Keys to success are many when starting a winery.

Good winemaker.

Good grape sources.

Good work ethic.

Good location.

All of which should lead to two things — good wine and a good experience drinking that wine.

Well, give 10s to each of those categories for Upper Shirley Vineyards, Tayloe Dameron’s dream-come-true located at a bend of the James River and adjacent to Shirley Plantation, about 30 minutes from Richmond just off state Route 5.