Wine in the Vines

Tempest Cellars has long been a dream of the Burgess Family. The land the winery sits on has been in the family for generations, growing tobacco then lumber. After living in the Northern Virginia area for many years, Vann and his wife, Gayle, decided it was time to move back to North Carolina and start the long process of opening the winery. While they readied the land, their eldest, Joe Burgess, traveled to Washington state to study Enology and Viticulture at Walla Walla Community College receiving the training needed to become the head wine maker for the family business. In the years since receiving his degree, Joe went on to hone his skills as a wine maker at wineries across the country, continuously increasing his knowledge and perfecting his craft. The years of dedication, hard work, and skills are evident in the quality of the wines he produces.

Vann and Gayle have two other children who are also involved in the making of this dream becoming a reality. Their middle child, Anna Hedger, used her Environmental Biology degree when discussing soil sample results and wildlife management of the land. Their youngest, Kait Goens, is the artist in the family, with her photography certification from Boston University. She and her husband, Justin Goens, have designed the wine labels while being involved with the branding and photography of the winery.

The entire family, Vann, Gayle, Joe, Anna and Patrick Hedger, and Kait and Justin Goens, came together for Christmas 2024 where the third, and final, wine was bottled and labeled. The family is pleased to announce that Tempest Cellars is open for business as of January 1, 2025. Come by and have a taste of North Carolina that has been expertly crafted into our wines, Tempest Cellars and Wildcat Wines, highlighting the muscadine grape which grows wild throughout North Carolina and on the property.

Come on out and have a taste of wine with Tempest Cellars as a local family and Veteran owned small business!