Early Mountain Vineyards
Early Mountain’s approach to crafting exceptional wines is based on our deep understanding of Virginia’s unique terroir. In the cellar, they exercise restraint, including relying on native yeast for fermentation, so that each wine we produce is a compelling expression of the vineyard and the vintage. The two estate vineyards reveal the diversity of Virginia’s terroir and provide the foundation for Early Mountain’s outstanding wines.
The Early Mountain Vineyard stretches across rolling hills of clay loam soil, making it especially well-suited for vibrant expressions of Sauvignon Blanc and Petit Manseng. The Quaker Run Vineyard rises dramatically on the steep eastern slope of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Shaped by an ancient landslide, its rocky, well-draining soils lead to smaller grapes with remarkable concentration. It’s from this site that we craft our most compelling red wines, including the bold, age-worthy blends RISE and Eluvium.
Meet the winemaker:
Maya Hood White
With an excitement for environmentally low-impact viticulture, wine chemistry and sensory, Maya manages the vineyards at Early Mountain and leads wine production in the cellar. Born in California, Maya has found a new love of wine in central Virginia. She earned an M.S. in Viticulture and Enology from U.C. Davis, with her research focusing on time-dependent sensory profiles and bubble nucleation of sparkling wine, as well as studies of Viognier wines from France, California and Virginia. She gained previous experience at several local boutique wineries around the state. Before getting into wine, Maya studied mathematics and engineering.