Key Points
- New Kent Winery in New Kent County, Virginia, lost approximately 90% of its grape crop due to a late frost in 2026.
- Owners Joe Dombroski and his wife have operated the winery for 12 years, with only one prior bad frost year in 2020.
- Vines are perennials requiring ongoing maintenance costs like fertilization and spraying despite no harvest this year.
- Winery maintains 12-18 months of wine stock in bottles or barrels, ensuring short-term sales continuity.
- Prices may rise for certain varietals due to increased farming costs.
- Smaller Virginia wineries face severe challenges, operating harvest-to-harvest.
- Drought did not impact crops; some Vidal and Cab Franc grapes survived, pending harvest evaluation.
- Owners urge Virginians and visitors to buy local Virginia wine to sustain the $3 billion industry tied to agriculture and tourism.
- Plea emphasized: “We need you” to support wineries.
New Kent County, (King County Insider) May 7, 2026 –
A late frost has devastated grape crops at New Kent Winery, wiping out about 90% of the harvest and forcing owners to incur maintenance costs without yield. Joe Dombroski, co-owner with his wife of the estate winery for the past 12 years, confirmed the extent of the loss in a report by Caroline Coleburn of WTVR.
What Caused the 90% Grape Loss at New Kent Winery?
As reported by Caroline Coleburn of WTVR, the late Virginia frost in 2026 struck after budding, destroying most grapes. Joe Dombroski stated that prior to this year, the winery experienced only one bad crop season due to frost in 2020. “They’re perennials, and they’ll come back and produce fruit, so we’ll have to fertilize them,” Dombroski explained. “We’ll have to spray them, do all the things that we would normally do during a growing season, except we’re going to reap no benefit.”
Dombroski noted the frost’s precision in targeting the vulnerable buds, a common risk in Virginia’s variable spring weather. The winery, located in New Kent County, relies on these vines for its production, and the loss represents a significant setback.
How Are New Kent Winery Owners Managing Costs After the Frost?
Despite the crop failure, maintenance continues to preserve the vines for future seasons. Dombroski highlighted the financial burden: ongoing fertilization, spraying, and other growing season tasks must proceed without harvest revenue. This perennial nature of grapevines necessitates investment in vine health, even in zero-yield years.
Fortunately, the estate winery stocks 12 to 18 months of wine in its production facility, either in bottles or barrels. This inventory buffers immediate sales disruptions. “The price might be a little bit higher in different varietals depending on what has happened out here this year with the cost that’s going to come to the farming, but we’ll be okay,” Dombroski noted to Coleburn.
What Challenges Do Smaller Virginia Wineries Face from This Frost?
Dombroski expressed concern for smaller operations across Virginia. “The smaller growers, the smaller wineries in Virginia, many of them will be in trouble to even make it through the year because they go from harvest to harvest,” he said. Unlike New Kent Winery with its reserves, these businesses lack stockpiles, making them vulnerable to single-season failures.
The frost’s impact extends beyond New Kent, as Virginia’s wine regions share similar climates prone to late freezes. Dombroski confirmed drought conditions did not affect their crops, isolating the frost as the primary culprit.
Which Grapes Survived the Late Frost at New Kent Winery?
Some resilience appeared in specific varietals. Dombroski mentioned that portions of Vidal and Cab Franc grapes survived. The team plans to evaluate if quantities suffice for harvest. This partial survival offers a sliver of hope amid the 90% loss.
Why Are New Kent Winery Owners Urging Locals to Buy Virginia Wine?
In a direct appeal, Dombroski and his team encourage support from Virginians and visitors. “We need you,” he explained to WTVR’s Coleburn. “We need you to buy Virginia wine. Look for it in the grocery store so that we can keep everybody afloat, basically to keep the industry.”
He underscored the stakes: Virginia’s wine sector generates $3 billion annually, bolstering agriculture and tourism. “It is a big part of the agriculture industry here in the state and the tourism industry. So, we really need to keep promoting it, not just look for tourists on the highway. We need our local folks to come out and support their local wineries.”
Dombroski emphasized buying local over relying solely on visitors, positioning community patronage as key to survival. The winery remains open, leveraging its stock to serve customers while vines recover.
Has Climate Played a Role in Virginia’s Recent Frost Damage to Wineries?
While the report centers on this specific frost, Dombroski referenced the 2020 event, indicating recurring risks. Virginia’s wine industry, growing since the 1980s, navigates such weather variability. No broader multi-source coverage was detailed in the provided reporting, but the incident aligns with patterns in temperate grape-growing regions.
What Stock Levels Ensure New Kent Winery Can Still Sell Wine?
The 12-18 month inventory, stored on-site, covers immediate needs. This forward-planning distinguishes established operations like New Kent from smaller peers. Dombroski’s assurance of availability tempers the crisis, though cost pressures loom.
How Does the Frost Affect Virginia’s $3 Billion Wine Industry?
Dombroski framed the plea within Industry context. The $3 billion figure encompasses production, sales, and tourism ripple effects. Local support via grocery purchases and visits aims to stabilize the sector post-frost.
The story, originally posted at 3:56 PM on May 7, 2026, by Caroline Coleburn of WTVR and last updated 43 minutes prior to reporting, captures the immediacy. Mother nature’s unpredictability forces tough choices, as Coleburn’s lead notes.
New Kent Winery’s situation reflects broader pressures on Virginia’s 300-plus wineries, though specifics here derive from Dombroski’s on-site account. The owners’ 12-year tenure underscores resilience, tempered by this year’s trial.
Background of the Development
New Kent Winery, owned by Joe Dombroski and his wife since approximately 2014, operates as an estate winery in New Kent County, Virginia. The region forms part of Virginia’s expanding wine country, with the state hosting over 300 wineries contributing to a $3 billion industry. Grapevines, as perennials, require year-round care; frost events like 2020 and 2026 target spring buds after winter dormancy. Virginia’s climate, with humid summers and variable springs, suits varietals like Vidal and Cab Franc but exposes crops to late freezes. The winery maintains production stocks as standard practice among estate operations.
Prediction: Impact on Virginia Winery Visitors and Locals
This frost loss at New Kent Winery could lead to higher wine prices for certain varietals as farming costs rise without harvest revenue. Smaller wineries may struggle financially, potentially closing or reducing output, which limits options for visitors and locals seeking Virginia wines. Stockpiles like New Kent’s ensure short-term availability, but sustained support through purchases could stabilize the industry. For the particular audience of Virginians and tourists, reduced local production might increase reliance on imports, alter tourism experiences with fewer events or varietals, and pressure the $3 billion sector if patronage dips.
