Church Creek Cabernet Franc
A structured, food-friendly Virginia red with the soulful character of one of the state's most distinct growing regions.
Church Creek Cabernet Franc comes from Chatham Vineyards, a 20-acre family estate on Virginia's Eastern Shore, a narrow peninsula set between the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay. The maritime climate here is unique in Virginia: long growing seasons, sandy loam soils, and near-constant coastal breezes allow the fruit to ripen slowly and develop real complexity without losing freshness. The winery traces its land to a working farm established in 1640, and the Wehner family has tended vines here since the early 2000s.
The wine is a Cabernet Franc-dominant blend with Merlot and Petit Verdot, vinified to highlight the varietal's natural affinity for Virginia's coastal terroir. On the nose, cedar, clove, and herbal lift from the Petit Verdot give way to ripe raspberry, dark cherry, and a thread of cranberry on the palate. Bright acidity and minerality frame the wine's full body without heaviness. Tannins are pliant and well-resolved, this is a wine that drinks generously at the table alongside lamb, roasted pork, or a simple roast chicken.
Cabernet Franc is Virginia's most planted red grape, and for good reason. Church Creek makes one of the more convincing arguments for it on the Eastern Shore.
Pairs well with: Lamb, Roasted Pork, Grilled Chicken, Mushroom Dishes, Aged Cheddar
A reliable red for your own table, and the kind of bottle that earns its way into a gift box without needing any introduction.
Product Details
Varietal: Cabernet Franc with Merlot and Petit Verdot
Bottle Size: 750ml
Producer: Chatham Vineyards on Church Creek
Country: United States
Region / AVA: Eastern Shore, Virginia
Winemaker: Jon Wehner
Soil: Sandy loam
Farming: Family-farmed, high-density European-style planting; 32,000 vines across 20 acres
Fermentation / Aging: Barrel aged
Meet The Maker
Chatham Vineyards on Church Creek sits on land that has been continuously farmed since 1640, making it one of the oldest agricultural sites in American winemaking. Located in Machipongo, Virginia, the estate is owned and operated by Jon Wehner, son of grape growers who founded Great Falls Vineyard in Northern Virginia. Jon and his wife Mills established the winery in 2005, planting a high-density European-style vineyard with Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot. The Eastern Shore AVA is one of Virginia's most compelling wine regions, surrounded by water on all sides, with a growing climate unlike anywhere else in the state. The Wehner family produces wines that reflect the land honestly: maritime, mineral, and unhurried.
Quick Facts
Virginia's quiet overachiever. Dark cherry, cedar, and earthy elegance from one of the state's top estates.
- Best For: Sunday dinner, Eastern Shore seafood weekends, or a thoughtful hostess gift
- Style: Full-bodied Red Wine
- Tasting Notes: Ripe raspberry, dark cherry, and a hint of cranberry with cedar spice and fresh, bright acidity
- Pairs Well With: Lamb, Roasted Pork, Grilled Chicken, Mushroom Dishes, Aged Cheddar
- Body: Full, with pliant tannins and a clean, mineral finish
- Rating: Vivino 3.9/5 (171 ratings)
- Fermentation: Barrel aged
- Region: Eastern Shore AVA, Virginia
- Grape: Cabernet Franc with Merlot and Petit Verdot
- Alcohol: 12.5%
- Serve Temperature: 60-65°F
A bottle of Church Creek on the table is a quiet reminder that Virginia grows something worth paying attention to.
Shipping Restrictions
WINE SHIPS ONLY TO THE FOLLOWING STATES: California, Connecticut, Florida, Louisiana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Virginia, Washington D.C., West Virginia, and Wyoming.
A 21+ signature is required upon delivery.
Orders of 4 bottles or more: Please expect to confirm availability of an adult on premises to sign for your order. We will not ship without email or phone confirmation.
