M&R Vineyard is a family owned and operated vineyard located in Shenandoah County, Virginia. In 2012, JC Mansilla and David Rourke (M&R) purchased the hillside pasture property not only because of its incredible views of the Allegheny Mountains, but also for its limestone based soils, elevation and topography. We began preparing the site for establishing the vineyard by testing the soil composition, laying out, ripping and tilling the rows, and auguring the holes; and in the spring of 2013, the vines were planted. We have worked for local wineries and currently serve on the board of our local wine growers association in order to foster relationships and growth through service. Our vineyard is cared for the best way we know how which helps us to offer distinct, locally cultivated fruit to Virginia wineries that showcase the best characteristics of the Shenandoah Valley AVA.
JC Mansilla
Vineyard Co-Owner
I am a native San Franciscan with generations of Sonoma Valley wine growers in my family. I graduated from San Francisco State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and have spent many years working in the finance discipline. My passion for wine comes from my experiences while growing up in San Francisco and visiting my parents in Sonoma where I got to watch many of the local wineries grow and prosper. I have traveled to many of the world’s premier wine growing regions including Champagne and Chateauneuf-du-Pape in France, Penedes in Spain, and Auckland in New Zealand. I have also explored many of this country’s other viticultural regions in California, Virginia, New York’s Finger Lakes, Texas’ Hill Country, New England, and Iowa. Since moving to Virginia, I have enjoyed promoting our region’s wines and working with local wine makers.
David Rourke
Vineyard Co-Owner
I am a native of the Boston area and learned to appreciate wine while attending Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration. During my 25 years working in the hospitality industry, I have lived in such culturally diverse locations as San Francisco, Houston, El Paso, Newport RI, and New Orleans. I have also visited many of the world’s best wine growing regions which has served to increase my desire to begin this adventure. Upon moving to Virginia, I worked in a local winery’s tasting room, while bringing our vision for M&R Vineyard to life; I love talking with visitors about Virginia’s vineyards and wineries. In January 2014, I was elected Treasurer of the Shenandoah Valley Wine Growers Association and continue to serve in this regard to this day. We spent nearly a year selecting our vineyard site and used several criteria in doing so: elevation, soil type, slope, aspect, and climate. We worked closely with Virginia Estates’ realtors and vineyard consultant, Jeanette Smith, to find this site in Quicksburg.
Dylan
The Vineyard Dog
I was born on May 19, 2006, in Kentucky. I moved to Massachusetts later that year where I learned to chase rabbits and squirrels. I love meeting and playing with other dogs of all sizes, especially my two poodle cousins, Lois and Lucy; and I hope to one day meet my New Zealand cousin, Hunter. I also really like to go for walks in the woods or local parks, playing with my squeaky toys, and catching snowballs. My job at the vineyard is to keep all sorts of critters away from the vines and grapes, including deer, groundhogs, mice, shrews, and birds.