A new winery is on the horizon in Fauquier County. Ovoka Farm, known for its hand-raised F1 wagyu beef, is adding a winery to its operation. The farm currently offers farm tours, stays, tastings, and now the winery is the next piece of the puzzle.
Winery experiences will be reservation-only at first, and will kick off over Mother’s Day weekend on Saturday, May 10.
“We want to offer more than just a space for people to come and drink wine, and offer more of an experience,” Mel Freshwater, Director of Agritourism + Operations at Ovoka Farms, said. “The reservations are going to be more like, you book to come see the farm, hear about it, and enjoy the wine.”
The reservation page isn’t live yet, but it’s expected to launch sometime in March. In the meantime, sign up for their email list for updates. We’ll also be sure to update you when it’s live.
If you want to be among the first to try their inaugural wine, you can get your tickets here for an exclusive introductory event on Saturday, March 21. The first bottling took place in February: a red blend called Gap Run Red, aptly named after the road on which the farm sits.
“It’s crafted to pair with our beef,” Freshwater explained. “It’s going to be the first of three reds this year… we will primarily be focusing on reds at first.” Specifically, you can expect a merlot, a cabernet sauvignon, and a cabernet franc blend to kick production off.
While the property does not yet have its own vines, they plan to add some as they move forward with the winery. They currently source their grapes from Virginia vineyards.
“We are sourcing our grapes locally from Rappahannock County,” Freshwater said, “and we’re working with an awesome winemaker. His name is Kendall Anderson, and he’s an accomplished local winemaker.”
With a deep history, this property in Paris, Virginia, has roots dating back to the 1700s. The winemaking takes place in a renovated barn, and the tasting room is set up in the historic manor home on the farm.
