KEEPING TRADITIONS WHILE PLANNING FOR AN EXCITING FUTURE

First Colony is now “Thatch Winery!” A boutique winery located 10 miles from downtown Charlottesville, First Colony Winery offers superior wines in a rustic yet modern 5000 square-foot tasting room. The property features rolling hills, stunning sunsets, manicured gardens, patios, a renovated loft complete with games, two fireplaces and a total of three tasting bars. First Colony Winery currently has over 6 acres under vine featuring varietals such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.

First Colony draws its name and personality from the original owner, Randolph McElroy Jr., whose family lineage can be traced all the way back to the formation of the United States, when Edmund Randolph served as George Washington’s Attorney General. Randy spent the first part of his career developing and establishing a successful construction business based out of Richmond.

Once the construction business stabilized, Randy’s imagination returned to some of the more foundational elements of his youth, and he began to look for a way to intertwine a love of agriculture with his unique family history. As he contemplated his options in the late 1990s, the wine industry in Virginia was experiencing unprecedented growth, and the opportunity seemed like a ready-made fit for his burgeoning dream.

In late 2000, Randy and his wife acquired the old Totier Creek Winery property, and First Colony Winery was established. Fast-forward to today and you will find the winery has undergone major renovations and updates while staying true to its core principles of making fantastic wine. The team at First Colony wants you to come and stay a while, relax by the fire on a cold day or out on the patio on a warm day. When you visit, you’ll leave feeling like you were visiting an old friend.