Too often passion is confused with excitement. Passion is significantly deeper and richer than mere excitement. This long burning passion is evident in the relaxed, understated wines and tasting room of Kilaurwen Winery. Located about 35 minutes North of Charlottesville, Kilaurwen is a small intergenerational winery with hand crafted vintages of distinction. The winery is about eight miles from the Shenandoah National Park. The proximity of the park can create some wildlife challenges for the vineyards including the often grape hungry turkey, deer and bear. Bob and Doriene Steeves had been traveling the U.S.29 corridor for many years as their three daughters attended Mr. Jefferson’s University of Virginia. Their interest in growing wine was piqued when Bob saw a typewritten newsletter ad for a seventy acre Greene County farm with a small vineyard. The transaction closed within two weeks of his spotting the ad. In 1994, the Steeves became Virginia vineyard owners. For sixteen years, Bob and Doriene worked the vineyards and provided fruit to many award winning wines including Governor’s Cup Gold Medalist Stone Mountain Vineyards. The vineyards have expanded since 1994 now totaling ten acres under vine. Planted to Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Riesling, plans are now being considered to add Vidal, Chambourcin and Malbec. At the suggestion of many, including their winery clients, Bob and Doriene opened Kilaurwen in 2010. The winery name is an amalgamation of the names of the daughters all of which are still involved in the winery operations. Many do not realize the amount of work (pruning, hedging, leaf pulling, spraying etc) that is involved in growing high quality fruit. Perhaps the most labor intensive months of the wine growing year is harvest. Early ripening fruit starts to come in late August with the bulk of the varietals maturing…