The Goodstone Inn and Restaurant, just outside Middleburg on Snake Hill Road is a hidden gem - a country hotel with a fabulous restaurant and excellent Sommelier. Here's his story.

Peter Leonard-Morgan was delighted to sit down in early March 2020 to interview Nancy Deliso, Marketing Director at 868 Estate Vineyards, following their overall win in the 2020 Virginia Governor's Cup.

Article courtesy Country Zest & Style - Fall 2019 inaugural edition

At the ripe old age of nine, Yianni (John) Zissios began learning the age old art of wine making during visits to his grandfather in Greece, the land of his forefathers. Today, decades later, John, his wife Helen and their son, Stergio, preside over the impressive family owned and operated Blue Valley Vineyard and Winery, among the bucolic hills of Delaplane in Fauquier County, Virginia.

Twenty three years ago, the family stumbled upon a large and beautiful tract of land, once home to the great former Chief Justice of the United States, John Marshall, falling in love with its similarities to their Greek homeland. They negotiated the purchase of some 63 acres with the intention of it becoming their home, however as time passed, Stergio convinced his parents that this would be the perfect location for a wonderful vineyard and, ultimately, a winery and tasting room.

Today, four years after its grand opening in April 2015, Blue Valley Vineyard and Winery is a serious player in the Virginia wine producing industry. They bottle 10,000 cases a year for customer consumption at the tasting room, purchase by wine club members, enjoyment during the many on site private occasions and distribution to half a dozen states and counting.

The 63 acres has since blossomed to 100, of which 18 are now under vine. Varietals include Muscat Ottonel, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier and Chardonnay whites plus Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Chambourcin reds. Blue Valley now also produces a Rosé with a sparkling Blanc de Blancs in the works.

The 27,000 square foot winery/tasting room was designed and built by the family, and welcomes visitors throughout the week, year round as well as playing host to some 20 weddings a year and numerous special corporate occasions. Below ground is an imposing high ceilinged winery building, dug underground to ensure temperature consistency which houses 32 stainless steel tanks custom made in South Africa, 280 French oak barrels and an extensive array of equipment required in order to turn grapes into wine.

During my visit to Blue Valley Vineyard and Winery, I met with Stergio Zissios, and learned how family means everything here. And family extends to the employees and customers, where a primary philosophy is to treat everyone as if they are indeed family. Stergio explained that many regulars become members of one of their two wine clubs - the Cave Club which requires a commitment to purchase one case of wine per year, and the BV Wine Club, where customers collect three bottles every quarter. In each scenario, the winemaker selects.

Virginia has some lovely wineries and vineyards, many of which Peter Leonard-Morgan writes about in local magazine, Country Spirit, including this about Zephaniah Family Vineyard close to our home base in Middleburg.

Peter Leonard-Morgan and Isabelle Truchon of Hunt Country Sotheby's International Realty today closed on the sale of their listing of a quaint western Loudoun County vineyard and private residence with attached tasting room, on Harpers Ferry Road.

The property, with scenic views of the Short Hill from its expansive front porch, was built in 1940, and carefully added to over the intervening years. With multiple barn-buildings, set up for wine production and aging, plus the half acre vineyard, we can't wait to see how  the new owners will re-invent this unique location. 

Isabelle Truchon and Peter Leonard-Morgan represented buyers of two quite different land lots this past couple of months, one an incredibly pretty 46 acre, Loudoun County raw property, ideal for its future use as a vineyard and eventually winery/tasting room, and the other an existing four acre vineyard set on a 14 acre parcel in Fauquier County.

The buyers of both properties have similar visions; to create/expand exceptional vineyards and eventually welcome patrons to their boutique style properties, where they can enjoy the delightful views and vistas from these undulating hilly locations, in some of the prettiest countryside in America. 

By Peter Leonard-Morgan
Photos by Pixelme Studios                                                    Courtesy Middleburg Life Magazine

​A weekend awash with festivities took place at Middleburg’s historic Catesby Farm, beginning on Friday, January 5, and culminating on Sunday, January 7. The occasion was a surprise 40th birthday party for local resident Eric Combs, hosted by Eric’s wife, Suzi Molak, together with her business partner Jodi Moraru and their company SPACEZ, which was recently awarded the exclusive rights to operate Catesby Farm for limited events.

Guests arrived early Friday evening from all parts of the country to celebrate in style, and no detail was overlooked. Suzi conceived and designed the party, creating an ambiance which she felt strongly highlighted what Catesby has to offer its clients, bringing in teams from Washington, D.C., and Middleburg, to light up the house with love, laughter and entertainment.
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The party’s theme, as well as the invitations, which included a request for a hush-hush of surprise, was “I call a Mulligan”. A dedicated hashtag of #middleagedinmiddleburg was, quite literally, the icing on the cake, as evidenced in these photos.

A sit-down dinner for an intimate cadre of 20 guests kicked off the weekend, with catering from Heirloom Caterers, decor and flowers from Amaryllis Designs, lighting and music from Bruce Pike Productions, rentals from Capital Party Rentals, photography from Pixelme Studios and graphic design by Emily Baird Designs.  Despite frightfully cold weather outside Catesby, wine flowed within, and music wafted throughout, providing revellers with a truly unique experience.
That night, 20 guests slumbered lavishly in three of the five houses which are available as accommodations on the property. They awoke to a fresh-pressed juice bar complete with service from a Jinsei Juices & Tonics branded bicycle! The biggest hits were “The Hydrate” with fresh coconut meat and  “The Cure” with activated charcoal for cleansing—the perfect detox!

During the day, Hammerdown BBQ, a local Middleburg favorite, provided a buffet lunch served in the main house to guests and new arrivals who came to enjoy a relaxed afternoon of fun and friends.

Saturday evening’s diversions kicked off at six o’clock, this time with entertainment for 50, including friends from Middleburg and surrounding areas. Tours of the main house were provided throughout the evening, and everyone enjoyed a fabulous buffet dinner courtesy of Spilled Milk Caterers.

When the sun rose on Sunday morning, the winds had settled down, and a breakfast buffet was enjoyed with hugs and laughs before departure.

The weekend was fashioned to showcase the Catesby Farms experience—unadulterated luxury at every stage of interaction with the property and the occasion.
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In announcing that Catesby’s doors are open for select significant milestone family occasions and corporate retreats, up to 20 times a year, its owners are committing to the upkeep of the house and gardens in all their glory, while retaining the peace and tranquility for which this area of natural beauty is renowned.

Built in 1930, Catesby Farm sits on 170 acres of some of the loveliest countryside in America, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, just west of Middleburg, Virginia, the nation’s home of foxhunting.

Like a number of important Middleburg estates, Catesby has historically focused on equestrian sports, in particular racehorse training, and to this day it boasts a magnificent barn and inside ring, all of which is surrounded by extensive paddocks.
Additionally, Catesby has its own tennis and basketball courts, a fully stocked pond for fishing and a swimming pool. With five homes on the property, each meticulously designed and ideal for hosting the most intimate of occasions, Catesby is able to accommodate and pamper up to 34 guests. However, it is the main house which captivates its visitors as they pull up the driveway to this impressive, expansive and breathtaking residence.
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SPACEZ’ Suzi Molak looks forward to hosting a number of elegant events at Catesby, and she stresses that these occasions will be in keeping with the location and history surrounding this magnificent property. Suzi commented: “We at SPACEZ have been given the privilege of providing a limited number of discerning customers a discreet yet extraordinary venue at which to celebrate important personal occasions. We want to oversee functions which Catesby’s earlier stewards would be proud of, and which bring the property to life with laughter and energy.” 

Our delightful family vineyard, winery and residence on Harpers Ferry Road has recently seen a change to its pricing parameters; effective immediately, we have been authorized to offer this lovely property as a residence with land and outbuildings but without the wine making equipment, stainless steel fermentation tanks, oak barrels, mobile commercial kitchen and extensive wine inventory for the new price of $795,000.

The inventory and equipment is still available for an additional $115,000.

The rationale behind this bold move was to ensure that the property would not be overlooked by any potential buyers of a serene residence with land, views and additional buildings suitable for a multitude of other uses.

​Let us know if you have questions, or better still want to take a tour.

Full details of this two-acre property on Harpers Ferry Road, within the bucolic Loudoun Heights Cluster of wineries, can be reviewed HERE.  With views of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the west from the tasting terrace, patrons enjoy relaxing afternoons accompanied by a glass of estate wine and home made light fare.

Get in touch with Isabelle or Peter to schedule a visit HERE, or use our contact form in the main details page.