Stoney Brook Vineyards

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The legacy of the Showalter family farm was already well-established. And then— the wine came along.

“It occurred to me… as we were chatting at a winery. ”

We’ve all heard the story of a business that started out as a note on a cocktail napkin. That’s not a whole lot different than what happened with Traci, Carrie, and Kevin.

“The three of us were in NOVA (Northern Virginia); and we were batting around ideas on what we could do with the family farm, ” Traci Showalter recalls, referring to the property off Stoney Battery just on the eastern outskirts of the Town of Troutville. “I mean, we talked about a Christmas tree farm, even a golf course; and then someone said, ‘if you can grow tomatoes, you can grow wine. ’”

Tomatoes had been in the family farm lineup, Traci thought. And here the three of them were sitting and enjoying the very thing they could do on their own farm.

Traci Showalter and her mother, Judy, both chimed in on the fiveword phrase that followed the “revelation”of starting the winery and vineyard:

“How hard could this be?”

Laughter erupts.

Although the Showalters come from a long line of generational farming, this current generation was employed by a different industry: the technology profession. The IT business isn’t easy—but neither is farming… especially when you’re reworking it to a whole new venture.

Stoney Brook Vineyards was fast-tracked from the first grape planting in 2012 to its recent opening as one of three wineries folks can visit in Botetourt.

“It’s been a ten year journey, ”says Judy Showalter. “The operation is like a homage to all the stories. ” Those stories began in the mid1800s when the Showalter family started the farm and is now celebrating the sixth generation. Correction: “Seventh generation, counting Carrie’s daughter, ”the ladies say.

All family members end up working all jobs at Stoney Brook— that’s the nature of the vineyard and event business—but each member does have a specific charge as well.

Mom Judy is essentially the CFO managing finances; Dad Jim manages the property and facilities; Daughter Traci is the operations officer, Daughter Carrie serves as winemaker and the winery manager; and her husband (Kevin Vernon) is the vineyard manager.

The family of five are the principal operators; and of course, they call on an extended army of family and friends and volunteers when help is needed on the 27-acre vineyard (nearly five acres under vine) and 5,000 vines in ground.

“Very good friends, ”Judy clarifies.

“We absolutely could not have done this without our friends and the community. ”

Traci was enthusiastic about the “startup”which is an accurate description as the business was much more than merely transitioning a crop and purpose. She started taking classes and learning everything she could. “I’d rather try and fail than not try at all, ”she says. Now, she speaks of Stoney Brook like it was a reunion of sorts.

“We wanted to do something with the land. And we also didn’t want to be sitting at a computer. I am so happy to be back, using the farm, and making a special place that’s kid and dog and family-friendly. ”

“We love Botetourt, ”Judy says. “When we open the doors here and guests start coming in, that’s the best. ”

“I’m most proud—of this farm and my family—when I hear conversations from people enjoying what we have here at Stoney Brook Vineyard. ”