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Our Story
Founded in 2007, Virginia Wineworks is a partnership of Philip Stafford and Michael Shaps. Located in the former Montdomaine winery just 12 miles south of Charlottesville, Virginia Wineworks is a multifaceted winery operation.
Virginia Wineworks produces wines under the Virginia Wineworks label as well as the Michael Shaps label. In addition we are focused on the increasing the popularity of custom winemaking. "Custom crush" as it is known, allows individuals, grape growers and wineries to use our expertise and facility to create wines for their own brand.
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Philip Stafford, Partner
Over the years, Philip has been involved in the wine industry in several facets: as a restaurateur, wine retailer, grapegrower, and importer. Currently he is the owner of USA Wine Imports, a wine logistics, distribution, and importing company based in New York with offices in Florida and California. His passion about wine is evident. In joining Michael, Philip has finally gotten the hands-on experience in making wine that he always envisioned. He is now an active member of the management and winemaking team at Virginia Wineworks.
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Michael Shaps, Partner
Michael has been making wine for 18 years, the past fourteen in Virginia and Meursault, France. Michael studied at the Lycee Viticole de Beaune and worked two vintages at Maison Chartron et Trebuchet in Puligny-Montrachet before returning to the United States.
In Virginia Michael was the winemaker at Jefferson Vineyards for six years before leaving to start his winery consulting firm and to produce wines under the Michael Shaps label. Over the past eight years Michael has consulted for over a dozen start-up wineries and has created many award-winning wines for his clients. The Michael Shaps wines have been recognized by several regional and national publications as some of the best wines made in Virginia.
In 2004 Michael joined his friend and former mentor Michel Roucher-Sarrazin to create Maison Shaps & Roucher-Sarrazin in Meursault, France where they produce small lots of high-end Burgundy wines.
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