Founded in 2007, Michael Shaps Wineworks is located just south of Charlottesville, Virginia. Within the first year of operation, the opportunity arose to develop Virginia's first contract winemaking operation. Known for his innovation and winemaking expertise, Michael Shaps has established himself at the forefront of the modern Virginia wine industry. He has won 78 Virginia Governor’s Cup gold medals and consulted for over 20% of Virginia’s 300 wineries. Michael strongly believes in choosing grape varietals that represent the potential of Virginia viticulture and chooses specific plots around the state to highlight its unique terroir. At Michael Shaps Winery, he creates complex wines with careful attention to the detail of fine wine production in a traditional style. He focuses on quality and refined small-batch production by utilizing indigenous yeasts and old world fermentation techniques. The whites focus on varietal intensity and the retention of natural acidity while the reds are extracted and crafted to be age-worthy. In 2004 Michael started a Négoce in Meursault. Twenty years later, Maison Shaps now owns four hectares in the Cote de Beaune and produces Meursault, Volnay, Pommard and other village and regional wines from Burgundy.