The Monticello Wine Company was founded in 1873 and has been brought back to life, preserving the history of the company while moving it forward.

Noted by the historic marker on McIntire Road, the Charlottesville region once proclaimed itself the "Capital of the Wine Belt in Virginia."

The Monticello Wine Company, a revitalization of a historic wine label, joins the Afton Mountain Vineyards family of brands. Led by Tyler and Andrew Greeley, the daughter and son-in-law of Elizabeth and Tony Smith, owners of Afton Mountain Vineyards, the Monticello Wine Company brand will be a fresh, modern take on a label that predates Prohibition.

The Monticello Wine Company intends to honor the history of the label which was founded in 1873 as a cooperative of Virginia grape growers, by looking for collaborative opportunities in Charlottesville and celebrating the grapes grown in the Monticello American Viticultural Area in the coming years.

Wines Available

This Bordeaux-style blend is 46% Merlot, 36% Petit Verdot, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon, harvested in 2018. The grapes were hand-harvested and sorted before beginning fermentation. The different varieties were aged separately for three months before blending and placed back in barrel for 7 months for further aging. This blend was aged in 15% new and 85% neutral French oak. This is a well-balanced wine with red fruit aromatics and complexity, smooth tannin structure with a nice finish.

100% estate-grown Chardonnay was harvested in early September 2018. The 2018 Chardonnay is a blend of 50% stainless steel and 50% french oak barrel fermented chardonnay. For both stainless steel and barrel fermented chardonnay, the grapes are full cluster pressed in tank. Both were aged separately for 8 months before blending. The aromatics tend to develop some white flower and light citrus characteristics, and the barrels give a balanced mouth feel by rounding out the edges of crisp minerality.

This 2019 vintage is a dry press Rosé of 76% Merlot, 14% Pinot Noir, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Notes of bright red fruit are accompanied by crisp acidity that keeps this wine refreshing and enjoyable year round.

Doubtless is a medium bodied red blend of 41% Sangiovese, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 24% Tannat. This is a nicely-balanced red wine with an aromatic profile of dark red fruit and spices. Bold and spicy yet smooth, with a persistent finish.

Our Story

Originally founded in 1873 as a local wine cooperative, today the Monticello Wine Company is a historic brand re-envisioned by a local Charlottesville wine family. The Monticello Wine Company wine is produced by a local family, for a local audience. Our wines will be found exclusively at local restaurants and shops.

The Monticello Wine Company, once the largest winery in the South, was founded in 1873 in Charlottesville, Virginia. The winery, a cooperative of local grape growers, had a capacity of 200,000 gallons. Once the recipient of an international award for its Extra Virginia Claret at the Vienna Exposition in 1873, Monticello Wine Company closed during Prohibition in 1916. It was re-launched in 2013.

The Monticello Wine Company offers the following wines: Rosé, Chardonnay, a medium bodied red blend called "Doubtless", and a Bordeaux-style red blend, “Cellar Red”, named after the street “Wine Cellar Circle” in downtown Charlottesville, near where the original Monticello Wine Company building stood. All wines have been made by Afton Mountain Vineyards (AMV). The Monticello Wine Company will use grapes grown at AMV for the foreseeable future, working with winemaker Damien Blanchon. Co-owners Tyler and Andrew Greeley will be developing new wines that represent the personality of the Monticello Wine Company label.