Our Charlottesville property is on the West side of Carters Mountain Ridge, where apples and pears have flourished for centuries. In addition to our traditional wines, we have embraced Virginia’s apple heritage with our White Blend, made entirely from apples and pears. Notes of honey, fig, and vanilla are pronounced on the nose and palette. It is deliciously smooth and drinkable. The White Blend has been a consistent Virginia Governor’s Cup medalist since our first harvest in 2018. We also make a very popular Apple Pear Prohibition Cider, which is available on tap in The Barn at the winery.

We have over ten acres of vineyards growing Viognier, Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon in Albemarle and Nelson counties. Eastwood is committed to supporting local farmers and expanding vineyard plantings across Virginia. Our biggest vineyard partner, Silver Creek Orchards and Vineyards, also has a rich agricultural history. Like Eastwood, they are women-owned and operated. Ruth Saunders is a 7th generation farmer. We first met Ruth and some of her sisters who run other aspects of the business in 2016 when we were looking for someone to help crush apples from the Eastwood orchard. We were intrigued by their story. Her great-grandfather, John Morton, started the farm as a hobby in the 1800s and, along with his business partner, built their original packing house and cold storage facility. Ruth’s grandmother managed that original facility. After graduating from college and working in the corporate world for a few years, Ruth and her husband, John Saunders, returned to work for the family farm in the early 1900’s. They planted their first stock of wine grapes in 1999 and have expanded the vineyard almost every year since. The Virginia Vineyards Association named Ruth Saunders the 2017 Grower of the Year.