https://sugandhmalhotra.com/2024/08/07/rm0l7n1ty9 On the third day of our trek on the Monticello Wine Trail we made it to three wineries in the Trail’s western region, and these included Afton Mountain Vineyards, Veritas Winery, and Cardinal Point Vineyard and Winery. This was one of the hottest days of our trip; needless to say, we were hot on the trail in search of well-crafted wines!

https://eloquentgushing.com/hrcodcfv Our first stop this day was at Afton Mountain Vineyards. Afton Mountain was established by Shinko and Tom Corpora in 1978 and sits at the edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The mountain setting and vineyards views provided a beautiful (and somewhat cooler) setting for wine tasting.

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Our tasting room associate, Brian treated us to an introduction to Afton Mountain’s wines and provided informative descriptions as the tasting progressed. Notable white wines included the 2005 Gewurztraminer with its unique, aromatic qualities and the 2005 Un wooded Chardonnay, Paul’s favorite, provided nice pectin flavors that would refresh any palate on a warm day. The reds were equally enjoyable; try the 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon—dark fruit but medium-bodied makes it accessible and easy to pair with food. However, we decided to linger at Afton Mountain over a glass of the 2005 Virginia Clairet. The Virginia Clairet bears a remarkable resemblance to a Beaujolais; clear ruby in color, strawberry scents and flavors with a slight hint of spice charm the palate. If readers are looking for a light-bodied red that is destined to be a crowd pleaser at Thanksgiving dinner, give this one a try! We enjoyed our time at Afton Mountain, but it was time to move on to the next winery on our agenda—Veritas Vineyards and Winery.

Veritas Vineyards & Winery is a family-owned business operated by Andrew and Patricia Hodson. The winery opened in 2002 when Andrew began the craft of winemaking with his daughter, Emily. Amazing is the term to describe the elegant facility with its high ceilings and expansive mountain views. Future plans include a restaurant; however, Veritas does currently host and cater events such as weddings.

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Veritas had ten wines to sample, and by this time we were also hungry; of course, lunch was waiting in the trunk of the car. Naturally, we were in quest of an appropriate pairing for the herb-spiced chicken that we brought along. The winner was the 2005 Viognier with its lush fruit and floral characteristics and subtle honey texture. Of course, we tasted the nine other wines offered on the tasting sheet, and other shining stars included the Chardonnay-Viognier blend known as the 2004 Harlequin, the 2004 Chardonnay, and the 2004 Claret. Give the 2003 Mousseux a try, too! This is a unique champagne-style wine made from Cabernet Franc.

With a bottle of the 2005 Viognier in tow and hunger pangs getting louder by the second, we selected a picnic table that allowed us to dine and enjoy the Mountain views. During our lunch we received a visit from the winery cat and the winery dog. They were both very friendly, but the cat was interested in joining us for lunch! The dog had strict instrucions on his collar: “Do not feed me.”

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Our appetites satisfied, we made our way to the final stop of the day at Cardinal Point Vineyard & Winery. Cardinal Point is another family- run business and each family member contributes to the success of the winery. In fact, when we entered the tasting room, Sarah Gorman instantly recognized us as those guys from VirginiaWineTime! We were so amazed to be recognized from our blog, and we briefly felt like celebrities. However, Sarah made us feel like old friends and chatted with us about the winery, their own micro-climate, and the dreaded distribution laws.

Sarah also led us through tasting the fine wines at Cardinal Point. Standouts included the 2005 A6, a blend of Chardonnay and Viognier, the award-wining 2005 Quattro, and medal-winner 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon. The Quattro was particularly intriguing; the blend of Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Viognier, and Traminette impart lovely apple and pear notes. Looking for an appertif? Sample this one!

https://transculturalexchange.org/tpp063hf After our tasting we decided to enjoy a glass of their 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon. Sarah suggested we sip our Cabernet in the barrel/tank room, which also included a cozy seating area; as we relaxed, we also watched a DVD produced by a local film artist. Featured was the wine making process at Cardinal Point. The video footage was beautiful and captured the process in detail. Of course, enjoying a glass of their Cabernet during the DVD enhanced the show! This complex wine exhibits dark fruit characters that would accompany beef; however, Warren, ever the chocoholic, had visions of dark chocolates!

https://inteligencialimite.org/2024/08/07/cs5yc8ztad We are determined to return to Cardinal Point for a future visit, and we thank Sarah for the time that she spent with us. Our trip to Cardinal Point also signaled the end of our travels on the western portion of the Monticello Trail. Curious about the last leg of our trip? Tune in next time, and we’ll tell you all about it!

https://homeupgradespecialist.com/b7q5s1l0m If you visit any of these wineries, please tell them you read about them on the Virginia Wine Time blog!

Day two of our trek on the Monticello Wine Trail brought us to the southern region, and we were able to visit four wineries. These included Jefferson Vineyards, Kluge Estate Winery & Vineyard, First Colony Winery, and DelFosse Vineyards & Winery. We were treated to some wonderful wines; for lunch, we opted to dine at Kluge Estate. The experience there was truly stellar! Though it was a long day, we tasted some great wine—read on to find out more.

https://nedediciones.com/uncategorized/qgyhb06 Our first stop on the southern trail was Jefferson Vineyards, and it is here at Jefferson Vineyards that Thomas Jefferson’s vision of Virginia as a world-class wine producer has been realized. Jefferson Vineyards produces its wines from Thomas Jefferson’s original estate vineyards, and since 1981, Jefferson Vineyards has crafted award winning wines just minutes from the historical Monticello.

The tasting room at Jefferson Vineyards.
The quaint tasting room is staffed with knowledgeable assistants, and they guided us through the seven wines offered. Two notable white wines were the 2005 Chardonnay Reserve and the 2005 Viognier. The Viognier was a true classic; nice honeysuckle and apricot aromas abounded here. No wonder it took gold at the 2006 Governor’s Cup! We moved on to the red wines, and the standout here was yet another gold medal winner—the 2004 Meritage. In fact, we decided to enjoy a glass of the Meritage out on the deck. Deep garnet color then revealed scents of dark cherries, plums, and spice. Flavors suggested Merlot’s dominance but Petit Verdot subtly presents itself both to the eyes and in the mouth. Structure would be the word to use with this one. Oh, did we think about food! Filet mignon anyone?

Warren during our tasting at Jefferson Vineyards.
Speaking of food, we had already decided to lunch at Kluge; so, with pangs of hunger in our stomachs, we reluctantly left Jefferson Vineyards and made our way to Kluge Estate Winery & Vineyard. Our time at Kluge was the ultimate experience of our day on the trail’s southern leg.

https://polyploid.net/blog/?p=jbd896brmgn Patricia Kluge planted the vineyard in 1991 and aspired to establish Kluge Winery and Vineyard as the premier winery on the East coast. Tastings are conducted in the Kluge Estate Farm Shop which sits next to the vineyards. Visitors can enjoy rustic settings from inside the shop, but chairs and tables outside make it possible to appreciate lovely, rural landscapes. The elegant gourmet shop offers an array of imported cheese, desserts and tasteful gift items; likewise, the lunch menu suggested a marriage of elegance and simplicity. With lunch in mind, we first sampled Kluge’s wines and made our way to the tasting room. We were immediately spoiled with the Brut, Paul’s personal favorite. Warren was also intrigued with the Albemarle Rose; this Rose is very dry and a blend of classic Bourdeaux varietals that include Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Merlot. (Think salmon with this one!) However, we both concurred that the 2003 Albemarle Simply Red was one of Virginia’s best reds from the tough 2003 vintage year. Medium-bodied and full of blackberry and plum flavors, this Bourdeaux-style red includes notes of spice and leather/tobacco. Velvety tannins give this one a smooth finish. We ended the tasting with a sample of the Kluge Cru, which is aged in Jack Daniel’s barrels!

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Warren at the tasting bar at Kluge.
What to have with lunch? Well, we eagerly returned to the gourmet selections, but we both knew that the 2003 Albemarle Simply Red had to join us for lunch. We ordered a charcuterie with baguette and a tomato salad; of course, we also ordered the Simply Red, and a perfect match was made! We had enough of the Simply Red to enjoy with dessert, and we capped off our lunch with a sinful dark chocolate brownie.

https://oevenezolano.org/2024/08/tdupcftvi Our hungers satisfied, we continued along the southern portion of the Monticello Wine Trail, and our third stop was to First Colony Winery. First Colony was established by Randolph McElroy, Jr. in 2000. We were lucky enough to talk with the assistant manager, Kerry, while tasting the wines. Kerry offered a wealth of information about First Colony Wines and their wine-making process. We were particularly interested in the Rose since the 2004 and 2005 vintages were made available for us to sample. The comparison was amazing; the 2005 Rose was produced with 100% Cabernet Sauvignon; of course, 2005 was an amazing year for the vineyards, and the result was evident here. Very crisp but nice berry and subtle candied apple flavors make this one either an accessible sipper or a lovely complement with food. Other favorites at First Colony included 2002 Chardonnay Reserve and the 2004 Meritage.

The tasting room at First Colony.
Our final stop on the southern trail was at DelFosse Vineyards & Winery. Located between two hills with beautiful views of their vineyards, Delfosse’s tasting room is currently under construction; so, the tastings take place on the covered deck. DelFosse had 14 different wines to taste. For those who like softer red wines during the sweltering summer months, the 2005 Dear Rock Farm might offer refreshment. Barbeque would certainly be a nice match up with this one. The 2005 Chardonnay was also interesting; the 5% blend of Viognier takes away the oaky edge of barrel-fermented Chardonnay. Paul shies away from oakier Chardonnays, but he found this one to be just right!

https://solomedicalsupply.com/2024/08/07/ueu2tjam9n With our day’s experiences journaled and wine purchases safely stored in the car, we then ended our long day on the southern neck of the Monticello Wine Trail. More to come as we continued to explore the rest of the Monticello Trail!

https://mandikaye.com/blog/luj9z0alh8h If you visit Jefferson, Kluge, First Colony, or DelFosse, please tell them you read about them on the Virginia Wine Time blog!

The Monticello Wine Trail consists of 15 wineries in and around the Charlottesville, Virginia area. These wineries fulfill the vision of Thomas Jefferson who saw Virginia’s potential to produce first-class wines. We spent five days in this area and visited as many of the Monticello Wine Trail wineries as possible. In the end, we were able to visit 14 wineries and thus secured many more stickers for our Passport.

https://foster2forever.com/2024/08/s5y54piv0k.html The Monticello Wine Trail is divided into regions, and they include North, South, East, and West. We focused on a different region each day and chronicled our experiences. Needless to say, we had a great time tasting new wines at great wineries!

https://inteligencialimite.org/2024/08/07/6oefgewkg8f We first tackled the eastern trail, and our first stop was Horton Cellars Winery. Horton produces some 40 wines and always has something new to taste. We usually taste everything on the tasting sheet, but this time we were more selective and sampled fewer of their wines. Of note since our last visit to Horton was the 2005 Viognier, in fact, we opted to share a glass after our tasting. Lovely honeysuckle and fruit aromas hinted at a crisp wine with peachy fruit flavors. We advise readers to also sample the 2004 Viognier as a comparison. The 2005 seemed more crisp, and the fruit characters provide a coolness that would complement any spicy cuisine. Other standouts included the Sparkling Viognier and the Tannat; the latter won gold at the Virginia Governor’s Cup. Another note of interest—in preparation for Virginia’s 400th anniversary, Horton offers three commemorative wines called Spirit, Voyage, and Courage.

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Horton Cellars Winery

Warren at the tasting bar.
Our second on the eastern trail was Barboursville Vineyards. Barboursville, one of our favorite wineries, produces many award winning wines; our readers may concur that after a complete tasting of Barboursville wines, this winery only produces well-crafted, excellent wines. The newest offering was the 2005 Rose, and this blend of Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, and Cabernet Franc provided summer fruit flavors with a nice, dry finish. It was quite nice! Warren’s personal favorite was the 2004 Barbera reserve, a Chianti-style wine that begs to be paired with Italian food and roasted vegetables. We finished our visit at Barboursville with a bottle of their Chardonnay Rerserve. Pectin flavors abound here with a nice vanilla that lingers for quite a while. We enjoyed this one on the picnic grounds with lunch that included apples, berries, and almonds. We returned to Barboursville on Friday night to enjoy dinner at the renowned Palladio restaurant. The four-course meal with wine pairings featured Barbourville’s Brut, 2005 Rose, 2004 Chardonnay Reserve, and 2004 Barbera Reserve. As we left Barboursville, we decided to return sooner rather than later as our visits there are always delightful!

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Barboursville Vineyards

Warren at the tasting bar.
Our final stop on the eastern trail was to Keswick Vineyards, and this was on a Sunday afternoon. Keswick Vineyards currently offers tasting of their wines at Keswick Hall, an upscale setting that resembles an exclusive club. They have future plans to build a separate tasting room at the winery. However, be certain to visit at the appropriate time. We arrived before noon, and Keswick does not begin tasting until after noon. The gracious manager invited us to return at a later hour, but given our time constraints we were not able to do so. This gives us another reason to return to the eastern Monticello Trail; in particular, we would like to sample the award winning Trevellian.

https://udaan.org/s43jgc7.php We enjoyed our visit to the eastern portion of the Monticello Trail. How did the rest of the trail go? Tune in later this week, and we’ll tell you about the northern region of the Monticello Wine Trail. Until then—Cheers!

Best Place To Order Xanax Online And if you visit Horton, Barboursville, or Keswick, tell them you read about them on the Virginia Wine Time blog!

https://sugandhmalhotra.com/2024/08/07/fbnp2kik1n It seems as though a new winery opens in Virginia every week. Fox Meadow Vineyards opened in May and has had a constant flow of visitors since. Also, it was a chance to garner another sticker for our Passport!

https://www.completerehabsolutions.com/blog/4k8slu7 Dan and Cheryl Mortland own Fox Meadow, and their property sits atop a hill in Linden Virginia. The view is stunning—majestic mountain landscapes complement the vineyard scenery. Currently, nine acres of vines are planted; however, Cheryl confided that there are plans to plant even more vines on their 50 acre property. Varietals now planted include Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Merlot, and Riesling.

https://transculturalexchange.org/xmpdd0q7x The tasting room is a beautiful wood structure with high ceilings and beautiful views of the surrounding mountains. Of course, we were interested in tasting wine, and Fox Meadow now pours four wines to sample. The two whites offered include the 2005 Pinot Grigio and a 2005 Chardonnay done in the California style. Two reds were also poured, and include a 2004 Syrah and a 2002 Cabernet Franc produced by Horton. We must note that the Pinot Grigio and the Chardonnay were produced by grapes grown on the Fox Meadow estate. Cheryl informed us that future plans include estate-grown Riesling and Merlot.

https://blog.extraface.com/2024/08/07/d57z9l6ifqp As our readers know, we always bring food with us, and we brought along melon, grapes, light cheeses, and sausage. To accompany our lunch, we selected the Pinot Grigio. Crisp was the first word that came to mind, and the floral nose seemed to magically cool off a very warm summer day. Refreshing lemon, pear, and citrus flavors cooled the palate, and it paired quite well with our lunch. We enjoyed our afternoon as we relaxed on the deck, and the breath-taking scenery made us forget the toasty heat of the July afternoon.

While enjoying our wine and lunch we were able to talk with Mark and Chris, a couple sitting close to our table. They enjoyed the Syrah and Chardonnay; in fact, Warren decided to have a glass of the Syrah as we enjoyed conversation about the wines and wineries. Mark and Chris were very knowledgeable of Virginia wineries, and we enjoyed meeting and chatting with them.

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Fox Meadow plans to include events at their winery in the near future. They hope to begin cellar tastings in August and possibly a harvest picnic in October. We look forward to a future visit to Fox Meadow, and we are confident that Fox Meadow will continue to produce well-crafted wines.

https://mandikaye.com/blog/62h1qvvu If you decide to visit Fox Meadow Vineyards, please tell them you read about them on the Virginia Wine Time blog.

https://solomedicalsupply.com/2024/08/07/me33jgdrr5a New to rose-style wines? Then try Gradino’s Moonrise Red. We’ve written about the resurgence of Rose-style wines, and Virginia wineries produce some excellent wines in this category. Our recent trip to Gadino allowed us to sample the Moonrise Red, and we even brought along a friend from Arizona. It was this friend who described the Moonrise Red as a Bohemian Red, and as we enjoyed a glass of the Moonrise Red, images of summer concerts and moonlit summer evenings with BBQ or rustic fare came to mind. We concluded that Bohemian was an apt descriptor!

https://eloquentgushing.com/hk3b45us7 The Moonrise Red is actually a blend that includes Cabernet Franc, one of the premier Virginia varietals. We enlisted our friend, Homer, to describe the sensory experiences that he enjoyed; we concurred with his conclusions. Homer detected a woodsy/spicy aroma, and he observed cranberry and strawberry flavors in the mouth. Homer found the Moonrise Red to be on the drier side, and he was correct. The Moonrise Red contains less that 1% residual sugar and would be classified as a semi-dry wine. The clear red color enchanted our friend; its lively, mystical character led him to conclude that it was “Bohemian” in nature. We also sensed a fun-loving, devil-may-care quality to the Moonrise Red and determined that the Homer’s descriptor was indeed appropriate!

https://nedediciones.com/uncategorized/1l0wk36g0 We have been encouraged with the recent samplings of Virginia’s Rose-style wines, and Gadino’s Moonrise Red certainly provides an example of what Virginia has to offer to this genre. Keep this in mind when deciding what to bring to the Wolftrap concert or the neighbor’s BBQ. However, the Moonrise Red would also accompany a summer salad or even a roasted beet soup.

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Our friend, Homer, enjoyed his visit at Gadino. He was a novice at wine-tasting, and we appreciated his contributions to our review of the Gadino wines. Also sample Gadino’s Viognier, Sunset White, and Cabernet Franc, and enjoy the mountain views from their outdoor deck! In the meantime, we eagerly anticipate the latest offerings from this new winery!

If you visit Gadino Cellars, please tell them you read about them on the Virginia Wine Time blog.

The Northern Neck of Virginia constitutes one of the state’s five wine growing regions, and last weekend, we decided to revisit the wineries of the Northern Neck. Our trek included visits to Belle Mount, Athena, and Ingleside. Of these three wineries, Athena is the newest; Ingleside, the oldest and most established. Of course, we brought along our Virginia Passports and garnered three more stickers, and in the process we sampled great wines and met wonderful people who all have a passion for wine.

We first stopped at Belle Mount. Belle Mount now enjoys its second year of business, and an interesting note is its location at a recreation facility called Heritage Park Resort. For those interested in a weekend getaway, the Resort rents cottages, and the setting is woodsy and scenic. Guests can go fishing, hiking, and swimming; they can also accompany the day’s catch with a bottle of Belle Mount’s wine. We visited the tasting room located in the lower level of their Great Hall and sampled Belle Mount’s Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and a sweeter red selection, Workboat Red. As always, we brought lunch along with us, and we concluded that the Merlot was the best choice to accompany our deli sandwiches, olive salad and hard cheeses. We settled on a picnic table beneath one of Belle Mount’s large trees and enjoyed our lunch and Merlot. Before we left, we chatted with Ray and Catherine Petrie, Belle Mount’s owners and winemakers. They were very excited about consumer response to their wines, but they did express concern about the distribution law that will take effect on July 1. Belle Mount produces 1000 cases of wine; thus, they would be considered a very small winery. We encourage consumers to visit Belle Mount and support the efforts made by the smaller wineries as they face this difficult transition.

Our second stop on the Northern Neck Trail was the new Athena Winery. Athena opened on Memorial Day weekend, and their tasting room was two week away from completion on the day that we visited for a tasting. Carol and Ruth, two of Athena’s three owners, shared with us their unique story. They and a third friend decided to own a winery; all three are involved in the health industry and were inspired by health industry reports that moderate wine consumption can offer health benefits. The three friends purchased 53 acres of land in the Northern Neck with the intent of planting vines and fourteen acres are now planted. Ruth and Carol cleared land and planted vines themselves; a visit from Hurricane Isabel presented early challenges that they overcame with patience and determination. We can testify that the hard work paid off and was evident in the quality of their wines. Beneath the tent that was Athena’s makeshift tasting room, we sampled their Chardonnay, a Seyval and Vidal Blanc blend known as Athena White, Cabernet Franc, Cabnernet Sauvignon, the rose-styled Nightengale, and the dessert wine, Athena Sweet. Paul decided to enjoy a glass of the Athena White; Warren settled on the Cabernet Franc, and we sat under an umbrella to appreciate these lovely wines. The Athena White can be described as lush with generous citrus and pear aromas and flavors. Refreshing was the word that came to mind. The Cabernet Franc was equally enjoyable, and it exhibited nice raspberry flavors with hints of herb/mint that are trademarks of the Cabernet Franc. Warren purchased a bottle of the Athena White and thought the Nightengale would be perfect for an upcoming Wolftrap outing; a bottle of Nightengale was thus added to his wine rack! Carol and Ruth shared with us that they selected “Athena” because it evoked the image of a strong female; we can attest to the strength of the three females who founded Athena. We know that we will be writing about the medals bestowed upon Athena’s quality wines, and we look forward to a return visit very soon!

Later that day, we paid a visit to Ingleside, and our visit coincided with a jazz and wine event held at the winery. Ingleside can be considered a pioneer in the Virginia wine industry, and it now celebrates its 26th year! On this particular evening, we were able to sample Ingleside’s White label wines as well as the Chesapeake label wines. Our tasting associate was Andrea, and she skillfully guided us through the tasting. Warren’s favorites were the Pinot Grigio and the Chardonnay; Paul favored the Chesapeake Chardonnay, and we both concurred that the Cabernet Sauvignon was the shining star of the white-labeled reds. Andrea offered to take us through a tasting of the Black Label wines, and we eagerly took her up on the offer. We were glad that we did! The black-labeled reds were simply outstanding, and it was here that we tasted the 2002 Cabernet Franc, a white labeled wine produced in limited quantities. Red berries, herbs, and velvety tannins earned this one high marks; in fact, Andrea informed us that the 2002 Cabernet Franc garnered a silver medal in a California competition. However, other standouts awaited out taste buds. The Syrah displayed all of the deep cherry and peppery flavors of the famed Rhone varietal; this one will pair with lamb or a mixed grill of meats. The Petit Verdot also earned our praises. We’ve previously written about Petit Verdot’s potential for the Virginia wine industry, and Ingleside provided an example of this varietal’s potential. Earthy and spicy, the Petit Verdot provides complexity to Bourdeaux blends; however, on its own, Petit Verdot offers its own intensity. Venison, wild boar, and duck would partner nicely, and Warren decided that a bottle of Ingleside’s Petit Verdot needed a new home!

With Andrea’s help, we decided that the Syrah would join us for BBQ and jazz. During our tasting, we chatted with other Ingleside staff members including Linda who shared her interest in European History; she and Warren, also a history buff, enjoyed conversation about the topic. In the process, Andrea invited us to a component tasting to be held at Ingleside the next afternoon with an opportunity to meet the current winemaker, Bill Swain. Andrea confided that she, too, would be at the tasting, and we immediately decided to attend the component tasting. To say that the component tasting was a phenomenal experience would be an understatement; in fact, we’ve decided to create a separate blog article about this experience. Stay tuned!

Our outings at Ingleside concluded our tour of Northern Neck wineries. We were not able to visit Oak Crest, and Hummel is currently not open. However, we do know that three more wineries will open in this region, and they are White Fences Vineyards and Winery, Buena Vista Farm, and Vault Field Vineyards. Our weekend visit to the Northern Neck region affirmed that Virginia’s wine regions produce quality, award- winning wines, and we eagerly anticipate our return to this prolific wine-producing region.

On Father’s Day Willowcroft Winery offered a barrel tasting that complimented the regular tasting; moreover, we did not have a Passport sticker from Willowcroft. We were determined to take advantage of two opportunities: a) to taste Willowcroft’s wines, and b) to secure another sticker for our passports.

Lew and Amy Parker converted an old horse barn to the winery now known as Willorcroft. Indeed, the facility and its low ceilings reminded us of a horse stable, and it was obvious that the stalls were converted to offices. Cozy and quaint were descriptors that came to mind. Of course, we were interested in Willowcroft’s wines, and they had six wines to taste. A standout was the Traminette, a hybrid that produces a wine very similar to the Gerwurtztraminer; Willowcroft’s Traminette offered nice fruit flavors with a spicy finish; Warren commented that Thanksgiving fare such as herbed turkey would pair quite nicely with the Traminette. (By the way, Willowcroft’s 2004 Traminette won best in show at the Pacific Rim International.) As always, we brought food with us, and our immediate goal was to find a wine to pair with lunch, and lunch items included pork tenderloin, summer sausage, and fresh raspberries. Needless to say, the Cabernet Franc offered itself as the perfect companion to our lunch. The 2002 Franc exhibited nice berry flavors with a smooth finish; it was blended with small amounts of Petit Verdot and Merlot. The Petit Verdot explained the deeper color and complexity of this wine. We purchased a bottle to enjoy with lunch, and it was a fine companion with our fare. We must also comment on the lovely mountain views to be enjoyed at Willowcroft, and despite the very warm and humid afternoon, the shade afforded by the trees on the Willowcroft property was quite a comfort. We also enjoyed the award-winning 2001 Merlot and its black cherry flavors; this one was another blend that included Petit Verdot. (Pay attention to this varietal and its potential for Virginia wines!) Those who enjoy a lighter-styled red wine would be advised to try the Fitzrada’s Reward, and be sure to ask an associate about the story behind this wine!

We must admit that before we enjoyed lunch, we opted for the barrel tasting. As we noted in our series on the winemaking process, barrel tastings offer a glimpse into the future, and we eagerly took advantage of this opportunity offered to us at Willowcroft. In fact, Amy Parker led us through the barrel tasting, and she provided us with a rating sheet upon which we were able to judge the barrel samples based on color, aroma, and taste. The first sample was a Merlot and Chambourcin blend; this was an interesting blend that Paul enjoyed very much. The purplish color associated with Chambourcin was clearly evident as was the cherry flavors associated with merlot. Warren, however, gave high marks to the Petit Verdot. The color and bouquet matched perfectly with the more full-bodied taste, and it provided an example of a well-integrated wine. The barrel tasting also offered sneak previews of upcoming Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. We enjoyed the experience as an educational one, and we anxiously await the finished products that will be bottled at Willowcroft!

After the barrel tasting we enjoyed lunch; however, we did secure stickers for our Passports before we left. We also purchased wine to bring home, and those included the Cabernet Franc and the 2001 Merlot. Visit Willowcroft Winery, and we can promise an enjoyable experience! We had.

Not only did we secure another sticker for our books during our visit to Willowcroft, we also got to sample the upcoming red wines.

On this Father’s Day weekend we decided to continue our quest for stickers in the Passport To Virginia Wineries book by going to two other wineries we that had not visited. Therefore, we paid visits to Old House and Prince Michel. In addition to collecting two more stickers, we got to taste some very nice wines!

We had not been to Old House since the fall of 2005 and were looking forward to seeing what new wines they had released as well as tasting some of our old favorites. As we drove in on Corky’s Lane we noticed the vines looked very healthy, and the property looked as Victorian as it did when we last visited. Two other visitors were also there, and we were able to compare our notes with them; we also had some nice conversation with them during our tasting.

We were treated to eight wines, and of the whites, the Clover Hill Vidal was particularly interesting. As many of you know, Vidal is usually a sweeter wine; however, this treatment of the Vidal produces a wine that is akin to a Pinot Grigio. It is fermented in stainless steel, and the flavors of citrus and minerals were quite evident. Our tasting partners were more partial to the Chardonnay, and this one would indeed be a crowd pleaser—nice pear and buttery flavors that are associated with a well made Chardonnay. The oak did not prevail but provided a nice texture. The reds also produced an interesting standout, and that was the anSamradh. One of our comrades recognized the name as Scottish, and the tasting associate confirmed her suspicion! The anSamradh is a blend that include Chambourcin and yes, Vidal Blanc. The result is a red wine that is fruity, accessible, and slightly sweet. The lighter-bodied nature of this one along with the bright fruit flavors would match perfectly with pizza! Serve this one slightly chilled.

We continued to taste the other reds with our eye on what to have with lunch. Warren brought along a roasted pork tenderloin that he had prepared the night before, and he could not resist the fresh raspberries and strawberries now available at the market; so, those came along too! With this in mind, we were eager to sample the 2003 Cabernet Franc, and that is what we ultimately decided to buy to accomany our lunch. Of course, 2003 was a tricky year for wine makers in Virginia due to heavy rains; wet years particularly effect red wine grapes. However, the 2003 Old House Cabernet Franc exhibited characters associated with a nice Cabernet Franc. It had a clear ruby color that suggested a medium-bodied wine; aromas of raspberry with slight hints of pepper were noticeable. In the mouth, raspberry, cherry, and pepper also prevailed; in fact, the fresh raspberries that we brought along seemed to so me alive when paired with this Cabernet Franc. We savored our Cabernet Franc with lunch, and then we bid adieu to our tasting partners as they made their way to another winery. And guess what we did next? We, too, went off to another winery—Prince Michel.

After lunch we headed off to Prince Michel. Prince Michel is a larger winery that produces about 10,000 cases a year. We had frequented Prince Michel several times in the past and always had good experiences. In the process, we became friendly with one of their tasting associates, and we enjoy seeing her each time we visit. This visit was no different, and our favorite tasting associate was there. She told us of all the changes taking place and the new wines we needed to taste. The tasting consisted of 10 or more of their wines. The Pinot Grigio was one of our favorites whites; however, Warren enjoyed the Mt. Juliet Chardonnay. For those who like a full-bodied Chardonnay, this one is excellent. For summer picnics and outdoor concerts, please try Prince Michel’s 2005 Dry Rose. We know what you’re all thinking—White Zinfandel. Unfortunately, White Zin has ruined the reputation for all wines lumped into the rose/blush category; however, there are some excellent dry roses out there, and this is one of them. This blend of Cabernet and Merlot is packed with nice berry flavors and has a lovely, dry finish. Save the White Zin for the hot tub; bring this one along for a nice picnic with BBQ fare, Mexican bean salad, and fresh fruit!

Paul’s favorite red was the Shiraz, and Warren concurred with his high marks on this one. In fact, we even bought a bottle to enjoy with some chocolates on their enclosed patio. Paul brought the rest of the Shiraz home but also bought a bottle of their Merlot and the 2005 Rose. Another noteworthy red is the Symbius—a Bourdeaux-style blend that is more full-bodied. Warren bought a bottle of this one during his last visit to Prince Michel.

As we concluded our tasting and visit, we found out our friendly tasting associate will be leaving Prince Michel to move to California. We were disappointed at this news but wished her well in her future.

We had a wonderful afternoon tasting the different wines from Old House and Prince Michel. The afternoon tastings secured two more stickers for our books and revealed several new Virginia wines that tasted wonderful!