Winery at Bull Run plans expansion

The Winery at Bull Run in Fairfax County is planning to double its production with help from the state and county.

The winery plans to invest $1.7 million, create 38 new jobs and build a new production facility. The winery is next to the Manassas National Battlefield Park and currently produces 13,000 cases of wine each year.

Gov. Ralph Northam approved a $100,000 grant from the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund, according to an announcement Thursday. Fairfax County will match the state grant with $100,000.

The winery has to meet performance goals or refund the money to the state and county. The grant requires the Winery at Bull Run to invest $1.7 million, produce 10 new, full-time jobs, 28 part-time jobs and buy $436,820 in Virginia agricultural products over three years, according to Brian Worthy, a Fairfax County spokesman.

The winery will make annual reports to the state and county on its progress. Plans also include new equipment and a new 8,000-square-foot production facility. The new jobs being created will include winemakers, tasting room staff and cellar hands.

The Winery at Bull Run opened in 2012 on 225 acres and says that its wines are made using only Virginia-grown grapes. It also grows grapes on a 40-acre vineyard in Rappahannock County.

The Winery at Bull Run currently has 16 full-time workers, according to Fairfax.

A Winery at Bull Run spokeswoman said it employs around 70 people. The new full-time jobs would pay at least $42,980, and the part-time or seasonal jobs will pay at least $22,880.