Chris Blosser
Department of Economic Development
Title: Rural Business Development Manager
Phone: 703-771-5187
Email
Chris Blosser serves as the Rural Business Development Manager for Loudoun Economic Development, where he is dedicated to enhancing and expanding the rural economy.
His work with farms, rural small businesses, and craft beverage enterprises is crucial to preserving Loudoun’s unique character and ensuring it remains a vibrant place to live, work, and play.
A resident of western Loudoun County for nearly 20 years, Chris has extensive experience in both conservation and agribusiness. Before joining Loudoun Economic Development, he was the Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations at the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, the nonprofit organization that leads a public/private partnership to protect and manage the world’s longest hiking-only trail which winds its way along Loudoun’s western border as it nears its’ halfway point between Maine and Georgia. Prior to that, he spent 12 years as the General Manager one of Virginia’s largest vineyard and winery operations.
Chris managed the day-to-day operations of Breaux Vineyards, a 404-acre farm winery in Loudoun County, expanding the operation, physically, through new vineyard plantings as well as production capacity and hospitality infrastructure. He oversaw winemaking, vineyard management (105 acres), packaging design and branding, trademark management, grape and wine sales, payroll, financial reporting, compliance, and domestic wholesale and export sales. In 2009, in partnership with an importer, Chris spearheaded the initiatives for Virginia wine’s introduction to the UK market. Through strategic placements and overseas trade missions over the next few years, Virginia wines picked up media attention from top wine critics, Oz Clarke, Steven Spurrier and Jancis Robinson. These efforts contributed to raising visibility for the Virginia wine industry and Loudoun County.
Most recently, a Virginia (American Viticultural Area) AVA was named “Wine Enthusiast’s Wine Region of the Year” (2023) and a northern Virginia winery was purchased by the Bouygues family, owners of the Bordeaux second growth Château Montrose citing “climate change is putting Virginia on the world wine map as a serious contender for exceptional wines.”
At Loudoun Economic Development, Chris has assisted numerous wine professionals in starting and expanding their operations, helping them navigate challenges and leverage valuable connections.
Chris holds a Bachelor of Science in Communications from Ohio University. He has held leadership positions in several trade organizations, including the Loudoun County Farm Bureau, Loudoun Wineries Association, and the Virginia Wine Board. Outside of work, Chris enjoys hiking local trails with his children and participating in the small-town events that make Loudoun special.
