Sunshine Ridge Farm Winery and Events

Speaker 1 0:00

My name is Maria Rafferty . I'm the owner and operator of the winery at Sunshine Ridge Farm and we are a farm winery and brewery and we also sell cider .

Speaker 2 0:10

Wonderful and you guys are located in Gainesville , Manassas area .

Speaker 1 0:14

Yes , so we're in Gainesville , we're right on Lake Manassas , ah yeah , and we are the only place that you can come to on Lake Manassas and enjoy the lake , unless you're part of one of the gated communities . So , wow , that is a nice feature there .

Speaker 2 0:29

Yeah , a lot of people enjoy that , and the workers too , probably .

Speaker 1 0:32

Yeah , yeah , it's not a bad office .

Speaker 2 0:34

Yeah , right , before we get into the winery , I'd like to know a little bit of a background about yourself and how you got started in the winery business , sure , and how you got to this point .

Speaker 1 0:47

So my background is as an attorney , wow yeah . So I went to school , grew up and went to school in Connecticut and then I moved down here for a job in DC . I did that for a number of years that I raised my children kind of a mix of both . At that point , when the last one was going to college , my thoughts were second half is going to be a little more fun . So that's kind of what led me into that . I'd always taken classes in winery , winery production , how to own a winery , but I'm one of those people that's a little ADHD , you know . I've taken framing classes , I've taken photography classes . I've taken , you know , anything that interests me . I'm a curious person , I like schooling , so I've always taken things that interest me . And then we had property right next to ours on the lake 10 acres and then we just grew it from there .

Speaker 2 1:43

I love that . No , I love that . You're a person who's always like learning or wanting to learn more . Yeah .

Speaker 1 1:47

Things that you're curious about . You know you got one life . Yes , go out there and find out about it and learn about it , and you never know where it's going to take you , and this took me to doing a winery Love that .

Speaker 2 1:58

Would you say that any piece of being like in your background , of like an attorney , has helped you with your business right now ? Oh , definitely .

Speaker 1 2:05

Definitely there's a lot of regulation , obviously with farm wineries and breweries . You know there's a lot of things you can and can't do and we want to make sure we're doing everything right , so that has been helpful . As far as starting a business , you know there's a lot that goes into that paperwork , wise , etc . Cetera . So all of those things in my background helped me definitely get started . My husband does construction . He owns Style Roofing , which is a business that's been in business for 30 something years . So when we were building the building and the property , we did it ourselves .

Speaker 2 2:41

So a bit of a project there .

Speaker 1 2:43

Yeah , big project , yeah , ourselves . So , um , yeah , big project , yeah . So I did the creative aspect and he did that . You know , kind of like Chip and Joanna Gaines Um , I'm going we gotta have this , and he's going that's not really possible , yeah . So I'm like , well , let's pivot and do it like this , and so you know , so we went like that , which was fun for our family to do too .

Speaker 2 3:06

And I'm sure it was nice to a bonding moment and getting to create what's in your head Like , yeah , bring it to life .

Speaker 1 3:12

Yeah , like my son did construction on it , my daughter does my social media . Um , you know , my father built our big table that we have in the brewery Cause . He was a carpenter his whole life at , you know , 80 years old he's building this big table . My father-in-law did all our smaller tables in the main dining room . My mother-in-law did our big sign when you come in . I mean , it's just been a whole family affair .

Speaker 2 3:35

Wow , that's really cool , truly family-owned business and created . Yeah , love that . I'd like to talk about the winery now and what type of , I guess ciders and wines you offer , and I guess people can also book their weddings their private events . Talk to me about all that good stuff .

Speaker 1 3:53

Yeah , so , um . So our winemaker is um Ashton Lowe . Um , he's been doing this a long time I would say at least 20 years and I already liked his wine from having it at other wineries . Um , so I'm really pleased with what he does . Then we right now get our cider from um Cobbler Mountain . It took me a minute to recall it , but , uh , they're local and , honestly , they make cider better than I could . So , um , we buy their cider from them . Um brew brewery , we do some of our own . We also get some from a couple of different breweries locally . Um , I don't bring in anything local if we don't make it even , um , because , again , we're part of the community . So it's not , it doesn't ? Every last drop doesn't have to be done by us .

Speaker 2 4:41

Yeah , no , that's cool . And then also , like it's a community , you're helping everybody . Yeah , yeah , exactly , love that and , um , I understand there's um an age limit there .

Speaker 1 4:53

There is like that . Yes , so because we're on the lake , um , and as a mother , um , especially one of my kids was that kid that you opened the car door and flew into the most dangerous area possible . Yeah , everybody has that one kid . I had that kid , so that was my thought . Like , this is not good to have hundreds of people . I mean , on a Saturday we'll have five , 600 people on the property . You can't have that on a lake with a bunch of toddlers running around . You know , that's just so . We just made it 16 and up . Basically , if you can drive and you could sit in your seat and you're not running around , you're fine to be there .

Speaker 2 5:32

Yeah , Well , that makes sense . I was thinking for other reasons . I thought it was like adults , only you know .

Speaker 1 5:37

No , but we have embraced that because I made that 16 and up rule for safety purposes , yes . So then we've embraced our adult playground kind of vibe . I love it .

Speaker 2 5:51

Yeah , I love it .

Speaker 1 5:52

Yeah .

Speaker 2 5:52

And I also noticed that you guys have events , so talk to me about that . That's pretty cool . But , like , if you're like bored , like locally , and you're like , what do I do ? I want to go to DC . You can go to this brewery and , like , have a good .

Speaker 1 6:08

On Thursday nights . All different kinds of events . So we've made that kind of our try new things out . So we have a comedy night once a month with local comedians . There's a troop of like 30 of them and about 14 to 15 come in . That's once a month . Line dancing we have once a month under the big tent outside , so you're looking at the lake , you're getting the fresh air and super fun . We have ladies night once a month on Thursday . That is a huge hit .

Speaker 1 6:36

I mean that's 150 to 200 people in the building you guys got a crowd Shopping clothes , jewelry , soaps , you know all kinds of things . We have a DJ , so there's dancing conga line . It's super fun , it's where you can go , you don't have to get dressed up . Have fun with your girlfriends . Yeah , yeah , yeah , yeah , really fun . So , uh , now we're having movie night on the other thursday a month so you sit outside with popcorn , a huge screen on the stage , um , like you're just watching a movie , like at an old drive-thru that you would go to when you were a kid . Yeah , so we're doing a lot of fun stuff , but every Friday , saturday , sunday , live music , food trucks , um , and on the lake . So people come tell me they're like , it's like being on vacation .

Speaker 2 7:22

Oh my goodness , I got to head out .

Speaker 1 7:23

Yeah , yeah , yeah you will . You'll enjoy it . It's a lot of fun .

Speaker 2 7:27

I also um like to know if you since Halloween and it's like spooky season .

Speaker 1 7:40

That's october 1st today . Do you guys have anything fun happening ? So we , our ladies night is halloween themed um , and then actually usually halloween itself . We have like basically a costume party , um , and then we are showing um practical magic for uh halloween on our thursday movie night . So mostly everything we do around that week's time has a Halloween theme to it . I love it .

Speaker 2 7:58

I know I love spooky things . I was just like , hmm , let me see if they got something . Yeah , love it

Marketing, Weddings, and Casual Vibe

Speaker 2 8:03

. And now I know you said that your daughter helps with the social media . I'd like to know what you guys are doing as far as like marketing , getting the word out there about these events that you're holding the wine showcasing what you can provide as far as like marketing , getting the word out there about these events , that you're holding the wine showcasing what you can provide as far as weddings and private events , and how you're going about doing that .

Speaker 1 8:20

So I have . So my daughter does a social media , um , and honestly , she just graduated from Syracuse last year and I would be calling her at school going . I have spent 30 minutes trying to do this , real , you know , and she's going . Mom , it's not that hard . I'm like , honey , I'm almost 60 . It is that hard , you know , but uh , so obviously when she graduated I was like , please come in here and save me . Uh , so she does reels , she does all of that stuff .

Speaker 1 8:49

Um , we're also getting our website redone so it is a little more user-friendly than our initial one . And then I have somebody who does small events and somebody who does our weddings , and the weddings have just been fabulous . We built a new area in the woods , so it's kind of like twilight , wow , yeah . So you're in a little circle of trees and then in the back of that is an open area where you can see the lake , like like 15 feet away , and then we have wood chairs . You sit in the wood chairs . We've got a little , um , I don't know whatever you call it that they decorate that the bride and groom stands under , um , yeah , yeah , like a trellis kind of thing . Um , so we have that , and then it's um kind of thing , um , so we have that , and then it's um grassed in the middle and then big stones that you walk across toward your spouse .

Speaker 1 9:40

Yeah , it's gorgeous , it's unique and , um , we were inspired by a bride who wanted a twilight themed wedding and she's like you have the woods . I was like , okay , now we've got to build this tw , this Twilight . Now I'm seeing the vision too Did you watch the movie now ?

Speaker 2 9:55

Yeah , I have .

Speaker 1 9:56

And as soon as she started saying it , I was like , oh , this spot over here would be perfect for this . It's just on a peninsula at the water's edge . I was like , oh , okay .

Speaker 2 10:04

Love it . Yeah , that's great . What have been some of the challenges ? Like starting this winery , like I starting this winery and like I know you guys like built it and everything .

Speaker 1 10:17

What were some of the challenges you went through and could you talk to me about how you got through them and , like what you learned ? Uh , the hardest part has probably been dealing with regulation with regard to farm wineries , um , when a lot of people locally , um are may not be as familiar with the state requirements . So you're trying to balance this is what the state says I can do , and the locality saying you're not allowed to do that because you're a business and I'm like we're actually agricultural , farm-based business which have slightly different rules . So just kind of learning it better myself and then talking with the locality and making sure they understand what we're doing , because you know , in Prince William County we don't do much of that and people more and more are trying to bring those breweries and those different things not just in like a commercial warehouse setting but in a farm setting which has different requirements .

Speaker 1 11:09

And then we started this at the beginning of COVID . We started this and that literally we're pouring concrete and we're in COVID , you know . So it was yes , yes , so a lot of meetings with masks on all of us standing 10 feet apart and talking during the construction process . But you know , like everybody else . We got through it so .

Speaker 2 11:30

No , I'm glad you did . Now we've got like an amazing place where people can go to and have a good time yes . And I understand that it you do take some walk-ins , but it's mostly through reservation . Is that correct ?

Speaker 1 11:42

It's a balance of each . In the summer it's not as much of an issue because we have that huge outdoor area , so people are like it's sunny . I want to sit outside more challenging in the winter because as we come into the colder time of year , the seating is limited . Nobody wants to sit outside , so , um , that's when it becomes more of a challenge . Um but um , usually there's still plenty of seating between the upstairs and down .

Speaker 2 12:06

Okay , very nice , and you guys also have fireplaces .

Speaker 1 12:10

We do . We have big stone fireplaces inside um , which just give it a beautiful ambiance , and we have fire pits outside . Uh , yeah , yeah roast those marshmallows ?

Speaker 2 12:22

yeah , exactly , I really need to go you do .

Speaker 1 12:26

You need to come , it's a lot of fun yeah , maybe I'll try to get the team guys .

Speaker 1 12:45

we should get out of it or something fun . Ladies night , only 11 to five , and does you know ? Um , very , uh , seated formal tastings . I wanted us to be more like you show up on the farm , um , you know , there's live music playing , a much more casual environment . Um , again bringing in the beer , bringing in the cider , for maybe people who don't enjoy wine , who want to do something else . I definitely wanted it to be a more casual vibe . So I think everything we do , including our new website , will show that that's who we are .

Speaker 1 13:24

There's a place for every different type , you know .

Speaker 2 13:26

No , that sounds like my I . Sometimes I'm like I don't want to dress up . Are people going to judge me and be like Whoa , she rolled out of bed or something . It's not literally me rolling out of bed , but I don't want to put in that much effort . I just came home from work . I just want to be comfortable , exactly .

Speaker 1 13:38

Like we have the fun tables where people are dressed in the dress and they've got the hat and it's super cute , we take pictures and you know and all that . But then they're good too .

Speaker 2 13:54

I love that . I love the different kinds of wineries that there are that can cater for different people , yes , exactly . Yes , yes , exactly , yeah , Love it . I'd like to know what the you talked to me about the website and that's kind of like look you're going for , but could you maybe for listeners who haven't been there or haven't checked out the website , talk to me about what the decor is inside and what the style is , is core is inside and what the style ?

Speaker 1 14:19

is . Is it rustic ? Is it modern ? Is it sheet , tell me , very rustic . So we milled a lot of the wood from the property as we were . We took down trees and we milled and we've created the beams and everything from the wood actually on the property .

Speaker 1 14:31

Yeah , so a lot of pieces that we found . Too . Like in the brewery we have a metal shingle wall that was leftover shingles from a husband's roofing business , um , and but even down to you'll see our playful side , um , our menus , where it says you know your red wines , your white wines , and it goes through you know a little description of them the white wine , the Riesling , it's sweeter , it's you know , blah , blah , blah . Then you get to the end and it says pairs well with . Well , we know , you know white wines pair well with chicken and fish , red wines pair well with your steak or your spaghetti . So I was kind of like I don't need to repeat this .

Speaker 1 15:08

Um , so we decided to make fun pairings . So my girlfriends and I , we get some wine and we're sitting around and we made like our Riesling pairs well with Matthew McConaughey at midnight playing the bongo drums . Okay , you know cause years ago he did that . He sat in his house and the neighbor called the police and and there he was , sitting around in his underwear playing the bongo drums , you know , with a couple of drinks in it . I mean , you know , and that to me sounds like a good time . So I was like this pairs well with the Riesling .

Speaker 1 15:34

As far as I'm concerned , I'm getting the hall pass from my husband if Matthew shows up . That's all I'm saying . But yeah , so all of our pairings are like that . They're all , you know , one of the other red wines we put . Pairs well with Quart of Ben and Jerry's , amazon Prime and your PJs . You know what I mean , because you picture that night too . You're tired , you're exhausted , you came home from work , you just want a bottle of wine , some ice cream and your favorite show on Netflix , and you're on Amazon Prime ordering all kinds of stuff you're never going to need the next day . You know what I mean ? I'm guilty of that . Yeah , we all are .

Speaker 2 16:14

So we made I love it and very like personal touch to it . I think that's great . Sometimes people are like just make a menu and just please .

Speaker 1 16:21

Yeah , no , we want every touch , even some of the pictures . I can't describe those . You have to see them in person . You'll have to see them , okay , but they're again . You just look at it and you go oh my gosh , these people have a Love it no good .

Speaker 2 16:36

What about food ? Do you guys offer any food ?

Speaker 1 16:38

We do so . There's food trucks every weekend , again because of the volume of people . Yes , we also order all different types of charcuterie boards , just cheese or cheese and meat . We have a beer board which is more like sausage and stuff like that , and then we also do flatbreads . So all different types of flatbread . You guys have that covered .

Speaker 2 16:57

Yeah , love it . Yeah , yeah , yeah , just wanted to hear it and confirm . Thank you , you're welcome . For when I go I'm like , okay , I'm looking forward to this now . Cool , and now I would like to know where you envision yourself with your family in the next five years , with your business , or maybe even just personally . Like expansion growth , talk to me about that .

Speaker 1 17:16

Um , really , the main thing I want to do is grow the wedding area . Right now , it's tented , um , and we have two cool ceremony spots the wooded one that I talked about and then on the main lawn just out in front of the big view expansive views of the lake . Um , I'd like to get out of the tent and into a building and again , it's just a matter of going through all the steps , um , with the county and everything , to make sure we do it the right way . But I would like to put a big , beautiful building so that we could do it year round instead of just limited to the warm weather months . Other than that , I am not trying to be . I'm not trying to get to the point where we lose the personal touch . So I think that's where I'm interested in stopping . And again , when you get so big , you lose that time with your family and stuff like that . I don't want to lose that either .

Speaker 2 18:03

So , yeah , Cool , and how many employees do you have that are helping you ?

Speaker 1 18:09

Part time . I probably have five full time and then part time , 30-ish Okay yeah , and a lot of it , honestly teachers . And then in the summer we have students , um that come home from college and stuff . Um , some of them we've had since high school that , yeah , started with us in high school and now are in college and come home in the summer and we get to see how they're doing and , um , it's great .

Speaker 2 18:33

That is so wonderful . I love that it's so friendly , like community-based and family-based . Oh , definitely , I love that . Definitely , yeah , cool . And now talk to me a little bit about when people come in . What kind of environment do you hope or experience that you hope that they have when they come onto your farm ? Yeah , or winery .

Speaker 1 18:57

I'm sorry , why did I say farm ? Oh yeah , it was the same Farm winery , farm brewery . Yeah for sure . Fun . I want them to have fun . At this point in my life I'm not doing anything . That's not fun , I'm just not . I've done the work , I've made the money and so now this point in my life is going to be fun from now on and I want people to come in and get that and have that too . So when they leave , I want them to be like laughing , getting into their car , like wow , that was a great time . We're coming back . We're coming back and people say that to me . I mean , they come up to me , they're like I had so much fun today . I am definitely going to be here . I'm like great .

Speaker 2 19:35

That literally is word for word , but I'd love to hear somebody saying , walking out the door Okay , I really I know I keep saying this , but literally I want to go over there and I love like a good view with with lakes and like all that good stuff and just relax .

Speaker 1 19:49

And , honestly , it's gorgeous . That's . That's the first thing people say when they come in . They go . This is gorgeous and I didn't even know this was here .

Speaker 2 19:55

Yeah , it's a secret gem in the community .

Speaker 1 20:01

Yeah , but hopefully more people can find out and we'll hear it on the podcast .

Speaker 2 20:03

Yeah , no , that's great . I'm excited . Yeah , me too . Is there anything that maybe I have not touched on , that you would like to share with us in regards to maybe yourself or your winery or anything ? Want to make sure we get everything .

Speaker 1 20:12

I don't think so . I think that about covers everything .

Speaker 2 20:14

Yeah , okay , cool , I just want to make sure I'm like making good use of your time , you know ? Yeah , all right .

The Power of Authenticity and Honesty

Speaker 2 20:20

So , as we wrap things up here , my final question is one that I like to ask all of our business owners and entrepreneurs that come here , because I'm always like being curious . Yeah , yeah , have you had maybe a mantra , a saying , a quote , maybe a line of a song that has inspired you in any way in your life that maybe you still just like ? Ah , I'm feeling cruddy . Let me read this quote again .

Speaker 1 20:45

Um , no , I , I would say , um , kind of what I live by is like uh , authenticity , you know , truthfulness , um , even if you have to say something that hurts somebody , present the best truth . Don't lie to somebody , but maybe say it in the nicest way possible or the gentlest way possible , but say it , um , lying doesn't help anybody . Um , honestly , my kids know people that are a liar . I just have no tolerance or time for they just need to go . Um , so I , you know my husband laughs Some of my very best friends are probably insanely honest . Uh , they'll say things . You go , what in the world ? That girl just say but , uh , you know , but it's fun and I respect it . So , um , yeah , the times in life actually that I've fallen down or done things , I look back and go oh , I regret that was because I wasn't doing what really , deep down , I knew was more authentic and I should have been doing .

Speaker 2 21:44

Yeah , and I'm all done with that . Yeah , yeah , yeah , yeah , no , I love that , that's . That's a good word of advice , I think . I think sometimes I am a little bit honest too , and people are just like but it's better off .

Speaker 1 21:55

You know I mean you waste , even like dating . You think about the people in your past maybe that you've dated , um , and you've made allowances for or you've changed yourself for , and you think you know . If I wasted a whole lot of time doing that , you know what I mean . If I just spend myself , take it or leave it , you like me , then we're good . Yeah , we just waited through a whole lot of stuff .

Speaker 2 22:16

Yes , yeah , amen to that . I love it . Thank you so much for being on the podcast .

Speaker 1 22:21

Oh , absolutely , thank you for having me . I appreciate it .

Speaker 2 22:23

I hope it was fun for you , cause it was yeah , yeah , yeah . No , that's great .