Our Story
“We are certainly not pioneers. Rather we can build upon the experience that other Virginia vintners have had and refine the particular varietals for which Virginia can produce world class wines. Viognier and Cabernet Franc show particular promise.”
Owners Margo and David Pollak founded Pollak Vineyards out of a shared passion for wine and the vineyard lifestyle. David's experience began in the 1970s with Sonoma's Russian River vineyards and one of Napa Valley’s first Carneros wineries. In Virginia, the Pollaks recognized the region’s potential for exceptional wines, selecting an ideal site and applying top-notch vineyard and winemaking practices with guidance from experienced vintners.​
Innovative Winemaking
We opened our winery in 2008, designed to control every step of the winemaking process. We stabilize fruit in a cold room before crush and fermentation and produce small-batch wines with varied yeast treatments to highlight our terroir. Gravity flow moves the wine gently from the crush pad to the production area and into our hillside barrel aging room.
All cases of our estate-grown wines are hand-harvested and sorted before being cooled and fermented. We craft small lots to bring out unique flavors, blending only after blind taste tests. Our first wine, a 2005 Meritage, continues to deliver a consistent Bordeaux blend of merlot, cabernet franc, and petit verdot, with planting expanded to include varietals that thrive in Central Virginia.
Vision Evokes a Culture
Our goal is to produce the highest quality fruit through the work of a skilled year-round crew. In winter, they hand-prune old growth and prepare for new plantings. After bud break in spring, they manage the canopy, adjust crop load, and ensure optimal vine health. Harvest begins in August or September, with the team hand-picking 100 tons of grapes over 6–8 weeks, ready to begin their journey to your glass.
David sees the same spirit in Virginia that he witnessed in the early days of the California wine industry, and he foresees similar success here.