Get To Know Cooper Vineyards

Cooper Vineyards: open daily from 11am-5pm.

Located midway between Richmond and Charlottesville in Louisa County, Cooper Vineyards is nestled amongst rolling hills in a traditional farming community. The goal of the winery founders and current owners, Jeff Cooper and Jacque Hogge, was to create small lots of unique wines that expressed varietal character and would be recognized as quality wines. Cooper Vineyards was licensed as the 53rd Virginia Farm Winery in July of 1999. The first vineyard block of 2 acres was planted with Chardonnay, Vidal Blanc and Norton in the spring of 1999. The original farm covered 36 acres with two natural springs and a pond from which the grapes were irrigated. Over the years, Cooper Vineyards land holdings have increased from 36 to 150 acres. Ten different varietals are planted over 15 acres. Vineyard Manager since spring 2008, Michael Boone tends to 15 acres arranged in 4 blocks, which include additional Norton, Vidal Blanc, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Chardonel, Viognier and Petit Verdot. Cooper Vineyards goal is to achieve quality fruit in the vineyard that will produce world-class Virginia wines.

With an original production of 250 cases in 1999, Cooper Vineyards now bottles approximately 6000 cases per year with over a dozen wines poured for guests visiting the tasting room. The owners like to describe their winemaker, Graham Bell, as “a true artist of wine.” Graham, Cooper Vineyards’ winemaker since 2002, hand crafts all of the wines from 100% Virginia grapes with approximately half of the grapes used in winemaking estate grown. Graham is able to create a number of distinctive wines that appeal to widely varying tastes, which include Cooper Vineyards nationally acclaimed Norton Reserve and Noche, our almost cult status chocolate infused dessert wine. In keeping with “green” practices, nearly all of Cooper Vineyards wine barrels are constructed from Virginia Oak.

In April 2011, Cooper Vineyards was proud to announce the grand opening of its new “green” tasting room and event facility with an official ribbon cutting assisted by First Lady of Virginia, Maureen McDonnell. LEED certification of the new building is pending with either Gold or Platinum (the highest level) anticipated. Cooper Vineyards new facility includes a spacious tasting room with a 35 foot long curved custom concrete tasting bar and wood pellet fireplace, a large covered deck with wonderful views of the existing vineyards and pond, a private tasting room and deck for parties for up to 25 guests as well as a tented 40 x 60 wedding / event pad.

Special on-site events at Cooper Vineyards include Mardi Gras, Norton Vertical Tasting, MINI-Cooper Rally, Lucy’s Weekend, Jazz & Chocolate and Heart of Virginia Wine Trail events.

At Charlottesville Love and Virginia Wine Life, we love to feature and enjoy all the fantastic Virginia wineries and vineyards. Let us know if you would like to be featured by emailing us at: Contact@CharlottesvilleLove.com. Cheers!