Winemaking Blog by Jason Murray at Arterra Wines

Blog & Updates

Jason Murrary, Winemaker at Arterra Wines

Meet Jason Murray, owner and winemaker of Arterra Wines

From his youth raising sheep with his family, and working on local farms, Jason Murray has always had a passion for agriculture. Working at a local garden center in high school was the catalyst to moving into Horticulture and earning BS and MS degrees at UMCP. A position in Commercial Horticulture in Loudoun County immersed Jason early in the establishment of Virginia viticulture. Transitioning to Vineyard management and then winemaking – Jason continued his pursuit of passionate agriculture, embracing clean and natural winemaking techniques as an extension of the biological system of grape growing, and discovered those techniques as the key to unlocking the highest quality of wine. With over 20 years of experience, Jason continues to develop the techniques that produce the worlds greatest wines by embracing True Terroir expression and Clean Wine.

  • Native Yeast, What is it? Why Does it Matter?

    Native Yeast, What is it? Why Does it Matter?

    Every batch of grapes starts fermenting on its own: no starter culture, no subsequent inoculations. The first yeast that initiate fermentation are completely different than the yeast that show up during the main vigorous phase of fermentation.

  • The Art of Growing Wine Grapes in Virginia

    The Art of Growing Wine Grapes in Virginia

    Arterra Wines has long embraced the idea of True Terroir. So what does this really mean? At Arterra, we utilize minimal interventions in the cellar. This includes all native yeast fermentations, no additives or chemicals, minimal sulfites, and neutral oak.

  • Significance of Winter Pruning: Part 2

    Significance of Winter Pruning: Part 2

    This post is a continuation for the Significance of Winter Pruning post, offering a brief insight into the evolution of Arterra’s innovative pruning technique.

  • A Passion for Tannat

    A Passion for Tannat

    Certain grapes rise to the “impressive” category on this list of consistent quality; that’s Tannat, but its borderline winter hardiness keeps its acreage in Virginia to a select few ideally temperature moderated sites.

  • Why Clean Wine

    Why Clean Wine

    I learned viticulture as a unique form of agriculture. Simply put, if you only want to taste characteristics originating from the grape, then you can’t add or change anything.

  • Significance of Winter Grape Vine Pruning: Phase 1

    Significance of Winter Grape Vine Pruning: Phase 1

    Many believe the growing season ceases in the winter months. In fact, there is a lot that happens during the winter to optimize the growing season, including grape vine pruning. Winter is the time of year when the grape vines require pruning to define vineyard and vine infrastructure.