Andy Reagan

Coming Up

In cellar work, advancement usually comes from taking on more of the process, more of the season, and more of the consequences. Andy Reagan moved through that sequence at Benmarle Vineyards in upstate New York, first as assistant winemaker and then as head winemaker, before becoming winemaker at Chrysalis Vineyards in Middleburg, Virginia. Each role widened the scope of the job and deepened the demands of working across vineyard and cellar. The central block of his career was 2005–2012 at Jefferson Vineyards in Charlottesville, Virginia, where Andy Reagan served as winemaker and general manager. That period connected his name to a set of notable bottlings and established the basis for what came next. After Jefferson, he became co-founder of Roundabout Cellars and vineyard manager/winemaker of Old House Vineyards (since 2014). The shift reads less like a departure than a move into new forms of authorship: continuing to make wine while also helping shape the program around it.

Where They Are Now

Today, Andy Reagan’s work sits across two different but related responsibilities in wine: co-founder of Roundabout Cellars and vineyard manager/winemaker of Old House Vineyards (since 2014). One asks for long attention to the vines and the site; the other asks for the broader work of building and guiding a winery identity. Together, they show a career that still builds on earlier cellar experience while staying active in production.

Signature

Andy Reagan’s signature wines include 2009 Meritage, 2010 Petit Verdot, and 2011 Viognier. The 2009 Meritage was a 770-case bottling built around dark ripeness, licorice-like depth, blueberry, cassis, and rich vanilla from oak barrels. The 2010 Petit Verdot took the form of a risky single-varietal release, marked by massive weight and grapey elegance. The 2011 Viognier was described as one of the finest Virginia white wines, placing it among the stronger examples of the style in the region.

In Their Words “I was kind of coming out as one of the best winemakers in the world.” Those lines point to a familiar break in wine work: one part disagreement over direction, one part confidence earned in the cellar. Read together, they frame a maker moving from established programs toward a more self-directed place in the trade.

Honors

The 2009 Meritage was described as a 770-case run with dark ripeness, licorice-like depth, blueberry, cassis, and rich vanilla from oak barrels. The 2010 Petit Verdot was a risky single-varietal bottling with massive weight and grapey elegance. The 2011 Viognier was described as one of the finest Virginia white wines.