Owner's Welcome

 January 2023

Hello,

Thank you for coming to our Vineyard and Winery website. My name is William Bryce Taylor. Everyone calls me Bryce.  Covid 19, as with so many businesses, has wreaked havoc on our business the last couple of years. But we are now open to welcome you once again to our winery. 

I have had this dream, ever since I came to the Northern Neck to do something by working outside; to do something with the soil; to do something with our farm that is exciting and interesting. My Grandfather, William Brown Taylor, Sr., who owned the farm taught me to love the land, to respect it and to use it to grow all kinds of things. He had a great vegetable garden and would share the benefits of it in the growing season with many folks in the community.  I am now farming grapes on the same land that my grandfather loved so much and now the land that I have come to love myself. I am ready to share my garden with you now.

The land we are on (see History Page) has been in our family for generations. The Federal style brick house here on the property was finished in 1832. If you look real hard you can see the date on a brick way up on the chimney, as well as the initials of the brick mason. The house was built by my fifth great-grandparents - David Ball Taylor and his wife Fannie Bailey Taylor. The land was originally in the Bailey family. We suspect that there was an earlier house on the property somewhere, however, we have yet to find a foundation.

Being right on the water, our family have always enjoyed water activities as well as God's magnificent bounty coming from the river.  I am talking here about its seafood; fish of many kinds, crabs, oysters, and some clams. I have found that the wines we have made and are making, pair really well with many kinds of Virginia Specialty Foods and with foods that seem synonymous with the Northern Neck, i.e. oysters and crabs. The other bounty from the river is the clay found under it.  In fact the clay used to make the bricks for the manor house was taken from the river bottom, made into bricks by hand, and fired on a kiln right here on the property. We don't know exactly where it was on the property, but we do have a few clues. 

This last year I  let the fields and vines go fallow in order to concentrate on some new ventures that we have in mind for the Winery and grounds. However, we did have a harvest in 2022. We are now bottling a new 2022 vintage of wines to enjoy. We have also contracted with Carolyn Berry owner and proprietor of Weddings at Rock Spring to help us coordinate weddings, receptions, and other events to make Rivah Vineyards at the Grove the best venue for events on the Northern Neck. We hope the land and the winery will be a place for visitors to enjoy a day of relaxation, education, fun, and the best venue for the most special day of days, whether visiting or living here on Virginia's beautiful Northern Neck.

I am establishing our Founder's Wine Club with a limited membership. This will include having your name placed in a prominent position for all to see, invitations to special events, Founder's Club only events, a percentage off wine and other merchandise, as well as free wine tastings for two. When you join the club you will know too that you are helping this venture continue to thrive with a solid financial foundation. If you are interested in being a part of a Charter membership in our Founder's Club, please contact us here.

Sincerely yours,

Bryce

W. Bryce Taylor