Day four of Wine Week takes us to Bedford County where a dream for two people has grown into a successful business – so successful that the wine made at Briar Valley was used for an event at the President’s Guest House to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Blair House.
Jean Manspeaker, co-owner and wine maker for Briar Valley, is just one of a few female wine makers along the East Coast.
“I thought, if I am going to put my time, energy, effort, money into doing this winery, then I would really want to grow the wine that we like, and grow well in this area, and that was our niche,” she said.
Briar Valley Vineyard and Winery, which the Manspeakers established in the early 2000’s is know for their dry and vinifera selections, which are classic European wines.
“Everybody has a wine preference but that is ours and that makes us unique,” Manspeaker said. “We don’t do sweet fruit wines, we don’t do sweet wines, we don’t do natives or hybrids,” she added.
The dream started years ago for Manspeaker, and her husband Tod.
“After being in the industry and going through pruning and making the wine, it really makes us appreciate a bottle of wine,” Tod said.
But that hard work has paid off, quickly grown into a thriving business with a tasting room located right downtown in Bedford along Pitt Street .
If you want to try the wines made by Briar Valley, you can do so by visiting the tasting room, or ordering a glass at select restaurants.
The tasting room also has several upcoming events. For more information, click here.