Barren Ridge Vineyards is a small vineyard and winery in the heart of Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley. John and Shelby Higgs opened the vineyard in 2008, on land purchased by John’s father in 1934 when the farm was known as St. James Orchard. As John and his siblings went their separate ways and Virginia’s apple industry faded, the old orchard succumbed to neglect and overgrowth; the apple packing barn was on the verge of being lost to time when John and Shelby decided to revive the property as a vineyard and winery. Clearing the land, tending the vines, and transforming the packing barn into a state-of-the-art winery has been a labor of love for the Higgs family. Rob , their son, and Angela recently joined the team as well. Part of their vision is to see other families celebrate the special occasions and milestones of their lives at Barren Ridge, and they created event spaces characterized by warmth, elegance, rustic beauty, and Southern hospitality, surrounded by a backdrop of spectacular views. Convenient to Staunton, Waynesboro, Harrisonburg, Lexington, and Charlottesville, as well as Washington DC and Roanoke, Barren Ridge Vineyards offers an ideal venue for your celebration, with its friendly and knowledgeable staff, award-winning wines, breath-taking landscape, versatile event spaces, and gracious ambience.