the members of the Wine Club, many of them familiar to her from the four years she worked as an associate in the tasting room.

“My mother gave me “The Wine Bible 2022” for Christmas,” says Rideout, who added it to her shelf full of wine books. “I love reading about wine. You never get tired of it because there’s always something new to learn.”

Rideout already earned the WSET 1, a Wine and Spirit Education Trust certification, after receiving a scholarship for People of Color from Capital Wine School in Washington, D.C.

“A lot of people in my family are in the military or are doctors and nurses. I took a different path,” she says. “I’m a Black woman, and you don’t see a lot of people like me in the wine industry. I’ve found my niche.”

Williamsburg Winery portrait of Kris Rideout

Rideout found a place to call home at Wessex Hundred. “It feels like family here,” she says. “For me, it’s about the experience and the customer service. I talk to people from all over the world here. This is a place for them to come and let their hair down and enjoy life.”

In her free time, Rideout enjoys yoga and visiting the different wineries around the Commonwealth. looks to grow the Wine Club and add additional events, including a vertical tasting.

“I want to offer our members an exclusive experience,” she says. “I want all of our members to look forward to having a great time while they’re here.”

Whether you spend a few hours or stay overnight, the Williamsburg Winery located among more than 400 acres of green space on the Wessex Hundred Farm offers a wonderful respite from the stresses of everyday life.

Here are 5 must to-dos to help you enjoy life:


Wedmore room 25 Provence.

Spend the night (or two) in the Provence Room at Wedmore Place. This Superior Room, among the most requested at the onsite hotel that feels like a European inn, fills with abundant sunshine during the day. Its warm yellow walls and décor that evoke the feeling of being in the south of France are inviting as is the four-poster, king-sized canopy bed. Cozy up to the wood-burning fireplace with your favorite glass of wine.

Or unwind in the Aquitaine Suite with a large classic sitting room appointed with French period pieces. It’s luxurious, yes, but you only live once! A separate bedroom overlooks the pool terrace, and the most epic jetted tub invites you to linger for as long as you’d like. Have your wine in front of the open hearth fireplace, snuggling in the robe provided. Lose yourself in the warmth and the cackle of the flames.


Take an extensive tour and reserve wine tasting, available by reservation only on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. During the two-hour experience, you’ll go behind the scenes of the winemaking process, learn about the Williamsburg Winery’s pioneering days as they relate to Virginia wine and sample wines in the aging process in the private wine cellar. This immersive, intimate experience includes tasting selected vintages from the winery’s library collection. A country sampler of assorted cheese and crackers accompanies your personalized tasting. Take home an oversized etched reserve wine glass along with insider scoop to share with fellow wine enthusiasts.


Savor the Turkey & Brie sandwich at the Gabriel Archer Tavern. One of the signature items at the winery, this iconic selection combines mesquite turkey and Brie cheese with Lingonberry Preserves, roasted garlic mayo and Granny Smith apple slices on a French baguette. The savory turkey on crusty bread with a sweetness from the jam and tartness from the mayo complemented by Brie cheese. Pair it with a glass of Chardonnay. Sip the wine and relish each and every bite of this unique combination. Pick up a jar of the Lingonberry Preserves at the retail shop.


Sample a wine flight and cheese board underneath the wisteria-covered patio at the Gabriel Archer Tavern. Enjoy your curated wines selections along with cheese in one of the most charming settings of the winery. The outdoor arbor is pleasant on a spring day and the canopy that allows sunlight to peek through offers enough shade to enjoy lunch on a warm summer afternoon. The sounds you hear will be the rustle of the breeze, the jingle of the wind chimes and your own conversation. This quiet, peaceful spot has an ambiance unlike any other.


Live Music at the Pavilion at Williamsburg Winery April 29, 2022

Sample a wine flight and cheese board underneath the wisteria-covered patio at the Gabriel Archer Tavern. Enjoy your curated wines selections along with cheese in one of the most charming settings of the winery. The outdoor arbor is pleasant on a spring day and the canopy that allows sunlight to peek through offers enough shade to enjoy lunch on a warm summer afternoon. The sounds you hear will be the rustle of the breeze, the jingle of the wind chimes and your own conversation. This quiet, peaceful spot has an ambiance unlike any other.

What’s called the Reflective Project showcases the Williamsburg Winery’s ability to embrace an entirely different style of winemaking a hemisphere away. On several levels, this distinctive vintage along with the 2018 Malbec celebrate collaboration, starting literally with two varying grapes an ocean apart.

These newly released reds blend the Malbec varietal from Argentina with Virginia’s most prominent grape, Petit Verdot.

Per the label, “Like the tango, this wine is sensual and intimate offering soft, yet full bodied aromatics and texture. Like the two dancers, there must be balance and finesse just as there is with the Reflective Malbec.”

The new-look packaging reflects the vibrant nature of the wine and incorporates Argentinean culture while alluding to the literal and figurative dance required to craft this limited production Malbec.

The story behind this wine dates back more than a decade when Williamsburg Winery winemaker Matthew Meyer was at the London International Wine Fair. The two were in conversation about the Williamsburg Winery experimenting with a new block of Malbec in its vineyards. Matthew grew intrigued after hearing writer Steven Spurrier of Decanter Magazine praise the new Argentine wine made with Malbec named Apogeo as the most elegant he had tasted. The wine was made at Gerardo Cartellone’s A16 Bodega, a boutique winery near Mendoza, the wine capital of Argentina.

Matthew, Mabel, PGD, Francoise, Gerardo and Elena in front of the rows bearing our names.

What started as an investigation to not only taste but learn more about Apogeo blossomed into a friendship among Meyer and his wife, Elena Barber, and Williamsburg Winery Founder Patrick Duffeler and his wife, Francoise.

The Duffelers hosted Cartellone at Wedmore Place, sharing a bottle of Apogeo. A visit to the Argentine winery followed for all four where it was decided that a limited edition of Malbec wines would be shipped to the Williamsburg Winery for retail sale.

During that visit, Cartellone surprised his guests following a traditional “asado” or authentic Argentinian barbecue. Per Patrick’s blog entry: “For dessert, Mr. Cartellone took us for a short walk and surprised us with the fact that he had named a couple rows of his Malbec vineyard in the name of Matthew and Elena as well as in Francoise’s and mine.”

Matthew shoveling grapes at A16 Mendoza.

Meyer dreamed of making a wine in Mendoza, the start of the “Reflective Project” between the Williamsburg Winery and A16. Every spring in Virginia, which is fall in Argentina, Meyer flies to Mendoza to taste and blend that year’s harvest and help with bottling previous vintages.

The 2015 and 2016 vintages are straight Malbec, but the 2017 and 2018 Reflective Malbec are unique thanks to the addition of Petit Verdot, which, in Meyer’s words, “makes this Malbec more unique and individual than the others.”

The 2017 Malbec is available to ship in Virginia only. Approximately 350 cases are available; order today. A 3-pack special is also available.

My warmest holiday greetings to you and your family as we bring 2022 to a close.

It has been a special year at the Williamsburg Winery in that it was 40 years ago that my late wife, Peggy, and I first laid eyes on this farm that we later named Wessex Hundred. Back in 1982, we met with plenty of strange looks when we shared our vision of growing grapes and making quality wine in the Commonwealth. Yet the following year, we purchased the farm, planted the first grapes in 1985 and celebrated our first harvest in 1987. We released our first wine, Governor’s White, in 1988 and won our first major award in 1989, the Virginia Governor’s Cup.

Those pioneer days gave way to growth in every aspect of our business. We added a restaurant in 1996, the Gabriel Archer Tavern, and later event space in Wessex Hall, built in 2000 and renovated Westbury Hall in 2016. Wedmore Place, our European-style inn, was completed by 2007. Earlier this summer, the Tavern earned recognition from USA Today as the third best restaurant associated with a winery in the nation.

Our wines have gone from achieving statewide recognition to national distinction.  For the first time this year, three of our signature varietals, the 2019 Petit Manseng, the 2017 Virginia Trianon and the 2019 Wessex Hundred Petit Verdot, achieved a trifecta of three Gold Medals in the 2022 Virginia Governor’s Cup. Additionally, this past year, our 2019 Petit Verdot Reserve, the 2021 Petite Fleur and the 2019 Merlot Reserve each was rated at 90 points or above.

Today more than 80,000 people visit the Williamsburg Winery annually. My wife, Francoise, and I enjoy greeting as many guests as we can, though, admittedly, it gives me great joy to observe our patrons experiencing time together. It’s a treat to sit near the Duck Pond or inside the 1619 Pavilion. We’ve also enhanced the Susan B. Constant Tasting Room. Earlier this year, we established the Art at Wessex Hundred series in collaboration with a local artists group, folks I call The Art People. A rotating series of paintings from local artists reflecting some aspect of the winery has transformed our tasting room into a mini gallery.

It’s heartening to be able to provide such a healthy retreat for so many visitors and repeat visitors.

We will continue doing things “the right way,” or better said “the good way,” in 2023. We’ll open more walking trails, including a mile and a half nature trek around Pate’s Creek and invite you to the Black Forest, my favorite spot on the farm. We’re researching new ways to improve our soil, which in turn will benefit the grapes that go into our wine. We will grow our wine club with new programs and offerings.

Speaking of new, you might have already noticed several unfamiliar faces at the winery. They all bring a new energy, enthusiasm and appreciation of Wessex Hundred. Make sure to introduce yourself if you haven’t already.

Many of you know that in addition to the farm, I celebrated my own milestone this year, turning 80 years young earlier this month. Whenever you reach a round number, you’re asked a lot of questions about superlatives in your life. When prodded about what makes me happiest, I couldn’t help but return to a photo Francoise snapped in the Black Forest. I refer to myself as “the dwarf” in it, and that’s how I appear, standing beneath a canopy of towering 100 foot tall loblolly pine. That picture is symbolic of one of the lessons that keeps me humble. We’re a small part of this universe, a speck in nature and at her mercy. I remain in awe of what we can learn from the trees that I cherish at Wessex Hundred or in the real Black Forest in Germany.

Hold all that is dear to you close this holiday season. We look forward to welcoming you here anytime. Linger over lunch or dinner or stay overnight at Wedmore Place. Remember this no matter what you do: Enjoy life!

Williamsburg Winery Founder,

Patrick G. Duffeler

As the weather changes, so does the Williamsburg Winery. Visit year-round to experience the seasons at the lovely Wessex Hundred Farm.

Start this month by booking the Romantic Winter Escape Package at Wedmore Place. The package includes a one-night stay in a Tradition Room, where an enticing wood-burning fireplace invites you to relax with a glass of wine before turning in for the night on a king-sized bed with luxury linens. You’ll be greeted with an artisanal cheese and charcuterie board upon arrival followed by a wine flight for two. Wake up to a European-style continental breakfast and head for Colonial Williamsburg, where the holidays lights are brilliant. The package includes ice skating tickets for two at the Liberty Ice Pavilion and Warm Settlers’ Spiced Wine for Two at the Merchants Square Tasting Room and Wine Bar.

If you’re planning for Valentine’s Day, the Romance of Wessex Hundred Package offers a perfect couple’s retreat. His and her massages with aromatherapy, a bottle of bubbly paired with chocolate covered strawberries and a wine flight are part of the trimmings for a two-night stay in one of the Tradition Rooms.

Spring is a beautiful time to visit Wessex Hundred, with blooms on the vines signaling the start of a new season. Temperatures are typically so pleasant this time of year that it’s inviting to linger over wine along the Duck Pond or relax with a flight in the 1619 Pavilion that overlooks the budding vineyards. The Historical Series Package at Wedmore Place offers a two-night stay in a Tradition Room, a picnic basket from the Gabriel Archer Tavern to enjoy anywhere on the property, a wine flight for two, a bottle of Governor’s White and two tickets to both the Jamestown Settlement Museum and Colonial Williamsburg.

The warm weather that extends into summer reminds visitors to the Williamsburg Winery that Wessex Hundred is a working farm. Vinifera grapes like Petit Verdot, Merlot and Albariño have thrived here along with newcomers like Tannat and Muscat. Visitors can spy more than 50 acres of vineyard that is coupled with hundreds of acres of green space. All of it makes for a magnificent walk when the temperatures cooperate.

Live Music at the Pavilion at Williamsburg Winery April 29, 2022

Though summer days can be humid in southeastern Virginia, nights are typically cool enough to enjoy live music at the 1619 Pavilion with an upper deck that overlooks the Albariño and Petit Verdot vineyards. Longer days mean longer hours at the winery. Air conditioning inside the Gabriel Archer Tavern and the wisteria terrace outdoors help you to remain cool on the warmest days.

The winery’s Rosé that is so refreshing in spring and summer can also be enjoyed outdoors at the Merchant Square Wine Bar. Rechange from a day of shopping with a glass or flight.

The fall weather is a welcome respite from the warm temperatures, with the farm preparing for the harvest season, the busiest time at the winery, when ripening grapes are pulled from the vines and prepared for fermentation. Check the winery’s Special Events page to reserve your space for dinners in the vineyards offered during fall. October is Virginia Wine Month. Mark the occasion with a trip to the Williamsburg Winery where you can experience a tasting in Susan B. Constant Hall, which also showcases art for sale from local artists. Just like the winery, the art changes with the seasons.

No matter the time of year, remember to stop by the retail shop before you leave for home for a souvenir to help you “enjoy life” there just as you did while visiting the winery.

How to find us wherever you are . . .

We can’t wait to welcome you to the Williamsburg Winery located at 5800 Wessex Hundred in Williamsburg, Virginia. We’re just 3 minutes from Colonial Williamsburg, though once you turn into our working farm we call Wessex Hundred, you’ll feel as if you’ve been whisked away to a European village.

Once you’re on the grounds, everything is a short walk or ask us about renting bikes for the duration of your stay.

Come for lunch, dinner, a tour and tasting or reserve accommodations overnight at our lovely inn, Wedmore Place.

It’s easy to find us. We’re just . . .

3 miles from Colonial Williamsburg

23 miles from Newport News

48 miles from Norfolk

54 miles from Richmond

60 miles from Virginia Beach

82 miles from Cape Charles

107 miles from Fredericksburg

124 miles from Charlottesville

156 miles from Washington, D.C.

200 miles from Baltimore

240 miles from Roanoke

300 miles from Philadelphia

387 miles from New York City

446 miles from Charleston, South Carolina

Summer sunset over the Cabernet Franc block at The Williamsburg Winery Monday June 28, 2021.

If you’re driving . . .

From Norfolk/Virginia Beach and all points east

Follow I-264 W to I-64 W. Take exit 242A and merge onto VA-199 W. Drive 4.8 miles and turn left onto Brookwood Drive. In 492 feet, turn left onto Lake Powell Road. Follow for 0.7 miles and turn left onto Wessex Hundred.

From Richmond

Follow I-64 East to exit 234 for VA-199 E/State Road 646 toward Lightfoot. Continue on VA-199/

Humelsine Parkway E for 10 miles. Turn right onto Brookwood Drive, and in 446 feet, turn left onto Lake Powell Road. Follow for 0.7 miles and turn left onto Wessex Hundred.

From Charlottesville

Get on I-64 E and follow directions from Richmond.

From Roanoke

Get on I-81 N/US 220 N toward Lexington. Travel approximately 77 miles to exit 221 toward Richmond for I-64 E. Follow directions from Richmond.

From Fredericksburg

Get on I-95 S toward Richmond. Drive approximately 44 miles to exit 84A on the left to merge onto I-295 S toward Rocky Mount/Richmond. Follow for 14.8 miles and use the right two lanes to take exit 28A to merge onto I-64 E toward Norfolk. Follow directions from Richmond.

From Washington, D.C. and all points north

Get on I-95 South and continue approximately 96 miles exit 84A on the left to merge onto I-295 S toward Rocky Mount/Richmond. Follow directions from Richmond.

If you’re flying, we’re . . .

21 miles from the Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport

48 miles from the Richmond International Airport

56 miles from the Norfolk International Airport

If you’re traveling by train . . .

Amtrak has a Williamsburg stop located at 468 N. Boundary St. The winery is 4.4 miles away. Head west toward Armistead Avenue, and turn left onto Armistead Avenue. Follow 0.3 miles and turn left onto Richmond Road. Make an immediate right onto Jamestown Road and follow 1.8 miles. Turn left onto VA-199 E. Turn right at the 1st cross street onto Brookwood Drive and in 446 feet, turn left onto Lake Powell Road. After 0.7 miles, turn into Wessex Hundred.

Dreaming of a wine Christmas? Wine makes a wonderful holiday gift, and the Williamsburg Winery offers several special holiday bundles to match the taste of the recipients on your list. Or buy a bundle for yourself to serve during holiday gatherings.

Find your favorite among our holiday collection:

2017 & 2019 6-Pack: Six bottles of our finest reserve reds, from both the 2017 and 2019 vintages. They are:

1 bottle 2017 Gabriel Archer Reserve

1 bottle 2019 Gabriel Archer Reserve

1 bottle 2017 Trianon

1 bottle 2019 Trianon

1 bottle 2017 Adagio

1 bottle 2019 Adagio

I’m Dreaming of a White Wine Christmas: Three distinct white wines expressing a wide-range of styles. Perfect for the white wine lover on your list. In the 3-pack:

1 bottle 2019 Virginia Petit Manseng

1 bottle 2021 Stainless Steel Chardonnay

1 bottle 2019 Wessex Hundred Viognier

90+ Points 3-Pack: The highly rated collection features three wines with ratings of 90+ points from the world’s most prestigious wine critics. They are:

1 bottle 2019 Virginia Petit Manseng (94 points, Platinum Award)

1 bottle 2019 Petit Verdot Reserve (90 points)

1 bottle 2017 Adagio (91 points)

Collectors 3-Pack: These age-worthy, award-winning wines will delight the wine enthusiast in your life. In the 3-pack:

1 bottle 2019 Adagio

1 bottle 2019 Gabriel Archer Reserve

1 bottle 2019 Merlot Reserve

Explore Virginia 6-Pack: Popular varietals every Virginia Wine enthusiast needs to have in their wine rack. In the 6-pack:

1 bottle 2020 Virginia Petit Verdot

1 bottle 2020 Virginia Cabernet Franc

1 bottle 2020 Virginia Merlot

1 bottle 2019 Virginia Petit Manseng

1 bottle 2021 Stainless Steel Fermented Chardonnay

1 bottle 2019 Wessex Hundred Viognier

Estate-Grown AVA 3-Pack: A collection of wines grown 100% here on our Wessex Hundred estate vineyard in the Virginia Peninsula AVA, the newest AVA in the Commonwealth. In the 3-pack:

1 bottle 2019 Wessex Hundred Chardonnay

1 bottle 2019 Wessex Hundred Viognier

1 bottle 2020 Wessex Hundred Petit Verdot

A Touch of Sweetness Bundle: A set of wines perfect for those who prefer their wines with a little bit of sweetness. The 3-pack is:

1 bottle 2021 Governor’s White

1 bottle 2021 Semi-Dry Rosé

1 bottle 2021 Petite Fleur

All of the bundles can be shipped or picked up at the retail shop. If you’re not sure what to pick, a Williamsburg Winery gift card makes a wonderful stocking stuffer. Order online or call our retail shop at 757-229-0999, option 8.

Cheers to the holidays!

When you visit the Williamsburg Winery at Wessex Hundred, you will be immersed in more than good wine.

You’ll be surrounded by nature, a working farm both picturesque and serene where the air is fresh. It’s easy to relax when you take time to inhale and experience the tranquility of so much lush green space.

Many will choose to put their smartphone away and simply enjoy without the interruption of technology.

Others might be tempted to learn more about the landscape around them. If that’s the case, we offer a list of helpful apps to enrich your experience.

Audubon Bird Guide helps identify the birds around you. Enter data you observe, and Bird ID will narrow down a list of possible matches for your location in real time. You can also submit images of birds you spot to Ebird mobile. Identify butterflies, bugs or anything else intriguing by using Fieldguide.

Plantsnap  can identify plants, flowers, succulents and mushrooms in seconds with a click of a button on your mobile device. Search by leaf or needle at MyNature Tree Guide.

Trees nourish the soul, and Williamsburg Winery founder Patrick Duffeler is as passionate about caring for the thousands of trees at Wessex Hundred as he is about growing quality grapes. He planted 62,000 trees on the property over the years, which includes 40 acres of woods and 250 acres put into conservation. Identitree asks a series of questions to get you started in your tree identity quest. Many are oaks and loblollies.

You can log the hours you spend outdoors using NatureDose, as ideally your time at Wessex Hundred will encourage you to spend more hours in outside away from urban stresses.

Find meditations, soundscapes and audio-guided experiences based on the natural world at Roots app. During dusk, iPhone users can point their iPhone toward the sky to find stars and constellations using SkyVew Lite.

You’ll find “The Art and Science of Forest Bathing” in Duffeler’s personal library. He’s drawn to how trees communicate with us with their root systems and how the immune system strengthens by spending time among trees. The app Shinrin-yoku – Forest Bathing is one to download upon leaving the winery to recreate all the good things that happen when you become one with your natural surroundings.

The Williamsburg Winery donated $2,088 to the Riverside Foundation late last month to help support preventative screenings and support services for breast cancer patients and their families.

The winery teamed with the Riverside Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Riverside Health System, to create a special label for a limited release of its 2020 Rose. All 348 bottles sold with a portion of the proceeds amounting to $2,088. This is the second consecutive year for the fundraiser, which raised $2,016 last year.

“We are delighted to again support the Riverside Foundation for a cause that touches the lives of so many people who are important to us,” said Patrick Duffeler, founder of the Williamsburg Winery. “We share Riverside’s commitment to the overall health and wellness of our community members.”

Duffeler presented the check to Kristen Witt, Chief Philanthropy Officer with the Riverside Foundation, at the Gabriel Archer Tavern. “We appreciate the Williamsburg Winery helping us fulfill our mission of caring for others as we would care for those we love,” Witt said. “We are grateful for the continued support that makes a difference to those who turn to us for hope and healing.”

The walls of the Susan B. Constant Tasting Room at the Williamsburg Winery reflect the approach of fall and the harvesting season with a new art exhibit that is part of the ongoing Art at Wessex Hundred series.

“Bountiful Harvest” opened Sept. 1 with art on view and for sale until Nov. 30. Visitors are encouraged to browse and purchase the art while enjoying a flight of wine and snacks at the tasting room adjacent to the retail shop.

A “Meet the Artists” after-hours wine and music social is scheduled for Sept. 22 from 6 until 8 p.m.

The Susan Constant Hall Tasting Room is open for wine flights Sunday-Thursday from noon-5:30 p.m., Fridays from noon-6:30 p.m., and Saturdays from 11:00 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Five tasting flight options are available with four different wines apiece. Everyone in the party will receive a souvenir wine glass with the Williamsburg Winery logo as a memento.

The art exhibition showcases the work of 30 local artists working in various media and celebrating a facet of the fall and busy harvest season at the Williamsburg Winery. Art at Wessex Hundred began last spring after Williamsburg Winery founder and art enthusiast Patrick Duffeler coordinated with local artist Mary McCormick and three other volunteers to organize the concept of a rotating exhibit every quarter based on themes of the season as they relate to wine.

Bountiful Harvest replaces the inaugural exhibit in the series titled “New Beginnings.”

The featured artists toured and snapped reference photos of the idyllic surroundings that make up the 400-acre Wessex Hundred farm that is home to the winery, event venues Wessex and Westbury halls, the 1619 Pavilion, the Gabriel Archer Tavern and onsite hotel Wedmore Place.

When Patrick Duffeler drives past the crepe myrtles that line the Wessex Hundred entrance, parks his car and walks any part of the scenic property, he is simply at home. He and his wife, Francoise, live on the farm, where he can walk to the winery and the Gabriel Archer Tavern, greeting customers, many of whom he has known for years. Patrick regularly joins Francoise tending to the details at Wedmore Place, the winery’s onsite hotel, and he is in and out of Wessex and Westbury Halls multiple times a day. His own Black Forest calls him most every weekend.

Forty years ago, none of this was here. Back in the early 1980s, these grounds contained an abandoned farm with two dilapidated houses and a number of downed trees from a recent hurricanes. Vines as thick as a muscular man’s forearm, cypresses with roots sticking out in the brackish water and heaps of trash from junked cars to leftover farming chemicals would have daunted the most ambitious of entrepreneurs.

None of it fazed Patrick, who shared a vision with his then wife, Peggy, whom he lost in 2004. While close friends and family questioned their enthusiasm for opening a winery in southeastern Virginia, Patrick and Peggy went to work creating a European village smack in the middle of Williamsburg.

In reflection, Patrick says, “It turned out better than I imagined.”

Patrick documented the early years of the farm in the winery’s “Inside the Winery” blog and early drawings and photos from that period chronicle its progression.

His memory remains sharp for names and dates, and he likes to draw with pencil to complement the winery’s oral history he knows backward and forward.

Standing just outside the Gabriel Archer Tavern, Patrick returns for a moment to 1982. “I can see the tractors driving through there,” he says, pointing to two oversized Tavern windows and its entrance. The tractor shed with quarters for the winery’s first viticulturist was transformed into a restaurant.

Patrick’s familiarity with every aspect of the winery is unique. Every inch of ground has his footprint. The cover of the most recent annual report shows him beneath a towering tree in the Black Forest, a seemingly endless amount of green space reminiscent of something from Grimm’s fairytales. To anyone else, it would be hard to find the exact tree in that image amid the thousands that are planted close to one another, a seemingly endless canopy. Patrick pulls his golf cart right up to it as if a sign marked its presence.

In the last 40 years, Patrick has been far more than the average founder of a business. He’s an environmentalist committed to conservation and has dedicated more than 200 acres toward that end.  He calls himself “a reasonable mason and wood craftsman,” who built the doors to Wessex Hall and Wedmore Place. He is a historian with curiosity, purposeful in his naming of everything related to the winery, starting with the farm. Wessex Hundred is named in part for Peggy’s Angle-Saxon heritage as she was American, and pays homage to Patrick of Saxon, as he was born in Belgium of a family mostly Germanic in heritage. The use of “Hundred” dates back to the Colonial era to describe parcels of land sufficient to support 100 families.

Patrick has been a grounds man, taming many of the vines himself while donned in military fatigues, a helmet and tool belt. He’s been a curator, collecting the antiques, tapestries, art work and period pieces displayed throughout the winery’s buildings. He enjoys the marketing and financial side of the business in addition to every aspect that leads to growing grapes, nurturing them and harvesting them to produce a quality wine.

It’s been four decades of milestones. Patrick and Peggy first laid eyes on this farm in January 1982, one of the 52 estates they evaluated for their ambitious venture. They purchased it in 1983 and opened the winery in 1985. The first harvest was celebrated in 1987 and the first wine, Governor’s White, launched in February 1988. The winery’s Chardonnay achieved the Governor’s Cup in 1989. Westbury Hall was built in 2001 and was renovated in 2016. Larger Wessex Hall dates back to 2000. Wedmore Place was completed by 2007.

Credit Wessex Hundred for putting Virginia wine on the map. Patrick appreciates the recognition, the awards and distinctions the winery has earned. But seeing people enjoy the grounds, whether for a once-in-a-lifetime event, such as a wedding on the lawn or connecting for casual conversation at the 1619 Pavilion, brings that smile. It’s one that lights up his entire face, an unmistakable twinkle in his eyes, when he extends a warm, welcoming hand.

But make no mistake. While Patrick savors what is, he very much has an eye on what could be, what should be, and if you know him, what will be.

“Lots of improvements to make,” he says, preparing for an afternoon meeting that will address many of them.

Indeed, 40 years of Wessex Hundred inspire him for 40 more.

Patrick Duffeler’s passion for green space makes it only natural that among the 420 acres that is home to the Williamsburg Winery, visitors will find a nature trail far from the madding crowd.

The only unnatural part? The name. A sign on Jockey’s Neck Road welcomes all to the “Patrick G. Duffeler Nature Trail,” and no, the founder of Williamsburg’s most storied winery did not stake it there.

“I only call it the nature trail,” he said.

An aside — nothing at the winery bears Duffeler’s name. He’s preferred to honor English and American history in the purposeful naming of the buildings and rooms that make up what resembles a European village — for example, the Gabriel Archer Tavern, Wedmore Place, Wessex Hall, Westbury Hall and 1619 Pavilion to list a few.

The picturesque nature trail lies deep into the southside of the property, nestled into Duffeler’s own Black Forest, which contains many of the 62,000 trees he planted on the Wessex Hundred farm. That includes 37 acres of loblolly pines from a 1989 planting. All have grown to immense stature and an upward gaze at the canopy is breathtaking.

Duffeler likes to share a photo of himself “the drawf” underneath a massive oak tree that towers over him. His respect for nature and conservation ranks just as high as his dedication to the business of planting vineyards and making wine.

Back in the ’80s when the farm was purchased, Duffeler recalls debris and old cars piled up in many of the ravines that you’ll pass when walking along the nature trail.

“I used a back hoe to remove a ’57 Ford, which I gave away,” he said. “The last thing I had time to focus on was old cars.”

The nature trail follows the contour of three ravines, the middle one shorter than the others. The ravines merge and follow the path into an even stronger ravine. A walk along the unspoiled path of roughly a mile and a half offers a retreat from the noise that surrounds daily life. You might see a turtle, but you’ll definitely hear the birds and the sounds that stem from a gentle breeze and your own footsteps making their way forward.

Nearby Jockey’s Ridge leases the nature trail for its visitors to enjoy. The intent for the future is to keep the nature trail maintained as it should be. “In other words, green space,” Duffeler stressed. “There are many portions of it that are phenomenally beautiful.”

In his commitment to do things the right way, Duffeler designed the nature trail to prevent erosion. Vibrant fern grown along the nature trail represent another point of pride. These unique land plants only grow in outstanding soil. “You can’t find fern on eroded or damaged soil,” Duffeler said.

Healthy soil is essential for producing high-quality grapes, the kind that bear the best fruit that go into the wines that ultimately bear the name of the Williamsburg Winery.

The Gabriel Archer Tavern at the Williamsburg Winery has been recognized as one of the best winery restaurants in the nation, according to USA TODAY.

The Tavern was selected as part of the 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for 2022. A panel of travel experts and 10Best editors originally came up with a list of 20 restaurants that was pared down to 10 finalists based on popular vote.

Williamsburg Winery founder Patrick Duffeler appreciates the recognition, noting, “It speaks to the quality of the service. It speaks to the quality of the food, and it speaks to the ambiance at the Gabriel Archer Tavern.”

The winery’s French-inspired eatery serves lunch on weekdays and Saturdays, dinner on Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday brunch. The farm-to-table creations on the menu include Big Island Aquaculture Oysters, a Wessex Hundred Spinach Salad and the popular Turkey & Brie Sandwich, distinctive thanks to the Lingonberry preserves and house-roasted turkey brined for a week. Dinner main courses range from a Summer Seafood Pasta to Herb Marinated Hanger Steak to Summer Street Corn Gnocchi. Virginia Peanut Pie is among several dessert options.

Guests can enjoy their meals indoors or outside underneath the canopy of wisteria that allows sun rays to peek through during the day. The Tavern also hosts several special wine dinners during the year.

The Tavern opened in 1996 with a small menu of tapas and a selection of wine. It expanded in 2004 with additional kitchen space and a vineyard room that brings the outdoors in. Originally the Tavern was a tractor shed that Duffeler had a hand in constructing in 1987. It housed equipment and an upstairs apartment was home to the winery’s first viticultural manager. It later became a bonding area before modifications were made to transform it into a restaurant.

The Tavern is named for Archer, one of Jamestown’s most significant early leaders and co-captain of the Godspeed, the lead ship among three vessels that brought the men who founded the first permanent settlement in the New World. Archer envisioned calling the early settlement Archer’s Hope with a location at the mouth of College Creek on land that the winery occupies today. He was overruled by Capt. John Smith who chose Jamestown Island. Inspired by Archer, Duffeler named the restaurant in his honor and called the winery’s inaugural reserve wine the Gabriel Archer Reserve. Make reservations at the Gabriel Archer Tavern by calling 757-564-8869 or online at opentable.com/gabriel-archer-tavern.

The decision to plant vineyards and start a winery at Wessex Hundred was met with plenty of skepticism back in the ’80s when Patrick and Peggy Duffeler started their new life in Virginia.

chardonnay vineyards at Williamsburg Winery

Yet growing grapes in the Commonwealth dates back more than 400 years with the passage of Acte 12 by the House of Burgesses in 1619, which required every landowner to plant 10 grapevines in the name of King James. As a steward of Virginia wine history, Patrick Duffeler is passionate about preserving and promoting that pioneering spirit that is often forgotten with so much emphasis reserved for Thomas Jefferson’s early attempts to grow grapes at Monticello.

While Jefferson is the most beloved oenophile, the roots of Virginia wine date back well before his time when the first legislative assembly of the New World passed Acte 12. England’s cold and wet climate made grape growing impractical there. But the emergence of the first English settlement in the New World coupled with Brits’ ongoing war with traditional wine sources France and Spain, prompted the new law.

Of course, those attempts at creating a new avenue for wine were futile as were Jefferson’s efforts nearly 200 years later.

Acte 12 Chardonnay Williamsburg Winery

While the first grapes were planted in 1609 on the land that makes up Wessex Hundred today, it took until 1985, the year the Williamsburg Winery planted its first trial vineyard, for Virginia to be recognized for its potential to become a significant grape growing region.

That brings us to the Williamsburg Winery’s Acte 12 Chardonnay.

This wine, aged in both stainless steel and oak, is packed with layers of plum, red apples, strawberry, cherry, rhubarb, a layer of creamy vanilla and a touch of lemon curd.

Each nuanced flavor beautifully balances on the palate with a bright and yet creamy finish that lingers for a while. 

Order today online from the retail shop or on a seasonable day, enjoy a bottle sitting in the 1619 Pavilion, which opened in 2019 to mark the 400th anniversary of Acte 12.

Whether the real Mona Lisa hangs in the Louvre remains a subject of debate 500 years after Leonardo da Vinci’s painting of one of the most recognizable faces in the world.

Williamsburg Winery founder Patrick Duffeler is ready to settle the matter once and for all. The Mona Lisa hangs inside the Williamsburg Winery, and you’ll never believe it. She’s sipping a glass of wine from a Williamsburg Winery goblet.

A spotlight shines on the intriguing painting that hangs in Wessex Hall.

Duffeler won’t disclose any details about the artist, except for her infectious sense of humor. Like a lot about the painting, that remains secret.

More than 500 years after it was painted, the Mona Lisa remains among the most iconic pieces of Western art, and many aren’t convinced it was actually Leonardo da Vinci who painted it. One theory suggests it was the work of one of his master apprentices, Francesco Melzi, while others believe da Vinci’s rumored lover, Andrea Salaì, is the artist behind the Mona Lisa. While initially Salaì’s Mona Lisa was thought to be a pure copy, by using chemical analysis and infrared imaging, experts discovered a background landscape similar to the original Mona Lisa.

History suggests the master worked alongside his pupils painting the Mona Lisa, believed to be Lisa Gherardini, wife of the Florentine cloth merchant Francesco del Giocondo.

Yet the larger debate centers around her bewitching smile.

“What’s special about the Mona Lisa is the lack of assurance people have about what her thoughts are,” Duffeler says. “They don’t really know what’s she’s thinking.”

Or in this case why she’s drinking the winery’s Raspberry Merlot, the popular dessert wine that showcases the brightness of raspberries with the subtle nuances of Merlot. Did she just enjoy dinner at the Gabriel Archer Tavern? Or did a springtime stroll among the peaceful trees that surround the Wessex Hundred farm put her in the mood for the sweet red wine?

“I would be guessing like everybody else who interprets paintings,” Duffeler says with a playful shrug before adding, “We might not be as popular as the Louvre. But we have a real Mona Lisa.” Come enjoy the painting along with fresh air and the best of Virginia wine at the Williamsburg Winery.

Engagements. Weddings. Birthday parties. Anniversaries. Galas.

Leah Robertson makes sure those milestones are magical when celebrated at the Williamsburg Winery. The transplanted Floridian joined the winery four years ago as its Wedding Sales & Contract Manager.

“I get to witness those fun moments on a weekly basis,” says Robertson, whose “office” is often elegant Wessex Hall, understated Westbury Hall or the lovely lawn at Wessex Hundred. “It’s nice to be part of a small, family-owned business that’s not part of a large corporation. It’s a beautiful property.”

Robertson followed a far different path in college as a criminology major. She initially coordinated events for an inpatient/outpatient substance abuse program in Florida before relocating to Virginia. What appealed to her most was the logistical planning side of that job.

“I like juggling a lot of balls,” Robertson says. “You have to be one step ahead and problem solve in a pinch.”

Like the time everything was perfect about the wedding corsages, only one of the women in the party had a dress with material that wouldn’t allow for a pin.

“I found a spare rubber band and turned it into a wrist corsage,” Robertson says. “Things that no one else often thinks about come naturally to me. Weddings can be 15-hour days and at the end you’re exhausted but you’re so busy moving, it doesn’t feel like work. It’s fun.”

She strives to make brides feel relaxed throughout and reassures them that it’s OK to make the day their own in every sense. “I tell them, ‘It’s your wedding. It’s your day. If you want to serve mac and cheese on your day, go for it!’” Robertson says.

In her free time, Roberson and her husband are typically at swim meets as both of their daughters excel at competition.

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