Creek’s Edge Winery
- Located in Taylorstown (a hamlet in the township of Lovettsville), on the banks of Catoctin Creek in North-central Loudoun County. Property purchased in 2007 by Todd Durden, who initially sold grapes to other wineries before opening Creek’s Edge Winery in 2014.
- Wine. Among the Top 40 wineries of Northern Virginia, and the 15 best wineries of Loudoun County. Creek’s Edge, an episodic presenter at wine competitions, had their best showing ever at the 2023 Virginia Governor’s Cup, coming away with two gold medals at the annual state-wide competition: their 2019 Petit Verdot and 2019 Durden Family Red. They were also awarded a silver medal for the 2021 Viognier. The Cabernet Franc was selected for a gold medal back at the 2019 Governor’s Cup event, while Creek’s Edge received three silver medals at the 2020 Governor’s Cup event (for their Rose, Chardonnay, and Family Blend). Stand-alone Chambourcin, Cabernet Franc and blends.
- Setting. Decks overlook the vineyard. Winery is an Amish structure. Hickory trees from the property were carved into the tasting bar. Spacious venue, some reviews about slow service. Sandwiches and light food are available.
- Stories. Land use debates: Water infrastructure. As the Washington metropolitan area has grown exponentially since WWII, land use has been pulled in many directions. Housing developments have been the most obvious issue, as population of the metro area has grown from 2 million people in 1960, to over 6 million today. A less visible but also important issue has been supplying water to the growing population. Water is generally plentiful in the region, but can be subject to droughts. In the 1970s, infrastructure planners in Washington decided that another reservoir was needed for the capital’s water security: it was proposed to dam Catoctin Creek as it flowed into the Potomac River, near the vineyard here in Taylorstown. The dam at Taylorstown would have created a five mile long lake, drowning much of the lower Valley – and you certainly wouldn’t have had Creek’s Edge Winery here. In response, the Catoctin Valley Defense Alliance was formed in 1974 by the citizens of Taylorstown. Bright red bumper stickers which proclaimed “Don’t Dam Taylorstown,” and “Don’t Dam Loudoun” became the rage. The Alliance prevailed in the Virginia Assembly, and it became Virginia state law that one county (Fairfax in this case) did not have the right of “eminent domain” over another. So the historic village remains available for you to visit after a winery tour. First settled in 1734, Taylorstown holds two of the oldest standing houses in Loudoun County, “Hunting Hill” and “Foxton Cottage”, directly across the Catoctin Creek from each other.