Boxwood Winery

The Boxwood Winery in Middleburg, Virginia, 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 is 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 Rose blended from select Boxwood varietals. 

The Boxwood sustainable vineyard, designed by noted viticulturist and consultant Lucie Morton, occupies 18+ acres of the farm, and are planted with traditional Bordeaux varietals, predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, all ENTAV certified by the French Government.

The stunning modern-style winery, completed in 2005, was designed by nationally acclaimed architect 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 3,500 cases.

In 2006, internationally acclaimed Bordeaux winemaker Stephane Derenoncourt, became consultant to Boxwood and produced the first vintage of Boxwood and Topiary. The 2007 Boxwood and Topiary received 88 and 87 ratings respectively by The Wine Spectator and The Topiary 2007 received Four Stars from Decanter Magazine.

Boxwood Winery is managed by Rita and John Kent Cooke’s daughter, Rachel Martin, who studied viticulture and enology at Napa College and sensory evaluation of wine at the University of Bordeaux in France. The viticulturist and winemaker is Adam McTaggart, a graduate of Brock University in Ontario, Canada with degrees in Biology, Viticulture and Enology.

The Boxwood Winery has a unique distribution through traditional distributors as well as operating three wine bars. The Tasting Room Wine Bar and Shops, in the Greater Washington, DC area: Reston, Virginia, and Chevy Chase and National Harbor in Maryland. 

Boxwood Winery's premium, estate-bottled red wines, are offered alongside an ever-changing selection of imported and domestic red and white wines. Table service is provided both inside and on our heated patios or tastings can also be self-served from our high tech Enomatic wine tasting machines.

All wines are available for retail purchase and unfinished bottles are happily re-corked for take-home.Cheese and charcuterie as well as light fare menu selections are available to accompany wine tastings