Keswick Hall Sommelier, Richard Hewitt, is always exploring ways to bring the latest exciting wine trends to his loyal clientele at the hotel's terrace restaurant, Fossett's. In August 2009, Hewitt and his staff unveiled their own private label Chardonnay and a Petit Verdot red. 

"We have always wanted to present our guests with our own private label wines", comments Hewitt. "Rather than buy a vineyard's existing wine and simply place our label, we wanted to make our own custom crush. With the help of Virginia Wineworks and an enthusiastic staff, we were able to produce our very own clean, crisp Chardonnay and the more complicated, earthy Petit Verdot".

The winemaking program took Hewitt and fourteen other Keswick Hall employees through a ten month process including sorting through two tons of grapes, pumping the juice into three year old, French oak barrels and monitoring the fermentation. The Chardonnay grapes came from Carter's Mountain Winery and the red grapes from Pollak Vineyard in Crozet. The 2009 harvest produced 50 cases of both the red and the white wine. Hewitt plans on expanding Fossett's custom cellar wines during 2010 and adding different varietals for guests to enjoy.

Edith's Chardonnay and Petit Verdot is now available at Fossett's restaurant and bar - while stocks last.