Paradise Springs Leaps into Action

Posted by The Editorial Desk / Monday, January 11th, 2010

As of 4:36 p.m. last Friday,  Fairfax County has its first functioning winery: Paradise Springs (#157 in the state).

After months of legal wrangling and fiscal uncertainty, co-owners Kirk Wiles (son) and Jane Kincheloe (mother) were thrilled to have friends and family pack the historical log cabin–originally constructed back in the 1800s–that will serve as the winery welcome center/tasting room for the official ribbon cutting on January 8.

“This is an historic day … a day when agriculture pushes back against the every expanding urban sprawl,” Wiles told the crowd of perhaps 100-odd well-wishers who showed up on a snowy afternoon to sample the family’s oenological wares and show their support for the boutique winery.

Local politicos and wine personalities in attendance included:

* Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova (pictured above);

* Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Mount Vernon District Supervisor Gerald W. “Gerry” Hyland;

* Fairfax  County Board of Supervisors Lee District Supervisor Jeff C. McKay (pictured above);

* Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity (pictured above);

* Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services project manager T. Robins Buck;

* Philip Carter Winery proprietor Philip Carter;

* Philip Carter winemaker Rob Cox;

* Corcoran Vineyards founder Jim Corcoran; and,

* Winery at La Grange partner Mike Ching

Paradise Springs will officially open to the public at 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 16 and will keep weekend hours through the spring.

–Warren

Tags: agriculture, Clifton, Corcoran Vineyards, Fairfax County, Gut Check, Jane Kincheloe, Kirk Wiles, Northern Virginia Magazine, Paradise Springs Winery, Philip Carter Winery, Virginia wine, Warren Rojas, Winery at La Grange