A Loudoun wine professional with you every step of the way.

Prior to joining Loudoun Economic Development, Chris Blosser directed and managed day to day operations for a 404 acre Loudoun County farm winery, including winemaking (10,000+ cases) and vineyard (105 acres) operations, wholesale sales and relationship management, packaging design and branding, trademark establishment and management, grape and wine sales, payroll and financial reporting as well as facilities and compliance. With Loudoun DED, Chris has helped dozens of wine professionals start and expand operations, while navigating pitfalls and taking advantage of connections.

Chris will be at the 2024 Unified Wine & Grape Symposium. Use the form to the right to connect and learn more about DC’s Wine Country!

Chris Blosser rural business development manager

From panoramic hillside vineyards on the slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains to stylish tasting rooms on fertile farms in the Piedmont, Loudoun’s 50+ wineries and tasting rooms produce a range of varietals and experiences few other regions can match.

With perfect growing and sales climates, Loudoun offers those looking to start, expand, or support wineries on the East Coast proximity and access to a critical mass of industry that cultivates success. Whether you are looking to purchase an existing operation, buy land to start a fresh vision, or locate among a growing community of grape growers and winemakers to sell services to the industry, Loudoun is the perfect place to set down roots.

Over the last four decades, what was once a very much under-the-radar wine region has become a destination for many traveling oenophiles, with award-winning vintages and exceptional winemakers putting Virginia’s wine country on the map.

“My whole reason to come to Virginia,” says Jim Law, owner of Linden Vineyards, was because it presented a “rare opportunity for somebody in our profession.”

Why Loudoun?

Loudoun is one of the most popular wine regions of the state because of its proximity to Washington, D.C., just 40 miles to the east. In addition, the District’s Northern Virginia suburbs – population 3.2 million – are one of the wealthiest and most educated parts of the country. Vineyard hopping is a popular weekend activity, and over 50 vineyards have sprung up to serve the demand. 


Soils: 

The best sites for grape cultivation are deep, well-drained soils with granite and gneiss bedrock which is abundant in western Loudoun County. Compared to the rest of Northern Virginia, these soils have lower fertility and availability to water. Grape vines tend to do better when stressed.

Terrain:

Loudoun’s first AVA, know as the Middleburg AVA, is situated between the Blue Ridge Mountains to the west and the Catoctin and Bull Run Mountains to the east.  Like much of Northern Virginia west of the fall line, it has rolling hills, woods and creeks.
Elevation ranges from 220 feet (along the Potomac River shoreline) to 1470 feet. Most of the rolling hills within the AVA are at 450-550 feet elevation.

In addition to the Middleburg AVA established in 2012, Loudoun has identified 3 potential new AVA’s using the new TTB standards (Bluemont, Short Hill Mountain, and Cactoctin Ridge). 

Vineyard Technical Assistance:

Ready to learn more about DC’s Wine Country?

Chris will be at the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium and is excited to share the secret of Loudoun, Virginia. Fill out the form below to reserve some time.

Virginia’s Wine in the News

Virginia earns “Wine Region of the Year” award from Wine Enthusiast

Loudoun winery earns 2022 Governor’s Cup award

Loudoun Ranking in VA

Number of Farms = 1,259

Acres of Farmland = 121,932

Market Value of Ag Products Sold = $44 Million

#1 Honey Production = 16,893 pounds

#1 Hops Production = 2,100 pounds

#1 Grape Production = 1,022 acres

#1 Raspberry Farms = 16 farms

#1 Woman Run Farms = 725 principal farmers

#1 Veteran Run Farms = 324 principal farmers

#1 Wineries = 50+ wineries (and counting!)

#1 in Cut Flowers sales – $1.4 Million

#1 in Income from Farm-Related Services (Agritourism) – $4.95 M

#2 in Sheep and Goat Farms

Loudoun County acres of Total Harvested Cropland increased 5.7%, well above the National increase of 1.6 percent.