Linden Vineyards is a 4,000 case winery and vineyard situated on the Virginia Blue Ridge, 65 miles west of Washington, D.C. Jim Law, with family help, purchased what was then an abandoned hardscrabble farm in 1983. The first 6 acres were cleared and prepared for planting. The 1985 planting was from vines mostly from cuttings and grafts propagated by the vineyard’s own nursery the previous year. They included Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Vidal and Seyval. Our first vintage was 1987 and the first release and opening of the winery was 1988.

Linden Vineyards Ltd. is the winery operation. In 2002 we built our “dream” crush/press facility that we believe will put us in the position to make great wines. New sorting tables and the gentler handling of grapes have already yielded wines with more purity and finesse. See Winemaking for more information.

Three vineyards supply all the grapes used to make Linden wines: Hardscrabble, the estate vineyard, 18 acres surrounding the winery; Boisseau, 4 acres, 7 miles west of Linden, and Avenius, 5 acres, less than one mile north of Linden Vineyards. Our first love is the vines. As we begin to understand soil, site and vine relationships, we are replanting with more appropriate varieties. See Vines for more information

Jim Law

Jim is the owner/winemaker of Linden Vineyards and winegrower of Hardscrabble. An Ohio native, he was raised in the 1960’s and 1970’s by parents who loved to share their passion for food and wine. Study in Europe and two years’ teaching of agriculture as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Zaire (Congo) led to the desire to grow grapes.

Jim’s first vineyard job was in Indiana where he traded work for a place to live. He then got a real job in Ohio at Chalet Debonne where he learned the nuts and bolts of grape growing and cellar work. In 1981 Jim was hired to start a winery in the Shenandoah Valley where he fell in love with the area and viticultural possibilities. In the mid 1980’s, while establishing Linden Vineyards, he consulted for other wineries and taught winegrowing at local community colleges.

He is currently obsessed with growing great wine and happiest in the vineyard. When not amongst the vines he enjoys cooking, eating (especially in France), and writing for trade publications.  See Articles.

Shari Avenius

Shari is Linden’s director and owner/winegrower of Avenius Vineyard. A New York native, she went to college in Virginia. Since 1989 Shari’s background in laboratories and management has made Linden a well-oiled machine.

Along with all her responsibilities at Linden, Shari planted her own eponymous vineyard in 1996. Dance, the cello, and gardening round out her life.

Richard Boisseau

Richard is owner/winegrower of Boisseau Vineyard which overlooks the beautiful views of Front Royal, VA. Boisseau Vineyard is planted on the family farm and dedicated to Richard’s parents who enjoyed spending quality time at Linden Vineyards in the 1990′s. Richard knows each vine by name and is the most meticulous winegrower of the Linden family of vineyards.