EPISODE # 15 BURNLEY VINEYARD/LEE REEDER OWNER & WINEMAKER

Fine Wine Confidential Podcast

Burnley Vineyard was first planted in 1977 making them one of the early winegrowing pioneers during the formative years when Virginia wine was just beginning to re-emerge after a long slumber from the years of Prohibition and its repeal.
C. J. Reeder, Lee Reeder's father purchased the land in 1977 and Gabriele Rausse who had just begun to plant Barboursville Vineyard down the road from this property entire into a handshake deal with C. J. The arrangement was Burnley would buy Barboursville vines, (they had begun a nursery at that time) and Barboursville would buy their grapes. Ultimately that would lead to Burnley Vineyards producing its first Estate Wines in 1984 with Lee Reeder fresh out of VA Tech as the winemaker. Lee has been the winemaker ever since.
I believe you will find this interview refreshing by the openness and honesty that Lee Reeder shows throughout our discussion.
One of the fascinating facets of this interview is how Lee and Burnley Vineyard helped contribute to the trail about whether Cynthiana is a different grape than Norton or the same. I believe through, mostly my tasting experiences over the past several years that it is the former.
Take a listen and decide for yourself.

Thanks for being a listener to the Fine Wine Confidential Podcast. For more information go to www.finewineconfidential.com