The Women of Valley Road Vineyards
In honor of International Women's Day (and month!), we're highlighting the women of Valley Road Vineyards.
Lynn Merhib
Lynn Merhib, General Manager
General Manager Lynn Merhib is the glue that makes the Valley Road Vineyards team and operation run smoothly. A longtime small business owner herself, Lynn brings a powerful combination of organizational prowess and marketing creativity, along with sommelier training and experience, to VRV.
Lynn has completed the Introductory Sommelier Course & Examination, and the Deductive Tasting Method Workshop through the Court of Master Sommeliers America, received the WSET Level 2 Award in Wines and Spirits, and is currently pursuing the WSET Level 3 award.
It was while earning Piedmont Valley Community College’s certificates in Enology and Viticulture that she met Valley Road CEO Stan Joynes and became one of the winery’s first Vinistas in 2016.
Lynn’s favorite Valley Road wine is the 2021 Cabernet Franc.
Mary Theobald, Co-Founder
Mary Theobald
If you have one of our best-selling “Love the Wine You’re With” t-shirts, you may be interested to know about the creative Valley Road Vineyards co-founder who came up with that idea.
Mary Theobald is a successful author, with 15 nonfiction books, over 200 magazine articles, and 8 historical fiction mysteries (written under her maiden name, Mary Miley) to her credit.
You may have seen Mary in the Tasting Room, greeting guests. She loves meeting our visitors, learning where they come from, what wines they like best, and what they think of the Valley Road experience. She and her husband, Jim, also work the bottling line whenever a new vintage comes out of barrel or tank.
Among her favorite VRV memories: “The first time I climbed the steep hill that would become our first vineyard and looked out in awe over the valley toward the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains.”
Mary’s Valley Road Vineyards wine of choice is the 2021 Viognier.
Barbara Joynes
Barbara Joynes, Co-Founder & Director of Marketing
What do Mercedes-Benz, UPS, and Valley Road Vineyards have in common? All of these brands have benefited from strategic marketing guidance from Valley Road’s Director of Marketing and Co-Founder, Barbara Joynes.
In 2015, when Barbara and her husband, Stan, found the property on Nelson 151, they knew it was perfect not only for the vineyard site they’d been seeking, but also a winery and tasting room. Soon thereafter, Stan coaxed Barbara out of her 30+ year career leading NYC and Richmond advertising agencies (she was the first female Partner at The Martin Agency) to run marketing for VRV. And if you’ve ever had a wedding (or considered having a wedding) at Valley Road, you know that Barbara helms VRV’s Weddings and Events business as well.
“Hands down, my favorite Valley Road experience is driving our newly-married couples to the top of the vineyard for ‘golden hour’ photos. It’s such a joyous and sacred time for them… I feel privileged to be a witness.”
When not drinking a Frosé (pictured), Barbara’s favorite wine is Valley Road’s “Joie” Sparkling Rosé.
