Category: Wine Trail

Back on the Trail

/ Paul / Leave a comment

June was a very busy month for Warren and I. Between the two of us we traveled to 5 different states for family vacations, family reunions and a special trip for a baptism for Warren’s god child. Things have calmed down for us so this past Sunday we decided to get back on the wine trail and visit a couple of Virginia wineries.

We started at Delaplane Cellars. Warren is a club member there and it was time to pick up club wines and taste the latest offerings. We started with a seated tasting of the chardonnay reserve, rosé, Duet and the Piedmont Station. While we enjoyed all the wines, the 2022 Duet was our favorite. The merlot dominate blend presented wonderful berry flavors, violet, fall spice and a juicy mid palate. We know we’ll enjoy this one during cooler months.

After our tasting we decided to share a bottle of the stainless chardonnay with a warm baguette and olive oil for dipping. Perfect pairing for a warm day. Before leaving we picked up our club wines and a few other favorites.

Our second stop of the day was Slater Run Vineyards. We hadn’t visited Slater Run for a few years so it was time to return to see what wines they had to offer. We made a reservation for a bar tasting and our tasting associate, Kathy, treated us to almost the full menu of wines.

It was really difficult to pick out favorites since all the wines were well made and offered flavors for almost any palate. I took a liking to the 2022 Steel Chardonnay and Warren really enjoyed the 2022 Chardonnay reserve. The heat of the day may have had something to do with our choices. The reds were also very strong and reminded us of (again) cooler months ahead and what we might pair with each wine. Decisions, decisions!

After our tasting we enjoyed a glass each of the 2022 Steel Chardonnay with a baguette, brie cheese and some of their chutney. While enjoying our nibbles we discussed what wines to bring home and decided to join the Wine Club! We used to be club members but let our membership lapse. But we are back on the Wine Club list and came home with a case of wine!

We had a great day enjoying wines and getting back on the wine trail. We plan to keep up with our winery visits in the months to come. If you haven’t been to Delaplane Cellars or Slater Run Vineyards lately, plan a trip and when you do visit tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Pride In The Vines Returns

/ Paul / Leave a comment

The Loudoun Wineries and Winegrowers Association (LWWA) is hosting their second year of Pride in Vines. Pride in the Vines takes place from June 1st to June 30, 2024. You can pick up your Pride in the Vines Wine Trail Passport at any of the participating wineries. More wineries have joined the fun this year. When you visit one of the wineries on the Pride in the Vines Wine Trail you can collect your stamp showing you visited that winery. When you get 10 stamps on your Passport you will be entered into a drawing to win prizes. Prizes include private wine tastings, bottles of wine, gear, tickets to events, and tours of the vineyards and wineries.

We started our Passport stamp collecting last weekend. We met a friend at Two Twisted Posts Winery for some wine tasting. During our tasting the tasting associate handed us our Passports for this year with the TTPW stamp already applied. After our tasting we shared a bottle of their Viognier with some nibbles on their covered patio. They had lots of Pride flags decorating the patio. It was very festive.

The wineries that are participating this year are:

50 West Winery and Vineyard
8 Chains North
868 Estate Vineyards
Bleu Frog Vineyards
Bozzo Family Vineyards
Carriage House Wineworks
Corcoran Vineyards and Cidery
Fabbioli Cellars
Farm de Vine
Forever Farm and Vineyard
Good Spirit Farm Winery
Hillsborough Winery
October One Vineyard
Otium Cellars
Sunset Hills Vineyard
Terra Nebulo Vineyards
Two Twisted Posts Winery
Walsh Family Wine
Williams Gap Vineyard
The Wine Reserve at Waterford
Zephaniah Farm Vineyard

The details and guidelines for the program are:

1. Must be 21 to enter.

2. Pick-up your passport at the first participating winery that you visit as of June 1, 2024.

3. Fill out your passport as soon as you pick it up. Your passport is to be used by you only. Please do not share passports.

4. Present the passport at each participating winery for one stamp per winery.

5. Turn your passport in at the winery where you get your 10th stamp.

6. The drawing will be held after the end of the month and you will be contacted at the information you provided on the passport.

Have you started collecting your stamps yet? When you do, mention Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Winery 221 and Meet Up With Friends

/ Warren / Leave a comment

Now that we are both retired, Paul and I can take advantage of weekdays to enjoy local vacations, and we recently took a trip to the Charlottesville area and visited wineries in the Monticello AVA. We were able to visit the 221st Virginia winery for us and catch up with friends who were also in the area to appreciate local wines and spectacular fall scenery.

So what was winery #221? Southwest Mountain Vineyards, a new addition to the Monticello AVA has already earned an excellent reputation. The winery held a soft opening a few weeks before our trip; however, we were not able to attend. Therefore, it was our mission to find out what the buzz is all about. The two-storied tasting room is indeed expansive with the first level accommodating walk-in guests while those with reservations can enjoy a tasting on the second level. We made a reservation, received an excellent tasting of flights at the bar, and then marveled at the stellar view of mountains and foliage already putting on a pageant of autumn colors. Of course, we were interested in the wines, and these did not disappoint.

Three flights were offered: a white flight, a red flight, and a reserve flight. We shared a flight of each and noted our favorites. On the white flight, I preferred the easy-drinking White Blend 2020 composed of Viognier and Petit Manseng. Its tropical notes and fruity palate finished leaner than expected. Sip this one on its own or pair it with shellfish any day of the year; it’s also versatile enough to pair with poultry or pork. Virginia is known for its quality Cabernet Franc, and the 2021 vintage here was my favorite with its notes of violet, black pepper, and dried herbs. The 2019 and 2021 Red Blends were also well-crafted but still a bit tight—-buy now but drink later. Finally, the reserve flight featured my favorite grape, Chardonnay. Paul and I reached a split decision with Paul giving the nod to the approachable 2020 reserve while I gravitated to the oakier nuances of the 2021 Reserve.

As we sipped through our flights, we also nibbled on cheese and charcuterie available from the food menu. Our tasting associate also treated us to a sample of the 2021 Gruner Veltliner and the 2019 Petit Verdot. The Gruner was excellent and presented bright stone fruit on the nose and enough weight on the palate to enjoy with a holiday menu. Paul sang the praises of the 2019 Petit Verdot and suggested that this one was already hitting its stride. We ended up purchasing a bottle of each.

Of course, we like to ask questions, and our tasting associate was eager to answer them. Wines through the 2022 vintage were crafted by outstanding winemaker Emily Pelton of Veritas Vineyards. Grapes are grown on the Castalia and Ben Coolyn Vineyards, and varieties grown include Chardonnay, Viognier, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Petit Manseng, Cabernet Franc, and Gruner Veltliner. Upcoming vintages from 2023 and beyond will be made by renowned South African winemaker Boela Gerber.

Our visit to Southwest Mountain Vineyards kicked off a five-day vacation to the area, and we certainly visited other wineries while there. However, this trip also allowed us to catch up with friends. Below is a photographic journal of these gatherings:

Frank Morgan and Kathy Lang Wiedemann:

Nancy Bauer and winemaker Luca Paschina

George Hodgson of Veritas Vineyards

Stephen Banard, now winemaker at Delfosse (soon to be Mountain and Vine) Vineyards

Our next post with offer holiday menu suggestions based on some of the wines that we tasted on our trip to the Monticello AVA, Until then, we recommend that you take time to enjoy the gorgeous show put on by Mother Nature this time of year with your own trip to the Charlottesville area. Plan to visit Virginia wineries along the way, and mention that Virginia Wine time sent you!

Celebrating Pride in the Vines

/ Warren / 1 Comment

In a previous post, we committed to celebrating Pride Month by participating in Loudoun County’s Pride in the Vines, and we honored that commitment. As we plied (and tasted) our way along the trail, we made sure to have our Pride in Vines participant cards stamped by the participating wineries. Ten stamps from the wineries earned us the right to toss our card amongst other participants in the hope of winning a grand prize! (We earned double stamps on the first day, so we visited eight wineries to achieve the ten stamps.)

Our journey began with tastings at Willams Gap Vineyard and Forever Farm and Vineyard. We joined our friends, Steve and Joe, to mark a milestone—Steve and I retired from teaching! It was also our chance to bid them farewell as they embarked on a new life in Florida. The continued mild but sunny weather had me in the mood for rose, which I enjoyed at both wineries.

We continued accumulating stamps the following week with tastings at Bozzo Family Vineyards, Two Twisted Posts, and 868 Estate Vineyards. Warmer, humid weather prevailed this time, and Sauvignon Blanc at Bozzo and 868 provided a refreshing respite from the heat. Two Twisted Posts pioneered Pride in the Vines a few years ago, and the winery was well-decorated for the occasion. I favored the 2019 Chardonnay here and enjoyed its full-mouth feel with a baguette and cheeses.

Guests could stock up on pride pins, stickers, and flags as they sipped and savored. This particular sticker (below), for example, best described my reaction to the odious Supreme Court ruling in the 303/wedding web designer but not a wedding web designer with a non-client who was a married, heterosexual male case.

Scenes from the other wineries visited:

Our final swing through Loudoun County for Pride Month ended with tastings at The Wine Reserve, Hillsborough Vineyards, and 8 Chains North. Rose returned as my favorite sipper during this final swing, but the Cabernet Franc at The Wine Reserve gets a mention for a possible pairing with barbecue or grilled fare. It was at 8 Chains North that we earned the final stamp on our Pride in the Vines card, and it was there that we turned it in. Fingers are crossed that we win!

We extended Pride Month by one day to celebrate (I’m) Coming Out with the supreme legend, Diana Ross. We were amongst a crowd of fans at a sold-out show that was diverse and inclusive, and we brought along a bottle of the 2022 Rose from 8 Chains North to enjoy with the concert.

Paul and I took for granted that the decades-long struggle for LGBTQ+ rights had been secured and out of harm’s way; therefore, we became complacent over the years as Pride months came and went. Recent events culminating in the Supreme Court decision and the slippery slope it potentially creates have prompted us to become more visible community members.

Virginia Wine Time thanks the Loudoun County wineries that participated in this year’s Pride in the Vines, and we look forward to participating in the program next year. Be sure to visit the wineries mentioned in this post, and remember to say Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Solstice Paired With Virginia Wines

/ Warren / 1 Comment

Paul and I made our annual summer trek to the Charlottesville area, and this year it coincided with summer solstice, the official start of the summer season. These longer days allowed us to enjoy late dinners and wine on the porch at our favorite Stay cottage located on the Afton Mountain Vineyards property. In this post, I offer a review of favored wine varieties, blends, and sparkling wines that we sampled from various wineries in the Charlottesville area. Notice a special focus on summer wines since stocking up on these was our mission; however, any wine can be enjoyed in all seasons, and we do note some wines that some may find to be more appropriate for cooler weather.

White Wines/Rose/ White Blends/Sparkling:
Albarino: Pay attention to this grape in Virginia because it shows promise. Afton Mountain’s 2021 release features classic citrus notes and a leaner palate. A different twist will be offered by Jake Bushing’s 2021 Albarino that saw some time in oak barrels and thus presents a fuller-bodied palate.

Chardonnay: Always my favorite. Full-bodied treatments of this grape can be enjoyed at Septenary (2019), King Family Vineyards (2020) and Hazy Mountain (2019). Sippers who prefer a medium to lighter-bodied style may want to consider the releases from Pollak (2019) and Keswick (LVA 2021).

Sauvignon Blanc: This is another grape that has potential in Virginia. The 2021 offering from Septenary captures classic notes of boxwood and citrus with a refreshing acidity. Similar characteristics were noted in the current 2021 release from Jake Busching Wines. Sauvignon Blanc is also the key component in two white blends from Blenheim Vineyards. 2020 On The Line also includes Rkatsiteli, Chardonnay, and Petit Manseng while the 2018 Painted White incorporates Chardonnay and Petit Manseng. I will add that these two blends convinced me that Petit Manseng with its tropical fruit notes, acidity and texture brings much more to the table (or the bottle) as a blender than a stand alone.

Rose: Dry rose for us, please. Thankfully, Virginia wineries can deliver here too. We can recommend current releases now offered at Blenheim Vineyards (2020) King Family Vineyards (2021), Hark Vineyards (2021) and Septenary (2020). While rose conjures images of beaches or picnics, be sure to have Rose on hand for all seasons—-rose is versatile and can pair with almost anything.

Sparkling Wine: Any occasion or no occasion at all calls for sparkling wine. Try the 2018 Brut from King Family Vineyards produced from 100% Chardonnay, the Sparkling Amelie Blanc de Noir from Keswick Vineyards and/or the Sparkling Rose from Septenary.

Vidal Blanc: Once a driver at most Virginia wineries, Vidal Blanc seems be less common these days. Fortunately, the 2020 Virginia Verde from Hark Vineyards keeps Vidal Blanc alive, and it screams summer.

Red Wines: Cabernet Franc: This is probably the one red wine that is another all season gift. Enjoy it with light grilled fare in summer or with Thanksgiving turkey in the fall. I tend to prefer lighter style Cabernet Franc that presents juicy red berries with little interference from extensive use of oak or blends with other varieties. Blenheim’s 2020 release fits that bill. Pollak Vineyards’ 2019 bottling sees a bit more time on oak with a noted presence of black pepper; however, it too can be served on its own or with food. Septenary’s Cloverplains 2017 is a blend that leads with Cabernet France but includes Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot. Bright seed berries, sweet tobacco and subtle black pepper nuances offers a complex wine that can be enjoyed now or later.

Petit Verdot: This is another winning grape for Virginia. However, there are those who prefer this one on its own, while others would rather enjoy it as part of a blend. (Review my Petit Manseng comment). The 2018 vintage from Pollak Vineyards was surprisingly juicy and rich given the rather wet 2018 growing season. Hark Vineyards’ 2017 release is dark and brooding—-decant now or hold for a bit longer. Don’t ignore the 2019 vintage from DuCard Vineyards, especially if you are tracking down the gold medal winners from 2022 Virginia Governor’s Cup. Looking for a Petit Verdot-dominant blend? Give 2018 Blended Red from Blenheim Vineyards a try. It includes an equal part of Merlot followed by Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Others: We always grab a bottle (or two, three) of Bacco from Afton Mountain Vineyards. This one always includes Sangiovese, and the 2017 is delicious. If your library includes the 2016 Meritage from Pollak Vineyards, it is still showing quite well. Drink or hold. I bought a bottle to join its sibling on our wine rack. One will be enjoyed soon and the other will be poured in another year or so. Our 2013 Merlot from King Family Vineyards has definitely gathered dust, so it was a treat to try a sample of this one at the winery. I would put this one in the drink now category but made sure to purchase another one. Can it hold on for another year or two? We’ll find out.

Our front porch dinners paired with a perfect Virginia wine were lit with late sunsets followed by starry skies and dancing fireflies. Another treat was the cooler than usual night temperatures that allowed us to open the windows to enjoy cool nighttime breezes. If Mother Nature was treating us to a solstice concert, then she put on a stellar performance.

Plan to visit the wineries mentioned in this post to sample these well-crafted wines for yourself this summer. Let us know if you find others that you enjoyed but not described here. Of course, please mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Monticello Cup Winners

/ Paul / 1 Comment

This evening I attended the Monticello Cup Wine Competition Awards ceremony in Charlottesville. It was held at the Common House. Laura and Jason Lavallee of Wisdom Oak Winery won the 2022 Monticello Cup for their NINETEEN, a Bordeaux-style red blend. I was able to taste the winning wine. It’s a nice red blend but will benefit from some time in the bottle.

Frank Morgan of Drink What You Like, organized the event and was on hand to announce the winners. He announced the top 3 red and white wines of the Monticello Wine Cup Competition as well as the cup winner.

The top 3 reds were the Wisdom Oak 2019 NINETEEN, the Cardinal Point Vineyard and Winery 2019 Clay Hill Cabernet Franc and the Jefferson Vineyards 2019 Merlot Reserve. The top 3 whites were the Michael Shaps Wineworks 2019 Petit Manseng, the Jefferson Vineyards 2019 Chardonnay Reserve and the Trump Winery 2017 Blanc de Blanc.

During the evening I was able to say hello and catch up with many of the wine makers from the Monticello Wine Trail. I was also able to enjoy tastes of many of the wines submitted to the competition. The Common House provided some wonderful appetizers to enjoy with the wines.

It was a great evening to enjoy some wine and celebrate the winners of the competition. If you haven’t been on the Monticello Wine Trail lately, plan a trip soon! And when you do, tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Visiting Cana and Old Farm Winery

/ Paul / 1 Comment

Shortly after the Governor’s Cup winner was announced we headed over to Cana Vineyards and Winery with some friends to taste the winning wine and the current line up of wines.

We decided to start with tasting flights of some of their wines. Jill and I selected the white wine flight which consisted of three of their current whites. We both agreed the 2021 Rhapsody in White was our favorite. We thought it was a perfect white for warm afternoons with light fair. The tropical notes were particularly delightful. I also liked the 2020 Chardonnay. I noted lemon curd, apple notes and a creamy ending. I thought it would pair nicely with some fish dishes or even oysters.

Warren and Michael picked a flight that consisted of one white wine and two reds. They both liked the zesty nature of the 2020 Albariño. Michael really enjoyed the 2019 Petit Verdot. He tends to like bigger reds and noted the cherry and chocolate notes of this one. The tasting room manager, Don treated us to a few more tastes. We tasted the 2021 Rose of Cab Franc. We enjoyed the strawberry notes. We also appreciated the dry, crisp and refreshing nature of this one. Our next taste was the 2019 Melbac. It had a nice dark color, a fresh fruity palate. Don told us it was blended with some petit verdot. Our final taste was the 2019 Le Mariage which was selected for the Governor’s Case and won a gold medal. This one is a Bordeaux blend with cabernet sauvignon making up 43% of the blend. This was the most complex red we had tasted at this point in our tasting. We noted plum, black cherry, a hint of spice and ended with some soft tannins. We saw why it was selected for a gold medal and a member of the Governor’s Case.

After our tasting we decided to splurge and share a bottle of the Governor’s Cup winning 2019 Unité Reserve with our lunch items. The 2019 Unité Reserve is a blend of 65% Petit Verdot, 29% Cabernet Franc and 6% Merlot. Dark fruit notes were present with vanilla and oak notes and moderate tannins. It paired nicely with our roast beef slices and hard cheeses. Warren thought it would pair nicely with his famous leg of lamb. What a nice bottle of wine! We added this one to our list of wines to bring home.

Since we were in Loudoun County we decided to visit a new winery after our time at Cana. We selected the Old Farm Winery at Hartland.

From their website:

Open since November 6th, 2021, Old Farm Winery at Hartland lies on 35 acres of preserved 18th century farmland and newly-planted vineyards in Aldie, Virginia, with a charming renovated 19th century farmhouse and barn, outdoor bar, and expansive outdoor seating area. We bring an authentic working farm winery experience just one hour away from the hustle and bustle of Washington, DC. Old Farm Winery at Hartland is located in the heart of historic “hunt country” of Loudoun County and is rich with colonial and Loudoun’s famous fox hunting history.

Old Farm Winery is the sister winery to the Winery at Bull Run.

Our tasting associate, Bill Ellis expertly walked us through the six wines on the tasting menu. The 2020 Rosé was our favorite of the whites side of the tasting sheet. We noted lots of berry notes and Warren picked up some mint as well. He also thought it would pair well with lamb chops. Bill also let us taste the 2021 Tally-Ho – a white blend with stone fruit notes, white pepper and ginger.

We then moved on to the reds. The 2020 Meritage is a Bordeaux blend finished in American oak barrels. We noted smoke, red fruit notes, plum, spice and medium tannins. I put a star next to this one. Bill also let us taste the 2018 Meritage – another Bordeaux blend with seed berry notes and bigger tannins. While it was very nice, we did prefer the 2020. We also enjoyed the 2020 Petit Verdot. It’s one of my favorite grapes. We noted some nice fruit up front, tart cherry and savory notes at the end. Warren wrote down sage. Another really nice red.

After our tasting we shared a bottle of the 2020 Meritage with some hard cheeses and crackers. It was nice to get to add another winery to our list of wineries visited. This is number 198. Before leaving we picked up a few bottles of our favorites and thanks Bill for a wonderful tasting experience. If you are looking for a new winery to visit, think about Old Farm Winery at Hartland. Of course plan to visit Cana and pick up a bottle of the Governor’s Cup winner while supplies last. And when you do, tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Virginia Wine Month Weekend

/ Paul / 1 Comment

We are continuing to celebrate Virginia Wine Month! We started our Virginia Wine Month weekend by heading to Glen Manor Vineyards. It had been a year since our last visit so it was time to taste some new wines and find out how things are going at Glen Manor.

Jeff White’s wines are so popular that there weren’t many wines in stock to try. We should have visited sooner. We missed the Sauvignon Blanc, the Rosé and the Cabernet Franc. We were able to enjoy flights of the wines they did have available. We tasted the 2015 and 2016 St. Ruth, the 2014 Hodder Hill, the 2017 Petit Verdot and the 2017 and 2019 Petit Mansengs. All of the wines we sampled were wonderful but the 2014 Hodder Hill stood out as a favorite.

For lunch we enjoyed a bottle of the 2015 St. Ruth with different cheeses, crackers and prosciutto. It paired nicely with our lunch items. After lunch it was off to the Skyline Drive to view the fall colors but not before picking up a case of our favorite wines.

After our drive along the Skyline Drive, we headed to Gray Ghost Vineyards. We needed to pick up a case of Reserve Chardonnay we had on order and taste some new wines. It’s always great to see Amy, Cheryl and Al and catch up. We chatted about all kinds of things while enjoying a tasting of their current line up. Before leaving we enjoyed a glass of the Reserve Chardonnay. It was perfect with the beautiful weather. We also picked up that case of Reserve Chardonnay and then headed to Warrenton.

Once we reached Warrenton, we checked in to our hotel and then went to Claire’s at the Depot for dinner. We love the Claire’s! We both selected beef for dinner and Warren selected the 2016 Hardscrabble Red from Linden Vineyards to enjoy with our meal. The pairing was perfect and so was the meal! We recommend Claire’s if you are looking for a great place to eat in Warrenton.

The next day we headed to Muse Vineyards to meet some friends. It was another gorgeous day so we were able to sit outside on the second floor deck. Our fiends are club members so they made reservations in advance. Muse doesn’t serve flights on Saturdays so the group decided to order a bunch of food items for lunch and a couple different wines to pair with the food items. We selected the 2020 Gamay and the 2019 Urania. Both are reds with the Urania being an Italian blend of Teroldego, Sangiovese, Aglianico and Merlot. We found both wines to be very nice and paired well with our food. We were also quite surprised by the 2020 Gamay. It was bright and fruity and finished smooth. It was also just slightly chilled. It was the favorite among the group. We did not realize the winemaker is Tim Rouse. That explains the amazing wines at Muse.

After an amazing weekend of Virginia wine and fall foliage, it was time to head home. We left Muse with half a case of our favorites and headed home. It was a great Virginia Wine Month weekend! If you haven’t been to these wonderful wineries, we suggest you plan a visit soon! And tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Remembering Summer 2021

/ Warren / 1 Comment

We continued to celebrate reunions and meetings with friends and family throughout the summer of 2021.  As we look forward to the golden leaves of autumn, I thought it would be appropriate to recall our fun times with family and friends during this past summer.  Of course, Virginia wineries were our gathering places!

Paul and I were excited to catch up with our friend Bob who lives on the Northern Neck of Virginia.  Bob introduced us to two new wineries in that area, and we were able to add two new wineries to our growing list of wineries that we visited.  These included Monroe Bay Winery and Backporch Vineyard.  In addition to tastings at those wineries, Paul and I were also able to sneak in a tasting at Ingleside Vineyards and The Hague Winery.

Monroe Bay Winery

Backporch Vineyard

Ingleside Vineyards

The Hague Winery

Williams Gap Vineyard has quickly become a favorite winery of ours, and we scheduled a tasting that introduced our friends Steve and Joe to their well crafted wines.  Bridgette Smith skillfully guided us through our tasting as we nibbled on charcuterie and cheeses.  In turn, Steve and Joe invited us to join them at a tasting of one of their recent favorite wineries, Forever Farm and Vineyard.  This was also a new winery visit for us, and we enjoyed our tasting with live music!

Williams Gap

Forever Farm and Vineyard

My parents were able to escape the chaos of Hurricane Ida after she blew through New Orleans, and a trip to Delaplane Cellars offered the perfect opportunity to view lovely mountain scenery as we tasted some excellent wines.  We also used the occasion to toast their 61st wedding anniversary!  We finished our afternoon of wine tasting with a visit to Barrel Oak where we were treated to a sample of their current lineup of wines and their excellent dessert wine.

Delaplane Cellars

Barrel Oak

Now we look forward to seeing the gold and crimson colors of fall leaves as they decorate the autumn skies.  We know that we will include Virginia wineries in our afternoon excursions to appreciate the gorgeous season.  Please decorate your fall wine collection with visits to the wineries mentioned in this post, after all October is Virginia Wine month! Be sure to mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Media & Industry Experience and the Monticello Trail

/ Warren / 5 Comments

Paul and I were honored to be included in the Media & Industry Experience, an event planned by Frank Morgan and Nancy Bauer, to showcase wines produced in the Monticello area. The event happened to coincide with a vacation that we had already planned to the area, so our next posts will also feature our own winery experiences.

The event opened on August 1 with a lunch prepared by chef Michael Clough of Palladio restaurant located on the Barboursville estate. Attendees were treated to a an exquisite food and wine pairing that included:

Barboursville’s winemaker, Luca Paschina, provided a summary of his history in the Virginia winemaking industry with an emphasis on his own evolution as a winemaker in a state that can challenge even the most skilled winemaker. Readers may know that Paschina is from Italy and began his work with the Zonin family over 30 years ago. For Paschina, his task in the 1990s was to discover through trial and error what grape varieties grew best in Virginia and then how to craft the grapes to present wines that expressed a sense of place. In that time, Paschina has experimented successfully not only with grapes known to show well in Virginia such as Cabernet France but also Italian grapes such as Nebbiolo, Vermentino, Fiano, and Falanghina. One example of success was the 2018 Nascent, a blend of Viognier, Vermentino, and Falanghina that presented a fuller, expressive palate with elements of white flowers, tropical fruit and citrus to pair nicely with the main entree, a grilled tuna served atop panzanella salad.

We were then given a brief but informative vineyard tour after lunch by Luca. It was evident to us that the 2021 growing season has been excellent due to ideal summer weather conditions.

A wine tasting and barbecue dinner was the evening’s event and it was hosted by Afton Mountain Vineyards. How odd that both Paul and Frank Morgan wore the same Hawaiin shirts for the festive occasion. Was this a coincidence? As they marveled at the coordinated fashion statements made by these two, attendees were able to sample wines from:

Afton Mountain Vineyards
Blenheim Vineyards
Flying Fox Vineyard
Hark Vineyards
Jefferson Vineyards
Keswick Vineyards
King Family Vineyards
Michael Shaps Wineworks
Pollak Vineyards
Veritas Vineyards
Wisdom Oak Winery

Craig Hartman of The Barbecue Exchange provided pulled pork and chicken with an array of sauce options.

The Media & Industry Experience concluded on August 2 with a series of seminars on Virginia wines that included Petit Manseng, Cabernet France, and “others”. We were able to attend the session conducted by Frank Morgan that featured Cabernet Franc. Winemakers Kirsty Harmon, Tim Gorman, Luca Paschina, and Stephen Barnard were on hand to educate attendees and to answer their questions. They each also provided pours of their own Cabernet Francs, and these ranged from lighter-style productions more common from the Chinon region of France to fuller-bodied styles. The panel agreed that Cabernet Franc best expressed Virginia as a wine region. All agreed that vineyard management and making critical decisions regarding harvest time were key to making excellent Cabernet Franc. This seminar was followed by a lunch hosted by King Family Vineyards and prepared by chef Laura Fanner.

Nancy Bauer moderated the final seminar of the day and featured second labels and “side hustles” of Virginia winemakers who, in addition to crafting wines for established wineries also produce wines under their own personal labels. These winemakers included Jake Busching (Jake B Wines), Caitlin Horton (Gears & Lace), Matthieu Finot (Domaine Finot), and Tim Rausse (Vino Dal Bosco).

Paul and I learned so much from the Media & Industry Experience, and the key take away was that Virginia continues to evolve as a wine region of note because excellent winemakers understand what it takes to create Virginia wines that express a sense of place. Please visit the wineries on the Monticello Wine Trail, and mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you!