Boxwood Estate Winery in the Middleburg Virginia AVA, is the fulfillment of a long-held dream by proprietor John Kent Cooke, a former owner and president of the NFL Washington Redskins. An admirer and collector of French wines, particularly great Bordeaux, Cooke and his new team at Boxwood are committed to making premium red wines in the Bordeaux tradition, but with their own, distinct Virginia expression: Boxwood, reflecting the “Medoc” style (a Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot/Petit Verdot blend) and Topiary, in the “Saint-Emilion” style (a Cabernet Franc/Merlot blend). Boxwood also produces Trellis, a blend of Boxwood varietals changing every year relative to its vintage and a dry Rosé blended from select Boxwood varietals.The first vintage at Boxwood was 2006.
Boxwood Winery is located in an area steeped in Revolutionary and Civil War American history and renowned for world-famous horse farms. Today the area is also known as a wine region, Virginia being the fifth largest wine producing state. The Boxwood sustainable vineyards occupy 19 acres of the historic landmark farm, and are planted with traditional Bordeaux varietals, predominately Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, all ENTAV certified, by noted viticulturist Lucie Morton who continues to consult on the vineyard.
The stunning modern-styled winery, completed in 2005, was designed by Hugh Newell Jacobsen, with winery consultant Dr. Richard Vine, Head of the Oenology Department at Purdue University. The winery complex, which features four buildings and a circular underground aging cellar, is modern but harmonious with the historic farm and the Virginia countryside. State-of-the-art equipment was chosen from the USA, Italy and France. The annual capacity at Boxwood is limited to 5,000 cases.
In 2006 internationally acclaimed winemaker Stéphane Derenoncourt became consultant to Boxwood and produced his first vintage of Boxwood and Topiary.
The entire operation is managed by Rita and John Kent Cooke’s son Sean Martin and daughter, Rachel Martin, who studied at Napa College in Viticulture and Enology and the University of Bordeaux in Sensory Evaluation of wine. The viticulturist and winemaker is Josh Gerard, a graduate of Lincoln University in New Zealand, with degrees in Viticulture and Enology.