Williams Gap Vineyard

Williams Gap began with Dr. Jack Sexton, a Northern Virginia native and retired small-animal veterinarian. After a long career caring for animals he turned to another passion, and in 2006 started planting vines on the family's property — a personal project that became a family one.

Jack and his wife, Jeanne, have built Williams Gap alongside their three children. Their connection to the land, and the wish to create something the family could share, are still at the center of the estate.

After years of growing grapes for other Virginia wineries, the Sextons began producing their own wines in 2019, and opened the tasting room in 2021 so visitors could experience the property as well as the wine. Jack's favorite is the 2019 Red Blend — a fitting marker for the passion that started it all.

The Sexton family has owned the property since 1984. The first vineyard blocks went in in 2006, and by 2009 Williams Gap was supplying grapes to Virginia wineries, earning a reputation for quality fruit among winemakers across the state.

For more than a decade the focus stayed on growing for other producers. In 2019 the estate began making its own wine, bringing the fruit grown on the property directly into the Williams Gap portfolio. The tasting room followed in April 2021, turning a working vineyard into a place to visit.

Since then Williams Gap has grown into a Loudoun County destination that combines its agricultural roots with wine, hospitality, events and the plain beauty of its Blue Ridge setting.

With over 40 acres under vine, Williams Gap grows a deliberately diverse mix of varietals matched to the region's soils and climate: six red vinifera — Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Tannat and Syrah — alongside six whites including Chardonnay, Viognier, Petit Manseng, Albariño, Vidal Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc. The philosophy is that great wine begins with exceptional grapes, and the move from grape supplier to full producer follows from it.

The portfolio is organized into two series. The Signature Series is the core of the collection — approachable, food-friendly wines that show the estate's varietals and style. The Black Label Series is the elevated collection, with more distinctive and refined expressions for guests who want to go a level deeper. Sparkling wines and limited releases round it out.

Beyond wine, there's a rotating craft beer made in partnership with Lost Rhino Brewing Company and finished on site, cider from Cider Lab, and non-alcoholic wine and beer — so mixed groups are easy to accommodate.

Indoor seating runs from traditional tables and chairs to comfortable couch areas, including a cozier corner with an indoor fireplace that suits settling in over a bottle. Lighting across the property is a mix of bright, naturally lit rooms and warmer, more intimate corners.

Outdoors there's covered seating, fire pits, a front patio, a pavilion and a deck, all with views over the vines to the Blue Ridge. Designated 21+ areas provide an adults-only experience while family-friendly spaces welcome all ages.