Full biography
Paul and Loretta Briedé purchased their Winchester, Virginia property in 2002 and founded Briedé Family Vineyards in 2013, transforming former horse fields into a sustainably farmed estate. Guided by a passion for great wine and respect for the land, they initially operated as one of only two fully certified organic vineyards in Virginia. In 2019, they stepped back from certification due to the state’s challenging humidity and disease pressure but remained committed to clean, low-intervention practices that let the wine express its natural character. Their tasting room, opened in 2018 in the converted horse barn, pours estate-grown wines alongside select French Champagnes and sparkling wines. Specializing in disease-resistant hybrid grapes, they grow fruit that requires fewer chemicals and ripens reliably in Virginia’s climate, resulting in distinctive, high-quality wines. Sparkling Winchester earned a silver medal in the 2020 Governor’s Cup, and Arandell won silver at the 2020 International Sommelier Challenge.
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