Let the Summers Find you Enjoying Time at The Winery at Bull Run

Spring time is the time of the year when the dormancy of the cold wintery months are behind us and mother nature is all geared up to embrace us with warmth and greenery. It is the time when all the lifeforms shed off their shackles that the cold has put on them and bath afresh in the glory of the sunshine. Something similar happens in the greens of The Winery at Bull Run and beyond one's imagination the entire winery starts sipping from the sweet elixir of this wonderful life.

The Winery at Bull Run offers the people who come calling to the place some of the finest of Virginia wines coupled with the most delicious food that you would ever come across. Just like every summer season, this time also the management at the winery has planned a series of events that would enthrall the people who would come to have a real blast at the winery. The historical surroundings and the most delectable wines would take you into the times that were enthralling and magnetic. The winery would be celebrating the father's day on June 21^st. The day would be full of live music featuring Ken Fischer. There would be free cigar rolling and free photo booth to capture the moment. You can also enjoy the delicious food from Bad to the Bone BBQ Food Truck from 1-5pm.

On June 26^th you can again spend some gala time at the winery. At 6:30pm you can enjoy some great laughter, music, and create a one of its kind of masterpiece on glass. This month the winery would also be celebrating its third anniversary. It was exactly three years ago this month when the owners Jon and Kim Hickox cut the ribbons that officially opened the doors to the winery. Since that time more than 300.000 customers have walked through the same doors.

Maximum Fun, Pleasure & Entertainment Ensured This Summer at TWABR

The summers at The Winery at Bull Run are celebrated in style and with gusto right throughout the season. It is that time of the year when the people have thrown off the shackles that the cold winter months had put on them and are now in a mood to celebrate and savor the sweet nectar of life resplendent in all its glory. It is the time of the year when the winery too steps out of its slumber and the beautiful vineyards open themselves to the benedictory sunshine and simply bask in the glory of the majestic creation. 

We at The Winery at Bull Run are well aware of the fact that the summer season is the time when people have the chance and the inclination to have the maximum fun and pleasure and therefore have planned a series of events that would last the whole of the summer months. From country line dancing on May 22nd to our memorial day festivities from May 23rd to may 25th to our three year anniversary weekend celebration on May 29th all the events have been planned keeping in mind the merry mood of the people who simply want to celebrate the advent of summer and that too in style.

There are more than one reason to be at The Winery at Bull Run this summer season. You would not only get to enjoy the festive spirit of the place but would get to do that while savoring the finest of Virginia Wines prepared specially for revelers like you. Add to that the historical significance of the place and no doubt you would feel like an individual who has seen life in all its hues and that too at close quarters. So just enjoy this summer season in its full resplendence at The Winery at Bull Run with some splendid wines and sumptuous food.

Some bizarre encounters at the Winery

The Winery at Bull Run is located quite close to the historical Manassas National Battlefield Park. The place has a long history and quite a few of stories have unfolded here. It is quite natural that the people who are associated with the winery in the present would have certain outrageous accounts of happenings that occurred with them at the place. Some of the bizarre events that the employees and even the owners of the Winery witnessed are documented below.

By Dean Gruenburg, Tasting Room Manager 

April 2014 

The past spring he kept getting bizarre smells at the bottom of the steps of the tasting room. Initially he thought that they may have been coming from the bathrooms or the barrel room. He walked towards the bathrooms but nothing smelled out of the ordinary. SO he went downstairs to the barrel room and all that he could smell was the wood oak of the winery and the rustic wine. SO he came back upstairs. As he was walking up towards the General Deck's door it came again. As he opened the door the horrid smell very strangely vanished. He walked up to the deck and checked everywhere for that smell but found nothing. He came back down and shut the door. Just as he was about the walk down the stairs towards the tasting room the odor brushed across his face. He asked it to move away from him and go higher towards the staircase near the General Deck's door. Immediately he heard the sound of footsteps on a flight of stairs above him. 

By Cole Farmer, TWABR Staff

November 2013 

He and an accomplice Tyler were outside taking out the trash. When they were by the Hillwood Ruins, Tyler decided to take a seat on the Ruins. At the time the Winery had lights placed there although nothing was plugged in. When Tyler sat down all the lights suddenly turned on. Weirded out a little he got up and shouted “What the..?” and without any warning the lights turned off. Again he sat down and the lights switched on. Bothe of them thought it wise to rush towards the winery.

By Jon Hickox, Owner

Recently Jon met up with his good friend Bill and had a nice chat with him regarding the winery's exciting history. Bill boards a horse at the neighboring Union Ridge Horse Farm. During their conversation Bill mentioned the story of the lost cavalry and shared the horrifying experience of a young man ten years ago. It was right after sunset when the young man was riding towards the back of the field leading to Sudley Ford. He had been trail on the Manassas Battlefield since early morning and was very tired. All of sudden he heard a loud “Thump Thump” and subsequently the echoes of hundred's of horses' hooves galloping along. As he stopped for a moment to see where the sounds were coming from he could find nothing. As he turned to leave all at once a huge troop of civil War cavalry rode right through him. The young man just froze totally bewildered. 

For more details please visit : http://www.wineryatbullrun.com/

Going Back in Time - Narrating the History of Historic Hillwood

Location of our winery is right next to the historic Manassas National Battlefield Park; and this is something the visitors to our winery just can’t avoid. Its the stone ruins of historic Hillwood house that attracts them strongly. The chimney & foundation of this historic house still stand and have become a place for people to gather besides serving as a link to the past. A rich, interesting history is associated with Hillwood. It was during the 1840s that the Weir family owned the land where our winery sits at present. A total of 513 acres was included in the estate at one point of time. It can be said that the walls of Hillwood would speak up the details of the first & second battles that took place at Bull Run. The Hillwood House was quite near to the fighting scene and must have also witnessed the activities of Union and Confederate soldiers during the battle period. 

The Stone Bridge that acts as the source of our winery’s label is located near Route 29, south of Hillwood. Built in 1825, this marvelous looking bridge was blown up by the Confederate Soldiers in the year 1862. As only the center span was blown up, re-building the bridge was very much possible. It was rebuilt with help of wood later; however, after Union soldiers faced defeat in Second Manassas, they blew it up again. It would bring to your mind the confusion that Hillwood House may have got destroyed too. But actually, the house remain undamaged though its ownership kept on changing after the Civil war. It was hard for the family farmers to make a go of the land straight away after the war. Julius T. Richards, an enthusiastic collector of Civil War artifacts bought the house during the depression. He built the National Battlefield Museum to the east of Stone Bridge on Route 29. Today, there is a visitor parking lot at this place. Richard’s museum includes more than 100,000 artifacts that serve as a source of interest for art lovers. 

If you wish to learn more about Hillwood, you can visit our winery’s tasting room. In this nicely adorned room, you will get to see photos of the historic Hillwood house. Its always quite soothing for wine lovers to stop by our winery and relish some of the best wines of Virginia. You can also explore the beautiful VA vineyards as you go for exploring the nearby area. TWABR is not just the most sought-after place for relishing wines but also a preferred site for arranging corporate events. Its not just company parties that you can organize at TWABR; you can also arrange a business meeting, seminar, charity auction, product launch party, fundraiser, and team building events as per your requirement. Surely, you will make a lasting impression on your guests when your organize your next Corporate event at TWABR.

How Our Rock Mill Vineyard will Help TWABR to Reach Next Level

The Winery at Bull Run has been delighting wine-enthusiasts with exotic wines since inception. Recently, we bought a new vineyard in Little Washington and we are sure that this new vineyard will take our winery to the next level. Let's know the reasons for the same. 

Firstly, we are sure that Viognier will thrive best in Little Washington as the conditions here are perfectly suited for growing this grape variety. Besides Viognier, we can also grow all other varietals here. The rich soil in Little Washington is perfect for grapes. Most importantly, the location of this place makes it easy for us to reach within an hour and thus get a hands-on approach for preserving quality. 

Arrange your Next Corporate Event at TWABR.. 

TWABR provides the ideal site for arranging corporate events in Northern Virginia. If you have a corporate event to organize at TWABR, then we will make sure that you make a lasting impression on your guests. At TWABR, we give you the option to arrange your business meeting, company party, product launch party or any team building events as per your choice. 

Our winery's relaxing atmosphere will for sure delight your guests as they enjoy delicious food and sip our tasty wines available during your special event. We have a rich history associated with our winery that provides ample interesting topics of conversation. Your guests will almost feel at home as our friendly staff will make their experience at the winery a truly memorable one. While being at our winery, you can enjoy taking a tour of the beautiful VA vineyards. 

At our winery, you will get plenty of spaces to make your event a grand one. In out winery's Barrel room, wine is made & restored. Our Barrel room offers the perfect setting for a cocktail hour or private party. The vaulted ceilings of our tasting room make it the preferred room for arranging wedding receptions besides other events. While Tasting room can hold 200 seated guests, Barrel room can accommodate 90 seated guests.

Get Ready for Ultimate Fun this Spring Season.. 

At The Winery at Bull Run, we are concerned about arranging events that bring smiles on the faces of people. We would be organizing one-of-a-kind Sushi Night at TWABR on April 30, 2015. Adding to this event's charm would be world-renowned chef Kaimana Chee. During this exciting event, you can learn how to roll Vegetable Roll, California Roll, and Spicy Tuna Roll while taking sips of our exotic wine. Price range for the tickets will be between $53.00 - $59.00 while Club members can enjoy special pricing. You can book your ticket in advance.

TWABR – The Perfect Venue in Virginia to Arrange Corporate Events...

Located in Fairfax county in Virginia, The Winery at Bull Run has become the preferred choice for wine enthusiasts. At our winery, people get to relish the best exotic Virginia wines with their family & friends. Over the years, we have solidified our place in the Virginia wine industry and this shows in the high demand for our offered Red & White wines. TWABR also offers the ideal venue to arrange private & corporate events.

Wedding, engagement ceremonies, birthday party, family gatherings are some of the private events arranged at the winery. Corporate events include company's achievement party, foundation day celebration, new product launch and more. At the winery, you will get to savor our award-winning Red & White wines. Our convenient location makes everything more easy-going & enjoyable for wine enthusiasts.

So, what makes TWABR perfectly right for arranging corporate events ? Firstly, The Hillwood ruin outside TWABR provides a mesmerizing site for arranging ceremonies. Prominent spaces available in our winery for special corporate occasions include The Barrel Room and Tasting Room. Our wine is made & stored in the Barrel Room that offers a cozy, rustic atmosphere for celebration. Featuring vaulted ceilings and reclaimed wood details, The Barrel Room holds ample space for arranging larger events. 

 

Our 2600 square feet Tasting Room can accommodate 250 standing guests and 200 seated guests without a dance floor. The 1600 square feet Barrel room has capacity of accommodating 90 seated guests. Planning a corporate event at TWABR is extremely simple as you get an event coordinator to help you plan your event in the way you prefer. During the event planning process, you can refer to the assigned event coordinator in case any doubt or questions trouble you.

TWABR also has a preferred vendor list that will further ease your task of arranging the event with great success. Our vendors list includes service providers suggestions for catering, photography, florists, entertainment and more. You will be required to choose your preferred caterer from this list as outside caterer is not allowed for the event. Though outside caterer is not allowed, you can bring your own canned beer as per requirement. This can be done by placing an order through the caterer.

The Winery at Bull Run has been providing exceptional Virginia wines and a glimpse of Virginia's rich heritage. If you have any corporate event or any other private event to organize at our winery, do get in touch with our team.

Meet Executive Wine Maker- Chris Pearmund

Chris Pearmund is a well known and a respected winemaker of Virginia. He has overall 25 years experience in wine making. He works as a mentor to multiple professionals in the wine industry and has achieved various respected positions:

• Selected President of the Virginia Vineyard association
• Took the responsibility of chairman of the Virginia Wine and Food Society
• Became Board Member of the Virginia Wineries Association
• First winery that introduced in OXO Barrel System- Gold standards for barrel rooms

He is very popular in Virginia and well known as a “Wine Guy.” As an expert in wine making, he advices various tips to Virginia winemakers. When Jon Hickox considered to start a winery at Bull Run, he approached Chris Pearmund.

Pearmund Cellars, an award-winning winery was growing in full phase under the guidance of Chris Pearmund. Pearmund had viticultural knowledge and good strategy about, how to grow wine industry in Virginia within minimum span of time. They already supported more than 15 wineries for its start-ups in Virginia and some other states. He is easily approachable and is quite optimistic about the great future of Virginia wines and The winery at Bull Run. 

Recently, we got the chance to talk to wine guy “Chris Pearmund” about his experience at TWABR. He helped there in design, build and brand the winery and also take care of all aspects of wine production. Let's see some highlights of the interview:

“ During the time of restaurant business, I had great passion in cooking. I felt wine making and cooking are almost similar work. In both the conditions you need to properly balance your raw ingredients and how they mix into a final product. An experienced chef has a great idea as to consistently produce a good end product with little varying input ingredients.”

Just like an executive chef, there were multiple proteins to work with like chicken, beef or sea food in developing a menu, similarly for wine making, four types of grapes are available- Merlot, Cabernet, Chardonnay and Sauvignon that are used as traditional ingredients. Whether you are making the protein or the wine, there is a little difference between, what constitutes the house style and my work is there just create and maintain the house style for Bull Run.

“Our main achievement is to maintain a quality product consistently with house style and that makes the quality of Bull Run is unique. Bull Run has a list of unique house style wines like Delaney, Fort and Norton. Moreover, we proudly introduced one more unique wine that make in house style by using fruit. We offered high quality fruit wine with ultimate taste.

The Bull Run winery is open daily for getting the best taste of wine and offer a fabulous place for receptions, parties and wedding ceremonies.