Located on a 225 acre farm in Fauquier County, Granite Heights Winery specializes in small batch wine production, honey from the farm’s own beehives and exceptional jams from its’ orchard. Owners Luke and Toni Kilyk believe that their homegrown products and handcrafted wines reflect the personal care and devotion they have put into the winery every step of the way.

The Kilyks, each of whom has a full time profession, are not only the owners, they are also the winemakers and do most of the vineyard and farm work themselves. According to Toni, “You would be amazed at what two people can accomplish when they are in love with what they do.”

With the help of renowned viticulturist Lucie Morton and the philosophy that great wine is grown in the vineyard, the Kilyks have developed a vineyard tailored to the production of high quality wines. The winery has 10 acres of high density plantings with 2000 vines per acre, including Chardonnay, Barbera, Petit Verdot, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Vermentino. What distinguishes Granite Heights is the effort the owners put into choosing the type of vines (French clones) to plant, the planting system to use and the high end grape/wine processing equipment they chose. The determination to put quality ahead of everything else has allowed them to make the exceptional wines they have been producing since 2008.

The Granite Heights Tasting Room is in a 100-year old farmhouse that has the original, gorgeous heart of pine floors and a large porch overlooking a tranquil pond with a view of the vineyards beyond. Each room in the farmhouse has been decorated with a particular theme in mind, great for small private parties.

Granite Heights estate wines include 2010 and 201l GH Humility and 2010 Barbelo, which have received favorable reviews by wine critics. On the honey front, the Kilyks personally tend the beehives and harvest the honey in July and August. They also pick the fruit from the orchard and prepare and bottle the jam.

There is no doubt about the Kilyks’ commitment to the success of their winery. They have invested a tremendous amount of time, effort and expense . . . and it shows. Plan to visit Granite Heights and see for yourself this fine example of a Virginia farm winery.   It is open to the public on weekends from 12 noon to 5 pm, April through the first weekend in December.

Granite Heights Winery
8141 Opal Road
Warrenton, VA 20186                                                                             www.graniteheightsorchard.com

Written by: Frank Britt
Publisher Official Virginia Wine Lover e-Newsletter “THE Source for Virginia’s Wine news.”www.vawinelover.com (Complimentary to OTC readers).