Linden Vineyards: winery information
Winemaker: Jim Law
Jim Law is the owner/winemaker of Linden Vineyards and winegrower of Hardscrabble. An Ohio native, he was raised in the 1960’s and 1970’s by parents who loved to share their passion for food and wine. Study in Europe and two years teaching agriculture as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Zaire (Congo) led to the desire to grow grapes.
Jim’s first vineyard job was in Indiana where he traded work for a place to live. He then got a real job in Ohio at Chalet Debonne where he learned the nuts and bolts of grape growing and cellar work. In 1981 Jim was hired to start a winery in the Shenandoah Valley where he fell in love with the area and viticultural possibilities.
In the mid 1980’s while establishing Linden Vineyards he consulted for other wineries and taught winegrowing at local Community Colleges. He is currently obsessed with growing great wine and happiest in vineyard.
When not in the vineyard he enjoys cooking, eating in France, and writing for trade publications.
Annual Production: 5,000 cases
The estate vineyard surrounding the winery building. “Hardscrabble” is a term referring to this area on the Blue Ridge appropriately named for the steep, poor, rocky slopes that were difficult to farm. These soils have been wonderful for vines. The soils are very diverse. Excessively well-drained granite based soils grow our best quality red grapes, while the white varieties do well in the heavier Greenstone silt/clay soils. Elevation is 1,100 to 1,400 feet (370 to 470 meters). Slope aspect is primarily east, with some south and northeastern exposures.
The first 6 acres were planted in 1985. There are now 18 acres of vines.
Grape Varieties Planted
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Carmenere
- Cabernet Franc
- Merlot
- Petit Verdot
- Chardonnay
- Seyval Blanc
- Vidal Blanc
- Riesling
- Petit Manseng