Winter Tasting at Linden

On a recent Saturday we made reservations for a tasting at Linden Vineyards. We hadn’t visited Linden since December so it was time to return and see what was on the Winter Tasting menu.

It’s always fun to walk in the tasting room and see familiar faces. Emma was full of hellos and hugs. Our tasting associate however was new to us. I believe her name was Becky. She gave us the Winter Tasting menu and poured our first taste. It was the 2018 Village Chardonnay. After the Village (which was very good by the way) the tasting continued with comparative tastings of the following:

2019 Avenues Chardonnay
2019 Hardscrabble Chardonnay

2014 Petit Verdot
2019 Petit Verdot

2017 Hardscrabble Red
2019 Hardscrabble Red

If you’ve been to Linden before you know that all Jim’s wines are very well crafted and you won’t find one you won’t enjoy. We thought the choices for the comparative tastings were perfect. We enjoyed them all.

What did we select to pair with our lunch items? After looking over the full list of wines available, we decided to have the 2014 Boisseau Chardonnay. We brought sliced ham and turkey, hard cheeses, crackers and almonds for lunch. The 2014 Boisseau Chardonnay paired nicely with our lunch items. While finishing up the last glass, Jim came over and joined us for some wine conversation. It’s always fun to catch up with Jim while we are enjoying his wines.

Before leaving we bought some of our favorites and said our goodbyes. If you haven’t been to Linden lately it’s too late to enjoy the Winter Tasting. However, Jim informed us the Spring Tasting would begin the next weekend. We’ll have to return to enjoy the Spring Tasting. Plan a trip to Linden soon to enjoy the Spring Tasting and tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Return to Paradise Springs

Warren’s nephew was in town last weekend so we decided to take him to a local winery to taste some Virginia wine. We took him to Paradise Springs on Saturday. We hadn’t been there for a few years so it was time to return.

When we arrived the place was packed. Paradise Springs has become quite a popular attraction. We even had a tough time finding a parking space. Once inside though, it was a familiar space. We opted for the Winemaker’s Flight which was a mix of white wines and red wines and the Gold Medal Flight which consisted of gold medal winning red wines.

We settled in on the covered patio and enjoyed our tastings. The favorite from the Winemaker’s Flight was the 2021 Nana’s Rosé. We noted watermelon, strawberry and a hint of cranberry. The favorite of the Gold Medal flight was the 2021 Cabernet Franc. We enjoyed the cherry notes and the smooth tannins.

After our tasting we selected the 2021 Nana’s Rosé to enjoy with our lunch items. The weather was perfect for enjoying our lunch and wine on the covered patio. Plus, they had live music on the patio as well! Before leaving we purchased some of our favorite wines to bring home. We will be sure to return sooner next time. If you haven’t been to Paradise Springs lately, plan a trip soon. And tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Happy New Year!

We are back after a short holiday break. It’s a new year and time for some new wine adventures. On Saturday, we started the new year by returning to the last winery we posted about in 2022, Delaplane Cellars.

We elected to do a regular tasting which consisted of the 2021 Rosé, the 2021 Viognier, the 2020 Adjacency and the 2020 Piedmont Station. We enjoyed all the wines and think they are very well made. We particularly enjoyed the 2020 Adjacency. We noted cranberry and currents and the smooth ending…just like we had back in December.

After our tasting, Matt brought us a taste of the 2020 Quorum. We were not familiar with this wine. Matt explained this wine came from a special blending session for club members (and some members of the public) and is only available to those who attended the blending session. He also explained the wine is mostly cab franc and merlot but the winemaker is the only one who knows the final blend. We thought the blend was beautiful! We are club members at Delaplane but haven’t taken full advantage of the events available to members. We’ll need to keep an eye out for the next blending event. A big thank you to Matt for sharing the 2020 Quorum with us. We enjoyed it!

After our special taste, we ordered the Virginia Sampler and enjoyed it with a bottle of the 2020 Adjacency. We checked out the views while nibbling on the sampler and sipping the wine. It was a beautiful afternoon. We didn’t have any wines to pick up during this visit so we said our goodbyes and told Matt we’d be back in the near future. If you haven’t been to Delaplane Cellars lately, plan a visit soon and tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Visiting Wineries with Friends

Recently we met our friends Steve and Joe at Delaplane Cellars for a wine club pick up event. As I have mentioned before, there are benefits to being club members.

We began our visit with a tasting of their current lineup of wines. We tasted the Rosé, the Viognier, the Adjacency and the Piedmont Station. As part of the club event they served food to pair with the wines. We found the Viognier paired nicely with the chicken meatball. We thought the Adjacency went well with eh beef meatball. Finally we enjoyed the Piedmont Station with the harvest salad. And of course the Rosé was a nice way to begin the tasting. We enjoyed all the wines and the food pairings!

After our tasting we decided to share a bottle of the 2020 Adjacency while enjoying the views. This red blend is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Petit Verdot. We noted cranberry and currants, and enjoyed the smooth ending. We thought this wine would pair nicely with pasta with red sauce, pizza, and almost any light meal.

Before leaving we picked up our club wines and a few others to take home.

After our visit to Delaplane Cellars, we decided to go to Arterra to taste their current lineup of wines.

We opted to sit outside since it was a nice afternoon. The views were beautiful. I selected the self guided tasting that consisted of their Chenin Blanc, Dry Rose, Cab Franc, Petit Verdot and their red blend Crooked Run.

We ordered some snacks to enjoy with our tasting. I enjoyed light, bright notes of the 2021 Chenin Blanc. I also really enjoyed the 2020 Petit Verdot. I noted bright fruit, fresh note, and the round mouth feel.

We all agreed the wines were well made and we’d have to take some home. Before leaving we bought some of our favorites. If you haven’t been to Delaplane Cellars or Arterra Wines plan a trip soon. And be sure to tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Celebrating the Shenandoah Valley AVA

This post will summarize our second and final day of the media event to celebrate the Shenandoah Valley AVA.

Day Two of the event began with a breakfast in the Bluestone Vineyard, and it was here that participants could experience the uniqueness of the Shenandoah Valley AVA. At a 1400-foot elevation and nestled between the Allegheny and Shenandoah Mountains, a gentle and constant breeze tempered the heat and humidity that was witheringly palpable at ground level. Excellent aeration and drier air deter pests and mildew that can threaten vineyards during the growing season. Lee Hartman treated us to samples of Bluestone’s 2021 Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc, both lighter-bodied and easy to drink. Breakfast eventually transitioned to lunch at Bluestone’s Meeting House, and a tasting of dessert wines followed by lunch.

Dessert wines were poured by Barren Ridge Vineyards, Bluestone Vineyard, and Rockbridge Vineyards. All of the selections included Traminette, a hybrid grape that mimics the characteristics of Gewurztraminer and grows quite well in Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley AVA in particular. The 2017 Blue Ice from Bluestone Vineyard used only the Traminette grape; however, the 2019 Christof from Barren Ridge Vineyards included Vidal Blanc, while the 2017 V d’Or from Rockbridge Vineyards included not only Vidal Blanc but also Vignoles. All shared a tropical/citrus element, but the younger 2019 Christof from Barren Ridge was fresher and lighter on the palate. The tasting included a panel discussion by the respective winemakers on dessert wines hosted by Tassie Pippert.

After lunch a tasting of red wines and a panel discussion were hosted by Frank Morgan of Drink What You Like. The 2019 Picasso was a red blend sampled by The Winery at Kindred Pointe, and Shenandoah Vineyards poured the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon. Muse Vineyards offered its Governor’s Cup winning 2010 Clio. This tasting allowed participants to experience vintages in the Shenandoah Valley AVA as the 2010 Clio proved that the region could produce wines worth cellaring. The 2010 Clio presented tobacco notes with concentrated fruit components to suggest that this Bordeaux-style blend was ready to drink now. The youthful 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon from Shenandoah Vineyards can be described as very cherry with tobacco accents and could be enjoyed with a favorite beef dish, a cheese plate, or on its own. When moderator Frank Morgan asked winemakers/owners Michael Heny, Robert Muse and Bruce Helsley which grape best expressed the Shenandoah Valley AVA, all responded with Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. This would explain the Winery at Kindred Pointe’s 2019 Picasso, which leans heavily on Petit Verdot, followed by Chambourcin (another commonly grown hybrid grape in the AVA) and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Alas, all good things must end, and our celebration of the Shenandoah Valley AVA concluded with a speed tasting of wine sampled by wineries that participated in the media event. I cannot recall all of the wines being poured since the tasting seemed to fly by very quickly, but I can recommend the rosé currently poured at Barren Ridge Vineyards. It was dry yet fruity and refreshing—-perfect for summer! Below are a few of the wines we tasted during the speed tasting.

We plan to visit the Shenandoah Valley AVA sooner rather than later; however, we know that readers will want to plan a trip out there even before we do. Please stop by any of the wineries mentioned in this post and let us know which wines were your favorites. Be sure to mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you!

We would like to Thank all the partners who made this media tour possible:

Shenandoah County Tourism
Rockingham County Tourism
Virginia Wine Marketing Office
Seven Bends Spirits Tours
Muse Vineyards
Brix & Columns Vineyards
Bluestone Vineyard
Rockbridge Vineyards
The Winery at Kindred Pointe
Shenandoah Vineyards
Vicki Ruckman, Owner, The Virginia Farmhouse
Stephanie Pence, Co-owner, Brix & Columns Vineyards
Lee Hartman, Winemaker, Bluestone Vineyard

Celebrating the Shenandoah Valley AVA

On July 24 and 25, Paul and I participated in an industry event showcasing the Shenandoah Valley AVA (American Viticultural Area). The two-day event began with a luncheon at Muse Vineyards and ended with a tasting of select wineries from the Shenandoah Valley AVA. Participants enjoyed well-crafted wines, dined on culinary delights prepared by chef Tassie Pippert, and engaged with winemakers to learn what makes this particular AVA unique.

Sally Cowal, co-owner of Muse Vineyards, welcomed participants to the winery as we arrived for the luncheon. Stephanie Pence, co-owner of Brix and Columns Vineyards, and Lee Hartman, winemaker at Bluestone Vineyards, gave the event’s opening remarks to inform us that the Shenandoah Valley AVA was the oldest one in the state of Virginia, and Shenandoah Winery was the AVA’s first winery. Jim and Emma Randel founded it in 1976. The AVA also benefits from conditions that are ideal for growing grapes. Cooler nights and limestone soils produce wines with lower alcohol levels and brighter acidity. In addition, the Shenandoah Valley AVA receives less rainfall than other AVAs in the state; due to the superior quality of the grapes grown in the AVA, many of the state’s wineries source grapes from the Shenandoah Valley AVA.

The afternoon then transitioned to lunch paired with wines from Muse Vineyards. Owners Sally Cowal and Robert Muse introduced the wines as they were paired with each course. It should be noted that all foods presented during the event were prepared with locally-sourced products. The luncheon’s first course began with a lovely pate served atop a bed of lettuce dotted with radish slices and slivers of red onions. Muse’s 2021 Rose Nebbiolo was partnered with this dish, and its notes of rose petals and grapefruit proved to be the perfect pairing. Quiche Lorraine followed, and this was served beside the fuller-bodied 2020 Rousanne. Dessert included a rich chocolate brownie with chocolate or vanilla ice cream from South Mountain Creamery. This decadent dessert was paired with Muse’s Cabernet Franc from the 2016 vintage. Raspberry notes from the wine provided a perfect duet with the chocolate delight.

A tasting of sparkling wines followed lunch, and Joy Ting, Research Enologist and Exchange Coordinator at Virginia Winemakers Research Exchange led a panel discussion with winemakers or owners who presented their sparkling wines to the group. These included Lee Hartman from Bluestone Vineyard, Loretta Briedé of Briedé Family Vineyards and Robert Muse of Muse Vineyards. Lee Hartman observed that crafting sparkling wines was the “nerdiest level of winemaking,” and anyone familiar with the méthode champenoise would probably agree with this assessment. Hartman further offered that the Shenandoah Valley AVA was conducive for quality sparkling wines due to the AVA’s climate, which resulted in fresh and refreshing bubbly. The most interesting sparkling wine was the 2017 Sparkling from Briedé Family Vineyards. It was crafted from the Cayuga grape, a hybrid variety that seemed more prevalent at wine festivals many years ago. However, Briedé Family Vineyards has brought the Cayuga grape to a much higher quality. Their sparkling wine featured whiffs of fresh pair and citrus followed by a bright palate and refreshing acidity. Loretta Briedé explained that she and her husband Paul were committed to organic methods to showcase the untapped potential of hybrid grapes, including Cayuga and red varieties such as Marquette and Arandell.

The day’s final event was also its highlight—-a four-course dinner prepared by Emmy-winning chef Tassie Pippert, the producer and host of Un-wine’d on PBS. The dinner was hosted by Brix and Columns Vineyards owners Stephanie and Steve Pence at their lovely home. Appetizers included deviled eggs topped with pickled mustard seeds and a slice of smoky bacon, and pastry shells stuffed with grilled chicken, avocado, and salsa. The 2017 Blanc de Blancs from Bluestone Vineyards provided a refreshing accompaniment to these tasty starters.

The first course featured scallops with asparagus, grits, and a prosciutto chip served beside Burgundian-styled 2019 Chardonnay from Brix and Columns Vineyards. The rich textures of this course matched perfectly with the fuller-bodied Chardonnay.

The next course was a salad of mixed greens, nuts, berries, and local cheese partnered with the 2017 Viognier with Barren Ridge Vineyards. The Viognier’s tropical fruit flavors played well with the berries which accented the salad, and its honeyed texture provided a rounder yet fruity palate.

The main course, though, was the stunner. Tenderloin of beef was topped with a local cherry sauce and served beside roasted potatoes and green beans. This course was paired with the 2017 Houndstooth from Bluestone Vineyard. The cherry sauce allowed the Bordeaux-style blend to shine with its blackberry, raspberry, and dried herb components.

The dessert course included a dark chocolate bourbon cheesecake. Tassie Pippert provided an answer for wine lovers wondering how to branch out beyond dessert or port-style wines with decadent sweets. Pippert selected the 2017 Petit Verdot from the Winery at Kindred Pointe to pair with this decadent cheesecake.

Alas, all good things must come to an end, and that included our first day of celebrating the Shenandoah Valley AVA. However, there will be a second part to this post so stay tuned for a summary of Day 2. In the meantime, plan your celebration of the Shenandoah Valley AVA to visit these and other regional wineries. Please mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you!

We would like to Thank all the partners who made this media tour possible:

Shenandoah County Tourism
Rockingham County Tourism
Virginia Wine Marketing Office
Seven Bends Spirits Tours
Muse Vineyards
Brix & Columns Vineyards
Bluestone Vineyard
Vicki Ruckman, Owner, The Virginia Farmhouse
Stephanie Pence, Co-owner, Brix & Columns Vineyards
Lee Hartman, Winemaker, Bluestone Vineyard

Solstice Paired With Virginia Wines

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!

Virginia Wines Shine on a Rainy Day

We braved a recent chilly weekend to join wine friends for wine tasting and lunch at Stone Tower Winery and Fleetwood Farms Winery. Read on to learn more about our experiences.

Our first stop at Stone Tower Winery required us to brave pelting rain drops and gusty winds. It did not seem like a spring afternoon despite what the calendar told us, and we were fooled into thinking that it was early May. However, our tasting at Stone Tower Winery was worth braving the elements. Our wine friends are members at Stone Tower, and we were treated to an estate wine tasting experience that was expertly guided by the sharp-witted Joe. Of course, white wines were tasted first, and the 2019 Chardonnays hit all the right notes. The 2019 Chardonnay Reserve presented notes of wet stone and fresh pear; its acidity made for an elegant wine that would pair well with poultry or seafood dishes. The 2019 Kristi Chardonnay was crafted from a designated lots on the vineyard site and is named after founder Kristi Huber. Thirty percent of the Kristi Chardonnay is done in concrete eggs to allow for micro-oxygenation of the wine without the impact on its flavors and aromas that would be expected from an oak barrel. The result is a fuller bodied wine that is better able to express terroir.

We transitioned to red wines, and Joe treated us to a comparative tasting of the 2015 Hogback Mountain and the 2015 Wind Swept Hill; the former is a left bank Bordeaux-style blend with Cabernet Sauvignon taking the lead, and the latter is a right bank blend spearheaded by Merlot. The 2015 Hogback has transitioned to more savory elements associated with an aging red, so collectors with this one on the wine rack may want to consider drinking it soon. However, its right bank sibling still held on top its fruitier profile to suggest further aging potential. The 2019 Cabernet Franc was also excellent with dark berry notes and a juicy palate. Our tasting experience ended with the 2021 Rose that was crafted from all Merlot grapes. Bright strawberry notes and a fruity yet dry palate made for a versatile wine that plays well in all seasons.

We lunched on handmade pizzas, olives and cheeses while sipping a bottle of the 2019 Hogback Mountain. The comfy members tasting room allowed us to enjoy our food and wine experience as the weather continued its tantrum!

A subsequent tasting at Fleetwood Farm Winery signaled an upcoming milestone for Virginia Wine Time—-it was winery number 199 on our list of Virginia wineries visited. The 2019 Tempete Blanche, a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillion, and Muscadelle grown by Chateau Kalian in France, should prove to be popular in the summer with its fresh floral aromas and refreshing palate. Tasters looking for an easy summer sipper to pair with grilled fare should be please with the fruity 2019 Ellzey Red, a juicy blend that fills the palate with fresh berry flavors. Virginia wine aficionados may recognize the mention of Chateau Kalian—-it is the home of co-winemaker at Fleetwood Farms, Katell Griaud. Katell is also the winemaker of Slater Run Vineyards. It is she, along with Ashton Lew, who craft the wines at Fleetwood Farm Winery.

We look forward to winery number 200, wherever it may be. Summer warmth seems to be upon us now, so we are certain that our goal will be met sooner rather than later. In the meantime, visit the Virginia wineries mentioned in this post; of course, please mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Monticello Cup Winners

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!