8 Chains North Winery

What do you do when Mother Nature gifts you an uncharacteristically warm spring day? Wine tasting of course! As we made our way to 8 Chains North Winery in Loudoun County, VA, we were excited to have a glass of vino out in the sunshine. Little did we know that a glass would quickly lead to a bottle (or two!) when 8 Chains North truly hit the mark. Between the friendly staff, large tasting room, outdoor lounging furniture, and live music, it’s easy to see how one can park themselves in the yard for hours, sipping fine wine.

Upon arriving to the tasting room, we were overcome by a sense of comfort. Perhaps it was the warm colors, the rustic décor, or simply the friendly greeting that we received from John, our host for the day. While the room was busy, it was strategically arranged to accommodate a fair number of guests without feeling overwhelming.

While John grabbed our glasses for our tasting, he explained the origin of the name. A chain is a unit of measurement (66 ft.) And in 1785, the government mandated that all surveys be conducted using this unit. During the Civil War, Confederate engineers crossed the Potomac River from VA into MD at White’s Ford, where the winery’s first vines were planted 1.8 chains upriver on Furnace Mountain. The vineyard founder decided to drop the “1”, and was left with 8 Chains North, hence the name.

In addition to Furnace Mountain, there’s also vines in the towns, Waterford and Shoemaker School. The first vines were planted back in 2006, and you’ll still find the owner, Ben, in the vines year-round. If he’s not tending to grapes, he’s probably out helping a neighbor vineyard, sharing his knowledge of everything from wine making to management skills. It’s refreshing to hear about Ben’s participation in the community, a contagious trait that his staff exhibits as well. As soon as we have a sip of wine, it’s apparent why others seek his advice. The wine is phenomenal.

8 Chains makes their wines from local grapes, as well as grapes shipped in from Washington state. Back in 2014, NOVA experienced a terrible winter that absolutely crushed the grapes (and not in a good way). During a trip to the west coast, Ben found amazing Chardonnay, Tempranillo, Cab Sauv, and Syrah grapes, and decided to ship them across the country. The wine was a hit, and Ben decided to continue the shipments, most recently including Mourvèdre grapes. Each year after harvesting, Ben ships the grapes in a refrigerated truck, and processes them once they arrive in VA. Historically, the VA and WA grapes have been kept separate (hint: the WA grapes have “west” in their wine’s name). However, last fall, the Cross-Country Red was created, which combined grapes from the two states.

All their wines are dry, with residual sugar of .03% or less. The Loco is the crowd pleaser, a white blend that is easy drinking, especially in the summertime. This wine is a compromise for folks that prefer a semi-sweet wine. We, on the other hand, love a bold red. We couldn’t keep our hands off the Tempranillo and Cab Sauv and ended up buying a (decently priced!) bottle of each. Another popular favorite is the Furnace Mountain Red – a blend of local reds (Merlot, Cab Franc, and Petit Verdot) that are aged for 12 months in separate barrels, and then blended, and aged for another 10 – 12 months. Side note: For those of you with a sweet tooth, you will be excited to find out that your tasting can also be paired with local chocolate!

Following our tasting, we opted to open a bottle of Mourvèdre to share and headed out back. The first thing we noticed was the beautiful view of the vines. Then, we were immediately distracted by the ample number of puppies! One of the greatest features of 8 Chains might be the dog-friendly experience. They even have a dog park out back so your furbaby can enjoy the afternoon frolicking with new friends. Their love for dogs doesn’t stop there – they also feature dogs in charity events, with proceeds going to a local dog rescue.

We ended up joining friends on the patio and chatting it up for hours (through multiple bottles of wine, of course). It’s easy to lose track of time in the comfortable atmosphere – especially on Saturday/Sunday afternoons when there is live music. If you’re local, you definitely should consider becoming a wine club member. You will gain access to awesome events, such as a girl scout cookie pairing, a wild game dinner and wine pairing, and blending parties! If you make the best blend, Ben could even mass produce it, like he did the Hot Donkey and Cool Mule. In summary, it’s easy to see that 8 Chains North could easily become our weekend spot. We can’t wait to check back in and see what Ben has in store for us next!