Winery hosts Annandale HS Day
 |
| Philip Carter Strother |
Everyone who went to Annandale High School – or anyone who
would enjoy a day at a winery – is invited to the seventh annual Annandale High
School Day at Philip Carter Winery in Hume, Va., April 25, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
would enjoy a day at a winery – is invited to the seventh annual Annandale High
School Day at Philip Carter Winery in Hume, Va., April 25, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
“AHS Day is an opportunity for alumni to meet and reconnect
in wine country,” says winery owner Philip Carter Strother, who graduated from
AHS in 1987 and played defensive end on the Atoms football team.
in wine country,” says winery owner Philip Carter Strother, who graduated from
AHS in 1987 and played defensive end on the Atoms football team.
The event features live music, with the band Bad Hair Day, whose
members also went to Annandale, and the D.C.-based food truck, Amorini Panini. Anyone wearing the AHS colors – red and white – will receive
a 10 percent discount on wine purchases. The winner of the “most spirited/best
dressed” contest will receive a complimentary bottle of wine.
There will be a silent auction of AHS-branded clothing and a
raffle for a night’s stay at the Inn at Vineyards Crossing, which Strother also
owns. All proceeds will benefit AHS student athletes who need financial help for purchasing
uniforms.
raffle for a night’s stay at the Inn at Vineyards Crossing, which Strother also
owns. All proceeds will benefit AHS student athletes who need financial help for purchasing
uniforms.
Strother grew up in the Ravensworth Farms community and
during summers and weekends used to
visit his grandparents’ farm in Fauquier County, which had been in the family
for generations.
during summers and weekends used to
visit his grandparents’ farm in Fauquier County, which had been in the family
for generations.
Years later, “the family was trying to figure out how
keep the family farm going, and we decided the best way was to open a winery,”
Strother says. “When a piece of property eight miles away came on the market,
it seemed like a good fit.”
keep the family farm going, and we decided the best way was to open a winery,”
Strother says. “When a piece of property eight miles away came on the market,
it seemed like a good fit.”
The winery, which opened in 2008, is operated by Strother,
his wife Danielle (Annandale HS Class of 1988), and eight minority owners,
including two AHS graduates, Steve Mills (1987) and Arthur Reiser (1988).
his wife Danielle (Annandale HS Class of 1988), and eight minority owners,
including two AHS graduates, Steve Mills (1987) and Arthur Reiser (1988).
Sixteen of the farm’s 27 acres are vineyards. The farm produces 5,000 cases of wine annually, including chardonnay, viognier, cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon,
petit Bordeaux, tannat, and vidal blanc.
petit Bordeaux, tannat, and vidal blanc.
While Strother has learned a lot about cultivating vineyards
and producing wine, the actual winemaking is carried out by professionals. He
spends his days mostly as a practicing attorney in Richmond specializing in
“wine law.”
and producing wine, the actual winemaking is carried out by professionals. He
spends his days mostly as a practicing attorney in Richmond specializing in
“wine law.”
He represents wineries throughout Virginia, chairs the Virginia Wine Council, the lobbying arm
of the state’s wine industry, and was legal counsel for Clifton landowners who
successfully fought off a legal challenge on land use issues in their attempt
to develop Paradise Springs, the first winery in Fairfax County.
of the state’s wine industry, and was legal counsel for Clifton landowners who
successfully fought off a legal challenge on land use issues in their attempt
to develop Paradise Springs, the first winery in Fairfax County.
Philip Carter Winery is open seven days a week, and hosts
educational tours and tastings, live music on weekends, and weddings and other
special events.
educational tours and tastings, live music on weekends, and weddings and other
special events.
2 responses to “Winery hosts Annandale HS Day”
Leave a reply
Thank you for the wonderful article Ellie. We hope to see you in wine country on the 25th! Cheers, Philip
This sounds amazing too bad I have another event that day.