Eastern Panhandle WV Wine

West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle, centered on Shepherdstown and Charles Town in Jefferson County, is the state's most developed wine region. Proximity to Virginia's established wine industry has brought expertise, investment, and ambitious winemaking to this corner of the Mountain State. The terrain is rolling Appalachian Piedmont with well-drained clay-loam soils over limestone, similar to northern Virginia's Loudoun County directly across the state line. Chambourcin, Cabernet Franc, and Vidal Blanc are the most successful varieties. Bloomery Plantation Distillery (which also produces wine), and several other producers serve a visitor base that includes Washington DC weekenders drawn by the area's Civil War history, Appalachian Trail access, and the charming college town of Shepherdstown, West Virginia's oldest community.