Directory of Virginia Grown Grain Farmers & Processors
There is no fee to be listed on this site. Our goal is to introduce Virginia Grain Farmers to Virginia Distillers, for everyone's benefit.
If you are a farmer/miller/broker (or know one) who currently works with distillers or is interested in this market, CONTACT US.
If you are a farmer/miller/broker (or know one) who currently works with distillers or is interested in this market, CONTACT US.
Types of grain grown in Virginia for distilleries:
BARLEY
Barley was one of the first grains to be domesticated. It originated in the the Middle East around 8500 BCE. Barley use in spirits imparts a warm, toasted or nutty flavor. Malted barley is most famously used to make Scotch whiskies and is becoming widely known for it's use in American Single Malt Whiskey. Virginia Distilling Company in Nelson County is the most awarded single malt whisky distillery in America, and offers multiple handcrafted barley variations. Cooper Fox in Sperryville, one of the oldest Virginia distilleries, malts and smokes barley on premises to craft their American Single Malt. Malted barley is also used widely as a secondary ingredient in rye, corn and wheat whiskey. Barley can be crafted as the base for clear spirits too. Trial & Error Distillery in Richmond uses barley for many of it's unique offerings. Barley grain production in Virginia is on the rise. Varieties like SB255, Thoroughbred, Secretariat, Calypso, and Avalon have shown good results.
CORN
Also called “maize,” corn as we know it today was first domesticated around 5000 BCE in Mexico. It spread throughout the Americas before Columbus arrived, and throughout Europe after the Spanish conquest. Corn is the primary grain used to make most American spirits, particularly bourbon, which by law has to be made up of at least 51% corn. Ironclad Distillery in Newport News, Ragged Branch Distillery in Charlottesville, and KO Distilling in Manassas all craft smooth examples of Virginia Bourbon. Unaged corn whiskey, like moonshine, has a strong legacy in the history of Virginia. Today distilleries like Belmont Farm in Culpeper and Twin Creeks Distillery in Franklin County keep that tradition alive. Both commercially grown yellow and white corn varietals are used for most spirit production, but the trend in distilling heirloom varieties like; Bloody Butcher, Jimmy Red, Hickory King White, and Wapsie Valley, is growing rapidly.
RYE
Compared to the other venerable grains, rye is a youngster: the first evidence of rye cultivation comes from Turkey around 1600 BCE. Rye was for almost 300 years the most popular American whiskey. That came to an end with prohibition and then the rise of inexpensive corn based whiskey from Kentucky during the depression. But, an American Rye Whiskey renaissance has begun. A popular rye-forward style of whisky is a high rye, where content is either 95 or 100%. Catoctin Creek Distillery in Purcellville is a proven winner in the high rye category. Rye is also used to partner with corn, spicing up some Bourbons, like the High-Rye Bourbon from Tarnished Truth in Virginia Beach. What to expect from rye: more spice, less sweetness, compared to corn. Rye has notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, and pepper. Because of it's savory flavor Rye whiskey has traditionally been known as the King of Cocktails. The original recipes for the Old Fashioned, Manhattan, and Sazerac all call for Rye whiskey. Rye grain has also been used for centuries in Eastern Europe for Vodka. Open pollinated varieties like Abruzzi and Danko have been grown in Virginia successfully for decades. Newer hybrids like KWS Serafino are showing higher yields and greater resistance.
WHEAT
Wheat was first thought to have been domesticated in the Middle East around 8000 BCE. As the primary grain used to bake bread, the importance of wheat in human civilization is without question. Wheat is also a sought after grain for whiskey. Its characteristic for being the smoothest tasting of the grains makes for a wonderful whiskey on its own, and a nice addition to the other grain spirits. Wheat denotes a taste similar to honey baked bread. Wheat whiskeys — just like Bourbon and Rye, need to contain at least 51% of the primary grain to be designated as such. A perfect example of a 100% Wheat Whiskey is crafted by Reservoir Distillery in Richmond. In addition to whiskey, many of the highest quality vodkas on the market today are derived from wheat grain. Winter wheat crops continue to expand across Virginia. Wheat used as a cereal grain or cover crop is proving productive. The Virginia Tech testing program continues to monitor the performance of multiple varieties.
BARLEY
Barley was one of the first grains to be domesticated. It originated in the the Middle East around 8500 BCE. Barley use in spirits imparts a warm, toasted or nutty flavor. Malted barley is most famously used to make Scotch whiskies and is becoming widely known for it's use in American Single Malt Whiskey. Virginia Distilling Company in Nelson County is the most awarded single malt whisky distillery in America, and offers multiple handcrafted barley variations. Cooper Fox in Sperryville, one of the oldest Virginia distilleries, malts and smokes barley on premises to craft their American Single Malt. Malted barley is also used widely as a secondary ingredient in rye, corn and wheat whiskey. Barley can be crafted as the base for clear spirits too. Trial & Error Distillery in Richmond uses barley for many of it's unique offerings. Barley grain production in Virginia is on the rise. Varieties like SB255, Thoroughbred, Secretariat, Calypso, and Avalon have shown good results.
CORN
Also called “maize,” corn as we know it today was first domesticated around 5000 BCE in Mexico. It spread throughout the Americas before Columbus arrived, and throughout Europe after the Spanish conquest. Corn is the primary grain used to make most American spirits, particularly bourbon, which by law has to be made up of at least 51% corn. Ironclad Distillery in Newport News, Ragged Branch Distillery in Charlottesville, and KO Distilling in Manassas all craft smooth examples of Virginia Bourbon. Unaged corn whiskey, like moonshine, has a strong legacy in the history of Virginia. Today distilleries like Belmont Farm in Culpeper and Twin Creeks Distillery in Franklin County keep that tradition alive. Both commercially grown yellow and white corn varietals are used for most spirit production, but the trend in distilling heirloom varieties like; Bloody Butcher, Jimmy Red, Hickory King White, and Wapsie Valley, is growing rapidly.
RYE
Compared to the other venerable grains, rye is a youngster: the first evidence of rye cultivation comes from Turkey around 1600 BCE. Rye was for almost 300 years the most popular American whiskey. That came to an end with prohibition and then the rise of inexpensive corn based whiskey from Kentucky during the depression. But, an American Rye Whiskey renaissance has begun. A popular rye-forward style of whisky is a high rye, where content is either 95 or 100%. Catoctin Creek Distillery in Purcellville is a proven winner in the high rye category. Rye is also used to partner with corn, spicing up some Bourbons, like the High-Rye Bourbon from Tarnished Truth in Virginia Beach. What to expect from rye: more spice, less sweetness, compared to corn. Rye has notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, and pepper. Because of it's savory flavor Rye whiskey has traditionally been known as the King of Cocktails. The original recipes for the Old Fashioned, Manhattan, and Sazerac all call for Rye whiskey. Rye grain has also been used for centuries in Eastern Europe for Vodka. Open pollinated varieties like Abruzzi and Danko have been grown in Virginia successfully for decades. Newer hybrids like KWS Serafino are showing higher yields and greater resistance.
WHEAT
Wheat was first thought to have been domesticated in the Middle East around 8000 BCE. As the primary grain used to bake bread, the importance of wheat in human civilization is without question. Wheat is also a sought after grain for whiskey. Its characteristic for being the smoothest tasting of the grains makes for a wonderful whiskey on its own, and a nice addition to the other grain spirits. Wheat denotes a taste similar to honey baked bread. Wheat whiskeys — just like Bourbon and Rye, need to contain at least 51% of the primary grain to be designated as such. A perfect example of a 100% Wheat Whiskey is crafted by Reservoir Distillery in Richmond. In addition to whiskey, many of the highest quality vodkas on the market today are derived from wheat grain. Winter wheat crops continue to expand across Virginia. Wheat used as a cereal grain or cover crop is proving productive. The Virginia Tech testing program continues to monitor the performance of multiple varieties.
-Virginia Grain Farmers and Processors listed by county:
ALBERMARLE COUNTY
- Murphy & Rude Malting (broker/malting) - Charlottesville, Virginia
AUGUSTA COUNTY
- Autumn Olive Farms (farmer, bloody butcher corn) - Waynesboro, Virginia
CHARLES COUNTY
- Renwood Farms (broker/processing) - Charles City, Virginia
CULPEPER COUNTY
- Ardent Mills (broker/processor) - Culpeper, Virginia
- Fairview Cattle & Grain (farmer/broker/processor) - Culpeper, Virginia
FLOYD COUNTY
- Gracious Day Grains (farmer/processor) - Check, Virginia
HANOVER COUNTY
- Engel Family Farms (farmer) - Hanover, Virginia
- Keenbell Farm (farmer) - Rockville, Virginia
KING & QUEEN COUNTY
- R. P. Hart and Son, Inc (farmer/processor) - Shacklefords, Virginia
KING WILLIAM COUNTY
- Old Dominion Grain (broker/processor) - West Point, Virginia
LOUDOUN COUNTY
- Three Monkeys Farm (farmer) - Morven Park, Virginia
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
- Brann/King Farm (farmer) - Christiansburg, Virginia - Dan Brann & Chuck King, Jr., (540) 382-7316 or (540) 392-3516
NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY
- Bay's Best Feed (farmer/broker/processor) - Heathsville, Virginia
- Dawson Farm / Chemgro Seeds (farmer) - Heathsville, Virginia
ORANGE COUNTY
- Virginia Seed Company (broker/processor/farmer) - Unionville, Virginia
POWHATAN COUNTY
- Grassland Farm (organic farmer) - Powhatan, Virginia
ROANOKE COUNTY
- Mennel Milling Roanoke (broker/processor) - Cave Spring, Virginia
RUSSELL COUNTY
- C & H Solutions (farmer/processor/malting) - Castlewood, Virginia
WESTMORELAND COUNTY
- Grapewood Farm (farmer/processor) - Montross, Virginia
ALBERMARLE COUNTY
- Murphy & Rude Malting (broker/malting) - Charlottesville, Virginia
AUGUSTA COUNTY
- Autumn Olive Farms (farmer, bloody butcher corn) - Waynesboro, Virginia
CHARLES COUNTY
- Renwood Farms (broker/processing) - Charles City, Virginia
CULPEPER COUNTY
- Ardent Mills (broker/processor) - Culpeper, Virginia
- Fairview Cattle & Grain (farmer/broker/processor) - Culpeper, Virginia
FLOYD COUNTY
- Gracious Day Grains (farmer/processor) - Check, Virginia
HANOVER COUNTY
- Engel Family Farms (farmer) - Hanover, Virginia
- Keenbell Farm (farmer) - Rockville, Virginia
KING & QUEEN COUNTY
- R. P. Hart and Son, Inc (farmer/processor) - Shacklefords, Virginia
KING WILLIAM COUNTY
- Old Dominion Grain (broker/processor) - West Point, Virginia
LOUDOUN COUNTY
- Three Monkeys Farm (farmer) - Morven Park, Virginia
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
- Brann/King Farm (farmer) - Christiansburg, Virginia - Dan Brann & Chuck King, Jr., (540) 382-7316 or (540) 392-3516
NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY
- Bay's Best Feed (farmer/broker/processor) - Heathsville, Virginia
- Dawson Farm / Chemgro Seeds (farmer) - Heathsville, Virginia
ORANGE COUNTY
- Virginia Seed Company (broker/processor/farmer) - Unionville, Virginia
POWHATAN COUNTY
- Grassland Farm (organic farmer) - Powhatan, Virginia
ROANOKE COUNTY
- Mennel Milling Roanoke (broker/processor) - Cave Spring, Virginia
RUSSELL COUNTY
- C & H Solutions (farmer/processor/malting) - Castlewood, Virginia
WESTMORELAND COUNTY
- Grapewood Farm (farmer/processor) - Montross, Virginia