A nearly 275-year-old estate in the far western reaches of Loudoun County is about to become the latest stop on Virginia's crowded wine trail. Jiya Vineyards, built on the historic Buckskin Manor property in Hillsboro, is set to open its tasting room in November, offering visitors a taste of its first vintage alongside a property that dates back to 1752.
The winery sits on the Buckskin Manor estate in western Loudoun County, according to Northern Virginia Magazine, which reports that owner Ranapratap Chegu and his family acquired the property in October 2020 and spent several years restoring it before opening the doors to a working vineyard. The family then planted grape varietals suited to the estate's 23 acres, culminating in Jiya Vineyards' first vintage in 2025.
Chegu's path to winemaking began far from Loudoun County. He grew up in a small agricultural town on India's southeastern coast before moving to the United States in the early 1990s and building a career in computer science, the magazine's report notes. A trip to Napa Valley sparked his interest in winemaking, and he went on to study viticulture at Northern Virginia Community College while volunteering at local vineyards throughout the growing season to learn the craft firsthand.
A Name Rooted in Memory
The winery's name carries personal meaning for Chegu, who has two sons. Per the magazine, the word Jiya is rooted in Sanskrit and used across Indian languages, and Chegu said it evokes warmth, love, vitality, and the spirit that brings everything to life. He has said his childhood memories shaped his appreciation for land, food, and life's simple pleasures, and that the winery is building on nearly 275 years of Buckskin Manor's history.
The tasting room itself is designed to showcase both the wine and the setting, offering visitors the winery's bottles alongside the historic backdrop of the estate, the outlet reports. Jiya Vineyards aims to create a destination that blends wine, food, agriculture, and hospitality, with the project centered on sustainable viticulture, thoughtful winemaking, and shared experiences. Chegu has said he hopes to connect visitors with the landscape and community of western Loudoun.
Joining a Crowded Wine Country
Hillsboro, the smallest incorporated town in Loudoun County, sits about 11 miles west of Leesburg, according to Visit Loudoun. The tourism group notes that more than 10 wineries already make up the Loudoun Heights Cluster around the town, a lineup that includes 868 Estate Vineyards, Doukénie Winery, Hillsborough Winery Brewery & Vineyard, Breaux Vineyards, Notaviva Farm Brewery & Winery, Farm de Vine, and Petit Domaine.
Jiya Vineyards will be entering that cluster as Virginia's wine industry continues to post substantial numbers statewide. The industry generates close to $8.37 billion in total economic activity and includes 271 wine producers across 4,845 acres of vineyards, according to a WineAmerica economic impact study. The same study found that Virginia wine country draws 2 million tourist visits and $382.75 million in annual tourism spending, while supporting 49,407 jobs statewide.
Other new entrants have been testing the western Loudoun market recently, too. The Town of Hillsboro notes that Kalero Vineyard, a 130-acre farm on Short Hill Mountain, was purchased in 2015 with plans for its own vineyard, winery and public tasting room. Meanwhile, Petit Domaine, described as a boutique winery focused exclusively on sparkling wine, was reported to be opening in Loudoun County by The Burn.
