In 2006, Ben Renshaw and his father planted the first vineyard of four acres on his sister’s farm on the bluffs of the Potomac River. Furnace Mountain Vineyards is born. The following year, Ben established 8 Chains North for the purpose of making and distributing his own wine. In its first year, 8 Chains North made 270 cases of wine and sold it through other wineries and wholesale outlets.