Saude Creek Vineyards
- Saude Creek is located in Lanexa, New Kent County, east of Richmond. About 2 hours south of Washington depending on Interstate 95 traffic. Part of the Colonial Virginia Wine Trail. On a former farm property, overlooking the Pamunkey River. Owners are Jason Knight and John Britt.
- Wine. Tier II. At the 2023 Virginia Governor’s Cup state-wide wine competition, the Saude Creek 2021 vintage White Chambourcin (an unusual wine) was awarded a silver medal, while their 2021 Viognier came away with a bronze medal. At the 2022 Governor’s Cup competition, three Saude Creek wines were awarded silver medals, all from their 2019 vintage: the Merlot, Viognier, and Vidal Blanc. The Vidal Blanc also earned a silver medal at the 2021 Governor’s Cup event, while the Petit Verdot and “Charlie’s Chardonnay” received bronze medals. Wide range of whites and reds. Tavern White and Tavern Red (a spiced wine) blends are well received. Unusual Chambourcin/Touriga Nacional red blend produced here. Uses 100% Virginia grapes, some from a central Virginia vineyard also owned by Jason and John.
- Setting. One star. Nice views of vineyard and gardens, and especially the Pamunkey River. Tasting room features 160-year old timbers rescued from a former tobacco warehouse. Winding entrance driveway is nice. Sometimes have live bands on weekends. BBQ available.
- Stories. One star. Virginia Native Americans – Werowocomocco. At the time of European arrival at Jamestown in 1607, the Algonquin-speaking Native Americans of the Tidewater area had become mostly unified under the paramount leadership of the Powhatan tribe, and its chief Wahunsenacawh (who the settlers referred to as Chief Powhatan). Werowocomocco, on the York River (the Indians referred to it as the Pamunkey River) was one of their more important villages, the “village of the leader,” functioning as a type of capital. Three creeks flow into the river here, and this is where allied and/or lesser tribes brought tribute to the chief. When Captain John Smith was captured, this is where he was brought before Chief Powhatan, and where the legendary intervention of the chief’s daughter Pocahontas took place. The site was apparently abandoned by the Powhatan in 1609, perhaps to create more safety from the threatening colonists, and the chief’s residence moved to a site on the Chickahominy River. The original site, on Purtan Bay, was rediscovered by archaeologists only in 2003. The National Park Service purchased the land in 2016 and is in the planning stages of opening the site to the public, as part of the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail. The site of Werowocomocco itself is about a 40-minute drive from Saude Creek, across the York River. Alternatively, York River State Park is directly across the York from Purtan Bay and the site of Werowocomocco, and about a 25 minute drive east from the winery.