7 Lady Vineyards began with two long-time friends and business partners who share a passion for family, genuine hospitality and good wine.
Wine is geography in a glass. The soil, elevation, climate and traditions of each region shape what you taste.
Virginia is our home. Our 4,000 Cabernet Franc and Viognier vines cover three of Dover Hall’s 55 acres in Manakin-Sabot. Granite-based clay and a growing season of more than 200 days give the grapes savory flavors and structured tannins.
We make our other Virginia wines with growers in the Shenandoah Valley, Monticello and across the state.
Explore the collectionAnd the team around the table.
Chad Hornik and Jeff Ottaviano became business partners in 2008. Their work at Dover Hall led to a vineyard, a wine collection, and a growing community around both. Today a close team works beside them, from the cellar to the glass.
Co-founder · Estate Winemaker · Sommelier
Chad started out at 12 in a small Italian restaurant in Miami, and has spent three decades in restaurants and hospitality since. A U.S. Army veteran, he trained as a sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers and finished the winemaker program at UC Davis in 2025. He leads our estate Viognier himself.
Co-founder · Viticulturist
Jeff grew up in an Italian family in Nashville, where his first job was making pizzas. He flew as a pilot for almost 20 years before he opened a wine bar in Richmond. You will often find him on the tractor or the mower. He is studying viticulture at UC Davis, to give Chad and our winemakers the best grapes he can.
Ben is our Virginia winemaker, formerly of Early Mountain Vineyards. He works with Chad and Zach on the estate wines and the wines we make with Virginia growers.
Zach grew up in Portland, Oregon, and has worked harvests from California to New Zealand. He makes wine with Chad and Ben as part of our Virginia winemaking team.
Jamie started in hospitality at 15, washing dishes. He ran the event programs at The Berkeley Hotel and The Dominion Club in Richmond before he joined us in 2018.
Leah came to Dover Hall in 2018 and became Executive Chef two years later. In 2023 the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging and Travel Association named her Chef of the Year. Expect herbs, seasonal produce and a hint of citrus.
Quynh began her career in the vineyards of Orange County, Virginia. She was a sommelier at Fiola and Chief Sommelier at The Omni Homestead before she joined 7 Lady Vineyards in 2026.
Napa Valley California
Willamette Valley Oregon
Rioja Spain
Mendoza Argentina
Friuli Italy
Our two sparkling wines, a Brut Reserve and a Brut Rosé, come from Moldova.
Find your next wineFrom a friendship to a winery and tasting room.
Chad Hornik and Jeff Ottaviano meet through a mutual friend and become business partners. Jeff was a pilot exploring the restaurant world. Chad was already in it.
They start Dover Hall Experiences and take on Dover Hall, a 55-acre estate in Manakin-Sabot.
4,000 Cabernet Franc and Viognier vines are planted at Dover Hall, while Chad and Jeff meet winemakers around the world.
The first 7 Lady Vineyards wines are poured, at events at Dover Hall and Bartizan.
The first estate harvest of Cabernet Franc and Viognier.
The Pioneer Wine Club launches, with club parties, tastings and winemaker dinners at Dover Hall.
We break ground on the tasting room. Condé Nast Johansens names Dover Hall Best in North America for Weddings, Parties and Celebrations.
7 Lady Vineyards 2023 Meritage is selected for the Virginia Governor’s Cup Case. One of 12 chosen out of 677 Entrants. Dover Hall earns “Best in North America for Weddings and Events” from Condé Nast Johansens for a second year.
