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Look Back: Williamsburg Winery

Daily Press Archives
It will be another year before Patrick and Peggy Duffeler's 15 acres of grapes are mature enough for use in wine. (1987)
Joe Fudge / Daily Press
Just-filled bottles of wine move along a conveyor in front of Steve Warner's watchful eyes at the Williamsburg Winery. (1988)
Joe Fudge / Daily Press
Workmen at the Williamsburg Winery return support poles for the vines to a up-right position. The high winds and rain pushed the long lines of vines and grapes over during the storm. The Williamsburg Winery was started in the 1980's near Williamsburg.
Kyndell Thompson / Daily Press
Patrick Duffeler, CEO of the Williamsburg Winery, holds a glass of Filippo Mazzei Reserve 1995, a dry red wine, on the porch just off the tasting area of the winery.
Buddy Norris / Daily Press
Guests tour the Williamsburg Winery in 1995.
Joe Fudge / Daily Press
Tourism officials support wineries because they attract travelers, which is why the Williamsburg Winery is building a new inn.
Heather S. Hughes / Daily Press
Manager of viticulture Daniel Sampson dumps a bucket of freshly picked cabernet sauvignon grapes onto the bin trailor to be taken to the crusher. Thursday was the last day of harvest at The Williamsburg Winery who is seeing a much better crop than last year.
Dave Bowman / Daily Press
Williamsburg wine maker Matthew Meyer operates the grape press and pumps the juice into holding tanks to be filtered.
Herb Barnes / Daily Press
Gov. Baliles toured the winery after ceremonies in 1989 marking its grand opening. The winery was established in 1985.
Joe Fudge / Daily Press
Workers have a glass of wine, with the new winery in the background. (1988)
Dave Bowman / Daily Press
Williamsburg Winery employees cover the crops with a net to prevent animals from eating the grapes.
Dave Bowman / Daily Press
Guided tours and tasting are offered at the Williamsburg Winery in different priced packages.
Buddy Norris / Daily Press
Nancy Jennings packs bottles in a box for shipping at the Williamsburg Winery in 1995.
Joe Fudge / Daily Press
Patrick Duffeler pours a glass of wine with the new winery under construction in the background.
Buddy Norris / Daily Press
Elizabeth Myers puts new empty bottles on the line where they are filled, corked, labeled and packed for shipping at the Williamsburg Winery in 1995.
Heather S. Hughes / Daily Press
Bottling line manager Larry Stolarski, right, helps other Williamsburg Winery employees pick cabernet sauvignon grapes on the last day of harvest at the vineyard.
Joe Fudge / Daily Press
Wine month is Oct....Patrick G. Duffeler Pres./Founder inside the wine cellar with a glass/ Since the 1980's Williamsburg Winery in James City Co.is one of the largest winery in Virginia. Virginia is the 5th largest wine producing region in country as of this year
Buddy Norris / Daily Press
Williamsburg Winery sign
Daily Press Archives
Williamsburg Winery (1989)
Dave Bowman / Daily Press
Juice from the chardonnay grapes drain from the grape press in to a stainless steal catch tray to be pumped into holding tanks to be filtered.
Herb Barnes / Daily Press
Gov. Baliles toured the winery after ceremonies marking its grand opening in 1989. The winery was established in 1985.
Daily Press Archives
In 1987 Virginia had 110 vineyards with an estimated 1,450 acres under grape cultivation..
Joe Fudge / Daily Press
Patrick Dueffler II of the Williamsburg Winery stands next to some of the grapes left on the vines during the storm. The high winds and rain beat-up the grapes as shown.
Joe Fudge / Daily Press
Cases of wine await distribution at the Williamsburg Winery.
Dave Bowman / Daily Press
Craig Crossman of The Williamsburg Winery helps Claire Crain of Charlottesville with the winery's selection.
Dave Bowman / Daily Press
Williamsburg wine maker, Matthew Meyer unloads a shipment of chardonnay grapes from the Pearmund Vineyard.
Kyndell Thompson / Daily Press
Patrick Duffeler, CEO of the Williamsburg Winery.
Joe Fudge / Daily Press
Patrick Duffeler (left) with his staff and the workmen that are building the winery. (1988)
Dave Bowman / Daily Press
Steve Warner of the Williamsburg Winery checks casks of wine.
Herb Barnes / Daily Press
Gov. Baliles at the 1989 ceremonies marking the grand opening of the Williamsburg Winery. The winery was established in 1985.
Dave Bowman / Daily Press
The remains from the grapes are cleared from the press before the press is used for the next shipment of grapes.
Dave Bowman / Daily Press
Stacey Lightfoot operates a lift that dumps the grapes in to an auger that separates the grapes from the stems. It is then pumped into the grape press.
Buddy Norris / Daily Press
Patrick Duffeler Sr. samples a Williamsburg Winery 93 merlot in front of a view of parts of the winery.
Buddy Norris / Daily Press
Carlos Smith checks the juice as chardonay grapes are pressed at the Williamsburg Winery in 1995.
Daily Press Archives
Williamsburg Winery (1989)
Joe Fudge / Daily Press
Patrick G. Duffeler president of the Williamsburg Winery the state's largest winery and president of the Virginia Wineries Association which has 60 wineries in its membership inspects a wine inside the new cellar of the winery in James City County.
Buddy Norris / Daily Press
Guests tour the Williamsburg Winery in 1995.
Dave Bowman / Daily Press
Stacey Lightfoot of the Williamsburg Winery pushes a bin of chardonnay grapes to be weighed and dumped into an auger that will separate the grapes from the stems.

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By Virginia Gazette and Virginia Gazette staff

PUBLISHED: March 3, 2016 at 5:16 p.m. | UPDATED: August 9, 2019 at 9:00 a.m.

Photos of The Williamsburg Winery, established in 1985.