Founded in 1999, Kluge Estate Winery and Vineyard is tucked into the edge of the picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains, in Charlottesville, Virginia. The 2,000-acre estate is just miles from the birthplace of American viticulture, Thomas Jefferson’s famed Monticello. The “Monticello Appellation” is gaining recognition for producing serious wines and Kluge Estate is at the forefront. Combining meticulous winemaking practices with a genuine love of the land and support for the Virginia wine community, Kluge Estate is driving the region to fulfill its potential to create world-class wines.

Owner and chairwoman, Patricia Kluge, whose touch and taste is imprinted on every aspect of the operation, believed that her land in Albemarle County, Virginia could be a prime location for a vineyard. After extensive research of the estate’s soil and climate, she found her instincts were justified. The soil at Kluge Estate, with the red clay, sandy-clay, limestone and gravel, is similar to that of other great wine regions. Kluge Estate’s location on the Carter Mountain chain protects it from winds, rain and frost, and creates natural drainage and southeast orientation for maximum sun exposure of the vines, allowing for an ideal grape growing environment.

Patricia strived to achieve her dream of producing a great east coast wine -- her plan included investing in a state of the art wine-making facility and enlisting the knowledge of winemakers and consultants from the Virginia area and abroad. Three years after breaking ground, Kluge Estate Winery and Vineyard debuted the first full line of premium wines: Kluge Estate New World Red, Kluge SP New World Sparkling wine and Kluge CRU. Since that 2003 unveiling, the winery has introduced a second line of wines under the Albemarle label and is preparing additional releases for both brands.

Since its inception, Kluge Estate has planted additional vines each year and plans to slowly increase the acreage of wine producing vines, to grow the vineyard without ever compromising the quality. They will also continue experimenting to find the best clones, viticultural practices and winemaking techniques to express the terroir of Albemarle County, and specifically the essence of Kluge Estate on Carter Mountain.