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Ingleside Vineyards Proprietor Receives Lifetime Achievement Award
Owner and Proprietor of Ingleside Vineyards, Doug Flemer, awarded the 2010 Gordon Merchie Lifetime Achievement Award.
Oak Grove, VA. March 4, 2010 – Ingleside Vineyards had a prestigious evening at the Virginia Wineries Association’s Wine Expo held in Richmond, Virginia. Four wines entered into the 28th Governor’s Cup Wine Competition by Ingleside won a medal. The Merlot 2006 and Sangiovese 2007 won bronze, the Cabernet Franc 2006 won silver and the Petit Verdot 2005 Special Reserve won one of 15 gold medals. However, the highlight of the evening for this small town winery was the 2010 Gordon Murchie Lifetime Achievement Award presented to its owner and proprietor, Doug Flemer.
Doug received his B.S. in Ornamental Horticulture at North Carolina State University and upon graduation was given a trip to Europe from his parents. During his visit to the various vineyards and wineries in the Bordeaux and Burgundy regions of France the “wine bug bit him”. Upon his return, Doug got to work with his father, Carl F. Flemer Jr., on planning out ideas for Ingleside Plantation Vineyards and in 1980 officially opened up as a Virginia farm winery producing 1,500 cases of wine. 30 years later, Ingleside is producing 15,000 cases of award-winning, high quality wines all grown on the Ingleside estate.
Other than his hard work at Ingleside, Doug is a prominent leader in the Virginia wine industry. He served as president and founding member of the Virginia Wineries Association in the early 1980’s and again in 2001-2002. He served on the board of directors for the Winegrape Growers of America in the 1980’s and in the 1990’s Flemer also served as a vital part of Wine America on their board of directors and acted as treasurer. In 1985, Doug played a part in the formation of the first Virginia Winegrower’s Advisory board where he was Vice Chairman and later helped form the current Virginia Wine Board. Doug also is a dedicated member to the American Society of Enology, ASEV, and many regional tourism organizations.
As recipient of the 2010 Gordon Murchie Lifetime Achievement Award, Doug Flemer said that there might have been a mistake in getting a lifetime achievement award, “I’m much too young”, he expressed. His wife, Nancy, however reminded him that “it has been 35 years with [his] feet in the grapes”. This honor follows the 2009 Wine Grower of the Year award presented by the Virginia Vineyards Association.
Congratulations Doug on your hard work and loyalty to Ingleside and to the Virginia wine industry.
Ingleside Vineyards, established 1980, is a Virginia Century Farm, located in the historical Northern Neck, producing award-winning wines from 100% estate-grown grapes.
For more information, please contact on Ingleside Vineyards at 804.224.8687 or visit our website at www.inglesidevineyards.com.
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