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Jim and Ann Irvin both grew up on family farms. Jim in Louisville, KY and Ann on Johns Island, SC. Their lives followed similar paths, with families and successful careers. Ann became a teacher and Jim a contractor on Kiawah Island. Being somewhat retired when they met, they decided to marry in 2000 blending two families. Being in their 50’s they both wanted to return to their roots and the quality of life a rural farm community offered. Jim’s dream of making wine and Ann’s gardening and painting hobbies led them to the property on Wadmalaw Island. Thus the creation of Irvin House Vineyard, Charleston’s only winery and vineyard. In March of 2001 they planted 2, 700 muscadine vines and converted farm barns into a winery with a tasting room, creating a unique business and a new attraction for Charleston, South Carolina.
The Irvins have produced 5 varieties of wine. These wines range from a semi-dry to the regular sweet muscadine that is reminiscent of the old South. Muscadines are the only grapes that will grow in the humid climate of the Lowcountry. Irvin House Vineyards works with 4 varieties of muscadine grapes.
Jim and Ann love the setting of their vineyard and wanted to convey that in the whole process of growing the grapes, making the wines and also marketing their product. When thinking of names for the wines, they just looked at their surroundings. They wanted to present what they saw on the wine labels. After naming their wines, they chose fine Charleston artists to bring everything together. Jim and Ann were very proud of their work, but seeing the labels on the wine bottles was truly the most exciting part of their journey.
Irvin-House Vineyards
6775 Bears Bluff Rd.
Wadmalaw Island, SC 29487
(843) 559-6867
E-mail: info@charlestonwine.com
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