The Club at Viniterra is the newest championship golf course designed by acclaimed golf course architect Rees Jones. Our course features working vineyards alongside fairways throughout, a signature hallmark of the new Viniterra community. Take a look at the golf pictures page to see photos from today's action!
Friday, July 31, 2009
Viniterra - Could You Use a Glass of Wine?
It's been a long week. With finances run amok and the government hurrying to stabilize the economy, many Washington insiders and Wall Street traders are saying the same thing today: I could use a glass of wine.
Luckily, finding one won't break the bank. And weekend travelers looking for a short yet affordable trip are just in time for prime wine-tasting season between Washington and Richmond.
"On one hand, what's more disposable than a $20 bottle of wine? On the other hand, wine makes people happy," said Susan Westbrook, who owns White Fences Vineyards and Winery in Irvington, Va., with her husband, Bill. "We're still hanging in there at a time when, I think, it's sort of seen as an affordable treat when people sort of need it."
Pete Johns, one of the owners of New Kent Winery in New Kent, Va., said, "Truthfully, I think to a degree, the wine industry is recession-proof. People drink when they're happy, and they drink when they're sad."
Escaping from Washington's Stress
Tucked between the Potomac and Rappahanock rivers, the stretch of land known as Virginia's Northern Neck harbors ideal conditions for growing grapes.
But the fertile territory is a fairly recent discovery for many of the area's vinters. Of eight wineries that stretch through the region, nearly all have opened up their doors to visitors since 2002.
"It's just the momentum that the wine industry has been gaining, not just in Virginia, but all over the country," said the area's veteran proprietor, Doug Flemer, who has run Ingleside Vineyards since 1980 on Flemer family-owned land hailing back to 1890. "People are becoming more interested in wine not just as a hobby but as a business."
Still, Flemer said Virginia vineyards, like so many businesses, are struggling in the face of a sinking economy. Whether paying double or triple for petroleum-based products necessary for wine production, or seeing visitors buy a bottle or two instead of a full case to save money, Flemer said the wineries are taking a hit.
"It has definitely affected our industry," Flemer said. "Everything has been affected by the oil prices, particularly. And now people are not traveling as much. I often hear that people are staying closer to home, but they're also staying off the roads, too."
Luckily, finding one won't break the bank. And weekend travelers looking for a short yet affordable trip are just in time for prime wine-tasting season between Washington and Richmond.
"On one hand, what's more disposable than a $20 bottle of wine? On the other hand, wine makes people happy," said Susan Westbrook, who owns White Fences Vineyards and Winery in Irvington, Va., with her husband, Bill. "We're still hanging in there at a time when, I think, it's sort of seen as an affordable treat when people sort of need it."
Pete Johns, one of the owners of New Kent Winery in New Kent, Va., said, "Truthfully, I think to a degree, the wine industry is recession-proof. People drink when they're happy, and they drink when they're sad."
Escaping from Washington's Stress
Tucked between the Potomac and Rappahanock rivers, the stretch of land known as Virginia's Northern Neck harbors ideal conditions for growing grapes.
But the fertile territory is a fairly recent discovery for many of the area's vinters. Of eight wineries that stretch through the region, nearly all have opened up their doors to visitors since 2002.
"It's just the momentum that the wine industry has been gaining, not just in Virginia, but all over the country," said the area's veteran proprietor, Doug Flemer, who has run Ingleside Vineyards since 1980 on Flemer family-owned land hailing back to 1890. "People are becoming more interested in wine not just as a hobby but as a business."
Still, Flemer said Virginia vineyards, like so many businesses, are struggling in the face of a sinking economy. Whether paying double or triple for petroleum-based products necessary for wine production, or seeing visitors buy a bottle or two instead of a full case to save money, Flemer said the wineries are taking a hit.
"It has definitely affected our industry," Flemer said. "Everything has been affected by the oil prices, particularly. And now people are not traveling as much. I often hear that people are staying closer to home, but they're also staying off the roads, too."
Viniterra - Winery Anchors New Kent Project
The process of producing wine is more than just a vocation or a business. It’s also a lifestyle. And nothing illustrates this more than New Kent Vineyards, a new residential development anchored by a high-end grape-growing and winemaking operation in New Kent County.
The 2,500 acre project plans to offer a neo-traditional village with such upscale amenities as a Rees Jones championship golf course, shops and boutiques, polo grounds, walking paths and luxury home sites in its Viniterra section. The neighborhood also will boast a decidedly European feel, thanks to the presence of New Kent Winery.
The operation opened in May with 25 acres of vineyards and a 17,000-square-foot winery styled to look like a Colonial-era building. It will supply wines to a farmers’ market and bistro-style restaurant and cooking school that are planned for the community.
“Having a vineyard and a winery really lends itself to keeping the area in a rural-type setting, which was a key goal for us,” says Pete Johns, a partner in the project, who was also instrumental in the development of nearby Colonial Downs. “We look at this winery as the cornerstone, the centerpiece, of the project.”
Johns and his partners — Boddie-Noell Enterprises Inc., a Rocky Mount, N.C.-based company with restaurant and land development dealings, and real estate developer Nathan Shore — expect the winemaking operation to be a major player in the Virginia wine industry.
Their winemaker is Tom Payette, who in 1999 was named U.S. Winemaker of the Year. New Kent has six wines for sale, including an unusual White Norton (all other Nortons are produced as red wines). And they plan to nearly double the size of their vineyard and wine production capacity during the next several years to reach a goal of producing 20,000 cases of wine each year. Johns says New Kent Winery will self distribute 80 percent of its products, priced at $15.95 to $22.95 per bottle, through on-site sales and events, festivals and over the Internet. The winery also will produce private label wines for restaurants and other companies.
Located just a few miles from Interstate 64, it’s likely to be a draw for tourists. Designed to be as “green” as possible, the building is made almost entirely from reclaimed materials. These include pre- Civil War, handmade bricks and 107-year-old heart pine trusses from a Southern Railroad Depot in Richmond
The 2,500 acre project plans to offer a neo-traditional village with such upscale amenities as a Rees Jones championship golf course, shops and boutiques, polo grounds, walking paths and luxury home sites in its Viniterra section. The neighborhood also will boast a decidedly European feel, thanks to the presence of New Kent Winery.
The operation opened in May with 25 acres of vineyards and a 17,000-square-foot winery styled to look like a Colonial-era building. It will supply wines to a farmers’ market and bistro-style restaurant and cooking school that are planned for the community.
“Having a vineyard and a winery really lends itself to keeping the area in a rural-type setting, which was a key goal for us,” says Pete Johns, a partner in the project, who was also instrumental in the development of nearby Colonial Downs. “We look at this winery as the cornerstone, the centerpiece, of the project.”
Johns and his partners — Boddie-Noell Enterprises Inc., a Rocky Mount, N.C.-based company with restaurant and land development dealings, and real estate developer Nathan Shore — expect the winemaking operation to be a major player in the Virginia wine industry.
Their winemaker is Tom Payette, who in 1999 was named U.S. Winemaker of the Year. New Kent has six wines for sale, including an unusual White Norton (all other Nortons are produced as red wines). And they plan to nearly double the size of their vineyard and wine production capacity during the next several years to reach a goal of producing 20,000 cases of wine each year. Johns says New Kent Winery will self distribute 80 percent of its products, priced at $15.95 to $22.95 per bottle, through on-site sales and events, festivals and over the Internet. The winery also will produce private label wines for restaurants and other companies.
Located just a few miles from Interstate 64, it’s likely to be a draw for tourists. Designed to be as “green” as possible, the building is made almost entirely from reclaimed materials. These include pre- Civil War, handmade bricks and 107-year-old heart pine trusses from a Southern Railroad Depot in Richmond
Viniterra - New Club at Viniterra golf course names Marshall as Superintendent
Golf-course expert John Marshall has been named golf course superintendent at The Club at Viniterra, the new Rees Jones-designed 18-hole championship course being completed at the New Kent Vineyards residential community here.
Marshall, with more than 20 years experience in maintenance and care of golf courses, is sodding the spectacular new course this summer and fall. The Club at Viniterra is expected to open for member play next spring.
Marshall has worked at golf courses in the Tidewater area for more than 14 years. Most recently, he was director of agronomy for the operator of the Royal New Kent, Stonehouse and Kiskiack golf courses in and around Williamsburg.
“We’re pleased to have John as superintendent of The Club at Viniterra because he’s well known in this region,” said Mickey Hayes, president of Kitty Hawk Land Company, the developer of the Viniterra gated residential community.
Marshall describes the Rees Jones-design as both challenging but enjoyable for all level of play. The Viniterra golf course incorporates a surprisingly wide variety of natural elevations. Multiple tee boxes can be found on each hole to provide flexibility for golfers of all skill levels.
Marshall is an employee of ClubCorp, the World Leader in Private Clubs, which recently entered a partnership to manage the course and other recreational amenities that’s part of the New Kent Vineyards development between Richmond and Williamsburg.
The Club at Viniterra is the only course in the Middle Peninsula that has vineyards along fairways throughout - one of the signature hallmarks of the new Viniterra community. The development also boasts the new, beautiful New Kent Winery that began producing its own varieties of New Kent Vineyards wines this year.
Viniterra & New Kent Winery Fact Sheet
Viniterra is a 1,200-acre development located within the master-planned community of New Kent Vineyards, sited halfway between the cities of Richmond and Williamsburg, Virginia.
• Viniterra represents a lifestyle that’s synonymous with fine living in Virginia, including horses, polo, carriages, architecture, and winemaking.
• The centerpiece of Viniterra is the New Ken Winery, designed in an old-world style, and surrounded by acres of vineyards.
• Six wines are being produced at the New Kent Winery, including two Chardonnays, one Vidal, one Blush, one Meritage, and one Merlot. First-time owners at Viniterra will be offered their own casks of Viniterra wine with their names on them.
• Viniterra’s winery has been constructed using historic, recycled materials like heart pine trusses from the former Southern Railroad depot in downtown Richmond, 100-year-old cypress logs recovered from the rivers of Florida, and 19th-century brick from Richmond’s warehouse district.
• Viniterra’s architecture is decidedly Virginian in its roots, drawing generously from the Colonial and Federal styles of historic Williamsburg and Richmond.
• Viniterra offers an 18-hole golf course designed by Rees Jones which opens in the Spring of 2009 along with three lakes. The number of estate home sites located on the golf course will be limited, to enhance the “core golf” experience
• Viniterra also features an equestrian center and polo field on dramatic terrain.
• A town center, with a farmers’ market, restaurants and retail shops lies just outside the development of Viniterra.
• Club Corporation of America, best-known in Virginia for managing the Homestead, will manage Viniterra’s clubhouse and membership, as well as the golf course, tennis courts, and other outdoor activities.
Viniterra - NEW KENT WINERY AT NEW KENT VINEYARDS WILL HOLD GRAND OPENING MAY 31 — JUNE 1, 2008
New Kent Winery, located at the New Kent Vineyards residential development between Richmond and Williamsburg, will hold a grand opening for the public at its new 17,000-square-foot winery on Saturday, May 31 and Sunday, June 1.
“We are pleased and delighted to invite the public to come and taste six new wines from New Kent Winery, to tour our facilities and the New Kent Vineyards residential developments, and to take home a bottle or two of our excellent wines,” said Pete Johns, partner in the project. “In addition to the winery and vineyards, guests will be able to view the neighboring Viniterra community’s new Rees Jones-designed golf course, the polo field, and a number of luxury home sites at Viniterra as well as Four Seasons, and The Arbors, all located within New Kent Vineyards,” he added.
Hours for the open house are from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 31, and 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, June 1.
The New Kent Winery was designed by Williamsburg architect John Hopke. The Colonial-style structure has been constructed with more than 70 percent reclaimed historic materials, including 40-foot heart pine trusses from the circa 1901 Southern Railway Depot in nearby Richmond, pre-Civil War brick from that city’s warehouse district, cypress salvaged from the waters of Florida’s rivers, and other rare and exotic woods. Builders at the winery employed Low Impact Development (LID) to assure earth-friendly construction.
For the wine connoisseur, New Kent Winery offers the opportunity to join its Barrel Club. Membership is $610 for three years, and members will receive one case of wine per year, an engraved brass name plaque on an oak wine barrel in the wine cellar, as well as invitations to special events and first tastings of new wines.
Among the wines to be offered at the grand opening are a 2005 Chardonnay, a Chardonnay Reserve, a 2007 Vidal Blanc, a White Norton, a Merlot, and a Meritage. For more information about the winery, visit www.newkentwinery.com
“We are pleased and delighted to invite the public to come and taste six new wines from New Kent Winery, to tour our facilities and the New Kent Vineyards residential developments, and to take home a bottle or two of our excellent wines,” said Pete Johns, partner in the project. “In addition to the winery and vineyards, guests will be able to view the neighboring Viniterra community’s new Rees Jones-designed golf course, the polo field, and a number of luxury home sites at Viniterra as well as Four Seasons, and The Arbors, all located within New Kent Vineyards,” he added.
Hours for the open house are from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 31, and 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, June 1.
The New Kent Winery was designed by Williamsburg architect John Hopke. The Colonial-style structure has been constructed with more than 70 percent reclaimed historic materials, including 40-foot heart pine trusses from the circa 1901 Southern Railway Depot in nearby Richmond, pre-Civil War brick from that city’s warehouse district, cypress salvaged from the waters of Florida’s rivers, and other rare and exotic woods. Builders at the winery employed Low Impact Development (LID) to assure earth-friendly construction.
For the wine connoisseur, New Kent Winery offers the opportunity to join its Barrel Club. Membership is $610 for three years, and members will receive one case of wine per year, an engraved brass name plaque on an oak wine barrel in the wine cellar, as well as invitations to special events and first tastings of new wines.
Among the wines to be offered at the grand opening are a 2005 Chardonnay, a Chardonnay Reserve, a 2007 Vidal Blanc, a White Norton, a Merlot, and a Meritage. For more information about the winery, visit www.newkentwinery.com
Viniterra - ClubCorp to manage new Rees Jones-designed golf course and other amenities at Viniterra in New Kent Vineyards development
ClubCorp, the world leader in delivering premier golf, private club and resort experiences, will manage the new Rees Jones-designed golf course and other recreational amenities at Viniterra, the gated community in the New Kent Vineyards development between Richmond and Williamsburg, those involved announced today.
ClubCorp will manage The Viniterra Golf Club, the championship 18-hole golf course which is scheduled to open in early 2009. In addition, ClubCorp will manage the future Viniterra clubhouse, pro shop, teaching studio and other amenities, which include a tennis facility, a swim and wellness center, restaurant and café.
“We’re extremely pleased to have ClubCorp become a key player at Viniterra,” said Mickey Hayes, president of Viniterra’s lead development partner, Kitty Hawk Land Company, a division of Boddie-Noell Enterprises, Inc. “When we look across the range of companies and the level of operations we expect for a premier setting like Viniterra, there’s no question that ClubCorp was the name we want to be associated with us here.”
Kitty Hawk Land already has a “great relationship” with ClubCorp at its Currituck Club golf community at Corolla, North Carolina, Hayes noted.
“We are thrilled to be adding The Club at Viniterra to our family of fine clubs,” stated Eric Affeldt, ClubCorp’s president and CEO. “This is a perfect opportunity for us to expand our great relationship with Kitty Hawk Land Company. We believe Viniterra will quickly earn a reputation as a preeminent club and community in the region, and we will work hard to ensure its long-term success."
The championship golf course is one of the signature elements of the upscale Viniterra community which is sited on nearly 1,200 acres within the master-planned community of New Kent Vineyards. Members of Viniterra’s country club, golfers, Viniterra estate homesite owners and other homeowners alike, will experience a convergence of lakes, vineyards and uniquely designed fairways for spectacular views.
Viniterra’s golf course has been cleared and all of the holes have been developed. The varied topography of the land has worked well in Jones’ design of the course with plenty of surprises. For instance, the No. 15 hole, a par-3, will have 15 tee boxes, allowing for varied play expertise and challenge levels. For more details on the Viniterra golf course, including a description of the course by the Rees Jones team, visit http://viniterra.com/golf/index.cfm
The course is also being developed in an environmentally sensitive manner – maximizing water resource protection. ClubCorp, with its many years of experience, brings a wealth of knowledge about water conservation. The golf course will use a collection of lakes and shallow ponds to provide irrigation to the drought-resistant grasses being used throughout.
“The combination of the Rees Jones-designed course, ClubCorp’s world-class management of the resort amenity and an experienced golf course superintendent, will provide a truly unique experience,” added Hayes.
One of the most distinctive elements of Viniterra is the New Kent Winery, which overlooks acres of existing vineyards. The Bordeaux-style facility enjoys the best in winemaking facilities and makes an exciting architectural statement, constructed with antique and reclaimed historic materials that reach back across centuries. The winery will bottle and sell six varieties of wine for sampling and sale and will be a center of activity in the Viniterra community. It will be joined by an adjacent equestrian facility and nearby polo fields.
Viniterra Development Experiences Successful Weekend Sales Launch
Viniterra, the new residential community with unique luxury amenities that include a picturesque winery, world-class designed championship golf course, clubhouse and much more, enjoyed a highly successful initial weekend sales launch, the developer announced today.
Thirty four Viniterra homesites were sold with a total value of more than $8.4 million during the first offering last weekend at the New Kent County gated community, according to lead development partner Kitty Hawk Land Company. Kitty Hawk Land Company President Mickey Hayes said the sale of nearly three dozen homesites the first weekend - several of which are premier locations along the Rees Jones-designed championship golf course - exceeded expectations for the reservations-only event.
“We believe the first weekend was successful because Viniterra is a beautiful wine-country community with a range of amenities that is simply unprecedented in this region,” said Hayes. “And, it involves a highly reputable development company’s 50-year track record of premier, successful communities with unparalleled luxury touches.”
Nestled in the master-planned New Kent Vineyards development, Viniterra is located midway between Richmond and Williamsburg just off Interstate 64 in history-rich New Kent County.
Potential homesite buyers enjoyed rides in horse-drawn 19th century carriages along wooded lanes and vineyards to access the limited homesite properties made available for the first time. Helicopter rides above Viniterra’s farmland setting also proved popular.
A major draw for the first Viniterra visitors was the nearly completed New Kent Winery which overlooks acres of vineyards. The winery and is a key visual draw of the upscale development.
The 12,000-square-foot Bordeaux-style winery is constructed with more than 70 percent reclaimed historic materials including 40-foot heart pine trusses, pre-Civil War brick, sunken timbers and other beautiful woods. First-time homebuyers at Viniterra will be offered their own wine casks, each 59.7 gallons, and personalized with their names and stored at the winery. Wine lovers can eventually expect six varieties of New Kent Vineyards wines with harvesting of the first grapes this fall.
Most of the first weekend’s visitors also explored the golf course which has now been prepared for seeding so that it will be available for limited member play by the fall of 2008. Viniterra’s golf course homesites are tucked amid the course so homeowners will be able to enjoy the convergence of lakes, vineyards and fairways for spectacular vistas while still enjoying their privacy.
While the winery will be a powerful magnet for the community, Viniterra's other amenities are already starting to shape a distinct style of upscale living. Viniterra will also include a full-service clubhouse managed by Club Corp of America (whose list of managed properties include The Homestead and Pinehurst Country Club), a golf teaching studio, an aquatic and fitness center, half dozen lighted tennis courts with a pro shop and staff, an equestrian center, polo field (with events already scheduled), a proposed boutique inn and club concierge service for home delivery from local shops and restaurants.
A town center with restaurants, boutiques and assorted shopping will lie just outside of the gated guardhouse of Viniterra.
Hayes said a small number of estate homesites remain available from the weekend release of this beautiful neighborhood. He encouraged those interested to call the Welcome Center at 1-877-808-6111 to set-up a personal V.I.P Tour. To learn more, visit the Viniterra website at www.Viniterra.com.
Thirty four Viniterra homesites were sold with a total value of more than $8.4 million during the first offering last weekend at the New Kent County gated community, according to lead development partner Kitty Hawk Land Company. Kitty Hawk Land Company President Mickey Hayes said the sale of nearly three dozen homesites the first weekend - several of which are premier locations along the Rees Jones-designed championship golf course - exceeded expectations for the reservations-only event.
“We believe the first weekend was successful because Viniterra is a beautiful wine-country community with a range of amenities that is simply unprecedented in this region,” said Hayes. “And, it involves a highly reputable development company’s 50-year track record of premier, successful communities with unparalleled luxury touches.”
Nestled in the master-planned New Kent Vineyards development, Viniterra is located midway between Richmond and Williamsburg just off Interstate 64 in history-rich New Kent County.
Potential homesite buyers enjoyed rides in horse-drawn 19th century carriages along wooded lanes and vineyards to access the limited homesite properties made available for the first time. Helicopter rides above Viniterra’s farmland setting also proved popular.
A major draw for the first Viniterra visitors was the nearly completed New Kent Winery which overlooks acres of vineyards. The winery and is a key visual draw of the upscale development.
The 12,000-square-foot Bordeaux-style winery is constructed with more than 70 percent reclaimed historic materials including 40-foot heart pine trusses, pre-Civil War brick, sunken timbers and other beautiful woods. First-time homebuyers at Viniterra will be offered their own wine casks, each 59.7 gallons, and personalized with their names and stored at the winery. Wine lovers can eventually expect six varieties of New Kent Vineyards wines with harvesting of the first grapes this fall.
Most of the first weekend’s visitors also explored the golf course which has now been prepared for seeding so that it will be available for limited member play by the fall of 2008. Viniterra’s golf course homesites are tucked amid the course so homeowners will be able to enjoy the convergence of lakes, vineyards and fairways for spectacular vistas while still enjoying their privacy.
While the winery will be a powerful magnet for the community, Viniterra's other amenities are already starting to shape a distinct style of upscale living. Viniterra will also include a full-service clubhouse managed by Club Corp of America (whose list of managed properties include The Homestead and Pinehurst Country Club), a golf teaching studio, an aquatic and fitness center, half dozen lighted tennis courts with a pro shop and staff, an equestrian center, polo field (with events already scheduled), a proposed boutique inn and club concierge service for home delivery from local shops and restaurants.
A town center with restaurants, boutiques and assorted shopping will lie just outside of the gated guardhouse of Viniterra.
Hayes said a small number of estate homesites remain available from the weekend release of this beautiful neighborhood. He encouraged those interested to call the Welcome Center at 1-877-808-6111 to set-up a personal V.I.P Tour. To learn more, visit the Viniterra website at www.Viniterra.com.
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