Domaine Fortier Vineyards

Stephen and Jennifer Fortier purchased their 34-acre Catoctin Valley estate in 2018; first estate harvest came in 2023, with Nate Walsh and Kent Arendt of Walsh Family Wine launching the program. Stephen now leads the cellar as winemaker.

Loudoun County, VA Loudoun grown Trade available

Domaine Fortier Vineyards — winery photo

The story

The estate

Stephen Fortier, a systems engineering PhD with formal enology training from UC Davis, and Jennifer Fortier purchased their Lovettsville farm in 2018. The 34-acre estate sits in the Catoctin Valley between Short Hill Mountain and Furnace Mountain, with 10 acres planted across Bordeaux varieties, Albariño and Petit Manseng. The first estate-grown harvest came in 2023.

Winemaking

Winemaker Nate Walsh and head winemaker Kent Arendt of Walsh Family Wine craft the wines; Stephen Fortier, who completed UC Davis enology coursework, works closely in the cellar alongside them. The program centers on balance, elegance and purity.

Recognition

The estate added two Gold medals at the 2026 Virginia Governor’s Cup for the 2017 Cabernet Franc Reserve and the 2023 Les Quatre. The estate Albariño earned 90 points from James Suckling and Gold at the 2025 Virginia Governor’s Cup, and Domaine Fortier holds the title for Best Petit Manseng in Loudoun.

The team

Domaine Fortier Vineyards

Stephen Fortier

Owner and estate grower. Stephen didn’t start out as a vintner: a Doctor of Science in systems engineering laid the technical foundation, which he later built on through the UC Davis Certificate Program in Wine Production. He works alongside winemaker Nate Walsh in the cellar.

From the cellar