2019 Narmada Yash Vir, Meritage, Rappahannock County, VA

From winning medals at the San Francisco International Wine Competition to the Virginia Governor's Cup, this boutique, woman made and owned winery is a hidden gem.

Aromatic with scents of plum and cedar, this well-structured, classic bordeaux blend boasts impeccable balance of fruit, oak, acidity and tannin. Flavors of black cherry, plum, and pepper dominate while nuances of licorice and cedar show the pedigree of each varietal. A blend, Bordeaux style of 40.8% Merlot, 26.8% Cabernet Franc, 20.3% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12.1% Petit Verdot.

As years passed, Pandit and Sudha started to plan for their eventual retirement. At the couple’s 29th Anniversary dinner at the renowned Inn at Little Washington, the plan to plant a vineyard took shape. On this visit to Rappahannock, Pandit and Sudha discovered a gently rolling piece of land on which to build their dream.

At this time, Virginia was just starting to be known as a quality wine-producing region. The Patils brought in Pat Peacock from Virginia Tech and noted Virginia Viticulturist Lucie Morton, who performed climate and soil studies and advised the couple on which varietals would thrive in these circumstances. The first vineyard was planted in 2004. Several more acres were planted the following year and today is standing at 20 acres.

Sudha Patil hails from Thane, a small town outside Mumbai, India. From her parents, Balachandra and Susheela Khadke, Dr. Patil learned the hard-driving, tenacious work ethic that is needed to succeed in business. She has been a proud Virginia resident for over 40 years and practiced endodontics in Northern Virginia for 20+ years, and now part-time in Culpeper, VA. She holds a BS in Chemistry from George Mason, a DDS from Georgetown University and an MS in Oral Biology from the University of Maryland.