Rooted in Resilience: The First Grapes at Willowcroft and Their Legacy Today
When Lew Parker first planted grapes at Willowcroft Farm Vineyards in 1980, there was no roadmap—only a dream, a hillside, and the hope that Virginia could one day rival the great wine regions of Europe. At the time, the very idea of growing European grape varieties, known as Vitis vinifera, was considered risky, even reckless, by local advisors from the Virginia Extension Service. But like many pioneers, Lew believed that the best way to grow was to take a chance.