Producer wine
Lightwell Survey

COUNTRY :
United States

REGION :
Virginia

PRODUCTION :
less than 1,000 bottles

After connecting over a long-time love of low-intervention wines, Ben Jordan (Early Mountain Vineyards) and Sebastian Zutant (D.C. wine director and restauranteur) produced the first vintage of their joint project Lightwell Survey in 2015. They have a creative perspective on the historic landscape of Virginia wine and are constantly exploring new ways to express the terroir of the Shenandoah Valley. In their own words, “we aim for a bullseye yet prefer to land slightly off center.” Rounding out the team is Sebastian’s brother Jay Zutant (business operations) , Julian Caustrita (brand and marketing) and John DeNapoli (labels).  Ben seeks out higher elevation, cooler sites in northwest Virginia. The wines are fermented with native yeasts, no to minimal additional sulfur, and are only filtered if required for stability.

CUVÉES
Wine

“Between the Dark and the Light”

Region: Virginia 
Grape: 
Chambourcin, Vidal Blanc, Ashmead’s Kernel apples
Vineyard: 
Bluestone Vineyard, Rainbow Hill Vineyard, Sherman Ridge Vineyard, Countryside Farm
Winemaking:
whole cluster Chambourcin with direct press Vidal Blanc, halfway through fermentation apples were pressed on top of the grapes, malolactic and aging occured in neutral barrel. 
Fining: 
none
Filtration:
none
Added S02: 
minimal

Wine

“Goodbye Horses”

Region: Virginia 
Grape: 
75% Riesling, 25% Petite Manseng
Vineyard: 
Shenandoah Vineyards, Sherman Ridge Vineyard
Winemaking:
Whole cluster pressed, fermented in stainless steel. Left on the lees in barrel for 7 months
Fining: 
none
Filtration:
none
Added S02: 
none added

Wine

“Strange Collapse”

Region: Virginia 
Grape: 
49% Vidal Blanc, 31% Petite Manseng, 8% Chambourcin, 8% Noiret, 4% Traminette
Vineyard: 
Sherman Ridge Vineyard, Bluestone, Rainbow Hill, Mowry Spring, and Barren Ridge
Winemaking:
Co-ferment. Direct press and whole cluster Vidal Blanc, 6 weeks on skins. Traminette macerated 2 days. Chambourcin, Noiret, semi-carbonic. 
Fining: 
none
Filtration:
none
Added S02: 
none added

Wine

“The Weird Ones Are Wolves”

Region: Virginia 
Grape: 
85% Cabernet Franc, 15% Petite Manseng
Vineyard: 
Baer Ridge Vineyard, Sherman Ridge Vineyard
Winemaking:
15% whole cluster co-ferment
Aging:
11 months neutral 228L and 500L French barrels
Fining: 
none
Filtration:
none
Added S02:
22ppm at bottling

Wine

“Hinterman”

Region: Virginia 
Grape:
2021 – 70% Petit Manseng, 15% Riesling, 15% Vidal Blanc 2020 – 59% Petite Manseng, 41% Vidal Blanc
Vineyard: 
Shenandoah Valley, Sherman Ridge Vineyard
Winemaking:
co-ferment in 500-600L neutral barrels, 16 month fermentation, full malolactic fermentation. 
Fining: 
none
Filtration:
none
Added S02: 
none added

Wine

“Dos Idiots”

Region: Virginia 
Grape: 
52% Cabernet Franc, 48% Petite Manseng
Vineyard: 
Twin Notch Farm
Winemaking:
destemmed Cabernet Franc and whole cluster Petite Manseng co-fermented
Aging:
11 months neutral 228L French barrels
Fining: 
none
Filtration:
none
Added S02: 
34ppm at bottling