By Michelle Price
Special to the UCBJ
BAXTER – Fall is a busy season at DelMonaco Winery & Vineyards, and this season is no exception as DelMonaco prepares to celebrate its 12th Anniversary with its new vintner, Andy Reagan.
DelMonaco will celebrate its anniversary with a two-day celebration Saturday, Nov. 14 and Sunday, Nov. 15 featuring music, giveaways and lots of wine. As an added bonus, customers can purchase a minimum of 12 bottles of wine for $12 each with a five-case limit during the celebration.
Visitors will also have the opportunity to meet DelMonaco’s new vintner, Andy Reagan, who recently moved to Baxter from Virginia to take over those duties.
Reagan’s love of wine started over 25 years ago. He is a native of Norfolk, Va., and at age 11, he had his first winery experience visiting his sister Anne at Benmarl Vineyards in the Hudson Valley of upstate New York. He returned during his summers throughout high school helping in the vineyard and cellar and being introduced to the world of fine wine.
Upon graduating from Marine Corps RTD, Parris Island, S.C. as a reservist, he decided to rejoin Anne at Benmarl and began to learn the trade in depth. As a novice, he was exposed to wine of all ages from all over the world. The recognition of other great winemakers’ hard work and art inspired and inspires him to this day.
After a few years at Benmarl, Andy missed his home state of Virginia, so when The Williamsburg Winery called in early 2000, he returned home.
Since then, Andy has made wine at a number of eastern wineries with distinction, where he has led a rebirth of several vineyards, won numerous platinum, gold, and best of class awards and was invited to pour his wine at the James Beard House. Some of the more prominent wineries include Chrysalis Vineyards, Jefferson Vineyards, Old House Vineyards and most recently Horton Vineyards where he guided the 2016 Petit Manseng to winning the 2019 Virginia Governor’s Cup.
Andy is incredibly excited about the challenges and rewards awaiting him here in Tennessee and is hoping to add to the success and quality of the DelMonaco brand.
