Which Virginia wines does Warren pair with his Gumbo? Watch to the end to find out!
Category: Wines
The Cajun Cooks Jambalaya Served With Bluestone Vineyard Wines
Coravin Device
Warren bought himself a special present for his upcoming birthday. Watch the video to learn more about the gift.
Wonderful Wine Weekend
We had an amazing weekend filled with wineries, winemakers, wine and friends.
We started out in Harrisonburg on Friday visiting Lee Hartman of Bluestone Vineyard. He showed us around Rootstock Wine Bar which is his new wine bar opening up on Friday of this week! We then went to his house and enjoyed learning how to saber sparking wines, tasting some of his latest wines and enjoying a charcuterie spread created by his wife. What a fun evening!
On Saturday we visited Glen Manor Vineyards for their Winter member Event to taste a pre-release of Jeff White’s 2020 Nebbiolo as well as a barrel sample of his 2023 Nebbiolo. We finished the tasting with a taste of his 2020 Petit Manseng. All the wines were very nice! We made sure to buy a few wines before leaving.
On Sunday we went to Linden Vineyards for their Pre-release of 2020 wines tasting and barrel tasting of the 2023 reds. My favorite was Shari’s 2023 merlot barrel sample. I know it will all go into blends but I think it would make a great stand alone wine. The pre-release wines we tasted were the 2020 Avenius Red and the 2020 Hardscrabble Red. Jim told us about the growing season and how the wines were developed and blended. We always learn things while listening to Jim. We had a great time with friends at this tasting.
Our final stop of the weekend was Capstone Vineyards. I had a club pick up and we decided to chat with Theo and do a tasting. Theo surprised us with a taste of the 2015 Merlot! He only had two bottles left and opened one for us to taste! It was amazing! I tried to get him to sell me the last bottle but he wouldn’t. We also met some new wine friends while tasting at Capstone. Richard and Heather were fun to chat with and share our experiences with Virginia wines. It’s always fun to catch up with Theo while tasting.
What a wonderful wine weekend!
Thanksgiving Wines
Our last post was about Thanksgiving wines from the Monticello AVA. Here is a video of our Thanksgiving wine recommendations from other parts of the state. Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving and Virginia Wines
Congratulations to the Charlottesville area being named wine region of the year in the Wine Enthusiast’s 2023 Wine Star Awards! Check out the article here.
It’s that time of year when we all begin to consider holiday menus; of course, this should include pairings with Virginia wines. In this post, I make wine recommendations from the Monticello AVA for the Thanksgiving holidays.
Before the Big Event: Cheeses, Appetizers including shellfish
(Disclaimer: Some of these wines could also be paired with turkey. Let side dishes guide your selection.)
2021 Afton Mountain Vineyards Albariño
2021 Blenheim Albariño
2021 Southwest Mountains Vineyards Gruner Veltliner
2022 Michael Shaps Sauvignon Blanc
2022 Veritas Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc
2022 Barboursville Vineyards Vermentino Reserve (toss in the 2014 for a vertical surprise!)
2022 Keswick Vineyards V2
2022 Pollak Vineyards Durant White
2020 Southwest Mountains Vineyards White Blend
Turkey and Trimmings: (Consider side dishes when making your decision.)
2019 Blenheim Vineyards Chardonnay
2015 Michael Shaps Chardonnay
2021 Pollak Vineyards Chardonnay
2021 Septenary Vineyards Chardonnay
2022 Afton Mountain Vineyards Gewürztraminer
2022 King Family Crose (rosé)
2022 Pollak Vineyards Rosé
2022 Septenary Vineyards Rosé
2022 Michael Shaps Viognier
2022 Pollak Vineyards Viognier
2021 Southwest Mountains Vineyards Viognier
2022 Veritas Vineyards Viognier
2019 Barboursville Vineyards Nascent
2020 Blenheim Vineyards Painted White
Red Wines:
2021 Afton Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Franc
2021 Barboursville Vineyards Cabernet Franc
2021 Southwest Mountains Vineyards Cabernet Franc
2020 Blenheim Vineyards Merlot
2019 Veritas Vineyards Merlot
2016 Septenary Vineyards Manor House (I’d pair this one with leaner beef dish, too.)
Beef, Venison, and other Hearty Meat Dishes:
2020 Barboursville Vineyards Nebbiolo
2019 Southwest Mountains Vineyards Petit Verdot
2019 Barboursville Vineyards Octagon
2020 Blenheim Vineyards Painted Red
2016 Michael Shaps L Scott
2017 Septenary Vineyards Carriage House
2021 Veritas Vineyards Momentarius Red
After Dinner: Bold Cheeses, Roasted/spiced Nuts, Etc.
2021 Southwest Mountains Vineyards Petit Manseng
2017 Septenary Vineyards Tavern Port
Can’t make it to the Monticello AVA by Turkey Day? We will post suggestions from outside of that region. However, if you plan to visit the wineries listed in this article, please mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you!
Winery 221 and Meet Up With Friends
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!
Virginia Wines of Summer 2023
The end of summer is upon us now, and it finishes with quite a bang as the area finally gets its own dose of excessive heat. Paul and I visited a few wineries instead of a real vacation, and I recap some of our favorite wines of the 2023 summer.
Glen Manor always tops our list of wineries to visit, and I was particularly interested in sampling its 2022 Vin Blanc, a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Petit Manseng. Its fruity aromas and bright, fresh palate paired well with a warm summer day and dragonflies that flitted about outside. The Sauvignon Blanc consistently earns my top marks, and the 2022 vintage was no exception. This vintage presented tropical fruit notes and seemed destined to be enjoyed with shellfish. We frequently attend concerts at Wolf Trap and, several days later, brought along a bottle of Glen Manor’s 2022 Morales Rose to sip as the sultry vocals of pianist Diana Krall serenaded us.
Another day, we completed a club member pick-up at Delaplane Cellars; of course, we tasted the current releases offered at the winery. The non-oaked 2022 Chardonnay offered a light touch on the palate with pear and citrus flavors. It was perfect with light cheeses that we brought along for the afternoon tasting. The 2020 reds in Virginia seem fruity and accessible, and this was the case for the 2020 Rusticity. Buy this one now to enjoy with grilled fare and an al fresco dinner.
Finally, Paul and I journeyed to Capstone Vineyards, and we restocked on its sparkling wine and the 2022 C2 blend of Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc. We also purchased a bottle of the 2022 Vintner’s Blend, a wine that unleashes a pleasant fruity, berry assault in the mouth—-buy to enjoy now or savor in the fall. However, with the Capstone Sparkling Wine, we officially said our goodbyes to summer on Labor Day, and I made one final toast to my retirement, which formally began on July 1 of this year. Our last clink of the flutes signaled a new beginning for me!
What were some of your favorite Virginia wines this summer? Let us know. Plan a visit to the wineries mentioned here; of course, tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!
Celebrating Pride in the Vines
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!
Dinner Wine Video
Here’s a short video showing which wine we had on Friday evening with dinner.