Venue Information
Public🏡 Key Venue Details
About the owners
Cissi and Edz Sturans took over 8 Chains North in 2021, trading retirement plans for the challenge of running a working winery. Though new to the business, their enthusiasm for wine—and respect for the vineyard’s history—led them to keep founder Ben Renshaw on as winegrower. Under his mentorship, the couple has embraced every aspect of grape growing and production, learning from the ground up while honoring the winery’s roots. Together they’ve built on Ben’s vision, maintaining 8 Chains North’s reputation for quality and deep connection to Loudoun County’s land and community.
History of the venue
The name “8 Chains North” refers to the original Furnace Mountain Vineyard, planted 528 feet—eight surveyor’s chains—north of White’s Ford, a Civil War crossing along the Potomac River. Ben Renshaw, a veteran of Virginia’s wine industry since 1998, founded the winery in 2010 and developed four vineyard sites now totaling about 21 acres across Loudoun County. The Sturans couple continues to farm these sites, including the Waterford Vineyard beside the tasting room, soon to be renamed Zoe’s Vineyard. With vines dating back to 2004 and new plantings underway, the property’s mix of Albariño, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Syrah, and experimental Pinot Noir reflects both history and forward momentum.
Winemaking philosophy
8 Chains North produces 1,800 to 3,000 cases annually from mostly estate-grown grapes, crafting 10 to 18 varietals and blends each year. Whites and rosés are fermented and aged in stainless steel for freshness, while reds mature for roughly 22 months in French and American oak. The winery also creates sparkling wines by the Charmat (tank) method, including the Peacock Farm Rosé, and maintains a parallel 8 Chains North West label using premium fruit from Washington State for varietals that thrive in drier climates. Throughout every bottle, the focus remains the same: hands-on, small-batch winemaking that highlights the best of both Virginia’s and Washington’s terroir.
