In the Appalachian region of Southwest Virginia, David Lawson of Wise County converted six acres of his family property to a vineyard after completing a REAL Enterprises high school entrepreneurship class eight years ago.  His family has owned the land since the 1850’s, and a decade ago, part of it was a strip mine. 

As an alumnus of entrepreneurship training, this 27-year-old continues to use the knowledge he gained from the high school course to benefit him in the business operation of his vineyard.

A fter a few years of selling his grapes by the ton to a local winery, David built a winery on the family property and now bottles his own label, MountainRose Vineyard.

This young vintner has also become an advocate for surface mined land reclamation through the farming of grapes and other fruits.  He also offers area farmers advice on how they can convert their tobacco farms to vineyards.