The Grove Winery Story

History

In 1992, Max Lloyd, a high-tech entrepreneur fell in love with fine wine while staying in Sonoma on business. His father and both grandfathers had made homemade wine and his family had always been into gardening and cooking, but this was his first experience with world-class European-style wine. The following April, in 1993, Max planted 220 Cabernet Sauvignon vines on family land near Smith Mountain, Virginia and began growing commercial wine grapes part-time. Over the years, additional land was acquired and additional vineyards were planted.

Since then Max has judged wine competitions, extensively toured many of the world’s better wine regions, and taught a number of wine and grape themed classes. His writing and comments have appeared in a number of industry publications including Wine Business Monthly and Small Winery Magazine.

In 2001 the decision was made to start a winery and after searching dozens of pieces of land, the Grove farm was purchased. Grapes were originally planted on the estate vineyards on April 6, 2002. Grove Winery, LLC was bonded by the Federal Government on 9/3/2004. In the fall of 2006, the 2005 Grove Estate Merlot won Grove’s first Gold Medal.

In 2002, Dick Carstens came on board as Vineyard Manager. Dick now has more than a decade of experience managing multiple vinifera vineyards year-round. Since 2005, wines made by Grove Winery from locally grown grapes have won more than 200 medals in local and international competitions.

The Grove team produces a really good product. You really need to taste for yourself, but for a listing of some of our awards and medals.

Timeline

4/10/1993 – Our first vineyard, 220 Cabernet Sauvignon vines are planted at Vista Ridge vineyards near Smith Mountain, VA

11/1/2001 – The Grove property near Greensboro is acquired

4/6/2002 – Initial estate vineyards are planted

9/3/2004 – Grove Winery receives its license

12/4/2004 – Grove opens to the public

9/19/2005 – First estate grown grapes harvested

10/1/2005 – Our first vintage made with VA grapes wins 3 medals

9/19/2006 – Grove Merlot wins first Gold Medal

6/27/2008 – Grove expands winery building

8/11/2009 – Grove wins it’s 100th medal in local and International competitions

9/6/2010 – Grove wins Best In Show at NC Wine Competition for second time

9/8/2011 – Grove’s Estate Cabernet Sauvignon wins the Double Gold Medal for the second year in a row at the NC Wine Competition

9/8/2012 – Grove wins it’s 200th medal in local and international wine competitions

2/9/2014 – Grove’s Estate Merlot and Malbec earn 88 ratings at International tasting.

1/12/2018 – Grove’s Estate Ensemble earns 93 rating at Chicago International Tasting

4/18/2021 – Grove’s Estate Nebbiolo and Malbec wins 2nd place in Americas largest Wine competition for their respective grape category

06/28/2022 – New Ownership group takes over at Grove and invests into facility improvements, refurbishing of farmhouse and reinvigorating and expanding vineyard

2021 Awards

2021 NC State Wine Fair Wine Competition:
– 2019 Estate Chardonnay – Silver
– 2014 Estate Block B (Meritage) – Silver
– 2019 Viognier

2021 Mid-Atlantic Wine Competition
– 2017 Estate Nebbiolo – Double Gold
– 2014 Estate Block B (Meritage) – Silver
– 2017 Estate Ensemble – Silver
– 2019 Estate Halbtrocken Traminette – Silver
– 2019 Petite Verdot – Silver
– 2015 Reserve Merlot
– 2018 Viognier
– Strawberry
– Blackberry
– 2017 Niagara

2021 NC Fine Wine Competition:
– 2017 Estate Nebbiolo – Silver
– 2019 Viognier
– 2019 Estate Cabernet Franc

2021 San Francisco Chronicle International Wine Competition:
– 2017 Estate Nebbiolo
– 2014 Malbec

2020 and 2019 Awards

2020 NC Fine Wine Competition:
– 2014 Malbec
– 2018 Estate Traminette

2019 NC State Fair Wine Competition:
– 2015 Reserve Malbec – Silver
– 2017 Estate Rosé – Silver
– 2018 Petit Verdot – Silver
– Strawberry – Silver
– 2014 Block B
– 2016 Estate Halbtrocken Traminette
– 2017 Haw River White
– 2017 Carménère
– 2019 Norton
– 2017 Niagara

2019 Mid-Atlantic Wine Competition:
– 2018 Estate Halbtrocken Traminette – Silver
– 2015 Reserve Malbec – Silver
– 2017 Carménère – Silver
– Strawberry – Silver
– High Rock Farm Blackberry – Silver
– 2017 Niagara – Silver
– 2015 Reserve Estate Chardonnay
– 2015 Estate Sangiovese
– 2017 Estate Merlot
– 2017 Estate Rosé
– 2018 Petite Verdot
– 2015 Intrigue
– 2016 Norton
– 2017 Viognier

2019 NC Fine Wines Competition:
– 2013 Estate Block B (Meritage)
– 2017 Estate Haw River White

2019 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition:
– 2013 Estate Block B (Meritage)

2018 Awards

2018 Mid-Atlantic Wine Competition:
– Strawberry – Best of Show Dessert & Fruit Wine & Double Gold
– 2017 Estate Haw River White – Double Gold
– 2014 Estate Nebbiolo – Silver
– 2017 Carmenère – Silver
– 2017 Estate Rosé – Silver
– 2017 Symphony – Silver
– 2016 Norton – Silver
– Rosso Dolce – Silver
– 2013 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon – Bronze
– 2014 Estate Reserve Chardonnay – Bronze
– 2014 Estate Block B – Bronze
– 2016 Niagara – Bronze
– 2016 Estate Traminette halbtroken – Bronze

2018 NC Wine Competition:
– 2014 Estate Nebbiolo – Silver
– 2014 Estate Block B (Meritage) – Silver
– 2017 Carménère – Silver
– Strawberry – Silver
– 2014 Reserve Estate Chardonnay
– 2017 Viognier
– 2017 Estate Trocken Traminette
– 2017 Estate Rosé
– 2015 Reserve Malbec
– 2016 Norton
– 2015 Estate Ensemble (Meritage)
– 2016 Niagara
– 2015 Intrigue

NC QAP Certification:
– 2017 Viognier

2018 Beverage Tasting Institute:
– 2015 Ensemble (Estate Meritage) – Gold (93 points from Tastings)
– 2015 Estate Sangiovese – Silver (88 points from Tastings)
– 2014 Malbec – Silver (88 points from Tastings)
– 2015 Carmenère – Silver (87 points from Tastings)
– 2017 Estate Chardonnay – Bronze (84 points from Tastings)

2018 NC Fine Wines Competition:
– 2014 Estate Nebbiolo
– 2015 Ensemble