Sugarleaf Vineyard’s Cinderella moment

L.E. Andres / Charlottesville Daily Progress
Published: August 28, 2007

SLIDESHOW: See more photos of Sugarleaf Vineyards

Sugarleaf Vineyards is having a Cinderella moment.

What was once a glorified hayfield sitting on 126 acres of the Horseshoe Estate in North Garden is being transformed into an award-winning boutique vineyard of more than 2,000 vines.

Waving the magic wands (and doing the hard work) are owners Lauren and Jerry Bias, winemaker and vineyard manager Daniel Neumeister and Romulus Pascal, the assistant vineyard manager.

"We never watch TV out here," Jerry Bias said of the relaxed atmosphere. It's a welcome lethargy after the frenetic tempo of New York City, where the couple and their two sons live primarily.

What the Biases do pay attention to are the leaves on the vines, climate variations, soil composition, insect activity and shipping details.

"My husband and I are really big on getting it right," Lauren Bias said.

To get it right, they've utilized the expertise of Gabrielle Rausse, the University of Virginia and Oakencroft Vineyard and Winery.

UVa has been drawing the couple to the area since Jerry Bias graduated from the university in 1990. He has been an active alumnus ever since, returning to Virginia for various board meetings and related events.

The partnership

Jerry Bias works to understand the hands-in-the-dirt aspects of a vineyard, and he can point to the 216 vines he planted himself.

"The science of this is really important to us," Jerry Bias said.

Lauren Bias oversees the aesthetic elements and a pile

of paperwork that covers everything from shipping deadlines and licensing applications to trademark forms and marketing outreach.

The wine

The Biases began collecting California wines years ago, and often visit Italy. They know the good stuff.

"We aspire for our wines to be like that," Lauren Bias said.

"We really, really focus on the fruit," Jerry Bias said of the vineyard's priorities.

He describes the 2006 Vidal Blanc, a silver winner in the third annual Atlantic Seaboard Wine Competition, as reminiscent of "that morning walk in the woods."

Sugarleaf also won silver for its 2006 Viognier and took home a bronze medal with its 2006 Chardonnay.

With jewels like that, this princess's ride won't turn into a pumpkin anytime soon.

The nitty gritty

Sugarleaf Vineyards is at 3613 Walnut Branch Lane in North Garden. It is open for tours, tastings and private events by appointment only.

The vineyard sells Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Chardonnay, Vidal Blanc and Viognier. The bottles sell for between $23 and $30.

Sugarleaf also is part of the Monticello Wine Trail.

For details, call 984-4272 or log on to http://www.sugar

leafvineyards.com.

What's Next

Sugarleaf will hold an open house from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Other open houses will be held during the same hours Sept. 22 and 23 and Oct. 6 and 7. Appointments are not necessary during these events.