Cleve Day – Celebrating of the Life of an American Wine Pioneer

On April 28th, we celebrate the life of Charles Carter of Cleve (ca. 1707–1764), who in 1762 received the first international recognition for producing excellent wine in Virginia in 1762.   Charles Carter, 5th child born of Colonel Robert “King” Carter and Elizabeth Landon-Wells was born in Lancaster County, Virginia, and resided in Lancaster and King George County, Virginia.  In 1754, he built Cleve Plantation and its magnificence vied with seats of his brothers, John of Shirley, Robert of Nomini, Landon of Sabine Hall, and with the homes of his sisters, Anne of Berkeley and Judith of Rosewell.
 

In 1759, a committee of the Virginia assembly was formed and charged with the question of economic diversification, a question made urgent by the depression in the tobacco trade.  As its chairman, Charles Carter entered into correspondence with Peter Wyche in London, chairman of the agriculture committee for the Society for the Encouragement of the Arts, Manufacture, and Commerce (now the Royal Society of Arts), which offered prizes for various desirable enterprises in the colonies, among them vine growing and winemaking.  Carter’s correspondence reveals that the prospects and methods for the cultivation of the grape in Virginia were an important subject.  Carter had already begun grape growing at Cleve, where he made wines from both native and European grapes, and it was natural that he should have chosen commercial winemaking as one of his proposals for economic reform in Virginia.

 

The London society took an encouraging view of Carter’s proposals and recommended various vines and practices, including the trial of distilling brandy from the native grapes.  In 1762 Carter, who by then had 1,800 vines growing at Cleve, sent to the London society a dozen bottles of his wine, made from the American winter grape and from a vineyard of “white Portugal summer grapes.” These samples were so pleasing to taste—“they were both approved as excellent wines,” the society’s secretary wrote—that on October 20, 1762, the society awarded Carter a gold medal as the first person to make a “spirited attempt towards the accomplishment of their views, respecting wine in America.”  Mr. Carter died on April 26, 1764.

 

In celebration of this important day in American wine culture, we are offering our customers a 30% bottle discount on all bottles of our 2020 Cleve! Maximum two case per person.

 

WINE CLUB MEMBERS: receive a discount at 40% off.

AMBASSADOR CLUB: purchase a case and get 50% off! Today and every day!

Rosewell Day

On March 10th, we celebrate the 298th anniversary of Rosewell Plantation. Located in Gloucester County, VA, Rosewell estate was built in 1725 by Charles Mann Page and Judith Carter Page who was the sister of Charles and Landon Carter. At 2,000sq. ft., Rosewell stood as the largest and costliest mansion in the colony.  Thomas Jefferson was a frequent and welcome visitor at Rosewell, and it is said that Jefferson wrote a draft of the Declaration of Independence in what is now known as the “Blue Room,” a room situated on the northwest corner of the second floor.  In 1916, Rosewell was destroyed by fire, although it remains as beautiful historic ruins today that are open to the visiting public.
 

In celebration of this important day in American wine culture we are offering our customers a 30% bottle discount on all bottles of our Rosewell Rose! Maximum two case per person.

 

WINE CLUB MEMBERS: receive a discount at 40% off.

AMBASSADOR CLUB: purchase a case and get 50% off! Today and every day!

Ten Vines Day

In 1619, the Virginia House of Burgesses – the first legislative assembly of the New World – passed Acte 12. The Acte required every landowner in Virginia to plant ten vines on their property yearly for the purposes of growing grapes to make wine. This Acte was the first recorded history of the efforts to grow European varietals in the New World. While unsuccessful due to Phylloxera aphid and disease, today we celebrate this Acte as the beginnings of wine production in Virginia. Additionally, it was in response to Acte 12 that Charles Carter planted 1,800 vines at Cleve Plantation. It was from these vines that he produced the first internationally recognized wine in the New World in October of 1762.

Our Ten Vines label was created as a tribute to Acte 12 and the Ten Vines that the landowners were required to plant.

In celebration of this historic Acte, on Friday, November 11th, we are offering our customers a 30% bottle discount on all bottles of our Ten Vines Wines! Maximum two cases per customer.

WINE CLUB MEMBERS: receive a discount at 40% off.
AMBASSADOR CLUB: purchase a case and get 50% off! Today and every day!

The Day of the Norton Grape

On May 6th, we celebrate Virginia’s native grape, the Norton.  Norton was first cultivated in 1820 on Magnolia Farm located in Richmond, Virginia by Dr. Daniel Norton.  Over the remainder of the 19th century, the Norton grape varietal grew in importance as a wine producer especially adapted to the conditions of eastern North America.  In 1873, a Norton wine was declared the “best red wine of all nations” at a worldwide competition in Vienna.  Many of the nation’s finest hotels and restaurants stocked Virginia vintages, and President U.S. Grant is known to have kept a righteous supply in his White House cellars.

 

In celebration of this important day in American wine culture, we are offering our customers a 30% bottle discount on all bottles of our Magnolia Farm! Maximum two cases per person.

 

WINE CLUB MEMBERS: receive a discount at 40% off.

AMBASSADOR CLUB: purchase a case and get 50% off! Today and every day!

Rosewell Day

On March 18th, we celebrate the 297th anniversary of Rosewell Plantation. Located in Gloucester County, VA, Rosewell estate was built in 1725 by Charles Mann Page and Judith Carter Page who was the sister of Charles and Landon Carter. At 2,000sq. ft., Rosewell stood as the largest and costliest mansion in the colony.  Thomas Jefferson was a frequent and welcome visitor at Rosewell, and it is said that Jefferson wrote a draft of the Declaration of Independence in what is now known as the “Blue Room,” a room situated on the northwest corner of the second floor.  In 1916, Rosewell was destroyed by fire, although it remains as beautiful historic ruins today that are open to the visiting public.

 

In celebration of this important day in American wine culture we are offering our customers a 30% bottle discount on all bottles of our Rosewell Rose! Maximum two case per person.

 

WINE CLUB MEMBERS: receive a discount at 40% off.

AMBASSADOR CLUB: purchase a case and get 50% off! Today and every day!

Virtual Tasting: Pre-Release & 2021 Review

Virtual Tastings are Back at PCW!
Friday, January 7th at 6:00 pm on Facebook Live

Join Tony McDonnell, PCW Winemaker, Philip Strother, Owner, and Nora Weaver, General Manager as they bring back the Virtual Tasting!

Tony, Philip, and Nora will be reviewing the 2021 Harvest Season while tasting through 4 of our newly bottled wines in our next Virtual Tasting Event live on Facebook on January 7th.

Tasting Line Up

 

Join us Live as we taste and chat about these new wines!

Want to Taste With Us?
We are offering a deal on these 4 wines so you can taste along with us from the comforts of your home. Get these wines for 20% off!

Get all 4 wines or just one. You can choose. If you get at least 3 bottles you will receive free shipping as well!

Want All Four Bottles?
Retail Value: $175.00
20% Discount: $140.00

To Buy Your Bottles…
Click the button below to add the bottles to your cart. Once they are in your cart you can adjust the order by adding, subtracting, or updating the cart from there.

Buy it online or stop by Thursday – Monday to get your bundle. If you would like to have your bundle shipped to you, your order must be placed by end of day Monday, January 3rd to guarantee that you will receive it in time to participate.

We are excited to share these wines with you, Cheers!

 

Ten Vines Day

In 1619, the Virginia House of Burgesses – the first legislative assembly of the New World – passed Acte 12. The Acte required every landowner in Virginia to plant ten vines on their property yearly for the purposes of growing grapes to make wine. This Acte was the first recorded history of the efforts to grow European varietals in the New World. While unsuccessful due to Phylloxera aphid and disease, today we celebrate this Acte as the beginnings of wine production in Virginia. Additionally, it was in response to Acte 12 that Charles Carter planted 1,800 vines at Cleve Plantation. It was from these vines that he produced the first internationally recognized wine in the New World in October of 1762.

Our Ten Vines label was created as a tribute to Acte 12 and the Ten Vines that the landowners were required to plant.

In celebration of this historic Acte, on Friday, November 12th, we are offering our customers a 30% bottle discount on all bottles of our Ten Vines Cabernet Sauvignion! Maximum two cases per customer.

WINE CLUB MEMBERS: receive a discount at 40% off.
AMBASSADOR CLUB: purchase a case and get 50% off! Today and every day!

Virtual Tasting

Join us on Facebook Live, Friday, February 26th at 6 pm as we taste through 2 brand new unreleased wines. Get the bundle now and taste along with us. Bundle discounted 20% off!

Bundle Includes:

  • 2019 Chardonnay
  • 2019 Ten Vines Red

Retail Value: $62.00

Discounted 20% off: $49.60

Buy the Bundle

Facebook Event Here