Celebrating Thursday's economic announcement at The Winery at Bull Run are (l to r), Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova, winery owner Jon Hickox, U.S. Rep. Barbara Comstock, Del. Tim Hugo, Gov. Ralph Northam, co-owner Kim Hickox, Cathy Hudgins, Hunter Mill District supervisor. Photo courtesy of Fairfax County
The Winery at Bull Run – a working farm vineyard focused on crafting fine Virginia wines while paying tribute to the history and preservation of 19th-century pastoral Fairfax County – will almost double its operations with help from a combined $200,000 grant from Virginia and Fairfax County.
Gov. Ralph Northam announced the news on Aug. 23 at the winery, along with Fairfax County officials and the winery’s owners.
The winery will receive a $100,000 grant from the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund, and Fairfax County will contribute $100,000 as a local match.
This money supports the winery’s more than $1.7 million investment in new equipment and a new, 8,000-square-foot production facility.
“Agriculture and agritourism are important economic drivers in Fairfax County that we want to continue to see grow and thrive,” said Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova. “I am so pleased that The Winery at Bull Run will benefit from this grant by expanding production and adding new jobs in Fairfax County.”
Currently, Bull Run employs 16 full-time workers. The expansion will create 10 new, full-time jobs that pay at least $42,980 and 28 part-time or seasonal jobs that pay at least $22,880. These jobs include new winemakers, tasting room staff and cellar hands. In addition to the 100 tons of grapes produced by their own estate vineyards, the winery will also purchase an additional 182 tons—or $436,820 worth—of Virginia grapes over three years.
Today, the winery produces 13,000 cases per year. The expansion will allow it to quadruple its crushing capacity; provide new production equipment, including additional presses, bins, tanks, barrels and racks; and make site improvements to better serve its customers.
U.S. Rep Barbara Comstock (R-10) and Del. Tim Hugo (R-40) released the following statement after the Winery at Bull Run received a $100,000 Agriculture and Forestry Industries (AFID) grant from the Commonwealth:
"It was a pleasure to join my friends Governor Ralph Northam and Delegate Tim Hugo at the announcement of this critical AFID grant for the Winery at Bull Run,” said U.S. Rep Barbara Comstock. “This $100,000 grant from the Commonwealth will add to the already $1.7 million investment by the owners of the Winery at Bull Run, Jon and Kim Hickox.”
"Jon has been a good steward of agricultural land in Northern Virginia and the Winery at Bull Run is a top attraction for wine enthusiasts across Virginia," said Del. Tim Hugo. "The Winery at Bull Run is a testament to what the wine industry in Virginia has become and where it can go. I look forward to their continued success."