Veramar Vineyard takes a generational approach to farming the land and maintaining the environment. Our goal is to ensure that the land remains healthy and productive for generations to come. Veramar has worked hard, and will continually strive, to become recognized as not only a pioneer of vinifera grape growing in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, but also one of the leaders in sustainable grape growing in the state. Some of the winery's current sustainability practices include reducing soil erosion through the planting of beneficial cover crops, safe, controlled spraying using soft pesticides (such as biodegradable oils, soaps, and plant extracts) and conducting and participating in ongoing research on environmentally-friendly methods of pest control.
The proximity of the Shenandoah River, orientation of numerous canyons and valleys, and varying elevations produce many different distinct microclimates in the Shenandoah Valley AVA. The area benefits from the largest swing between high daytime and low nighttime temperatures of any region in Virginia as a result of the cool air that flows east through the Blue Ridge Mountains near Mount Weather and south through the Shenandoah Valley. The region’s summer is characterized by warm, clear days, generally unencumbered by clouds, fog or severe winds. Daytime high temperatures in the summer typically fall between 85 and 105 degrees Fahrenheit, but nighttime low temperatures usually can drop to 73 degrees, cooled by a our thermal belt and the proximity to the river. This diurnal fluctuation is considered a key by winemakers and wine grape growers to attain the intense varietal character displayed in wine grapes from the area.
We subscribe to the philosophy that “balanced vines make the best wine”, therefore everything done in the vineyard is done to promote vine balance. Farming with a goal of long term sustainability and overall vine health, we consider good land stewardship to be the foundation for achieving this balance. By using sustainable vineyard practices such as shoot positioning and leaf pulling, combined with the latest weather station and soil moisture technology, our team is able to make decisions that promote vineyard health and overall wine quality.