Category: Events

Virginia Wine Showcase

/ Paul / Leave a comment

On Saturday we went to the Virginia Wine Showcase held at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington. There were lots of wineries in attendance pouring many wines. It was great to see some old wine friends, catch up and taste wines we’ve had before. While it was great to visit many of the wineries we’ve visited in the past, it was also fun trying some new wines that we haven’t experienced in the past. While moving from booth to booth tasting wines, I kept track of a few wines of note. I thought they stood out enough to mention here.

Some of the wines I felt worth noting from the showcase are:

Rosemont of Virginia Pinot Grigio
Rosemont of Virginia Kilravock
Cobbler Mountain Cellars 2010 Petit Verdot
Well Hung Vineyards 2010 Everyday Chardonnay
Well Hung Vineyards 2010 Viognier
Well Hung Vineyards 2010 Merlot-Verdot
Savoy-Lee Winery 2006 Cabernet Franc
Annefield Vineyards 2008 Red (my favorite of the day)

Here are some pictures from the event. I did not have my best camera with me so these aren’t the best pictures I could have taken. But you get the idea.





Rose Tasting at Philip Carter Winery

/ Warren / Leave a comment

Valentine’s Day is now a fading memory, but we hope that love for Virginia is still in the air as we head toward spring. A recent visit to Philip Carter Winery found us participating in a blind tasting of roses from Virginia. The event was held on the snowy weekend before Valentine’s Day, and it featured four rose wines from across Virginia including Philip Carter’s 2011 Rose.

Tasters were asked to evaluate the wines based on color, aroma and taste. The blind tasting included the following wines: 2011 Danielle’s Rose from Philip Carter Winery, 2010 Make Me Blush from Naked Mountain Winery, 2010 Rose from Veritas Vineyards, and the 2010 Fiore from CrossKeys Vineyards. (For novices, blind means that although we knew which wines were being poured, we did not know one wine from the other when they were poured into our glasses. The labels were hidden from view.) Our panel of four tasters judged wine #4 to be the best in all categories. Its salmon-pink hue and strawberry/melon aromas were classic characteristics of Old World rose wines. In the taste category, it again earned the unanimous “best in show” award. Crisp and bone dry, it presented flavors that mirrored the enticing aromas that wowed the small group of tasters. Wine #3 likewise earned praise from the group with some banter between Paul and another taster about the possibility of Wine @2 scoring higher in the aroma category. In the end, though, it was #3 that won second place. Like wine #4, it was crisp and dry, but its tone was a much fainter pink; the aromas and flavors were likewise quite similar but less vibrant.

Wine #2 did induce conversation. Paul and another taster really liked the more fruit forward aromas with this one; however, a sip revealed a sweeter wine that, while refreshing, put it at odds with Wines #3 and #4. Its color was also the darkest of the four wines and on par with some Spanish roses that are popular during the summer. However, I do tend to tire of these sweeter rose wines rather quickly unless paired with really hot, 5-alarm barbeque sauces served with grilled fare on a 105-degree day in August. After some discussion, we all concurred that while wine #2 had its place, a winter’s afternoon (though a warm one by Virginia standards) was not one of them. That meant wine #2 placed third in the pecking order. Unfortunately, one of the rose wines had to finish last, and that was wine #1. Its color was somewhat similar to wine #3, but its nose suggested very sweet. And a taste revealed that it was sweetest of the contenders. I jotted down, “strawberry short cake in a glass.” Paul drew a frown face next to it. I do believe that this rose wine can be best appreciated in the summer and like wine #3 is best suited for a hot day; in fact, I’d serve this as a dessert wine with cheesecake. However, next to the drier rose wines that were poured, it did seem less elegant and sophisticated.

Okay—so which wines were which? Here they are:

1. Wine #4—2010 Rose from Veritas Vineyards
2. Wine #3—2011 Danielle’s Rose from Philip Carter Winery
3. Wine #2—2010 Fiore from CrossKeys Vineyards
4. Wine #1—2010 Make Me Blush from Naked Mountain Winery

Rose wines have made a comeback in recent years, and we hope that the sickly sweet White Zinfandel craze that tarnished the reputation of rose is well behind us. As this tasting proved, Virginia wineries can produce some excellent rose wines. Before we left Philip Carter Winery, we made sure to purchase a bottle of the 2011 Danielle’s Rose made from the Tinta Cao grape. I also made a note to procure a bottle (or two) of the 2010 Rose from Veritas Vineyards.

Whether your tastes for rose wines are dry or sweet, Virginia wineries are certain to have a rose or blush wine to please. Of course, you need to get on the wine trails to find out where your favorites are being produced. Visit the wineries mentioned in the post to conduct your own comparison but mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you.

MS Fundraiser at Vinifera Wine Bar

/ Warren and Paul / 1 Comment

Allan Liska of Cellarblog organizes an annual wine tasting fundraiser to help in the fight against multiple schlerosis. This year the event was held at Vinifera Wine Bar in Reston, and since it took place on February 12, just two days before Valentine’s Day, chocolates from a local chocolatier called MC2 Confections were also served. Loudoun County wineries poured their wines at the event, and these included 8 Chains North, Fabbioli Cellars, Loudoun Valley Vineyards, Notaviva Vineyards, and Tarara Winery.

The bar was absolutely packed when we arrived as attendees lined up at tasting tables to enjoy tasting samples of Virginia wines. We also made certain to enjoy the chocolates. A favorite wine and dark chocolate pairing is always the Raspberry Merlot from Fabbioli Cellars. White wines were also poured, though, and I did enjoy a fume-style Sauvignon Blanc poured by Jordan Harris of Tarara Winery.

We also ran into the dynamic duo who write Swirl, Sip, Snark. We compared tasting notes and caught up with our travels on the wine trails.

Wine and chocolates are always a great way to celebrate Valentine’s Day. It’s even better when the wine and chocolates are locally produced and then team up for a good cause. Allan Liska’s goal was to raise $4000 from the event, and we hear they surpassed $7000! That’s great!

Vinefera was so packed for the successful event, it was difficult to take some decent photos. Even without the photos, we had a great time enjoying the wines and chocolates. If you visit any of the wineries mentioned or even MC2 Confections, let them know Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Cabernet and Chocolates

/ Paul / 1 Comment

On Saturday we attended the annual Cabernet and Chocolates event at Gray Ghost. We always have a great time enjoying the chocolates and red wines. This year Gray Ghost released the Vidal Blanc on this chocolate filled weekend. We enjoyed the new Vidal with it’s melon and crisp fruity flavors. Of course we enjoyed the red wines as well. The merlot was my favorite paired with the chocolates. Here are some pictures from the event:






Swirl at Twisted Vines

/ Warren and Paul / 2 Comments

We always like to applaud local establishments that promote local wines, and Twisted Vines is just such a place. Twisted Vines is a wine bar in Arlington owned by Josh and Sybil Robinson, and they maintain a wine list that always includes at least eight Virginia wines; as an added “twist”, they also host a monthly program called Swirl. Swirl events pair local wine with local art, and we were able to attend this month’s showcase that featured wines by Annefield Vineyards and photography by artist Daniel Taylor. Annefield Vineyards owners Stephen Ballard and Michael Leary were on hand to pour their wines which included the 2010 Viognier, the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, and the 2008 Annefield Red.

We’ve praised the wines from Annefield Vineyards in the past, and we were excited to sample these wines again at Swirl. The fruity Viognier, earthier Cabernet Sauvignon, and complex Annefield Red continue to show well and showcase the winemaking talents of winemaker Michael Shaps. We were also able to chat with Stephen and Michael about the 2011 season and their expectations for releases from that harvest. Their part of the state, which is in the south, was spared the constant rainfall and dismal weather that plagued vineyards in the eastern part of the state. Consequently, they were fairly optimistic about the wines that will be produced. Of course, we look forward to sampling them!

As we swirled away, we also took in the photography of Daniel Taylor. His photographs captured the action at bullfights that he attended while visiting the Yucatan Peninsula. Checkout his website to find out more.

After our tasting, we also chatted with Twisted Vines owner Josh Robinson. Josh is committed to a “local” philosophy that includes not only wine and art but also food. Meats and cheeses on his menu were also locally produced. Of course, we were interested in hearing how Virginia wines are received at the wine bar, and his assessment was pretty much what we expected. According to Josh, though it sometimes takes some encouragement (and educating) to convince customers to try Virginia wines, once they do, they are convinced that the state does indeed produce quality wines. He has also hosted wine dinners that feature Virginia wines; on one such occasion, Linden wines were poured with heralded winemaker Jim Law on hand to present his wines.

We completed our afternoon at Swirl by enjoying a glass of the 2008 Annefield Red with charcuterie that included mild salami and a plate of white cheddar cheese. The buzz continued to swell as customers came in to taste wine and view art. For Annefield Vineyards, an opportunity to reach new tasters was achieved.

Our afternoon of wine and art was both tasty and enlightening. We weren’t familiar with Twisted Vines before, but we now have them on our radar for future events. And getting to taste the Annefield wines with Mike and Stephan was a bonus! Be sure to check out Twisted Vines in Arlington and plan to visit Annefield Vineyards. Be sure to tell them both Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Fundraising, Fun, and Virginia Wine

/ Warren / 2 Comments

Kurt Jensen and his wife, Carol, invited us to attend a fundraiser to benefit a youth program that is sponsored by their church, the Fairfax Unitarian Universalist Church. The program is the Fairfax Unitarian Universalist Summer Experience, or FUUSE, and it allows “youth to live out their values in the larger community.” Internship positions provide interns with an opportunity to expand their knowledge of social justice and to therefore heighten their connection to their local community. Young interns are placed with such organizations as the Alzheimer’s Family Day Center, Our Daily Bread, Northern Virginia Therapeutic Riding Program, and the Herndon Senior Center. To raise funds for the program, Kurt and Carol organized a tasting of Virginia wines that featured pours from Keswick Vineyards, Chester Gap Cellars, King Family Vineyards, White Hall Vineyards, and many others.


Paul and I met a number of newbies to Virginia wines at the event, and overall, the wines were very well received. Of course, tasters brought with them their own individual palates; therefore, favorites differed. Which were our favorites? I will list the wines here and note our favorites with an asterisk.

White Wines
Viognier
*Keswick Vineyards 2010, DuCard Signature Viognier 2010, Chester Gap 2009 Reserve

Chardonnay
*King Family 2009, Rappahannock Cellars 2009, 29 Vines Reserve 2009

Vidal Blanc
Crushed Cellars 2009, Vintage Ridge 2009 Summer Night, *Catoctin Creek 2010

Rose/Blush
North Gate 2010, *Hume 2010

Red Wines
Bordeaux-style Blends
Narmada Melange 2009, *Montfair Wooloomooloo 2009, Cobbler Mountain 2009 Meritage

Cabernet Franc
*Corcoran Vineyards 2009, Miracle Valley, 2008 White Hall Vineyards, Capitol Vineyards 2009

Chambourcin blends
Gadino Cellars Imagine, Pippin Hill Farm Winemaker’s Select Red, *Delfosse 2007 Cuvee Laurent

Dessert:
*AmRhein Ruby, Corcoran Cello, Lost Creek Courtney’s Christmas

Contributing to a good cause while sipping good wines always make for an enjoyable evening. We had a wonderful time, and Kurt and Carol did an amazing job organizing the event. Kudos to them! If readers want to know more about the FUUSE program, send e-mails to uucf@uucf.org.

Of course, we know that we will be meeting Kurt and Carol Jensen on the wine trail soon. In the meantime, visit the wineries listed above to sample their latest pours. Mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you.

King Cab Served at Breaux Vineyards

/ Warren / 1 Comment

Breaux Vineyards fans may already know that each year, the winery offers a series of vertical tastings that may include a vertical flight of merlot, cabernet sauvignon, nebbiolo, meritage blends, etc. This past weekend, we attended a vertical tasting that featured the king of Bordeaux grapes, Cabernet Sauvignon, and vintages since 2005 were served. These included barrel samples from the 2009 and 2010 vintages. A three-course menu was served with the flight of wines.

Tasters were greeted to the event with a tank sample of the 2011 Cabernet Rose, a very dry rose that already presented a nose of fresh strawberries. This Old World rose was an instant hit for me; it also called to attention the winemaking style of new winemaker David Castano. I expect that Castano’s wines will be more European with a focus on full fruit expression and nuanced earthy elements that make for elegant and food-friendly wines. Keep in mind that the difficult 2011 vintage will be Castano’s first as winemaker at Breaux, so this rose provided early signs of success.

So on to the Cabernets now and food course #1: jumbo prawn over thyme and Parmesan grits topped with wilted frisse and tomato oil. These were paired with the 2005 and 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon. Of the two, I preferred the muscular, earthy 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon with its dark fruit characteristics and tobacco nuances. (However, I must admit that I enjoyed the prawn even more with the rose.) The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon was lighter bodied compared to its younger sibling; Paul seemed to appreciate this one more than the 2006 and observed violet notes with cherry flavors and a smooth finish.

Course #2: grilled free-range chicken over cappellini spun with truffle cream and crimin mushrooms tossed with goddess coulis. My favorite dish of the evening! And it was paired with my favorite wine of the evening—the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon. It was presented next to the 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, and the contrasts were obvious. The 2007 growing season was stellar in Virginia thus producing outstanding red wines. The Breaux Vineyards 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon lived up to the lofty expectations. Complex yet elegant, it delivered aromas and flavors of dark cherry, plum, cassis, and black pepper. I caught a whiff of pencil shavings; Paul described it as cedar. On the other hand, the 2008 presented a fruitier, riper profile with oaky elements that suggested it needed a bit more time to integrate more fully. The finish on this one seemed a bit shorter than the 2007. The 2008 growing season was a more classic one for Virginia that included a visit from hurricanes hence more rainfall.

And now course #3: grassfed beef braised with mushrooms over garlic croustade and wilted watercress. Barrel samples of the 2009 and 2010 vintages were partnered with this dish. Again, the contrasts were notable. The 2009 sample finished last on my list of wine preferences for the evening. “Green” was the word that I jotted down as I observed more vegetal aromas. Still young to be sure, I will be interested to taste this one down the road. The 2010, however, had potential written all over it. I would consider this one to be on par with the 2007 vintage. Though extremely young, dark fruit components were on full display as was a noted vanilla finish to suggest oak aging. This youthful kid was more than a match for the slow-cooked beef, earthy mushrooms, and stick-to-your ribs sauce.

As a New Orleans native, I appreciate lagniappe (or “something extra”), and the 2006 Late Harvest Breaux Soleil was our bonus pour of the evening. This blend of late harvest Vidal, Viognier, Semillion and Sauvignon Blanc exhibited a heady floral nose along with aromas of apricots, citrus and honey. It was certainly a lovely bonus and a nice way to finish the evening.

As we sipped and dined, winemaker David Castano introduced himself and explained that he hails from a family of winemakers in Spain. He expertly presented the wines and entertained questions from the crowd of tasters. In the process, we learned that all Cabernets at Breaux are blends from both American and French oak barrels, and Castano intends to continue this practice so as to maximize the benefits to the aging process offered by both types of barrels. As a side note, we also learned that Breaux neighbors, Grandale Farms Restaurant, will begin their own vineyard to be called Silhouette Vineyards. Details about this development were indeed scarce; needless to say, check in with Virginia Wine Time to keep abreast of the developing story.

We always enjoy wine and chatter with our fellow bloggers, and joining us for the evening were Allan Liska and Erika Johannsen from Cellarblog. I think that we all concurred on a decision that the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon was the evening’s winner. The next vertical tasting will take place in March and feature Merlot, and we will certainly check our calendars for that event. In the meantime, plan a visit to Breaux Vineyards or perhaps even reserve a seat at the next vertical tasting in March. Please mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you.

Wine and Chocolates Fundraiser

/ Paul / Leave a comment

Our wine blogger friend Allan from Cellarblog is working to raise money for the Multiple Sclerosis Society by being part of a wine event coming up in February. Here are the details from his blog. Consider being part of the event and helping raise money for a worthwhile cause.

My friend Jacki has Multiple Sclerosis. Every year she organizes a team to participate in the Challenge Walk for the National Capital Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society, Jacki’s Determined Soles. For the last three years we have hosted a wine tasting featuring wines from local wineries to help raise money for her team.

This year, we are hosting a much bigger event. The Wine & Chocolate Tasting will be held at Vinifera Wine Bar & Bistro on February 12th from 1:00 to 4:00.

Vinifera is located in the Westin Reston Hotel at 11750 Sunrise Valley Dr Reston, VA 20191.

We will have representatives from some of your favorite wineries pouring their wines:
•Loudoun Valley
•Fabbioli
•Tarara
•Notaviva

Each winery will be pairing two of their wines with chocolate from local chocolatier MC2 Confections! Because we will have winery representatives in attenance you will be able to purchase wines and chocolate to take home with you for Valentine’s Day!

We will also have two Chocolate Fountains and a silent auction with some great items donated by local vendors.

Tickets for the event are $15 and all money from ticket sales go directly to the charity.

I really want to thank all of the participants. Every one of the wineries has agreed to donate time and wine to this event. Jason at Vinifera and Meridith at MC2 Confections have both donated a lot in time and effort to make sure this event is a big success.

You can purchase tickets through the Jacki’s Determined Soles website, or at the door the date of the event.

Happy New Year!

/ Paul / Leave a comment

Happy New Year! It’s been a busy holiday season. We haven’t visited any wineries recently but have plans to in the weeks to come. Of course we’ll be posting about our visits. Until then, we attended a wonderful dinner party where we enjoyed a Virginia wine.

Last Friday we joined a group of our wine buddies at our friend Susan’s house for an evening of delicious food and wonderful wines. We enjoyed some nice California and French wines but only one Virginia wine. We had a chance to enjoy a glass of the RdV. We haven’t been out to the vineyard yet but have heard lots of things about the vineyard and the wines. The RdV had a very dense color, was well balanced with dark fruit notes and velvety tannins. We enjoyed our chance to taste this exclusive wine. Thanks Stacey and Jeff! The evening was filled with food, wine, and conversation. We had a great time with our wine friends Susan, Stacey and Jeff, Mike and Paula, Paula and Gary, and Susie and Rick. We look forward to catching up with you all on the wine trail in the new year!