Zoll Vineyards will create 14 new jobs and invest over $436,000 to open a new farm-to-table winery in Gloucester County. Located in the small community of Dutton, Zoll Vineyards will become only the second winery on Virginia’s Middle Peninsula, and the only one in its eastern region.
Sourcing grapes, honey, and apples from throughout the Commonwealth, Zoll Vineyards will produce a variety wines, meads, and ciders, highlighting the quality and diversity of Virginia agriculture. The commitment to 100 percent Virginia sourcing will lead to $221,000 in purchases from Virginia farms over the next three years. Owner Frank Zoll, a chef by training, also plans to offer food pairings to winery visitors, featuring meat and produce grown on-site and at other farms across Virginia.
“With this new winery and a commitment to source exclusively from Virginia, Zoll Vineyards is harvesting opportunity for Virginia producers and brewing new vitality in this corner of the Commonwealth,” said Governor Northam. “We thank the company for investing in rural Virginia and look forward to toasting their sweet success in the Commonwealth.”
“Connecting locally grown food with locally produced wines, ciders, and meads is a great way to leverage Virginia’s culinary resources for tourism and greater economic impact,” said Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Bettina Ring. “I am pleased that the Commonwealth and Gloucester County could partner through the AFID fund to support this project and help bring this exciting new winery to this region of Virginia.”
“I am excited to open the first farm winery in Gloucester County and have the opportunity to highlight all of the great products from local Tidewater farms, watermen and other artisans that will be paired with our wines, ciders, and mead,” said Zoll Vineyards owner Frank Zoll. “I hope that our vineyard-to-table parings will help showcase our community and the winery will provide a venue for local wine enthusiasts to celebrate all the bay has to offer.”
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) worked with the Gloucester County Economic Development Authority (EDA) and Zoll Vineyards to secure this project for Virginia. Governor Northam approved a $10,000 grant from the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development (AFID) Fund for the project, which the EDA will match with local funds.
“Zoll Vineyards will make a fantastic addition to Virginia’s burgeoning wine industry,” said Senator Thomas Norment, Jr. “Every day, more consumers learn that Virginia wineries produce some of the most distinctive wines available. And, communities across the Commonwealth have learned that wineries are good for business, good for the economy, and even good for tourism. Zoll Vineyards’ decision to locate in Gloucester will add to the rich character of the Middle Peninsula, making a great addition to the community.”
“The opening of Zoll Vineyards in Dutton is an exciting addition to the Middle Peninsula’s plan for economic development,” said Delegate Keith Hodges. “This agribusiness venture is sure to highlight our unique region and its rural coastal character.”
“The Board of Supervisors, in partnership with our EDA, has gone to great lengths to demonstrate that Gloucester County is open for business,” said Chairman of the Gloucester County Board of Supervisors Chris Hutson. “It is investments in small businesses like this one that help support growth and stability in our local economy, and we are truly grateful for the Governor’s continued sponsorship of programs like the AFID Fund.”
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