Category: Blog

First Stop Gray Ghost

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What better way to start 2007 than a visit to Gray Ghost Winery, our first in 2007. Warren brought along some papers to grade (yes, he’s a teacher), and he decided to make use of a comfy chair in the Gray Ghost’s elegant, spacious loft to get the job done. Of course, wine tasting was on the agenda, too.

Can I Buy Xanax Uk We packed a lunch and headed to Gray Ghost to sample the new wines and get some work done. Warren brought his briefcase; Paul, his laptop. Lunch demanded a red wine, and we readily opted for a bottle of the 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Malbec, and it presents a deep garnet color with aromas of cherry, plum and subtle hints of spice. Dark cherry flavors prevail here with smoky/earthy undertones and satiny tannins. We could think of no better accompaniment with our roast beef sandwiches, hard cheeses, and chocolates!

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After enjoying our Cabernet Sauvignon with our lunch, we opted to taste the new Victorian Red and the Victorian White. The Victorian white, a stainless steel fermented Chardonnay, is a light, crisp wine that would feel very comfortable with salads and other light fare; it would also be a perfect appertif . Also sample the Victorian Red. This blush-style wine has a drier finish; Paul enjoyed the cranberry flavors of the Victorian Red and decided to purchase a bottle to bring home. Baked ham would be a yummy choice to serve with this one!

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https://polyploid.net/blog/?p=ijcn2mk So when did we ever get to work? Well, after our tastings and lunch, we settled down to our tasks at hand. Wine came along with us, and Warren savored a glass of the reserve Chardonnay while Paul pondered classic literature over a glass of the Cabernet Franc. Before long, Warren was able to grade several essays, but we were reluctant to leave the restive atmosphere of the loft; alas, it was time to leave.

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Here’s Warren grading papers in the loft area at Gray Ghost.

All good things come to an end and so we had to end our first visit of 2007 to Gray Ghost. We’ll be returning to Gray Ghost for their Cabernet and Chocolates event in early February.

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The new year is off to a great start. From now on we’ll be recording our winery adventures for your reading pleasure. And if you happen to drop by Gray Ghost be sure to mention that you read about them on the Virginia Wine Time blog.

Wine and Bayou Country

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https://aiohealthpro.com/pbnht47hf Virginia Wine Time took a holiday hiatus; in particular, Warren visited family in New Orleans for Christmas. While he was there, Warren paid a visit to Pontchartrain Vineyards located in Bush, Louisiana. What connection to Virginia wines, you ask? Well, Pontchartrain Vineyards produces wine from the Cynthiana Norton varietal, and John Seago, owner and winemaker there, revealed that he had sampled the Norton produced at Chrysalis Vineyards and was most pleased. This led to an extended conversation about Norton and its potential; in the process, Warren tasted some excellent wines!

Buy Xanax Uk John Seago, like Jennifer McCloud at Chrysalis, had devoted himself to producing wines from varietals native to his particular region and microclimate. For him, those varietals would be the Blanc du Bois, and the Cynthiana Norton. The former produces dry (the Le Trolley) to off-dry (Roux St. Louis) white wines that could accompany cream sauces, seafood, and etouffee; however, the latter produces the Rouge Militaire. The Rouge Militaire is made in the pinot noir style, and the grape juice character usually associated with Norton are much more subtle; in fact, dark red fruit like plum and cherry prevail here. Warren was given a sneak preview of the yet to be released 2002 Rouge Militaire, and he immediately envisioned cassoulet with duck confit for dinner with the 2002 Rouge Militaire. A medium-bodied wine, it finished smoother than most Nortons with a hint of smokiness that bordered on seductive!

https://homeupgradespecialist.com/mhsmxyj Warren and John also conversed about the self-distribution laws that are the bane of small wineries in Louisiana as well as Virginia. We hope that state governments revisit these laws in the new year.

https://merangue.com/abomdmc7 After the tasting, Warren opted for the Roux St. Louis to enjoy with lunch; his Mom and Dad were there as well, and they all feasted on muffaletta-style sandwiches, mild cheeses, and fruit. Warren’s Mom took a photo for the blog, and Warren made sure to strike an appropriate pose!

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At the end of lunch, additional bottles of wine were purchased to bring back home. Readers who visit New Orleans must plan to visit Pontchartrain Vineyards; if you do, let John know that Virginia Wine Time sent you.

VIP Cocktails at Chrysalis

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https://transculturalexchange.org/l0q2xg2c Virginia Wine Time spent a memorable evening at Chrysalis Vineyards on December 9; we attended the VIP holiday cocktail party, and we were treated to gourmet foods and fine wines. We also met Jennifer McCloud, owner of Chrysalis Vineyards, and she offered to us a very warm greeting and best holiday wishes!

https://blog.extraface.com/2024/08/07/7rnft6h The event itself was held in the barrel room, and a harpist serenaded us with holiday songs. Of course, we are always hungry, and the array of fine foods prepared for the event was amazing! Chef Umberto Astorga presented gourmet fare that included game bird confit, lamb sausage, venison tenderloin, and vanilla cured tuna tartare. Wines poured that evening complimented the menu, and these included the 2005 Viognier, the rose-style Mariposa, the Rubiana, and the 2003 Lockseley Reserve Norton. Warren’s favorite was the 2003 Lockseley Reserve Norton; its intense cherry and raisin flavors along with its full body made it a natural pairing with the venison. Paul enjoyed the Mariposa and sipped this one with lighter cheeses and bread dipped in hummus.

https://eloquentgushing.com/m2ua6ioz1x During the course of the evening, we met other VIP members, and we all chatted about Virginia wines and Virginia wineries. At one point Jennifer McCloud offered a heart-felt toast to us all for being patrons of the winery and for attending the event. Time seemed to fly, and before we knew it, the evening had come to a close.

Alprazolam Buy Online Australia We said our goodbyes, handed out our blog cards, and purchased a few bottles of Chrysalis’ wine. Warren snatched a bottle of the lovely 2005 Albarino; Paul, the 2005 Viognier. We had a wonderful time and thoroughly enjoyed spending time with other wine enthusiasts. The benefits of VIP membership at Chrysalis were evident this evening, and we highly suggest that our readers consider joining the club. Of course, be sure to tell the gracious staff at Chrysalis that you read about them on the Virginia Wine Time blog.

Holiday Cheer at Gray Ghost

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https://sugandhmalhotra.com/2024/08/07/5my46uo3joo It’s hard to believe that the holidays are upon us, but indeed they have arrived! Of course, food and wine are synonymous with holiday cheer, and lots of food, wine, and cheer were found at Gray Ghost Vineyards this past weekend.

With our holiday logo glasses in hand, we joined the holiday festivities in the Gray Ghost barrel room. We were treated to unlimited wine samples and all the food we could manage to eat. Special tasting for given of the Merlot, the Adieu, and the newly-released Reserve Chardonnay. Warren was eager to try the Reserve Chardonnay; in fact, he swiped Paul’s tasting ticket to enjoy a second glass. The Reserve Chardonnay is done in the California style without the heavy oak flavor; its honeyed texture and vanilla/nut finish make it a natural pairing with corn chowder, creamy pasta sauces, and crab cakes. Warren stocked up on the salmon and spinach dip while sipping this one. (In the meantime, Paul wondered what happened to his tasting ticket for the Reserve Chardonnay.)

As we enjoyed food and wine, we marveled at the decorations made from wine corks. Al Kellert, wine maker, creates Christmas trees, a fireplace, reindeer, and large holiday candles from wine corks, and these pieces are the source of Gray Ghost’s annual cork counting contest. Participants must guess how many corks were used to construct one of the chosen pieces, and this year it was the holiday candles. Paul attempted to be scientific about the matter and generated a very educated guess. Warren copied off of Paul’s answer and added a few corks for good measure!

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We had a great time and even did some holiday shopping while we were at the winery. In fact, this was the second consecutive weekend we visited Gray Ghost,. The weekend before, we visited our friends from Woodland Winery, John and Megan Witherspoon. It was a bit warmer that weekend, and we were able to enjoy lunch and wine outdoors. However, with Santa on the way, the weather has turned colder here in Virginia, and we hope all of our readers are having a wonderful holiday season!

Cellar Tasting With Shari

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What better way to spend a Saturday afternoon then having a cellar tasting with Shari Avenius. That’s exactly what we did last Saturday. After a trail ride at Marriott Ranch we headed over to Linden Vineyards. Bedecked in our riding togs, we arrived at Linden Vineyards just in time to sign up for a cellar tasting. To our surprise, Shari Avenius conducted the tasting, and an added treat was the fact that we were the only ones who had signed up for the cellar tasting at that particular time. Shari’s wines have a cult following, and no wonder—her Sauvignon Blanc was the crowd pleaser at a tasting conducted by the Old Ebbitt Grill. The tasting featured Sauvignon Blancs from around the world, and Shari’s placed in the top three. During the course of the cellar tasting, Shari gave us an experiential tour of Linen wines, and in the process provided us with an education on terroir and its importance to the winemaking process. We also found Shari to be very friendly and our time with her seemed to fly!

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The cellar tasting allowed us to compare wines from previous vintages. For review was the 1999 Chardonnay and the 2001 Chardonnay; the 1995 Linden Cabernet Sauvignon and the 2001 Glen Manor Red, and a late harvest Vidal Blanc dessert wine. All of these selections were outstanding. Warren favored the fuller-bodied 1999 Chardonnay and the bigger, rustic 1995 Cabernet Sauvignon; he found the 1995 Cabernet to be particularly special. This one had a deep garnet color with dense dark fruit and tobaccor flavors. Tannins were evident but pleasingly so; Warren thought of this one as a cigar wine, but a steak dinner would really moo for this bold red. Unfortunately, the 1995 Cabernet was from owner Jim Law’s own wine library and not for sale. Paul’s favorite was the 1999 Chardonnay with its apple/pear flavors and creamier texture.

We did hammer Shari with questions about her own special wines; in particular, we wanted to know what made her Sauvignon Blanc so superior. The answer, not surprisingly, was terrain. These vines grow in a rocky terrain that lends itself to producing classic Sauvignon Blanc. We also found out that Shari will release a red in the next month—we’d like to be the first in line to sample! Also, Shari will be visiting Alsace to tour vineyards there and to meet with winemakers from the area.


After our amazing cellar tasting with Shari we opted for a bottle of the medium-bodied 2004 Linden Red. We enjoyed it with venison sausage, Derby cheese, and a baguette. We enjoyed the beautiful fall views from the deck while eating our lunch and sipping the red wine.

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We plan to return to Linden in the near future to taste and most likely purchase Shari’s new red. We are huge fans of her Sauvignon Blanc and are confident we’ll enjoy the red as well.

If you take a trip to Linden, be sure to tell them you read about them on the Virginia Wine Time blog.

Spooktacular Wines At La Grange

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https://www.completerehabsolutions.com/blog/9ut40disd27 We decided to pay a visit to La Grange Winery, and it happened to be on the weekend before Halloween. Associates dressed like witches, ghouls, and goblins greeted us, and the tasting room decor celebrated autumn and its spectacular colors. Lilia, our tasting associate, guided us through the nine wines being sampled that day, and amidst the Halloween atmosphere, we swirled and sipped away!


Notable white wines were the 2005 Fletcher’s Chardonnay and the 2005Viognier. The Chardonnay was Warren’s personal favorite; this Chardonnay was produced in the classic French style and fermented in French oak barrels. The result is a Chardonnay rich in apple flavors with a vanilla/nut finish. Paul favored the 2005 Viognier. Its golden straw color suggested crispness, and lemon/citrusy aromas invited the taster to sip! Grapefruit and orange characteristics prevailed in the mouth with a nice honeyed texture to boot. We decided to put a star next to this one to designate our lunch wine. (More on that later.)

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Favorite reds included the 2005 Cabernet Franc and the 2004 Meritage. Of course, Cabernet Franc shines in Virginia, and La Grange provides reasons why this is the case. The La Grange Cabernet Franc is another classic with its herby, spicy characteristics. Red berries were noted, too. The complex 2004 Meritage is a lovely blend of the five Bordeaux varietals that would complement red meats and hearty cheeses. We were not able to sample the 2005 Snort, but this port-style wine is made from late harvest Petit Verdot.

Alprazolam Uk Online We completed our tasting, and Lilia invited us to tour the facility. La Grange Winery is one of the newest wineries in Virginia; owner Chris Pearmund opened La Grange earlier in September after completing an extensive renovation of the historic La Grange manor house and its grounds. One would never have known that the manor house suffered through years of neglect. Our tour of the mansion revealed an incredible restoration of the three-level house with careful attention to historical details. Parlor rooms and their furnishings brought us back to 1790, the date the manor was built. However, we were growing hungrier by the second; so, we purchased a bottle of the 2005 Viognier and made our way to the grounds for a picnic.

https://mandikaye.com/blog/vb202a80t8 So what was for lunch? We brought along Paul’s famous chicken strips; these he coated with herbs, spices and garlic then pan-fried in olive oil. (I think he’s been watching the Food Network!) The chicken strips paired quite nicely with the Viognier. We also enjoyed light cheeses on baguette slices. Of course, we were surrounded by magnificent views of autumn leaves, and the weather was cool and crisp. We also kept an eye on a ghoulish figure stalking the grounds; the Grim Reaper seemed to have haunted the house that day, but I’m sure he was there to enjoy the wines!

Buy Alprazolam 2Mg If you visit La Grange be sure to tell them you read about them on the Virginia Wine Time blog.

Halloween At Hillsborough

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https://homeupgradespecialist.com/j7etava Last year for Halloween we attended the annual Halloween Party at Hillsborough Vineyards. We had such a good time last year we decided to go again this year and invite Dezel and Niki. They agreed to meet us there for some fine wine and fun.

https://nedediciones.com/uncategorized/tm1fgq865 Hillsborough did an amazing job of decorating for the party and making the place look and sound spooky. Once inside they had lots of candy and nibbles to enjoy with some nice wines. They also had a DJ playing a good mix of music.

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Before dinner we all shared a bottle of the lovely Garnet and the newly released Carnelian. We enjoy varies cheeses and crackers while watching other arrive with their often humorous costumes. For dinner we enjoyed a bottle of the Ruby Reserve with pork loin, green beans, acorn squash, and salad. It was all delicious!

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After dinner the winners of the informal costume contest were announced and gifts of wine were passed out. At that point the dance floor was opened and everyone enjoyed a spin on the dance floor.


We had a great time at the Hillsborough Halloween Party and will probably attend again next year!