Spring Warming: Winemakers and Entrepreneurs Open Up in Hampton Roads

As spring approaches, winemakers in Hampton Roads are opening their tasting rooms to welcome visitors. AmRhein’s Wine Cellars in Bent Mountain announced that its tasting room will open on April 6th, while Villa Appalaccia Winery in Patrick County opened its tasting room on March 15th and exceeded expectations. Co-owner Julie Block stated that they set records and noted that people are eager to get back out and enjoy wine tasting experiences once again. However, Stanburn Winery in Stuart revealed on social media that it will be closing after the upcoming season.

Meanwhile, Food Lion stores in Hampton Roads will soon carry a bottled red sauce created by Tahjere Lewis, a Virginia Tech graduate. Lewis turned a family recipe into a commercially available product called Aunt Carol’s Sauce and is only 24 years old and resides in Hampton Roads. Food Lion is one of the largest retailers to agree to carry Lewis’s product, marking a significant milestone for his entrepreneurship journey.

These developments indicate a positive outlook for local entrepreneurs and businesses in Hampton Roads and beyond as both the food and wine industries seem to be thriving in the region with new products like Aunt Carol’s Sauce hitting store shelves and wineries welcoming guests back for tastings and tours.