Lightwell Survey

Lightwell Survey started in 2015 with the goal of exploring the edges of winemaking in Virginia, and in particular, the Shenandoah Valley. We work with small growers in the western part of Virginia, many with higher elevations than growers in other parts of the state. There are three rules so far: All wines are cofermented, they all have Petit Manseng, and they are always changing and evolving. 

Featured wines:

2022 Colorwave

  • 44% Vidal Blanc, 33% Petit Manseng, 19% Chambourcin, and 4% Traminette

  • Alcohol: 11.5%

    RS: 0.5 g/L

    pH: 3.4

    Acidity: 5.5 g/L

    Retail Pricing: $25

2022 Goodbye Horses

  • 84% Riesling, 16% Petit Manseng

  • Alcohol: 11.4%

    RS: 0.95 g/L

    pH: 3.08

    Acidity: 6.9 g/L

    Retail Pricing $30

2021 Hintermen

  • 70% Petit Manseng, 15% Riesling, and 15% Vidal Blanc

  • Alcohol: 13.6%

    RS: 1.7 g/L

    pH: 3.36

    Acidity: 6.5 g/L

    Retail Pricing $35

2023 The Way it Was Before

  • 63% Chambourcin, 25% Petit Manseng, 7% Vidal Blanc, 2% Riesling, 2% Chardonel, 1% Traminette

  • Alcohol: 11.7%

    RS: 0.5 g/L

    pH: 3.66

    Acidity: 5.8 g/L

    Retail Pricing $25

Meet the winemaker:

Ben Jordan

Ben began his career in Sonoma County and has worked in Virginia as winemaker at Early Mountain Vineyards, as well as GM and winemaker at Michael Shaps Wineworks. Alongside his brother, Tim, he oversees his family’s wine project, Midland, and associated vineyards planted on their Shenandoah Valley farm, Mount Airy. He recently co-founded the grape breeding program, ViRV, which works with the USDA and Virginia industry to develop resistant varieties that produce high quality wines in the state’s shifting climate. Ben is a graduate of Duke University and received his MFA in playwriting from Carnegie Mellon University.

CONTACT

Ben Jordan | ben@lightwellsurvey.com