@aftonmountainvineyards

Damien Blanchon was born and raised in the South of France where his family had roots in the Beaujolais Village region of Burgundy. He grew up with wine in his family and when he was 8  years-old he already knew this what he wanted to do--drive a tractor in the vines and be a winegrower.  He would go to school to learn the craft of winemaking and recalls a teacher tell him when he was finishing to gain his degree in Viticulture & Enology that he English would be the most important language he could learn and so he pursued an internship in the U.S.

He was fortunate to answer an announcement placed by Matthieu Finot another French winemaker who was working in Virginia and took a position at Old House Vineyards in Culpeper, Va.  He would be at Old House for 5 years before being recruited by Elizabeth & Tony Smith the new owners of Afton Mountain Vineyards.  He would join them in 2011 and has been the winemaker and vineyard manager since.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE INTERVIEW:

a). Damien recounts when he was young his grandfather would test him early by giving him a bottle of wine that had been tainted by the cork to see if he detected it.  He did.
b). He describes how a teacher of his told him that English would be the most important language he could learn.  This promoted him to take an internship in Virginia.
c). Damien talks about his unique approach to vineyard management.  He brews his own concoction of different herbs, and organic teas which he uses to spray the vines in lieu of using large amounts of pesticides and other inorganic sprays that are normally used to fight diseases in the vineyard.\
d). I was surprised that no research university or organization involved in grape growing had even contacted Damien to learn more about his methods and the results. 
e). Damien shares he thoughts on Beaujolais and admits his favorite "Cru" was Mont Brouilly.\
f). Damien speaks about how his Uncle was very involved in the 70's conducting trials for the viticulture department of Beaujolais changing various trellis system inspiring him.

Much, Much more.  Listen to the Audio posted below or read the attached text transcript. 

AFton Mountain Vineyards was one of the first of the early farm wineries in Virginia when it was planted in 1978 by David Medford a Chemist from Richmond, Virginia.  However, he named it Bacchanal Vineyards after the Greek god Bacchus.  It would be purchase later by Tom & Shinko Corpora and renamed Afton Mountain Vineyards in 1987.

In 2009 Elizabeth & Tony Smith would purchase it.  Elizabeth and Tony were both from Charlottesville, had been married at the Chapel on the campus of UVA and wanted to return to the area after spending several years raising a family in coastal Virginia.

Since their purchase they have doubled the acres under vine and currently farm 11 different varietals on 26 acres. They have a full working farm as well.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE INTERVIEW:

a).  They share with me the fact that they had several potential sites already that they owned but after consulting with Chris Hill about planting a vineyard they quickly realized those sites won't work.
b).  I learn how they would discover Afton Mountain vineyards and when they purchased it in April of 2009, believing they had a winemaker lined-up they moved forward.  Only to find that it didn't work out and Tony Smith found himself now the winemaker.  Under the tutelage of Michael Shaps for the next several years he filled that role.
c). in 2011 they were fortunate to recruit Damien Blanchot and he has been the winemaker ever since.
d). It was intriguing to learn about the innovative techniques Damien uses to cut back on pesticides and other spray in the vineyard in favor of brewing his own concoctions of herbs and teas to treat the wines.
e). It was exciting to learn how they managed to purchase the Historic Brand label of The Monticello Wine Company which was established in late 1800's.  
f). some of the original vines which were planted in 1978 still produce today.  Possibly some of the oldest vinifera vines in Virginia.  Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir.

Much, much more.  Listen to the Episode below or read the transcript.