Early Mountain Vineyards
Founded in 2012 by Jean and Steve Case, in the foothills of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, Early Mountain was born from a vision to craft Virginia wines that can stand alongside the best in the world. The winery’s recent accolades, including 95 points for their Petit Manseng at the Decanter World Wine Awards, reflect their team’s dedication and success.
The winery’s approach to crafting exceptional wines is rooted in a deep understanding of Virginia’s unique terroir. After years of exploration and experimentation, the team has identified outstanding vineyard sites and the grape varieties best suited for them. In the cellar, they practice restraint, including the use of native yeast fermentation, to ensure each wine is a compelling expression of site and season.
Winemaker and Viticulturist Maya Hood White leads the winegrowing program with a passion for authentic, vineyard-driven wines. Her combination of creativity and technical expertise shines through her innovations including a unique perpetual lees aging program for their Petit Manseng. In 2024, Maya was nominated for Winemaker of the Year by both Wine Enthusiast and VinePair, recognizing her leadership and innovation in Virginia wine.
Featured wines:
2024 Rosé
2023 Five Forks
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65% Merlot, 35% Malbec
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Alcohol: 11.3%
pH: 3.32
RS: 0.70 g/L
Wholesale Price: $16.67
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65% Petit Manseng, 31% Sauvignon Blanc, 2% Malvasia Bianca, 2% Chardonnay
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Alcohol: 13.3%
pH: 3.21
RS: 1.1 g/L
Wholesale Price: $16.67
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43% Petit Verdot, 23% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc, 11% Tannat, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon
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Alcohol: 14.1%
pH: 3.79
RS: 0.3 g/L
Wholesale Price: $16.67
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100% Petit Manseng
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Alcohol: 14.4%
pH: 3.22
RS: 2.21 g/L
Wholesale Price: $30.00
2023 Petit Manseng
2023 Foothills
2023 Novum
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Varietal(s): 43% Cabernet Franc, 30% Merlot, 27% Tannat
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Alcohol: 13.7%
pH: 3.85RS: 0.24 g/L
Wholesale Price: 36.67
Distributor Contact
Williams Corner Wine - (Virginia, Washington DC & Maryland)
Doug O’Neill: Sales Manager
Meet the winemaker:
Maya Hood White
Born in California, as a Virginia transplant, Maya found a new passion for wine in central Virginia. With a background in mathematics and engineering, she later earned an M.S. in Viticulture and Enology from U.C. Davis, where her research focused on wine sensory. She gained hands-on experience at several boutique wineries across the state before joining Early Mountain, where she now leads both grape growing and winemaking. Known for her low-impact winemaking practices and site-driven wines, Maya was nominated for Wine Enthusiast’s and VinePair’s Winemaker of the Year in 2024.