Make Memories at Caret Cellars

Meet the owners of Caret Cellars, a veteran- and family owned and operated vineyard and winery tucked away off Route 17 in the town of Caret, which is in Essex County, across the Rappahannock River from the Northern Neck of Virginia.  Caret Cellars is an hour northeast of Richmond, 40 miles southeast of Fredericksburg and 70 miles north of the Tidewater area. Caret Cellars is a member of the Chesapeake Bay Wine Trail.

R.D. and Junghee Thompson began their wine-making journey in 2006. They purchased land and began growing grapes a year later. Seven years after the first grape vines went into the earth, they built the winery. Locals and tourists alike enjoy sipping wine and passing time in this Italian-style winery.  

Raised in a farming community in Walla Walla, Washington, R.D. served in the United States Air Force for 25 years. He met Junghee while stationed in South Korea. R.D. then worked as a government contractor before entering the wine business. Junghee recently retired as a fine jewelry manager at the Quantico Marine Corps Exchange. Her career spanned more than 30 years. 

The next step in the evolution of Caret Cellars is offering space for elopements and micro weddings for couples and up to 40 guests. Construction is underway for a couples suite on the second floor of the winery. The suite - with a gorgeous view of the vineyard - will offer couples the amenities they want when working with hair and makeup artists. The suite is the perfect spot for the couple's "First Look." 

Couples who want a beautiful micro wedding ceremony and reception at a Virginia Winery in the Middle Peninsula or Northern Neck region of Virginia will find affordable options at Caret Cellars. Stop by, sip a glass of wine and see what we're all about. Click this link to see our elopement and micro wedding packages.