by Lisa Hinton-Valdrighi –
After laying dormant for a couple of years, the tasting room and vineyard at the former Athena Vineyards and Winery near Burgess are busy and productive again.
Triple V Farms Vineyard and Winery, 3138 Jessie Ball duPont Memorial Highway, Heathsville, held its grand opening August 22.
A few weeks ago, a visit to the farm found new owners Marti Moyer and Craig Allshouse busy remodeling the 1,100-square-foot tasting room and getting ready for the fall harvest.
The couple bought the vineyard a little over two years ago when they moved to Northumberland County permanently. Moyer has remotely managed rental properties in the lower Northern Neck for over 20 years. She was at the bank discussing more rental purchase options when someone suggested she and Allshouse purchase the winery.
“We looked at it and basically said, ‘why not,’” said Moyer.
Allshouse had always wanted to own a distillery, she said. So the couple decided to add vodka to their production plans.
She said the addition of vinegar started as a joke.
“We said. ‘What if people don’t like the wine, we can make vinegar’.” And so was born the name ‘Triple V Farms,’ which stands for vines, vodka and vinegar.
Production and sale of the grape-based vodka should start by November. Eventually, flavored vinegars will also be made on-site. For now, Triple V offers a variety of wines for tasting and purchase, including five reds, five whites and two specialty wines.
The farm also will produce a moonshine and grappa.
Triple V Farms opened for wine tastings on July 4, and have been offering tastings under a tent and on the tasting room porch on Fridays and Saturdays since then, while renovations were underway.
The former owners had about 20 different varieties of grapes on 11 acres—but while the winery was unused, about 30% of the grapes were lost, said Moyer. Allshouse said 20 varieties were too many. There are now about 12 varieties on 14 acres.
The couple hope to also offer fresh produce and grab-n-go seafood in the tasting room.
There are permitting processes to deal with relating to the food sales and the sale of the vodka, said Moyer.
“The pandemic has made everything weird, not to mention trying to open this in the middle of it. It’s been a challenge,” said Moyer.
