Going Back in the Pages of Time at The Winery at Bull Run

As we are right next to the Manassas National Battlefield Park, visitors arriving at our winery can't resist trying to know more about its historic significance. Besides this historic park, ruins of Hillwood House also draw our visitor's attention. The foundation and chimney of Hillwood House are still there serving as an outdoor gathering place nowadays. There is a story linked to the history of Hillwood. 

Way back in 1840, the Hillwood land on which TWABR sits now was owned by the Weir family. In that 513 acres estate, a double-story clapboard house was built. We could have the privilege to know the happenings in Bull Run's first & second battles, just if the Hillwood walls could talk. The house was quite near to the battle field and so was witness to whatever happened at that time.

Built in 1825, a Stone Bridge located around half mile away from Hillwood is the source from where we used the idea for our winery's label. We used the image of this beautiful bridge while creating TWABR's label. In 1862, the bridge's center span was blown up by Confederate soldiers. It was rebuilt later but destroyed again by the Union soldiers when they suffered defeat in Second Manassas battle. The Hillwood House survived this course of time, but post Civil war, its ownership changed multiple times. 

Julius T. Richards, an enthusiastic Civil War artifacts collector purchased the house. He got the National Battlefield Museum, containing more than 100,000 artifacts, built to the east of Stone Bridge. Later, he closed the museum and went to Vicksburg. The Hillwood House was again sold in 1944 and then in 1946. A severe fire damaged the house in 1990, bringing down its roof and second floor. In 2008, Jon Hickox bought the left 21 acres with his plans of building the winery. To know more about Hillwood, you can visit our tasting room where we have displayed photos of Hillwood house and Civil War relics. 

Just for $8, you can also get a copy of our recently published “The Winery at Bull Run and the History of Hillwood,” that is well-written by Chuck Mauro, a local historian. You will definitely relish our tasty Northern Virginia wine on a cold winter's day when you sit and relax next to our tasting room's fireplace. Besides offering exotic wines to wine-lovers, TWABR has also ideally served the purpose of being one of the best wedding venues in Virginia. You can visit the winery for daily tastings at the time specified. 

For more details please visit the website : wineryatbullrun.com