While Blenheim has a long history (beginning in 1730), just over the last decade they have been producing 100% Virginia-grown grapes and sustainably produced wines across 32 acres of estate vineyards. Their winemaking philosophy is rooted in minimalism, where the fruit's quality takes center stage in the creation of finely crafted wines, with minimal interference.

Kirsty Harmon, Blenheim’s talented winemaker, has known our co-founder John since they were wee. Kirsty cut her teeth in enology at John’s family’s winery before joining the Blenheim team full time. During the COVID pandemic, they joined forces to create Blenheim’s On the Line wines while John was volunteering as the City Lead Coordinator for World Central Kitchen’s Frontline Food program. On the Line helped raise funds for meals for frontline health workers and food insecure communities in Charlottesville while providing critical economic support for local restaurants. 

Now, they are teaming up again, beginning by repurposing Blenheim’s used wine barrels for craft mead production. Thistlerock is also a proud participant and sponsor of Blenheim’s Oenoverse program, working together to build a more inclusive Virginia wine industry through focused outreach efforts that educate and include people from historically excluded and underrepresented communities.