Linden Vineyards

Linden Vineyards is a 5,000 case winery and vineyard situated on the Virginia Blue Ridge, 65 miles west of Washington, D.C. Jim Law, with family help, purchased what was then an abandoned hardscrabble farm in 1983. The first 6 acres were cleared and prepared for planting. The 1985 planting was from vines mostly from cuttings and grafts propagated by our own nursery the previous year. They included Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Vidal and Seyval. Our first vintage was 1987 and the first release and opening of the winery was 1988.

Linden Vineyards Ltd. is the winery operation. In 2002 they built their ‘dream’ crush/press facility that they believe will put them in the position to make great wines. New sorting tables in addition to gentler handling of grapes have already yielded wines with more purity and finesse.

Three vineyards supply all the grapes used to make Linden wines: Hardscrabble, the estate vineyard, 18 acres surrounding the winery; Glen Manor, 6 acres, 7 miles west of Linden, and Avenius, 5 acres, less than one mile north of Linden Vineyards. Our first love is the vines. As they begin to understand soil, site and vine relationships, they are replanting with more appropriate varieties.

Shari Avenius is Linden’s director and owner/winegrower of Avenius Vineyard. A New York native, she went to college in Virginia. Beginning in 1989 Shari’s background in laboratories and management has made Linden a well-oiled machine. Along with all her responsibilities at Linden, Shari planted her own eponymous vineyard in 1996. Dance, the cello, and gardening round out her life.

About the Winemakers

Jim Law

Jim Law is the owner/winemaker of Linden Vineyards and winegrower of Hardscrabble. An Ohio native, he was raised in the 1960’s and 1970’s by parents who loved to share their passion for food and wine. Study in Europe and two years teaching agriculture as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Zaire (Congo) led to the desire to grow grapes.

Jim’s first vineyard job was in Indiana where he traded work for a place to live. He then got a real job in Ohio at Chalet Debonne where he learned the nuts and bolts of grape growing and cellar work. In 1981 Jim was hired to start a winery in the Shenandoah Valley where he fell in love with the area and viticultural possibilities. In the mid 1980’s while establishing Linden Vineyards he consulted for other wineries and taught winegrowing at local Community Colleges. He is currently obsessed with growing the greatest wine and having the happiest vineyard. When not in the vineyard he enjoys cooking, eating in France, and writing for trade publications.

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