Williams Gap Vineyard
Family owned since 1984
Williams Gap Vineyard is a family owned vineyard located in Round Hill. Nestled on 200 acres of land with the Blue Ridge Mountains in the distance, Williams Gap is a charming environment for all types of celebrations. It reflects the hard work which has ultimately created this special environment.
Williams Gap Vineyard’s main focus is producing the best grapes while providing an unmatched setting to enjoy them. Our family works together to make sure everyone has the best possible experience, whether it’s enjoying a glass of wine or attending an event.
Our 200+ acre vineyard with 35+ acres under vine is blessed with ideal soils and climate suited to our many varietals. We are currently growing six red vinifera varietals (Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Tannat and Syrah) and six white varietals (Chardonnay, Viognier, Vidal Blanc, Petit Manseng, Albariño and Sauvignon Blanc) and will continue to expand. After selling our grapes to local wineries since 2009, we began our own wine production in 2019 and opened our Tasting Room in April of 2021. We love to share our wines and unique experiences with new guests and our club members.
JACK SEXTON, DVM | OWNER
Jack is a native of Northern Virginia and has been caring for animals for the last 40 years as a veterinarian at McLean Animal Hospital. Having always enjoyed a nice glass of wine, in 2006 he decided to start a vineyard on a parcel of land he had owned since 1983 and began to split his time between caring for animals and tending to his grapes. Jack has been married to his wife, Jeanne, for over 35 years. Together, they have 3 children (Caroline, Jeb, and Jamie) and currently share their home with Henni (a Welsh Corgi) and Dixie (a Pudlepointer). Jack's favorite wine is the Williams Gap 2019 Red Blend.
BRIDGETTE SMITH | TASTING ROOM MANAGER
Bridgette joined the Williams Gap team in February of 2021 with background in Virginia winery tasting room management at four wineries in Northern Virginia. While Bridgette’s career began with a focus on sales, she quickly fell in love with Virginia wine when she was offered a part time position with a winery in Loudoun County. Shortly after starting her weekend position there, she climbed the ladder and joined the management team. She has found many mentors throughout the wine community to learn as much as she can, along with independent study. Bridgette is WSET Level 2 Certified and is passionate about using this certification to educate those around her in professional and personal settings. At Williams Gap, her philosophy is to make sure every guest has the best experience possible and that each person who visits us learns something new about Virginia winemaking and vineyard practices, and tastes the best wines Virginia has to offer.
ROB COX | WINEMAKER
Rob joined the Williams Gap team for our first vintage in 2019. Before his winemaking career took off, he first studied Business at Frostburg State and then attended the University of Maryland’s Institute of Applied Agriculture concentrating on Agronomy after graduating. After finishing at University of Maryland, Rob pursued a career in golf course management, having helped build several golf courses throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Arriving in Virginia in 2001, he started to pursue his interest in wine by working at a Virginia winery while beginning his schooling in the UC Davis Extension Service Winemaking Certificate Program. Rob is one of a few who has cut his teeth in Virginia, having worked with several wineries throughout the state for the past 20 years.
KEVIN SCHULZE | ASSISTANT WINEMAKER
Kevin's interest in wine began throughout his college years when he started home brewing his own beer, as well as wine in small batches in the back of his closet. This interest quickly turned into a passionate obsession after moving to Virginia. In 2019, he studied with the Virginia Wine and Spirits Academy for a year, earning his WSET Level 2 and 3 Certifications in Wine. Shortly after his education, Kevin began working as a sommelier in Charlottesville, Virginia and soon after, moved on to become the Assistant General Manager of Merrie Mill Farm and Vineyard in 2021. Here he decided to continue studying wine by becoming a WSET Diploma Candidate with the Capital Wine School in Washington DC. In 2022, he joined Keswick Vineyards as the Assistant Winemaker where he learned to apply his theoretical knowledge of wine into production practices. Joining Williams Gap Vineyard in May of 2023, Kevin continues his studies for the WSET Diploma and runs our new on-site production facility under the supervision of Winemaker, Rob Cox.