Château Jacques

A Virginia Vineyard Before Its Time

Founded in 1968 in McLean, Virginia — Château Jacques helped pioneer grape growing and winemaking across the Mid-Atlantic.

What began in a suburban backyard became a quiet spark for Virginia wine.

The Legacy

Long before Virginia became known for fine wines, Jacques (Jake) began planting grapes in the clay-rich soil of McLean. With a background in engineering and a deep love for craft, he nurtured vines under uncertain skies — leading quietly and confidently with each vintage.

Rows of vines ran through the backyard vineyard, where trellises he built by hand caught the afternoon light. Neighbors saw a garden; he saw a future for Virginia wine.

By the 1980s, others were catching up. But Jacques was already known in winemaking circles for his tools, technique, and generosity of spirit.

1968: MG, Trailer, and a Trunkful of Grapes

In 1968, determined to plant the right stock, Jacques drove his MG up the East Coast from Florida — towing a small trailer loaded with grapes — and brought them home to McLean.

Those Florida grapes were set into the soil of his backyard vineyard, the first rows that would root, climb, and signal what Virginia’s terroir could become.

“It wasn’t a grand chateau. It was a driveway, an MG, a trailer, and a vision — planted one stake at a time.”

Year
1968
Car
MG roadster
Cargo
Grapes from Florida
Vintage roadster towing a small trailer on a long highway Florida → Virginia · 1968

The Crusher-Stemmer

In a time before equipment was easy to find, Jacques engineered a grape crusher-stemmer for use on his property. Rather than monetize it, he patented the design — then gave it to Wine Spectator magazine, free for anyone to build and improve.

Old wine press

Stay in Touch

Want to share stories, photos, or memories from Virginia’s early winemaking days? Reach out to the family below.

Email Us