The home vineyard contains 6.73 acres of land. The wine is produced in batches of one to nine barrels. Total production is approximately 500 to 700 cases a year. The winemaker is the caretaker of the vines, and the fruit is harvested by hand. The methods by which the wines are made are as follows: The process begins by identifying each variation of topography and soil in the vineyard and then repeatedly planting each to differing varieties, rootstocks, and spacings, until a combination flourishes on that small spot, and it’s ‘voice’, is revealed. We are in the twelfth year of this process; it will not be completed in our lifetime. At harvest, the many niches from a particular region are brought together into a single wine; we view the wine as a collection of the ‘voices’ that describe a certain area of the vineyard, the components of the wine are essentially determined by the vineyard itself. In these wines we seek to express the small field we are blessed to occupy.
“…what ultimately validates a region is a breakthrough wine that has a combination of structure, flavors, and complexity that will improve over the years. I think that I tasted that wine recently in Anthony Vietri’s 2005 Va La Vineyards Mahogany…”— Roger Morris; Wilmington News Journal “Barbera has consistently been one of the best wines at Va La. It is also the core of a plush and powerfully intriguing blend called Mahogany…the early balance of plush dark berry fruit, blood orange acidity, and a framework of rich oak has “cult wine” potential.” — Craig LaBan; Philadelphia Inquirer ![]() This wine expresses the soils of the ‘mahogany’ area of the home vineyard. The wine made from these particular vines is aged for approximately 3 years, and 850 to 2,000 bottles are normally produced. petit verdot, la malvasia nero, barbera, charbono, la grein, carmine, teroldego, sagrantino most years.
“A flamboyant, showy white, with layers of aromatic grapes… that dance exotic on the palate.” — Craig LaBan; Philadelphia Inquirer “La Prima Donna…is perhaps the best east coast table wine that I have ever tasted — a beautiful blossom of aromas, exotic and spicy flavors of green figs, nectarines, with a crisp finish.” — Roger Morris; Sommelier Magazine This wine expresses the soils of the area of the vineyard called ‘la prima donna’. The vines here produce a small yield of white grapes that are fermented on their skins for several weeks, currently producing 1,500 to 1,800 bottles. tocai, malvasia bianco, petit manseng, pinot grigio, viognier, etc.
The following are some small side projects that we have available from time to time. The wines are made from actual grapes and are generally 100% certified dolphin-free products.
ZAFFERANO
This wine is four clones of low yielding, cold-fermented pinot grigio. About 600 bottles are produced. CASTANA A medium bodied red inspired by our Pietmontese foods and roots; barbera, nebbiolo, and corvina veronese. PATINA Malvasia nero, lagrein, charbono, primitvo, sagrantino, and teroldego. One barrel is normally produced. SEED A red created from a special collection of vinifera crosses that have not yet been released to the outside world; 250 to 500 bottles are normally produced. If the deer haven’t eaten it. Although we produce too little wine to have proper distribution, the wines are available at the site where they were grown, at this old barn. ©2010 Va La Family Farmed Wines. All rights reserved. Images and content are property of Va La Vineyards, unless otherwise noted | Web Site created and hosted by WheelerDesigns Va La Family Farmed Wines | 8820 Gap Newport Pike (Rt. 41) | Avondale, PA | 19311 | 610-268-2702 |