We took this photo back in late March of 2009 (left) New owners, Tony & Elizabeth Smith posed with Tom and Shinko Corpora who owned the Afton Vineyard & Winery since 1988. 2019 marks a decade Tony & Elizabeth have now owned Afton Mountain Vineyards.
Photo By Tommy Stafford : Today that pavilion is the home to many happenings. This was a small winemaker’s dinner held this past Friday evening at AMV for wine writers and media. April 5, 2019Photo By Tommy Stafford : AMV Winemaker Damien Blanchon pours wine for Yvette Stafford (left – Publisher of Blue Ridge Life Magazine) during a blind wine tasting this past Friday evening. The private media event coincided with 10 years of ownership by Tony & Elizabeth Smith. April 6, 2019Photo By Tommy Stafford : One special events of that evening was the sampling of some of the original wines from when AMV opened. Surprisingly a couple of them were still fairly good. Some others, not so much! April 6, 2019.Photo By Tommy Stafford : Winemaker Damien Blanchon pours a sample of sparkling wine produced at AMV for Richard Leahy of Charlottesville. Richard is a renowned author, regional wine specialist, consultant and Wine Competition Chair. April 6, 2019Photo By Tommy Stafford : Damien (right) raises a glass in honor of the Smiths 10 years of ownership at Afton Mountain Vineyards. Friday – April 6, 2019.
Though many improvements have been made at AMV during the past decade, the Smiths and Damien agree, they never want the vineyard and winery to lose its charm and sustainability. They pride themselves on using innovations like having goats trim excess grass around the property versus having to spray herbicides to keep things neat. Just one of the many things done at AMV.