Rich in History, Rich in Wine
Cultural Resource Survey of The Winery at La Grange by Kristen Bloss, Sean Maroney, and Kerri S. Barile of Dovetail, Curtual Resourse Group I, Inc. View Report
In December 2005, Chris Pearmund and a small group of investors acquired the historic La Grange farm, 20 acres of land with a dilapidated manor house and numerous out buildings. Pearmund’s goal was to open a high-quality winery in Prince William County, a first for the County in recent times and what would become the shortest drive time winery destination from Washington, DC. The property now includes a vineyard, the restored circa 1790 manor house as well as a production winery; it is open to the public every day.
Research evidenced that La Grange is rich in history; it had been originally carved out of Robert "King" Carter's Bull Run Tract in the 1600s and later became known as La Grange. The property's ownership changed many times during the past four centuries. The farm’s acreage size increased and decreased during those years. Fortunately the three story red brick manor house built by George Green survived. From this page a copy of our Phase I Archeology Study can be downloaded.
Once the word got out about project, Prince William County officials and the property’s neighbors embraced the concept as being very good for the western part of the County and for Northern Virginia at large. "If I brought all of this together, La Grange can be a place where we focus on history and in wine that is more old world style” commented Pearmund at the time. The venue is one that now attracts wine lovers and history enthusiasts and tourists alike to the Haymarket, Virginia area.
The Winery at La Grange was formally launched in December 2005 and when opened to the public on Labor Day 2006, set national and international records for developing and opening a successful winery business. Making this happen was no small task, requiring a team of contractors, hired labor, investor volunteers and friends.
Several experts have confirmed paranormal activity on the property and (we believe) the spirit of Benoni guided the restoration. Benoni E. Harrison purchased the La Grange estate in 1837 and lived there until he died in 1869. Harrison is reported to have been very wealthy and during 1849 and 1850 was Prince William County's delegate to the Virginia General Assembly. Today, Benoni’s Lounge (the stone-walled cellar of the manor house) if a favorite quiet escape for many of the winery’s visitors.
The most significant change made to the property has been the refurbishment of the three-story 1790 manor house. The house has been renovated into a tasting room where wine is served and paired with foods from the region. Modern conveniences were not overlooked and the property even includes Wi-Fi to facilitate corporate meetings or allow individuals to “work” in a relaxing environment while at the historic La Grange farm. After sampling the wine flight, customers can meander throughout the building, visit the winery barrel room, and tour the grounds. Families and friends can picnic and enjoy the quiet, expansive and beautiful views of the nearby mountains.
Library of Congress records surfaced photographs that were taken in 1937 when the building was remodeled and additional photographs show the estate in 1958 (these are on display in the manor house). The English Boxwoods which surrounded the manor house in earlier years died from blight, but in their place are American boxwoods that have grown to a height of over 20 feet, forming an archway over a stone path that now leads from the manor house to the new winery building.
Research into La Grange's past also revealed many interesting stories. Visitors often share their experiences with our ghosts. One in particular is about a piano, playing in the (formerly) abandoned and vacant house.
In early 2006 as La Grange was being renovated, one evening a neighboring family of four walked over to see the changes being made. The house was locked and the mother and father had walked around back while their two children tried to enter through the front door. As the parents shook a back door lock they heard piano music playing inside. Being a musical family, they listened and one of the parents said, "The children must have opened the front door and found a piano." They found an unlocked side door and called out to the children as they entered the house. The music stopped! The parents searched for the children. The front door was double bolted from the inside with their children still outside, trying to open it. "We heard you playing the piano, where did you find one?" the children asked. After the four searched the manor house, they found no piano."
The winery owners subsequently discovered that Benoni Harrison willed to his nephew, B.H. Jordan (B: Oct 8, 1820 D: Jan 7, 1891), a number of items to include “the piano in the parlor.” A descendent of the family has the piano legs in a nearby home along with other historical papers and furniture that came from La Grange.
Stories about the house and its occupants abound. When you visit La Grange, you will find two fireplaces in the former dining room, repeated above in what was an upstairs bedroom; this second set being built by Benoni after this incident:
Benoni Harrison was quite a figurehead in his days, but not necessarily a large man according to various documents. His wife, Catherine Norvill Harrison was said to be of larger stature and at one social event, Benoni said something to her which she did not like; she grabbed him up and spanked him like a child in front of their guests. From that moment, Benoni refused to share a hearth with his wife and had the additional fireplaces installed.
A linear examination of La Grange's owners has been well underway and a vertical examination of them has surfaced interesting stories. Also, a visit from individuals such as the aforementioned Doyle Culbertson has been invaluable in Fletcher's refurbishing efforts. Another visitor, Pat Summitt, came and said she was a descendant of Jane Rebecca Harrison Foley. To support this further, Benoni Harrison's Last Will and Testament written in 1869 revealed Jane Rebecca Harrison to be a niece who later married a Foley. Other visitors drawn to the ongoing activity at La Grange have stopped by, sharing stories about the place. One in particular is about a piano playing in the abandoned and vacant house.
The Winery at La Grange is the only winery in Prince William County today, but it is not the first. Several vineyards and wineries existed in the County in the 1800s and 1900s. One of these was a vineyard and winery on a 200-acre farm called Batavia, near Haymarket, VA and founded by Franz Peters. Peters was also a partner with Christian Heineken, who owned Mill Park also near Haymarket. In 1869, The Mill Park Wine Company was founded on Heineken's property where wine was made from locally grown grapes.
In the 1800s, another 40-acre vineyard on the nearby Annaburg Estate and owned by Robert Portner produced a winning port-style wine. Evidence reveals that a bronze medal was awarded at the 1900 Paris Exposition for a port-style wine "Pride of Virginia Port" made from Portner's grapes by Washington, DC winemaker Christian Xander. In the 1950s, an Italian immigrant named John Scuitto built and operated a winery from 1949 to 1958 where he produced and sold four different wines.
The history of La Grange farm and winemaking in Prince William County continue to be researched. We hope that you will visit us and taste the history. The Winery at La Grange is located a short drive from Haymarket, VA where three major routes intersect: Interstate 66 and historic Virginia Routes 15 and 55.
Footnote: This history was originally compiled by Ray Olszewski in 2006.
