Photo Journal: Paradise Springs Winery, Clifton, Virginia

As I searched for a required internship for my graduate degree, I wanted to learn new skills in a field related to my area of study, tourism management. Working at Paradise Springs Winery as it prepared to open its tasting rooms and vineyard to the public sounded exciting and interesting. Paradise Springs Winery is located in the historic town of Clifton, Virginia, and is Fairfax County’s first and only winery.

Clifton was considered a resort town because of the mineral springs in the area. In the early 1900s, the water was tested and deemed pure. The bottling plant was built in 1910, and Paradise water was bottled and sold.

When I arrived the first day to meet with owners, Kirk Wiles and his mother, Jane Kincheloe, I found a historic gem and my bit of paradise in the busy Washington, D.C. area!

The 19th-century cabin, which now serves as a tasting room, sits on 36 acres of land that were part of an original 100-acre land grant from Lord Fairfax to the family in 1716. The cabin was renovated in 1955 by Howard Richert, a Frank Lloyd Wright protégé.

The barn that now sits on the property was originally located in downtown Fairfax. In 1956, it was taken down piece-by-piece, numbered and then reassembled board-by-board on the property.

The vineyard was planted in 2008 with Cabernet Franc grapes, a parent clone of the Cabernet Sauvignon grape. Cabernet Franc is the signature wine of Virginia, however, my personal favorite is Paradise Springs Winery’s Norton, a blend of 90 percent Norton and 10 percent Cabernet Franc. While I love the taste, I have to admit that the history of the Norton grape also draws me to this wine. The Norton grape, also known as the Thomas Jefferson grape, was first cultivated in Virginia in the 1800s, only to disappear from the state during prohibition. Today, Virginia and Missouri are the biggest producers of this wine. It is also one of the healthiest of the red grapes, high in antioxidants, and therefore very good for you!

There is more to the story of this bit of paradise. Come out for a wine tasting -- enjoy the afternoon with a glass of wine and a picnic on the property, and visit the historic town of Clifton. Though I finished my internship months ago, I still head out to the winery on sunny afternoons to get away from the city!

Have you been to Paradise Springs Winery in Fairfax County, Virginia? If so, share your review and photos on Gozaic. Fairfax County is a Gozaic partner.

Sarah Gabriele is partner relations manager for Gozaic.

Photos courtesy of Sarah Gabriele.