Fans of wine and murder mysteries will find both offerings at Swedenburg Estate Vineyard. On a recent visit to Swedenburg, we also noticed new developments; outdoor tables and chairs now welcome visitors to stay a while and enjoy Swedenburg’s award winning wines. Of course, we were interested in the wines, but we were also curious about The Merlot Murders and The Chardonnay Charade.

With summer nearly upon us, our interest was in summer sippers, and we were not disappointed with Swedenburg’s offerings. Spicy grilled sausages on the grill? Try the dry Riesling, but you may want to enjoy a glass while dinner is still sizzling away. Summer is crab season in this area, and Chantilly would pair wonderfully with crab cakes; in fact, Chantilly earned Warren’s gold star. Lemon/citrus flavors with mineral undertones give way to a crisp, tart finish. We found this one to be refreshing on its own, and we shared a glass of Chantilly after out tasting!

Now we’ve been declaring 2007 to be the year of the rose since last year, and Swedenburg delivers with it own C’est La Vie. This dry rose should be at any picnic or summer concert, and with our Wolftrap schedule in mind, Paul picked up a bottle of C’est La Vie. (The label’s lively design was created by Juanita Swedenburg’s granddaughter.) We finished our tasting with a sampling of the 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon. If grilled steak is on the menu, then this fuller-bodied red must be on the table.

So what’s up with Merlot Murders and Chardonnay Charade? Local author Ellen Crosby penned these murder mysteries with help from owner Juanita Swedenburg. The novels are set in Virginia’s horse and wine country and both promise to be page-turners with unexpected twists and turns. Warren snatched a copy of Merlot Murders for summer reading, and we will return on August 11 to sample Swedenburg’s release of its Chardonnay; author Ellen Crosby and partner-in -crime Juanita Swedenburg will be on hand to autograph copies of Chardonnay Charade.

As we finished our glass of Chantilly, we noted the attractive new landscaping near the tasting room’s entrance, and we were both pleased with these new developments at Swedenburg Estate Vineyard. We’ve put August 11 and Chardonnay Charade on our calendars, but in the meantime, visit Swedenburg Estate Vineyard and mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you.