Chateau Morrisette
Chateau Morrisette is the result of a love affair between the Morrisette family and the beautiful, unspoiled mountains of southwest Virginia. Over a 20-year period, the Morrisettes acquired approximately 1,000 acres of land in the rural Virginia mountains. In 1978, William, Nancy and David Morrisette planted the first vines and the vision of Chateau Morrisette became a small reality.
David Morrisette is a graduate of Mississippi State University's first class in enology and viticulture. After working at a winery in Mississippi, David came home to Virginia and became Chateau Morrisette's first official winemaker. In 1982, the first commercial wines were produced, a modest 2,000 gallons, under the Chateau Morrisette Winery label. As production increased, so did David's duties in the overall operations.
It was many years before Chateau Morrisette saw black ink on its balance sheet. Wine production has increased rapidly each year and has now surpassed 60,000 cases per year. Exciting and consistent growth rate necessitated a new production facility. In 1999, The Morrisettes invested a great deal in expanding and modernizing all aspects of the winery, ranging from a new wine production facility to the spacious hospitality center. Blue Ridge Timberwrights constructed a unique building from salvaged timber from the St. Marie River to create the largest salvaged timber frame building in North, Central, and South America: 45,365 square feet with 185,000 board feet of Douglas fir recycled timbers! This one-of-a-kind building has allowed for expansion on a greater scale.
Mrs. Nancy Morrisette stated in 1988 that, “the winery began as a hobby that soon got out of hand.” However, the future growth plan Chateau Morrisette is controlled and steady. The winery is very careful, as it expands, to ensure consistent progressive growth is the focus of the business plan.
Chateau Morrisette's stainless steel capacity is approximately 180,000 gallons with an additional 50,000-gallon capacity in French and American oak. The winery currently produces 15 different wines and utilizes production from over 150 acres of vineyards either on-site or from growers throughout the Commonwealth. Chateau Morrisette remains an industry leader in quality wines. From a "small reality," we are now one of the largest wineries in Virginia. Nationally, Virginia is ranked 5th in commercial grape production and winemaking. With over 350 wineries, Virginia's growth will continue to be known of “as wine region to be noticed, appreciated, and very much worth visiting.”
David Morrisette states, “Chateau Morrisette is blessed to be in a spectacular, natural setting in rural Floyd County. Our responsibility is conservation and protection of this entire region. We have shown our children to appreciate and understand it is our responsibility to protect this amazingly special region and throughout.”
The location on the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway has introduced thousands of visitors to premier Virginia wines. Our restaurant and winery are open year-round and special events are held throughout the year. Chateau Morrisette is both a relaxing and exciting experience for anyone who enjoys fine wine, good food, and natural surroundings. It has become one of Southwest Virginia's premier destination points.
In taking care of our environment and local forests, we recycle glass and cardboard – everything – all at a loss to Chateau Morrisette.