Beliveau Estate is located in the Catawba Valley of Montgomery County, Virginia.
It started with a dream to make wine. Yvan and Joyce Beliveau were excited to find a 165 acre parcel of land that not only offered exceptional soils for growing grapes but also an ambiance like no other they had seen. They bought the property in 2001, renovated an old on-site farmhouse, built the future winery/event building, planted lavender in 2005, and opened their B&B in 2007 to host their first B&B guests. The first grape vines were planted in 2009, and the winery opened in May 2012.
Yvan loves to blend art with science. The belief that growing grapes and making great wine is a complex mix of art and science fulfilled this love. The concept that hard physical work intertwined with mental gymnastics appealed to this farmer – turned academic – turned winemaker. The need to create buildings for the growing enterprise of a winery satisfied a personal love of design and construction.
Joyce has always had a passion for lavender and leadership. Lavender was planted in 2005 and the First Annual Lavender Festival was held in June 2008, now an ever growing and sought out event. Her years of organizational and business leadership keeps her focused on the fact that great ideas with great leadership and management are essential to a successful business.
This motivated duo envisioned a winery in Blacksburg, Virginia, a place they consider ideal for family life and retirement. They both grew up on dairy farms in Vermont. Their love of the earth and what it can produce was deeply embedded in their hearts.
Yvan’s academic career has involved much domestic and international travel which has offered the opportunity to experience wines from many regions of the world. These travels expanded their pallets for wine and gave them an understanding and appreciation of how sites and soils can impact the quality of wine.
A search began for a vineyard site in the general area of Blacksburg and culminated in the purchase of the 165 acre farm conveniently located just 12 miles from downtown Blacksburg. The site had the WOW factor of vistas and settings needed to create magical experiences, and almost perfect conditions for growing grapes; at least 30 acres of southeast slopes that averaged about 2250 feet above sea level, soils of mostly broken limestone with little topsoil remaining, and rising and falling air masses due to cold and hot air displacement that reduces potential for early and late frost.
Beliveau Estate Winery is proud of the wines they are making. Their wines are handcrafted and vary each year, as they “listen” to what the new seasons harvest is telling them. Their main distribution is via the on-site winery but Beliveau Estate wines may also be found in select local restaurants and wine stores. An active Wine Club continues to grow and many friendships are being forged over the sipping of wine.
Yvan and Joyce are extremely proud of the fact that they are providing part and full-time employment opportunities, and can offer internships to local university students. They are also proud of the fact that they help in a small way the cultural identity of Southwest Virginia, and more specifically the wonderful area of Blacksburg – home of Virginia Tech and its Viticulture and Enology expertise that has aided the growth of Virginia wines.
The purchase of the estate in late 2001 with the subsequent opening of the bed and breakfast, wedding venue, production of lavender, and the making of wine has been a dream fulfilled for the two creative minded and hardworking entrepreneurs. Their biggest challenge is containing the many ideas that continue to present themselves. But then, they wouldn’t want it any other way!