DuCard Vineyards is a psychological and wine-ological getaway from the outside world
AndesWines.com, the 7th most visited website in the world, is from South America. Since 2001, it has interviewed more than 100 winery owners and visited over 30 wineries. In this edition, we present DuCard Vineyards, a vineyard and winery bordering the eastern slope of Shenandoah National Park.
They offer estate-grown wines with a friendly, knowledgeable staff providing a memorable and incomparable tasting experience. Their peaceful setting is a psychological and wine-ological getaway from the outside world.
We contacted the owner, Scott Elliff who explained to us more about their amazing winery…
All your grapes are estate-grown wines? Which varieties do you have?
90 percent of our grapes are grown on our estate, on 3 Madison County sites that we farm. All border the Shenandoah National Park, with rocky greenstone soils at 1000-foot elevation, really the best terroir in the state. Viognier, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, and newly Alberino, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, newly Tannat, and Virginia Native Norton have yielded award-winning wines in virtually every category.
On your website, you say “Our peaceful setting is a psychological and wine-ological getaway from the outside world.” How did you develop this communication?
Worldwide, we have seen how important it is to disconnect from the city and technology.
Do you have a special program for that target?
This has been our vibe from the get-go, based on being in a ‘remote’ location bordering the Park (only VA winery that does) – people in DC / Northern VA definitely resonate with the message and stress release message and our hospitality fully supports that.
Any particular challenges with the change of consumption in the US Market? Have you thought about exporting to try new segments?
Not concerned at all about changing trends among young people – they are not our consumers frankly. Of the record: not much disposable income, don’t value quality, not brand loyal and don’t greatly value the experience and personal hospitality strengths that we offer. Being the greenest winery in VA appeals to all generations though. No interest in exporting – we’re not big enough and sending wine wholesale to people who have not been here personally is not likely to be very successful.
Have you gotten feedback from foreign wine critics about your wines? If so, can you share with us some ratings and comments about your winery?
Website plus google, trip advisor have lots of (great) customer and critic comments, though doesn’t know how many if any are foreign
Which are the main changes in the consumption behavior after the pandemic? Did you see major changes?
People are grateful that a place like ours exists, in challenging times etc
We see that you are very active in social media, which platform attracts more clients compared to others?
Facebook (https://web.facebook.com/ducardvineyards) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/vineyardsducard/ ) both useful for us, plus direct guerrilla marketing through various specialized channels (your article would be one).
Can you tell us more about the vision of the winemaker? Where did he train?
Grew up on family vineyard in Bordeaux, so he bleeds red wine. Has been here, vineyard manager and now winegrower and winemaker for the past 17 years. Key to be able to adapt our processes to the grapes each year.
How many wines are you producing right now? Do you have a Wine Club, could you explain more about the benefits of it?
Produce a full portfolio of about a dozen wines, with a very robust and loyal wine club – members consider us to be their “Cheers Bar”.
Why do you think the wine market knows little about Virginia Wines?
Big world out there !!
Some good recent notoriety and more to come as the top wines compete well with California and France … in my opinion (lots of variability in the state though and a lot of low end producers who don’t help here – think maybe 30 top producers (incl us) within the 350 in VA total
Official Website: https://ducardvineyards.com/
DuCard Vineyards is located at 40 Gibson Hollow Ln. Etlan, VA 22719
+1(540) 923-4206
AndesWines.com: andes@andeswines.com
