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Al and Cindy Schornberg, Owners
After six years of searching the country, Al and Cindy
Schornberg finally settled on the Edgewood Estate in
Keswick, Virginia as their new residence. “Since
we didn’t move because of a job relocation, the
entire country was open to us,” says Cindy. In
moving from Holly, Michigan, the Schornbergs sought
a desirable place to raise their children and a milder
climate, particularly one that was well suited to grape
growing.
When Al Schornberg moved to Virginia, he left behind
the hi-tech corporate world he created in Michigan and
traded it for the lifestyle he had dreamed of since
childhood – as a vineyard owner. Having been an
entrepreneur most of his adult life, Al was looking
for an area that offered the excitement of a burgeoning
wine industry. He found that potential in Virginia.
Al recalls his grandfather’s stories of working
at his family's winery, Massena Cellars in France, and
like his predecessor, his goal was straightforward:
“ I just wanted to be able to enjoy a really good
wine that I made. There’s something very natural
and satisfying about that.”
With the Southwest Mountains as a backdrop, the vineyards
at Edgewood Estate create a truly picturesque landscape.
In the evenings, Al, Cindy and their two youngest children
can be found enjoying a nightly stroll through the vineyards
of their 400-acre estate. They can also be spotted on
the second story porch of their old manor home watching
the sun set over the rows of vines. Al and Cindy’s
oldest daughters also enjoy this wine country lifestyle
and reside nearby at the Vinland Estate amongst twenty-year-old
vines.
Upon purchasing the estate vineyard, the Schornbergs
decided to dedicate themselves to producing the best
wines in Virginia. The Schornbergs spared no expense
in installing top-quality winery equipment, irrigation
and root wells. Al and Cindy’s ultimate goal is
that within ten years, Keswick Vineyards will be considered
one of the finest wineries in the country. Al still
holds on to the vision that he has made a reality: the
image of himself sitting under an olive tree and sipping
his own wine. Just as Jefferson once did at nearby Monticello
and as did Al’s grandfather in France, Al is making
wine and living his dream.
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