Virginia Wine Time: Recent Episodes
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The weather was so beautiful on Saturday we decided to take a drive out to Glen Manor Vineyards to check out the current line up of wines on the tasting menu. We also decided to bring some lunch to enjoy as well.
We started our visit with a tasting at the tasting bar. We tasted three whites (one was a rosé) and three reds. All of the wines were well made and it was difficult to pick favorites! We did enjoy the 2023 Morales Rosé. We enjoyed the freshness and bright fruit. This one is perfect for summer meals.
We were excited to see the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon on the menu! This is the first 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that Glen Manor has produced. It spent 10 months in mostly neutral barrels. It’s a nice summer red that would pair nicely with grilled meats. What a treat! We put this one on our list to bring home.
After our tasting we took the advice of our tasting associate and had our lunch on the crush pad. There was a cool breeze, very few bugs, and a gorgeous view. We selected the 2023 Morales Rosé to pair with our lunch items. The weather was as beautiful as the view and the rosé was refreshing. While enjoying our lunch and wine we made a list of the wines we planned to bring home.
Before leaving we picked up half a case of wine. We always enjoy our time at Glen Manor. If you haven’t been lately, plan a trip to Glen Manor soon! And when you do, tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!
Check out Warren’s latest video to see which Virginia Wines he pairs with his crab cakes.
Gray Ghost Vineyards opened on July 9, 1994. The only wine they had to pour on that first day was Vidal Blanc. They have been producing award winning wines ever since.
Gray Ghost Vineyards celebrated its 30th anniversary on Saturday and Paul and I were privileged to be the honored guests of the day. I delivered a short speech during the opening reception of this memorable occasion. You can read the speech here. During the opening reception Al Kellert, Amy Payette and Donna Comer from the Rappahannock Board of Supervisors spoke.
After the opening reception guests were treated to a taste of the 2023 Vidal Blanc. This wine was chosen because it was the first wine they poured when they opened 30 years ago. Its tropical notes hit all the right marks on a very warm afternoon. It was a delicious way to begin celebrating Gray Ghost.
As part of the special day, guests could taste the current line up of wines including the new 2022 Ranger Reserve. Guests could also enjoy a library tasting of the 2005 Merlot, the 2013 Petit Verdot, the 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon and the 1998 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. Paul really enjoyed the 2005 Merlot and the 1998 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon.
Guests were also treated to a sneak peek tasting of the 2021 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. Al Kellert personally poured the wine and discussed it’s evolution. What a treat! There was live music and “Talk of the Mountain”, a favorite food truck noted for its fabulous crab cakes, was also at the event to offer its famous seafood menu. I enjoyed a crab cake with a glass of the 2021 Reserve Chardonnay. Paul had the Reserve Chardonnay with chicken nuggets. Yes, chicken nuggets.
We were truly honored to be part of this unforgettable celebration at Gray Ghost Vineyards. As we look forward to the winery’s continued success in producing its award-winning wines, we encourage you to plan a visit to Gray Ghost Vineyards to sample its current releases. When you do, don’t forget to mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you!
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!
Check out Warren’s latest cooking video to see what Virginia Wines he pairs with his latest dish.
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:
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Must be 21 to enter.
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Pick-up your passport at the first participating winery that you visit as of June 1, 2024.
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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.
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Present the passport at each participating winery for one stamp per winery.
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Turn your passport in at the winery where you get your 10th stamp.
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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!
Here is a picture of the Gray Ghost Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon vine growth at this point in the year.
On Saturday we met some friends at Cana Vineyards and Winery to taste some wine and enjoy the afternoon.
We selected to do the bar tasting outside in the Sunset Pavilion. We tasted through the current line up of wines and highlighted our favorites. The consensus was the 2021 Chardonnay was our favorite white wine. We were split between the 2019 Le Mariage and the 2020 Unité Reserve as our favorite red wines. Both were very good. Our friend Michael really enjoyed the slight sweetness of the 2022 Petit Manseng. He also enjoyed a taste of the 2022 Rhapsody in White. We had a chance to chat with Don, the tasting room manager. He let us know what was new at Cana and suggested we try a few more wines. He provided us a taste of the 2022 Albariño and the 2021 Norton. We all agreed the 2022 Albariño was our favorite of the extra pours.
After our bar tasting, we selected some food items to have for lunch and selected both the 2022 Rhapsody in White and the 2019 Le Mariage to enjoy with our lunch items. It was a fun afternoon of food, wine and friends. While finishing our lunch and wine Melanie Natoli, the winemaker came by and chatted with us about her wines and what she’s working on. It was nice to chat about Virginia wine with her. She is the first and only woman (so far) to wine the Virginia Governor’s Cup with the 2019 Unité Reserve.
Before leaving we bought some of our favorite wines and said our goodbyes. We had a wonderful afternoon at Cana and suggest you plan a trip to Cana soon! And when you do, tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!
Wine enthusiasts are probably familiar with the drink or hold concept. The popular Wine Spectator magazine features drink or hold charts monthly to alert readers whether vintages from particular wine regions are ready to drink now or held (cellared) for extended periods. When we began our travels about Virginia wine country over nineteen years ago, most Virginia wines, particularly reds, were probably ones to drink at the moment. However, an influx of better winemakers and even better vineyard practices now allows us to consider drinking or holding Virginia wines crafted from exceptional vintages like other wine regions in Europe and the United States.
We interviewed five winemakers from five different regions in Virginia to get their answers to the questions surrounding the call to either drink or hold. They include Lee Hartman of Bluestone Vineyards, Jon Wehner of Chatham Vineyards, Melanie Natoli of Cana Vineyards, Stephen Bernard of Mountain and Vine Vineyards and Winery, and Justin Rose of Rosemont Vineyards.
Drink or Hold Questions:
1. Which red grape varieties grown in your AVA lend themselves to aging potential? Do white varieties also have the ability to age well? If so, what are they?
Acidity, tannins, and alcohol determine a red wine’s ability to age well. A brief primer on these elements may read like this: 1) the higher the acidity, the longer a wine can age; 2) higher tannins provide firmness and structure to carry a wine over time; and 3) “hot” alcohol levels quickly overtake fading fruit so lower alcohol levels are preferred. A balance of these elements produces red wine that can age well. We frequently hear from winemakers that good wine is made in the vineyard, which means that proper vineyard management and Mother Nature both play a role in whether these components of cellaring wine are attainable. Unlike Napa Valley in California, Virginia’s wine-producing regions are a collection of micro-climates with varying temperatures, rainfall amounts, elevations, etc., affecting fruit quality and acidity levels, tannins, and alcohol. Lee Hartman posited that in his region, “the Shenandoahs are unique in their location between the Blue Ridge and Alleghenies.” Therefore, the higher elevation and protection from precipitation plus cooler temperatures allowed him to craft wine with brighter acidity and, thus, aging potential. Other wine regions in the state benefit from their unique locations, so it is always advisable to chat with a winemaker or tasting room associate about a winery’s particular microclimate.
So, how did our winemakers vote on the question of red wine grapes in Virginia and their aging potential? Petit Verdot earned the top votes for the grape variety that best lends itself to aging potential due primarily to its heavy tannins. Red blends garnered several mentions, especially if merlot and petit verdot are part of the mix. (Readers may already know Bordeaux as a wine region known for its age-worthy red blends.). Justin Rose noted that sometimes Merlot produces age-worthy wines; Jon Wehner confirmed that a 2002 Merlot from Chatham, though at its peak, still held its own. Rose also tossed Tannat into the ring, while Lee Hartman added Chambourcin to the list due to its high acidity.
White wines can undoubtedly be aged, too, whether they hale from European regions, California, or Virginia. Most of our winemakers gave the nod to Chardonnay, with Jon Wehner giving a 5-7year window for oaked Chardonnay. Bernard cautioned, though, that heavily oaked chardonnays can produce a broader style that, along with higher alcohol levels, does not age well. However, Melanie Natoli sang the praises of Petit Manseng, as did Lee Hartman, and Natoli declared that aged Petit Manseng had the potential to shine as well as aged Rieslings. Justin Rose suggested the hybrid Chardonel grape as another candidate with the best vintages providing a 5 to 6-year window for aging.
2. Research indicates that very few wine consumers “hold” or age wines. With this in mind, do you advise consumers, especially those tasting in the tasting room, to “hold” certain vintages? What feedback have you gotten from consumers once they have opened a bottle from a particular vintage “hold”? Are there any pleasant surprises from consumers who held on to a “drink now” vintage such as 2018?
Our panel of winemakers subscribed to my philosophy: multiple purchases during exceptional vintages and then drink one now, another at a mid-point, and another at its peak time in the bottle. (Lee Hartman refers to the last bottle of this strategy as the “cellar defender.”) Most Virginia wines are purchased at a tasting room rather than a wine shop, so our winemakers are at an advantage to suggest cellaring during stellar vintages such as 2019. Melanie Natoli releases red wines at Cana once they have had enough time to age in the bottle first, so “I’m releasing at a drink or hold time, not just hold {time}. However, Stephen Bernard pointed out that this decision boils down to consumer preferences, especially since they are tasting wines in the tasting room and have already made decisions regarding preferences and perhaps even cellaring. Those who prefer young wines will do so, while others who prefer savory nuances will cellar.
3. What are the risks of “holding” wines even from the best vintages?
The resounding answer to this question was “disappointment.” Jon Wehner cautioned that cellaring ultimately leads to a loss of bright fruit and acidity that gives way to complexity, spiciness, and smoothness. Melanie Natoli added that this process is due to the dynamic nature of wine that is constantly evolving, and for her, aged wines that lack acidity seem “tired.” Our winemakers also agreed that storage habits can contribute to the downfall of even the best vintages. For example, storing wines in the kitchen and above the refrigerator is a deadly practice. Do you want to protect that “cellar defender”? Be aware of best practices for cellaring to be sure that the last drop will bring smiles rather than tears.
4. Do natural corks have an advantage over synthetic corks or screw caps regarding aging/holding?
The answers from the winemakers on this question varied. All agreed that natural cork leads to greater risk due to inconsistency if cellaring exceptional vintages is the goal. Cork taint cannot be decanted away, and crumbling corks, which have tasters fishing cork particles out of their wine glasses, are two possible hazards of aged wines enclosed with natural cork. Jon Wehner has moved away from natural cork in favor of a composite product from Nomacork, while Lee Hartman is switching to agglomerated corks. While Justin Rose has been generally pleased with synthetic corks, he will return to high-grade natural cork for reserve wines. Melanie Natoli cited fears that synthetic corks will age a wine much faster and prefers natural cork. Likewise, Stephen Bernard prefers tried and time-tested natural cork and noted advancements in TCA-free corks such as Diam.
The crunch of screw caps is increasingly replacing the familiar pop of corks being released from wine bottles, but these closures cannot transfer oxygen that allows wines to age well. However, Melanie Natoli noted that Cana’s 2015 Albarino and Petit Manseng, both screw-capped, were still holding up quite well. Lee Hartman and Stephen Barnard both favor screw cap closures for wines meant to be enjoyed while young, especially brighter, fruitier white wines.
5. Do you tend to drink wine early or hold it if possible? Explain.
So, what were the preferences of our winemakers? Jon Wehner and Justin Rose prefer to hold exceptional vintages. Although Stephen Bernard generally enjoys wines early, as a winemaker, he cellars wine to taste and then provides feedback to himself and his customers. Melanie Natoli drinks and holds depending on the vintage and the producer. Like her colleague, Stephen Bernard, she maintains a cellar of every Cana vintage to taste over time and learn. Lee Hartman and his wife are in two camps. Lee enjoys younger wines that are fresh and lively, but his wife would instead enjoy older wines as they peak and become more complex. For those in a similar situation, Lee Hartman suggests decanting a young wine and allowing it to breathe for a while. Still too tight? Store it properly and enjoy the next night. Our winemakers all agreed that appreciating wine, regardless of age, should be a fun experience to share with others.
In the end, wine should be enjoyed whenever the consumer wants to. Lee Hartman cautioned against overthinking the whole matter, aptly stating, “There’s a time for Barolo and a time for Nouveau…” We concur with this statement. While collecting exceptional wines from anywhere is fun, the bottom line should be enjoyment without judgment.
Below is a general consensus on how our winemakers rated vintages from 2019 through 2022.
2019-Very Good-Hold up to 2030
2020-Average-Drink/Hold up to 2026
2021-Good to Very Good-Hold (when released) potentially to 2030
2022-Very Good-Hold (when bottled and released) potentially to 2035
2023? Make room on your wine racks when this vintage is bottled and released, as all of our winemakers described this vintage as a potential blockbuster.
We thank all of the winemakers who participated in this survey. We know their time is precious. Please plan to visit the winemakers and wineries mentioned in this article and engage them in a conversation about vintages, aging, and all things that make tasting their wines a memorable experience. Please mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you!
Warren bought himself a special present for his upcoming birthday. Watch the video to learn more about the gift.
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!
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!
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!
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!
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!
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...
Readers know that Virginia Wine Time is the work of a gay couple, and it has been distressing for Paul and me to watch the LGBTQ+ community become fodder in the culture war currently plaguing the country. Pride Month seems more necessary than ever now, and we applaud Virginia wineries that have decided to honor it.
Please read Matthew Fitzsimmons’ recent well-written article on Pride Month featured in this month’s Town Crier. Also, know that certain Loudoun County wineries will be honoring Pride Month through the Pride in the Vines passport program. We plan to visit some of these wineries this month, starting with Williams’ Gap winery next weekend. Other wineries include:
8 Chains North Winery
868 Estate Vineyards
Bleu Frog Vineyards
Bozzo Family Vineyard
Carriage House Wineworks
Fabbioli Cellars
Forever Farm & Vineyard
Good Spirit Farm
Hillsborough Winery
October One Tasting Room
Two Twisted Posts Winery
Walsh Family Wine
Wine Reserve at Waterford
Zephaniah Farm Vineyard
Plan to visit some of these wineries and others that honor Pride Month, and when you do tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!
On Friday evening we decided to enjoy filet mignon with a mushroom sauce and sautéed potatoes. As usual, Warren was the chef and everything was delicious. Our wine of choice was the 2012 Hardscrabble from Linden Vineyards.
The wine paired nicely with the filets. We noted dark seed berries, cedar, spice, a whiff of dried herbs and a hint of sandalwood. We thought it was a wonderfully smooth and elegant wine. It’s always fun to pull an older bottle wine from the rack to see how it’s progressing in the bottle. We think the 2012 could last a few more years on the rack. If you have it, consider enjoying it now or holding on to it for another few years.
If you haven’t been to Linden Vineyards lately, plan a trip soon. And when you do visit, tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!
On a recent Saturday we went to Walsh Family Wine to check out the latest wines and enjoy the nice weather.
Warren chose the red wine flight and I chose the white wine flight. We shared our tastes.
My tasting consisted of:
2021 Bethany Ridge Sauvignon Blanc
2020 North Gate Estate Petit Manseng
2020 North Gate Estate Chardonnay
2020 Viognier
Warren’s tasting consisted of:
2015 North Gate Merlot
2020 Bethany Ridge Cabernet Franc
2019 Russ Mountain Merlot
2020 Bethany Ridge Tannat
While we enjoyed all the wines on the tasting, we did have some favorites. We both selected the 2020 North Gate Estate Chardonnay from the white wine tasting. We both noted the apple flavors, the round mouth feel and the long length. We were split on the reds. I enjoyed the 2015 North Gate Estate Merlot and Warren enjoyed the 2020 Bethany Ridge Cabernet Franc. We thought they were both versatile and ready to enjoy now. We also noted the 2020 Bethany Ridge Tannat was age worthy and could stand some time on your wine rack.
After our tasting we enjoyed a bottle of the 2020 North Gate Estate Chardonnay with a delicious bread and cheese board. All the cheeses paired nicely with the Chardonnay. Before leaving we purchased half a case of our favorites.
After our time at Walsh Family Wine, we decided to check out a new winery, Good Spirit Farm. They have only been opened about a month. Most of their plantings are relatively new and have not produced grapes to make wine with yet. Nate Walsh will be the winemaker in the near future. As more grapes are ready for winemaking, more wines will be produced.
Once again I selected to try the white wine flight and Warren selected the red wine flight. Each flight has a mix of Good Spirit Farm wines and other wines from different regions.
My tasting consisted of:
2021 Pazo Señorans Albariño
2020 Melanie Pfister Paar Pinot Blanc
2020 Good Spirit Farm Chardonnay
2021 Good Spirit Farm Rosé
Warren’s tasting consisted of:
2020 Good Spirit Farm Red Blend
2020 Lapostolle Grand Selection Merlot
2018 El Enemigo Malbec
2020 Good Spirit Farm Petit Verdot
After our tasting we shared a glass of the 2020 Good Spirit Farm Chardonnay. We had a chance to meet and chat with the owner Mike Gutermuths. His son also works in the tasting room. Before leaving we bought a few bottles to bring home. We plan to return in the future when they have more of their own wines to share. If you haven’t been to Walsh Family Wine or Good Spirit Farm, plan a trip soon and tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!
Last Friday Warren spent a good part of the day making osso bucco in the slow cooker. The smells of veal shanks, tomato, bay leaf, thyme and rosemary filled the kitchen all day.
What wine did Warren select to pair with his amazing osso bucco? He selected the 2016 Nebbiolo from Breaux Vineyards! It was an excellent pairing. We decanted this wine for a couple of hours before we enjoyed it with our meal. We noted dark seed berries…dark raspberry, dark blackberry, a hint of clover and oak nuances. It is our opinion that you can still hold this on your rack if you have it. We could see keeping this for a few more years.
We recall the 2016 season to be typical for Virginia. Do any of our readers recall any details about the 2016 growing season in Virginia? Please share your thoughts in the comments. If you haven’t been to Breaux Vineyards lately, plan a visit soon. And when you do visit, tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!
Fifty Wineries to Host Virginia Wine Love Weekend May 13/14
Two Days. Fifty Wineries. Virginia’s Biggest Wine Meet-Up Ever.
Virginia wine enthusiasts will gather at wineries across the state on May 13
and 14 for Virginia Wine Love Weekend, the state’s biggest wine meet-up
ever. Fifty wineries in seven wine regions from Northern Virginia to the
Shenandoah Valley to Hampton Roads are participating in the first-time
event, which kicks off the summer wine travel season and gives wine fans the
chance to get out from behind social media and meet other wine lovers in
person.
“Virginia wine fans are famous for the love they show our wine industry,”
says event organizer Nancy Bauer, who runs an 11,000-member Facebook Group
called Virginia Wine Love. “Other states envy our tight community, which
really showed up when wineries closed down at the beginning of Covid. It was
a challenging time, and many wineries will tell you they only stayed afloat
because their customers were willing to do whatever it took to keep them in
business.”
Wineries will return the favor on Virginia Wine Love Weekend. Participating
wineries plan to put their own spin on the statewide meet-up, setting aside
a “Reserved for VA Wine Lovers” table on Mother’s Day weekend and inviting
Virginia wine experts, writers, and social media influencers to guest host.
Hosts include “Beyond Jefferson’s Vines: The Evolution of Quality Wine in
Virginia” author Richard Leahy, Virginia wine’s founding bloggers from the
popular Virginia Wine Time, Paul Armstrong and Warren Richard, and Virginia
Wine Dogs blogger Terri Hauser, among others.
Weekend activities at participating wineries include specialty wine
tastings, complimentary snacks, private tours, trivia contests, book
signings, and wine discounts. Each time a guest checks in at a winery over
the weekend, they’ll be entered in a “Virginia Wine Gives Back” drawing,
which includes prizes like a tasting for four featuring Mountain & Vine
Vineyards’ (formerly Delfosse Vineyards) Screaming Hawk Meritage-the top
wine in this year’s Governor’s Cup Competition-and ballroom dance lessons at
Briede Vineyards in the Shenandoah Valley.
“We’re happy to be part of this event and give some love back to our
customers,” says Mountain & Vine Vineyards co-owner Adrienne Albers. “Their
support means everything.”
Wine enthusiasts who’d prefer to leave the driving to someone else can sign
up for a hosted tour with transportation from boutique winery tour
businesses, including Cork & Keg Wine Tours of Northern Virginia and Fruits
& Roots Wine Tours of the Hampton Roads area. Each has created custom tours
for the weekend.
The event web site also includes a Make It a Weekend section, with
winery-recommended lodgings and dining for out-of-towners. “The very best
way to experience Virginia Wine Country is to immerse yourself in it,” says
Nancy Bauer, who visited 150 Virginia wineries in 150 days when she and her
husband researched their first Virginia wine travel app. She’s now visited
more than 250 wineries. “Spend the weekend, or a week,” says Bauer.
“Virginia Wine Love Weekend is a great chance to visit some hidden gem
wineries and get to know the people behind the scenes. You may even meet up
with a new travel buddy. People who love wine tend to be pretty fun people.”
See the complete list of participating wineries and event details here:
https://www.virginiawinelove.com/va-wine-love-weekend
How to participate in Virginia Wine Love Weekend
-
Look over the map and list of fifty participating wineries
-
Check details to see what activities each winery is offering
-
Pick a few wineries you love and/or want to get to know, and invite
some friends -
Make winery reservations if needed (most wineries don’t require
them) and book your hotel and dining if you’re staying overnight -
Join the VirginiaWine Love Group on Facebook for updates (optional)
-
Check in at each winery on May 13/14, and check the Facebook Group
on May 22 for the list of “Virginia Wine Gives Back” drawing winners
Virginia Wine Love Weekend is the first project of
Virginia Wine Women, a loose
affiliation of winery owners, winemakers, vineyard managers and other
industry stakeholders. The weekend event is organized by Virginia wine
writer Nancy Bauer and Northern Neck wine travel specialist Terri
Newman-Hyde.
Participating Wineries:
NORTHERN VIRGINIA
8 Chains North Winery, Waterford
868 Estate Vineyards, Purcellville
Breaux Vineyards, Purcellville
Chateau O’Brien, Markham
Doukenie Winery, Purcellville
Endhardt Vineyard, Purcellville
Fox Meadow Winery, Linden
Good Spirit Farm Winery, Round Hill
Gray Ghost Vineyards, Amissville
Little Washington Winery, Washington
Magnolia Vineyards, Amissville
Morais Vineyards, Bealeton
Notaviva Farm Brewery & Winery, Purcellville
Old Farm Winery at Hartland, Aldie
Pearmund Cellars, Broad Run
The Winery at Sunshine Ridge Farm, Gainesville
Three Fox Vineyards & Brewery, Delaplane
Two Twisted Posts Winery, Purcellville
Walsh Family Wine, Purcellville
Williams Gap Vineyard, Round Hill
CENTRAL VIRGINIA
Afton Mountain Vineyards, Afton
Blenheim Vineyards, Charlottesville
Chateau MerrillAnne, Orange
Chestnut Oak Vineyard, Barboursville
Chisholm Vineyard at Adventure Farm, Earlysville
DuCard Vineyards, Etlan
Fifty-Third Winery and Vineyard, Louisa
Flying Fox Vineyard, Afton
Hardware Hills Vineyard, Scottsville
Hark Vineyards, Earlysville
Horton Vineyards, Gordonsville
King Family Vineyards, Crozet
Knight’s Gambit Vineyard, Charlottesville
Mountain & Vine Vineyards (formerly Delfosse Vineyards), Faber
Pollak Vineyards, Greenwood
Prince Michel Winery, Leon
Southern Revere Cellars, Louisa
Veritas Vineyards, Afton
SHENANDOAH VALLEY
Briede Family Vineyard, Winchester
Brix & Columns Vineyards, McGaheysville
Cave Ridge Vineyard, Mt. Jackson
North Mountain Vineyard, Maurertown
Wolf Gap Vineyard & Winery, Edinburg
CHESAPEAKE BAY / NORTHERN NECK
Dog & Oyster Winery, Irvington
Ingleside Vineyards, Oak Grove
The Estate at White Hall Vineyard, King George
The Hague Winery, Hague
SOUTHERN REGION
Hunting Creek Vineyards, Clover
Rosemont of Virginia Vineyards, LaCrosse
BLUE RIDGE REGION
Fables & Feathers Winery, Goodview
Villa Appalaccia Winery, Floyd
HAMPTON ROADS
New Kent Winery, New Kent
Contact Nancy Bauer (nancy@nancybauer.com )
for images or additional information.
On Saturday we went to Crimson Lane Vineyards for a tasting. Crimson Lane is a new winery that has only been opened about a month. This is our 202nd Virginia winery visited! We decided to make a little video of our visit to Crimson Lane. A big THANKS to Tom Herrity for his wonderful hospitality. Enjoy the video!
Lately we’ve been returning to favorite wineries and tasting wines from our library and pairing them with delicious meals.
Warren spent this past rainy Saturday in the kitchen creating a mushroom demi-glace to serve atop a roasted veal chop partnered with roasted potatoes and roasted green beans tossed with blanched sweet peppers.
The next step was selecting a wine to appropriately pair with this delicious meal. Warren spent time perusing the wine rack for the perfect wine. He selected the 2016 Octagon from Barboursville Vineyards.
Once the wine was aerated into our glasses and a taste was had we noted blackberry, dark current, tobacco and a lengthy finish. There was also a bit of a “chew” on the palate. It paired beautifully with the veal chop and mushroom demi-glace.
We need to plan a trip to Barboursville soon. We only have one other Octagon on our wine rack. If you haven’t been to Barboursville recently, you need to plan a trip as well. And when you visit them, tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!
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!
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!
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!
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!
Thanksgiving will be here soon! We’ve put together some suggestions to enhance your holiday meal. Press play to see the short video of the wine recommendations.
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Winter is slowly losing its seasonal grip as spring flowers begin to bloom in the area. We recently treated ourselves to a long weekend visiting Virginia wineries while taking in the beauty of spring flora! Our scenic trek through Virginia landscapes allowed us to take in lovely cherry trees, blooming Bradford pears (not my favorite...
The winner of the 2022 Virginia Governor’s Cup is the 2019 Unité Reserve from Cana Vineyards and Winery of Middleburg. Melanie Natoli is the talented winemaker who crafted this excellent red blend. Readers may know that we have been following Melanie’s progress as a winemaker in Loudoun County, and you can read our interview with...
Happy New Year! This post is long overdue. Warren’s parents visited us for Thanksgiving back in November. While they were here we took them to visit a few wineries. One of the wineries was Magnolia Vineyards. It had been awhile since we visited so it was time to see what was new. The last time...
On a recent Saturday we met our wine friends, Steve and Joe at Chester Gap Cellars for some wine tasting and some catching up. As you travel down the driveway to the tasting room, you can’t miss the gorgeous views. Of course visiting in fall makes it even more colorful. We decided to do the...
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...
Happy Virginia Wine Month! We started Virginia wine month with a harvesting experience at Gray Ghost Vineyards. Besides COVID 2020, we have harvested grapes at Gray Ghost for 15 (Paul) and 20 (Warren) years. It’s always great fun! We usually harvest the chardonnay grapes but this year we decided to harvest the Cabernet Sauvignon grapes....
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...
Wine enthusiasts may associate vertical tastings with red wines due to the perception that red wines are more age worthy. However, the Chardonnay is one white wine variety that can also lend itself to cellaring and then appreciating later on. Granite Heights Winery offered a master class on this subject recently, and we can report...
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...
We were visiting wineries with friends on Memorial Day weekend and stopped at Granite Heights Winery along the way. It was great to see owners Luke and Toni and catch up with them. The day we were there they had 8 wines on the tasting menu. Our tasting was conducted by Matt, Luke’s brother. The...
Paul and I attended the soft opening of Firefly Cellars this past weekend. Readers may know that Firefly Cellars was once Hunter’s Run Winery. However, ownership of the property now belongs to Pete and Patty Pierleonardi and their children, Zach and Andrea Zaidi. The family has considerable business experience as owners of Pest Management Service,...
It does appear that there is a rainbow on the horizon after the Covid storm disrupted our lives. The resulting isolation and then socializing within bubbles may be bursting as vaccines make us all less wary of resuming our pre-Covid lives. Paul and I are now reconnecting with friends who have been seen either through...
Warren’s parents are visiting us from New Orleans for Mother’s Day. Today we took them to Gray Ghost Vineyards for a tasting and to enjoy some lunch. We were lucky to have Amy Payette conduct our tasting. Since our last visit the 2020 Riesling was released. And this Mother’s Day weekend they are releasing the...
Recently we went to Boxwood Winery with some wine friends to participate in the Trellis Vertical Tasting that was being held that weekend. It had been a few years since we’d been there so we were looking forward to seeing how the wines had developed. The Trellis tasting consisted of the 2014, the 2015, the...
We joined Kurt from Wine About Virginia at Walsh Family Wine to celebrate their recent anniversary weekend. Happy Anniversary Walsh Family! We began with a self directed tasting of the 2019 Estate Chardonnay, the 2018 Viognier, the 2018 Loudoun County Cuvée and the 2017 En Passant. The Chardonnay was a favorite as we worked our...
After our trip to Linden, we decided to stop at Fox Meadow Winery to see what’s happening. We did not have reservations so we weren’t sure what we would be allowed to do at Fox Meadow. Once we arrived, masked up and went to the tasting bar, we were informed that we wouldn’t be able...
What a beautiful day it was on Saturday! We went to Linden Vineyards after several months of being away and started off with some wine flights. They have both a red flight and a white flight so we decided to share one of each. The white flight consisted of the 2018 Village Chardonnay, the 2017...
Recently we had a wonderful dinner of filet mignon topped with port reduction sauce served with sautéed potatoes sprinkled with tarragon. Of course it was delicious but we needed a wine that could stand up to such a dish. Warren selected the 2014 Meritage from King Family Vineyards. We noted Blackberries, currants, a whiff of...
Commonwealth of Virginia Office of Governor Ralph S. Northam Virginia’s Barboursville Vineyards Takes Home 2021 Governor’s Cup® with 2015 Paxxito ~ Dessert wine from storied Virginia winery joins 11 other gold medal-winning wines in 2021 Governor’s Cup Case® ~ RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam awarded the Virginia Wineries Association’s 2021 Governor’s Cup® to Barboursville Vineyards for their...
The big announcement comes today! This evening at 7:00 PM Eastern time on the Virginia Wine Facebook page the winner of the 2021 Virginia Governor’s Cup will be announced! Because of COVID this will not be a live in person event. It will be announced on video. Be sure to log on to the Virginia...
Virginia Wineries Association Announces 2021 Governor’s Cup® Gold Medalists Nearly 100 Wines Awarded Gold Medal Distinction, New Cider Category Introduced in Acclaimed Wine Competition Richmond, Va. (March 2, 2021) – The Virginia Wineries Association is honored to announce that 96 Virginia wines from 47 different wineries have been awarded gold medals in the 2021 Governor’s Cup®...
Paul and I continue to slowly travel the wine trails of Virginia, and our last trek took us to Cana Vineyards. We had not been to Cana in quite a few years, and we learned that the winery is now owned by Lisa and Bryce Petty. They purchased the vineyard and winery from the Bell...
The COVID pandemic has kept us from visiting wineries as much as we would like. We still need to pick up club wines and taste what new wines are on tasting menus though. Saturday we decided we would take a trip to Delaplane Cellars and pick up our club wines and enjoy a tasting. We...
We have not posted in a while, but rest assured that while we have not really been on the Virginia wine trails, we have indeed been enjoying Virginia wines. We always host a NYE party for friends to ring in the new year with lots of food and wine; however, that was not the case...
Fall is already upon us, and we look forward to cooler weather and changing colors. This usually means changing wine tasting habits to heavier pours and heartier meals. However, our trip to the Charlottesville area reminded me that some wines, even Virginia wines, are versatile and meant to be enjoyed throughout the year. Here I...
While we visited Septenary Winery on our last trip to Charlottesville, we made a little video of the wines we were tasting. A huge THANK YOU to Andrew for sharing the wines with us!
We continue to be a couple of weeks behind the rest of the local area in regard to venturing out; however, we are indeed getting back however slowly on the wine trails. Paul and I took a short vacation to the Charlottesville area recently, and we made full use of our time to visit several...
Recently we met up with Kurt from Wine About Virginia at Walsh Family Wine. With all the changes happening at wineries during COVID-19, we wondered how Walsh Family was conducting tastings. Like many wineries have discovered, they can continue to do tastings with modifications. Walsh Family is offering flights of wines to taste. Each flight...
On a recent Saturday we met some friends at Gray Ghost Vineyards to catch up, do a tasting and enjoy some lunch. Marketing director Amy Payette conducted our tasting. We worked through all the whites and reds but were most interested in tasting the new Romantic Rosé. This is the first time winemaker Al Kellert...
During this time of COVID and busy weekends at wineries, we have decided to visit Virginia wineries during the week. We have done this a few times and found the wineries to be less crowded. A few weeks ago on a Monday we decided to visit Naked Mountain Winery and Vineyards. We hadn’t been there...
Yes, Paul and I are behind by one phase, but we are beginning to venture out. We do appreciate Nancy Bauer’s regular updates on wineries and their practices as things begin to open up a bit more. True to our last post, we have gone to wineries that offer either reservations only and/or open on...
Paul and I began this blog 15 years ago due to our desire to promote excellent wine being produced by Virginia winemakers. This has become both a hobby and a passion for both us, and we sorely miss being on the wine trails due to COVID-19 restrictions. The phase 1 of re-opening begins this weekend,...
The current COVID pandemic has impacted all of us in so many ways. One impact is the ability to visit and enjoy local wineries. Stay at home orders must be taken seriously, and local wineries have adjusted accordingly. Needless to say, this will have significant consequences for local wineries—-much of their products are sold directly...
Capstone Vineyards is indeed a rare gem in the ever-growing Virginia wine industry. This small operation requires an appointment for tasting in its small but quaint tasting room. Owners Dave and Andrea Adams comprise both the vineyard management team and the tasting room staff. The tasting menu offers four high-quality wines for a seated tasting;...
Virginia’s 868 Estate Vineyards Earns 2020 Governor’s Cup® with 2017 Vidal Blanc Passito Top-ranked dessert wine joins 11 other gold medal-winning wines in the 2020 Governor’s Cup Case® RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam tonight awarded the Virginia Wineries Association’s 2020 Governor’s Cup® to 868 Estate Vineyards for their 2017 Vidal Blanc Passito. The winning wine was unveiled...
The Gold Medal winners in the Virginia Wineries Association Governor’s Cup Wine Competition have been announced. 64 different wines from 40 different wineries were awarded gold medals. 19 world-class judges tasted over 530 wines to select the best. Next week the Governor’s Cup winner will be announced at a special event held in Richmond. Congratulations...
We are all familiar with Darwin’s scientific theory of evolution; however, winemakers have their own viticultural theory of evolution. We recently became familiar with Jim Law’s theory of evolution at a recent tasting event at Linden fitfully called, “Evolution.” Jim Law’s reputation as the pioneer of excellent winemaking in Virginia is well known. Law bottled...
Last week we were sent two bottles of wine from Virginia Wine.org. They asked us to taste the wines and share our food pairings. What a great way to start 2020! The first wine was the 2018 Blenheim Vineyards Albariño. We love the wines from Blenheim so much that I’m a club member! We decided...
During the month of December, Linden Vineyards veered away from their normal tasting routine to do Free Form Tasting. For the Free Form Tasting, Jim Law selects wines from the wine cellar as well as current and new releases to taste during this time. This year Free Form Tasting took place on the two weekends...
We have gathered together some wine recommendations for your Thanksgiving meal. Watch the video to see the recommendations.
As summer finally gives way to autumn, we reflect on wineries that, while open for a while, are new to our palates. Here we give brief reflections on those visits. Effingham Manor Winery: This is a Pearmund operation and the tasting room is actually a historic home. We heard that it is haunted, but any...
Last night we participated in the 57th #VaWineChat with several other people across the country and in Loudoun County. Visit Loudoun sponsored the tasting by providing us with the wines you see below. We followed along on Twitter as Frank Morgan from Drink What You Like interviewed most of the winemakers. Find out what we...
We reflect on summer’s passing with a feature on another experience from our Charlottesville vacation in July. Our trip included a tasting at Veritas, a Virginia Wine Time favorite; however, winemaker Emily Pelton and Elliot Watkins have also taken on the winemaking duties at Flying Fox. Of course, we had to sample the releases there....
Last week when we got our Linden Vineyards newsletter in our email, we read that the cellar tastings were ending this past weekend until the new year. We decided we had to attend the last one of the year. On Saturday we headed to Linden to participate in the last cellar tasting of the year....
A recent visit to the Monticello area offered us the opportunity to sample releases from favorite wineries. Here we present wines (and the wineries) that we enjoyed most: Barboursville Vineyards: I always pay attention to the reserve wines at Barboursville, and this time was no exception. The Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 2016, Vermentino Reserve 2016, Viognier...
And we did just that during a recent summer getaway to the Charlottesville area. We rented a cottage on a vineyard site managed by Stay Charlottesville, and the cottage named Coop Billon was located on the property associated with Afton Mountain Vineyards. Of course, we visited several wineries during our stay! For readers looking for...
On Saturday I attended the 25th Anniversary celebration at Gray Ghost Vineyards. Twenty five years ago on July 9th Al and Cheryl Kellert opened the doors to Gray Ghost Vineyards. They were only tasting one wine on that day, a Vidal. The day began with an opening reception. Amy Payette, Virginia House of Delegates from...
So I have been recovering from a dental procedure that required me to eat soft foods for two weeks. Poached chicken, mashed potatoes, and smoothies had been my go to menu items; so, I decided to munch on a juicy steak once I got the all clear to eat something more substantial. My wine of...
Today we wander off of the Virginia Wine path and consider a Chardonnay from Oregon, the Marshall Davis 2017 Estate Chardonnay. The Marshall Davis Vineyard is located in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA of the Willamette Valley, and the vineyard itself is tended by the Marshall family. The vineyard includes “eight acres of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir...
The Virginia wine blogging community lost a cherished member on Wednesday when Carol Mercer Jensen passed away due to cancer. Readers may know that Carol and her husband, Kurt, chronicled their passion for Virginia wine on their blog, Wine About Virginia. It was Virginia wine that introduced us to Carol and Kurt over 13 years...
On Saturday we went to Gray Ghost Vineyards to do a tasting and pick up a few cases of wine. Of course we enjoyed all the wines on the tasting, especially the reserve chardonnay. Winemaker Al Kellert conducted out tasting so of course we learned more about the wines than usual. Al also informed us...
It has been a while since we have been on the wine trails; however, this past weekend we made certain to enjoy the transition from spring to summer with a visit to Slater Run Vineyards. Our summer plans include outdoor concerts, picnics, and gatherings with friends, and our quest was to stock up on summer...
Virginia Wine Country fans will love the new Virginia Wine Travel Journal! Buy it online now and get free shipping with promo code: VAWINETIME The book includes 25 new wineries and cideries, Wine Getaway Weekend itineraries, peeks behind the scenes of Wine Country, and Winery VIP Experiences. Also: • Where to sleep and eat at...
Nebbiolo is a grape variety that oenophiles would associate with Italy; however, there are a few wineries in Virginia that are able to grow the grape in their vineyards. Breaux Vineyards is one of them. In fact, it was owner Paul Breaux who fell in love with Nebbiolo while visiting Italy in the late 1990s...
We were invited to attend a soft opening of another new Virginia winery aptly named Star in the Valley. We can say that the new tasting room offers a stunning view of the Virginia skyline which was aglow with stars on the night of the opening. A starlight backdrop accented the wall behind the tasting...
The Virginia Wineries Association’s Governor’s Cup announced the 2019 medal winners, and this year 68 wines from Virginia wineries earned gold medals. However, only one entry wins the coveted Gold Cup, and this year it was awarded to a true pioneer in the Virginia wine industry, Dennis Horton. Horton’s 2016 Petit Manseng garnered the competition’s...
On Sunday we had the opportunity to join in on the East Coast Wine Chat on Twitter. For this month’s chat we were tasting wines from Dr. Konstantin Frank located in the Finger Lakes region of New York. The three wines they sent us to taste were the 2013 Blanc de Blanc, the 2016 Eugenia...
Being retired affords me the time to go to wineries on work days. Last Friday I met my friend George at The Barns at Hamilton Station. George is a club member so we were able to take advantage of his membership and do a tasting. We hadn’t visited them for several years. We tasted three...
On Saturday we headed out to Front Royal, Virginia to visit Glen Manor Vineyards. We were attending the December 2018 Cellar Tasting. We always enjoy tasting wines from the barrel to see how they are developing. We started with the 2018 Dry Petit Manseng. It’s 100% petit manseng. Being so fresh in the barrel it’s...
On Saturday we attended the Christmas Cork and Cheese Celebration at Gray Ghost Vineyards. This event is their kick off to the holiday season. We began with a tasting of the current wines on the tasting list. We love them all but the 2017 Chardonnay and the Ranger Reserve were among our favorites. We were...
Warren’s parents visit us each year at Thanksgiving. We try to take them to a few wineries each visit. This year we decided to take them to Magnolia Vineyards on Black Friday. We first visited Magnolia Vineyards when they first opened for business in the summer of 2014. At that time they were tasting their...
Thanksgiving approaches earlier this year, and it is time to think about food and wine pairings for Turkey Day. Of course, Virginia Wine Time always recommends Virginia wines. Here are some of our recommendations based on what we found on the wine rack at home: Floral and Versatile White Wines: VX2 2017 from Rappahannock Cellars...
October is Virginia Wine Month, and readers may want to consider joining the club at their favorite winery or wineries. Paul and I do belong to a few Virginia wine clubs, and we can attest to some of the benefits of club memberships. Here are some of them: Flexibility—-Most wineries offer membership levels to make...
October is Virginia Wine Month! To kick off Virginia Wine Month, we joined several other bloggers and wine industry people for the October #VAWineChat hosted by Frank Morgan of the Drink What You Like blog. The event was held at Flight Wine Bar in Washington DC. Frank Morgan was joined by Caroline Hermann, Master of...
Rain, rain and more rain——that is the only way to sum up this past summer in Virginia. However, the rain did not stop us from visiting local wineries, and we can recommend to readers a newcomer to the scene. That would be Bozzo Family Vineyards, a new winery in Loudoun County that is destined for...
Castle Hill Cider has earned a silver medal for Levity, one of its flagship offerings. The international competition, Drink Outside the Grape, recognizes high-quality, locally grown fruit wines from as far as India and Israel. A unique method is used to make Levity. Castle Hill is the first producer in the United States to import...
Or Paul and I met Kurt and Carol of Wine About Virginia at Muse Vineyards. Anyway, Paul and I put Muse Vineyards on our list of wineries to visit this year. We have enjoyed their wines at tasting events, and a bottle of the 2010 Clio is somewhere on the wine rack still taking a...
DuCard Vineyards is nestled in the shadows of the Shenandoah Mountains and somewhat off of the beaten wine trails. However, we appreciated the tranquility that this space offered after a recent weekend visit on the Monticello Trail that could best best described as harried. Peace prevailed here and gone were the buses of boozy bridal...
Paul arranged for us to meet up with a former colleague and friend, Diane, at one of her favorite Virginia wineries. Diane and her husband Paul relocated to the Charlottesville area last year and have explored the Monticello wine region. For Diane, Cunningham Creek is her “go to” winery. Therefore, we all agreed to meet...
We continue to enjoy Locations Wines that are each designated by letters of the alphabet. Readers may recall that the Locations wines are produced from the best vineyard sites situated from all over the world produced by Dave Phinney. Our most recent tastings included representations from New Zealand (NZ), France (F) and Spain (E). ...
The month of April provided us with the opportunity to experience wines in two different ways: from the barrel and from the library. Glen Manor Vineyards hosted a barrel tasting which featured developing wines from the 2017 vintage; later in the month, Gray Ghost Vineyards hosted a vertical tasting of their reserve and non-reserve Cabernet...
On Saturday we had the chance to chat with Luke Kilyk, winemaker at Granite Heights Winery. Press play to see the video.
On Good Friday I had the chance to visit the Walsh Family Wine in Loudoun County to tour the vineyards, taste some wines and hear what’s going on from Nate Walsh. I met our wine friends Kurt and Carol from Wine About Virginia on a very windy hill at Walsh Family Vineyards. We made plans...
Seven years ago we attended the groundbreaking event for Big Cork Vineyards. We had not been back since then. After the most recent snow we made plans to visit and were so glad we finally made it back to Big Cork Vineyards. Randy Thompson and Dave Collins have certainly created an amazing experience at Big...
I posted recently about our third anniversary dinner being complemented with the 2012 “3”; today, I post about another trio but this time the focus is on three wines which we received from Rosemount of Virginia. Rosemount of Virginia has always impressed us; however, we have never visited the winery—-it’s located in the very southern...
Wintry mixes, gale force winds, and wild temperatures have not deterred us from hitting the wine trails in 2018. In recent weekends, we visited Tarara Winery, Gray Ghost Vineyards, and Rappahanock Cellars; along the way, we met up with fellow bloggers Kurt and Carol of Wine About Virginia and supreme oenophile/good friend Susan McHenry. Our...
Congratulations to outstanding winemaker, Matthieu Finot, for winning the Virginia Governor’s Cup. It was Finot’s 2014 Meritage that earned the coveted Cup! We are fortunate to already have a bottle of the big winner on our wine rack, and we intend to hold on to it for a while longer. Merlot leads the way with...
Time flies when you are having a blast with your best friend who also happens to be your spouse. That is the only way that I can describe the past three years with my best friend and husband, Paul. Well, to be completely honest, it has been 13 years since we have been friends and...
I was a member of the Casanel Vineyards and Winery wine club for a year and then a few more months went by and I was out. You need to buy a case within the year to be in the club. Well I had forgotten. So we went back to Casanel to get back in...
Our last post featured a tradition of beginning each new year with a visit to Delaplane Vineyards, and we continued another one this past weekend. Paul and I have attended the vertical Cabernet tasting at Breaux Vineyards for the past several years, and also tends to be the first wine event that we attend. This...
The holidays are over now, the holiday trimmings are stored away, and the rush of attending holiday parties and events has subsided. We decided to destress from our holiday happenings with a visit to Delaplane Cellars. We counted on the spectacular views from the tasting room and the excellent wines there to give us that...
Here’s a very nice starter for Thanksgiving. The Bervini 1955 Extra Dry Prosecco. A BIG Thank You to Balzac Communications for sharing this delicious Prosecco with us!
On Sunday we went to pick up club wines and do a tasting at Breaux Vineyards. We went straight to the club room and Bruce was there just waiting to conduct out tasting. It’s always nice to see a familiar face at Breaux. We started with the club wines. We tasted 2016 Vidal Barrique, the...
Saturday evening we had some friends over for dinner. Because October is Virginia Wine Month we decided to serve Virginia wines. Warren, of course, was the chef and also selected the wines for the meal. We started with a salad course. It was a tossed green salad with a Dijon vinaigrette dressing. Warren selected the...
Today we went to Gray Ghost Vineyards to help harvest the chardonnay grapes. We do this every year and have been for the last 12 years. They had a bumper crop this year. Al Kellert reported bringing in almost 50% more than they did last year. We had a great time as usual! Here’s what...
Yesterday we went to Delaplane Cellars to pick up club wines and taste the lasted wines on the tasting menu. Our tasting associate was new and told us she came from Notaviva (which closed recently). She did a great job conducting our tasting. Our favorite white was the 2016 Sauvignon Blanc. We noted floral aromas,...
Recently we had the Barboursville Vineyards 2009 Octagon for dinner. Here’s a short video of our impressions.
Paul and I opted not to travel too far this summer and decided instead to enjoy summer fun in the local area. For us, this always includes a visit to Virginia wine country, and our focus this past weekend was the Monticello AVA. Read on to discover our favorites at the wineries which we visited....
On our way home from Charlottesville over the Memorial Day weekend we decided to stop at Early Mountain Vineyards. We hadn’t been there in awhile so we wanted to see what was new. Our tasting associate Julie, guided us through a tasting of all the Early Mountain wines. Of the whites we really enjoyed the...
We had the chance to sit down with Katell Griaud, the winemaker at Slater Run Vineyards, to talk about winemaking in Virginia. Check out the video.
Last weekend Warren’s parents were in town from New Orleans. They were here to celebrate Father’s Day. We decided to take them the Gray Ghost Vineyards. Not only was it a special Father’s Day weekend, Gray Ghost was also releasing their latest Cabernet Franc.
During our tasting we were able to taste the 2016 Cabernet Franc. We loved it! We noted lots cherry and raspberry flavors and a very smooth finish. We thought it would pair perfectly with our light picnic fair. But we also thought it would pair nicely with some light pasta dishes and even turkey.
After our tasting we enjoyed our picnic items with a bottle of the 2016 Cabernet Franc. We enjoyed the live music while enjoying the views. I got a close look at the grapes and they are coming along nicely. The vineyards are looking great too!
Before leaving we ended up buying almost two cases of wine. We said our goodbyes with promises to return soon. If you haven’t been to Gray Ghost lately, plan a trip soon and when you do, tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!
Over the Memorial Day weekend we went to Charlottesville to re-visit some of our favorite wineries and to check out a new one.
Our first stop was King Family Vineyards. We last visited in October 2016. Since our last visit they have built a new area for tasting. The new room is called the Polo Room. It is available for events, overflow for the main tasting room, and large groups. It was empty when we arrived so we elected to do our tasting in the new room.
Our tasting associate was very knowledgeable about King Family wines and guided us through our tasting like a pro. Our favorite white was the 2015 Viognier and our favorite red was the 2014 Meritage. Another favorite was the Crose. We like to take the Crose to Wolf Trap to enjoy while attending a concert. The new Polo Room has a beautiful patio that wraps around the building. We decided to enjoy a glass of the Viognier while enjoying the views. It was a beautiful day and the King Family grounds provide an amazing view of the surrounding mountains.
We always enjoy our time at King Family. The wines are perfect, the view is memorable and the staff are always welcoming and full of information.
Our next stop was Pollak Vineyards. I’m a club member there so it’s always fun to return to see what is new. And it’s always nice to see staff we know and who know us.
Of course we did a tasting. We tasted many new wines and enjoyed all of them. Some stood out to us though as wines we’d like to bring home. We noted the 2016 Pinot Gris, the 2014 Chardonnay, the 2014 Merlot and the 2014 Petit Verdot. We were there on a Saturday and the 2015 Cabernet Franc was going to be released on Monday. Nick decided to let us taste it as well. We noted a fruity palate, some dust, nice acidity, cherry notes and a hint of herb. Nick also let us purchase a bottle early!
After our tasting we sat on the patio and enjoyed a glass of the 2015 Cabernet Franc with a baguette. We watched the clouds roll by and noticed the new planting in the front of the building. Nick later informed us that it was Sauvignon Blanc. What a surprise! But it won’t be ready to make wine with until probably 2020. Before leaving we ended up buying a case of our favorites.
Our final stop of the day was a new winery to us, Valley Road Vineyards. It’s not far from both King Family and Pollak Vineyards. Valley Road Vineyards was started by a group of friends who love Virginia and wine. Matthieu Finot from King Family Vineyards is the wine maker. They have a really nice tasting room with plenty of room for lots of tasters.
All the wines are solid, clean and ready to enjoy. We had a wonderful tasting with the tasting room manager. We both agreed the 2015 Chardonnay was a favorite. We noted pear, pineapple, with a citrus burst. It would be perfect on a warm spring or summer day. The 2015 Torn Curtain was our favorite red. It’s a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Chambourcin. I’m not a chambourcin fan but the flavors were so well integrated, I barely knew there was Chambourcin in the blend. We noted ripe red cherry, fruity palate. It was an easy drinking wine made for pizza, pasta or burgers.
We enjoyed our time at Valley Road and plan to return. Before leaving we purchased our favorites. Valley Road Vineyards is the 181st winery we’ve visited. It was worth the visit!
If you haven’t been in the Charlottesville area lately, plan a trip soon. When you do, consider visiting King Family Vineyards, Pollak Vineyards, or Valley Road Vineyards. And when you do tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!
This post reviews two red wines from the Mercer label, and they include the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon and the 2014 Red Blend. The grapes that comprise these wines are grown in vineyards located in the Horse Heaven Hills appellation of course, this appellation is located in Washington state.
2014 Mercer Canyons Cabernet Sauvignon: No surprise that if the Mercer whites reviewed in a previous post were the product of a hot growing season, then the reds developed in the same hot environment Aromas of smoke, candied cherries, ripe blackberries, and spice greeted the nose; similar flavors were observed in the mouth the an oak note on the finish. We found this Cabernet Sauvignon to be quite accessible; however, we opened at least 30 minutes before serving with strip steak and roasted potatoes.
2014 Mercer Canyons Red Blend: We enjoyed this one quite a bit and dubbed it a crowd pleaser. Merlot leads the blend (59%) that includes Syrah (16%), Grenache (10%), Sangiovese (6%), Petit Verdot (6%), and Viognier (2%). Smoky notes led on the nose followed by ripe red fruit and spicy aromas. The palate recalled mixed berry jam which lingered quite a while; dusty tannins provided structure. I enjoyed this one with lamb chops seasoned with rosemary and thyme. Feel free to keep this Red Blend on hand for summer fare done on the grill and lightly coated with barbecue sauce.
We thank Brenda Mercer, marketing manager for Mercer’s wines, for giving us the opportunity to sample the wines (and thus the terroir of their slice of the Horse Heavens Hills appellation.) Please seek out these wines at your wine shop or their website and mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you.