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Built on a dream: Construction of Notaviva Vineyards to air on HGTV's 'Dream Home' series
A dream and a future were set on a whim during a date.
In 2002, Shannon Mackey and her husband, Steve, were at a vineyard, enjoying dinner, taking in the atmosphere. The two commented on how nice it would be to own their own vineyard. Nine days later, they found a property off Sagle Road in Purcellville, and the two media production experts put their future into learning about grapes and turning it into wine at Notaviva Vineyards.
“There were a lot of chances taken and a lot of big risks,” Shannon Mackey said. “There were leaps and bounds, but it was worth it.”
The story of the Mackeys intrigued staff at HGTV, the Home and Garden Television channel, which then contacted the couple to film their building of a dream and air it to the nation beginning Oct. 4 at 7 a.m. on the “Dream Home” series.
“We are private people,” Mackey said, “but we wanted for other new vineyards and people to see that very quickly, the romance of it goes out the window. I hope this inspires people to [go after their dream]. It was an inspiration for us.”
The Mackeys spent more than two years designing what their “dream home” would look like. Then entered Lovettsville-based Ronald M. Hawes Inc., a custom log home builder.
“[Filming] wasn't something I was looking forward to,” Ronald Hawes said about the HGTV crew constantly being around, “but it worked out overall.”
While television crews “slowed down the process,” Hawes said, he and Mackey agreed that the crew became great friends and gave each business owner the added plus of advertising.
“With the way the economy is, people don't buy custom homes,” Hawes said.
Mackey said the shows' airing was pushed back several times, but the timing is perfect.
“I am hoping that it will extend our typical visit times to a little later in November,” she said.
The home itself is a timber-frame structure housing both the Notaviva tasting and event room and the Mackeys' four-bedroom home.
Entering from the large porch, a visitor is greeted with slate and wood floors in the open room. A large tasting area is in the middle of the main level, with views of the surrounding vineyard and pond that can be seen through a wall of windows. A unique and personal touch, a large star window – in remembrance of Steve Mackey's grandmother and a barn with star-shaped windows he would pass on the way to her home in Pennsylvania -- is placed at the top peak of the three level home.
Open to the main level is the second floor, which consists of parallel catwalks with seating and a music loft where local musicians come to entertain patrons on weekend afternoons.
The basement is off-limits to vineyard customers but open to family and friends, since it consists of the Mackeys' four-bedroom, two-bath living space.
Both the Mackeys and the staff at Ronald M. Hawes Inc. will be tuning in to HGTV throughout the eight episodes to see how the process of building Notaviva Vineyards Tasting Room and the Mackeys' home is portrayed. They have not seen any footage.
Both the Mackeys and the builder will have blogs, commenting on each week's episode. Go to www.notavivavineyards.com and www.ronaldmhawesinc.com.
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