Our wine tasting mini reunion, outside of The Barn at Aspen Dale winery
Minnie’s Take:
We were fortunate enough to get a small taste of spring (in between our two big March snowstorms) at some Northern Virginia Vineyards this past weekend. We met up with some old, and very dear friends to taste at The Winery at La Grange, Vintage Ridge and Aspen Dale Winery at the Barn. Each of the three are a short distance from I-66, and they are nestled among a number of other vineyards. This marks our fourth trip to the area, yet it feels like we have not even scratched the surface of what Loudon and Falquier County vineyards have to offer.
In my former life, I was a college swim coach. Ten years have passed since that time, but the memories of that chapter in my life remain strong. So, imagine my delight in getting to reconnect in person with a group of ‘my swimmers’ over one of my favorite pastimes…..wine tasting. The day passed far too quickly, but it was filled with great company, flowing conversation and plenty of fun. It was wonderful to see these ladies, who possessed such talent and promise in college have now found lives of purpose, fulfillment, and most of all happiness. It was my first time meeting all of their significant others, and I was pleased to see they have all picked a mate in which they are especially well suited. And some of them have even become mothers! No matter the age difference, I have found that becoming a parent is a natural equalizer. What fun it is to be able to share our offspring stories with each other, and relate with each other in ways other than coach towards swimmer of the past. Facebook has kept us up to date on the facts of each others lives, but connecting in person again was extra special. We have all promised to keep this wine tasting reunion a yearly event. Mickey and I are in for sure!
The three vineyards we visited were all vastly different, with completely different feels to them. That is one of the things I like best about actually going to vineyards, as opposed to lets say attending a wine festival and tasting wine there….each establishment has its own personality, often times reflected on the owners tastes and interests, and the history of the property.
The barrel room at The Winery at LaGrange
Stop #1: The Winery at La Grange. To describe in one word: Business. We got there right as the vineyard opened, and because of the size of our group, did our tasting in an adjacent building from the main tasting room; which ended up being the Barrel Club room. Right away, I noticed plaques with names on most of the barrels in the room. It turns out those names are a part of the Barrel Club. To join, you spot The Winery at La Grange $1,000 for the barrel for them to use for four years to age and develop their wine. At the end of the four years, the barrel is yours to do with as you please. As a member, you are also privy to a number of other vineyard ‘perks’ including special parking, use of the barrel room, free tastings (and probably a few more things). In visiting a number of Virginia vineyards over the years, this is most substantial example of a ‘wine club’ I have seen in the state. There are wine clubs at most vineyards, where you receive various shipments of wines during the year. But, nothing this expansive. Later in the day, we were discussing this with members of our group, and it seems to be a growing trend in Northern Virginia. Being so close to DC, these vineyards can get really busy. By offering ‘memberships’, the vineyards are able to give their regulars a more intimate experience in an effort to keep them coming back. Perk parking places and separate relaxing areas for members allow them to escape the masses. And, actually when we went back through the main tasting area, the place was booming. Almost too crowded for my taste. So, I understand the need. However, I am not sure I would ever want to ‘join’ any particular vineyard, because there are too many I enjoy visiting.
We had a very friendly pourer for our tasting, and she did a good job managing close to twenty people at a time. She briefed us on each varietal, and allowed us time to socialize in between…but was readily available to answer any questions. For me, none of the wines actually stuck out, but likewise none were bad. What kept us from purchasing any was their price point. The majority of their portfolio were in the $30 range. The Winery at LaGrange grows very few of their grapes onsite. I am not saying this is a bad thing…in fact they have grapes grown all over the state which probably contributes to them having over a dozen different varietals. But, I think it supports my one word description of it being a business and maybe not so much a craft as some other vineyards we have visited. This vineyard has recently been bought out by a Chinese company (apparently Virginia wine is becoming a big thing in China) and the transaction has not been without some drama.
The Winery at LaGrange has a beautiful main building, with vineyards at the base of Bull Run Mountain.
The Winery at LaGrange has a beautiful main building….an 18th century manor house with a lot of neat rooms, and a very unique basement. The grounds are pretty, and the people were friendly. However, I was less than ‘wowed’ by this place. Two of fellow tasters ranked this as one of their favorites in the area, so maybe I am missing something. Perhaps I will put it on my lists to visit again to see if it grows on me. Plus, The Winery at LaGrange is one to keep on eye on, as it will be interesting to see where the new cooperate ownership will take the vision of the vineyard.
We loved our second visit to Vintage Ridge just as much as our first!
Stop #2: Vintage Ridge. To describe in one word: Comfortable! This is our second trip to Vintage Ridge, and doubtfully our last. It embodies the perfect ‘inviting’ vibe for me. It has an effortless appeal to it, and I would have been perfectly content to wile away the entire afternoon there. I like it when vineyards have a substantial food offering, and Vintage Ridge does not disappoint with lovely cheese plates, spiced pecans and other small plate delights. On our previous visit, we partook of these wonders, and they were so good, they remain in my memory. On that trip, however, we did not do a tasting…..which we were able to do this time around. I enjoyed the way Vintage Ridge managed our group. They put us at tables, and brought the tasting to us. The wine here, on a whole was very drinkable. And, I would say in general on the sweet side.
On the first weekend of the month Vintage Ridge offers a ‘Premier Parings Tasting’. This is where they pair some of their artisanal food with their wines. I would like it make it back for one of those, and then afterwards enjoy the rest of the day outside by their fire pit! We would have stayed longer, however we needed to move onto……..
Stop #3: The Barn at Aspen Dale Winery. To describe in one word: Charming! Oh, how glad I am that we discovered this vineyard! What a gem. The tasting room is set up in a refurbished barn, located on a real working horse farm. Apparently some of the horses share a lineage with famous horses….and there are a few miniature horses on site which you can feed and pet, and that is always fun. Not being a horse person myself, I guess I do not fully appreciate what an undertaking running both simultaneously would be…..but I fully appreciate the affect.
The tastings at The Barn at Aspen Dale include bits of food. Sip, taste, sip!!!
The barn/tasting room is a wonderful combination of historic charm and modern renovation. There were so many unique characteristics at this vineyard that really stuck out to me, which made for an overall fabulous visit. In one corner of the barn is a cozy fireplace, and we were treated to some great live music during our visit. I actually wish I would have caught the name of the lady singing because her performance was one of the best I have experienced at a vineyard. She blended in to the atmosphere, and yet we were keenly aware of her – often pausing to comment, ‘I love this song’, and ‘Wow, she has a great voice’! It was subtle, yet memorable. There are two inviting tasting bars (with purse hooks below, I loved that!) and the tastings themselves are carried out with small food parings. This practice always gets major points with me because food does change wine, and vice versa. The lady who led us through our tasting was very knowledgeable and patient with our group…often reminding us to sip the wine, taste the food and then sip again to see the difference. The food used in the tasting is offered for purchase, which is a nice touch, especially when you are offering up pheasant salami. There were quite a few wines I enjoyed during our tasting….but I always leave the heavy lifting on tasting notes to Mickey (so see below!)
S’Women looking good after 10 years!
During our tasting, the owner came over to welcome us which we all appreciated. I had a few minutes to chat with him one-on-one and you could just feel his exuberance for his operation as he spoke. It is a family run business, and it is a team effort between he and his wife. Even his 11 year old son gets in on the act….giving tours and answering questions. Our brief conversation rekindled my desire for us to purchase a vineyard. I think our boys would love getting in on the action too! But, short of winning the lottery, that is not possible…..so we will just continue to live vicariously through others. After our tasting, we were able to sit outside and soak up some of the fleeting spring sun by an adorable fish pond. Had it been warmer, we might have all jumped in for a few laps, just for old time sake! All in all, a fabulous way to end a most wonderful day.
Mickey’s Take:
Our latest “wine trip” was a welcome respite from the nasty winter weather we have been experiencing. It was a beautiful day sandwiched between a series of nasty, snowy weeks. We met several of Minnie’s swimmers from her coaching days and their husbands at the first vineyard and followed their “party bus” to the other locations. As with all of our trips, the company was great and the excellent conversations were every bit as pleasurable as the wine, food, and atmosphere.
On this trip we visited The Winery at La Grange, Vintage Ridge Vineyards, and Aspen Dale Winery at the Barn. We had previously visited Vintage Ridge Vineyards, but this is the first time we enjoyed a full tasting of their wines. Overall, this trip strengthened our opinion that the Northern Virginia/Leesburg Area vineyards are much larger and more commercial than the Charlottesville area vineyards. Almost like the Sonoma vs. Napa arguments in California, but at a vastly different scale.
The Winery at La Grange
Cheers! In the barrel room of The Winery at La Grange
The tasting room for this vineyard is in a Civil War era home with a new barrel room building located in the rear. Our tasting was performed in the barrel room since we were part of a large group, so I can’t comment extensively on the tasting room other than to say the architecture, exterior carpentry, and brick work were very interesting. Also, there is a really cool lounge in the basement that has the look and feel of a Civil War era inn.
The tastings at this vineyard are $10/person, but the glass is included and several wines are tasted. I elected not to keep notes on each wine I tasted due to the large group, but I’m guessing that we tasted at least eight wines. Alas, we still did not receive a $10 value as the wines were weak. Not one stood out as even better than average and several were very weak. It is important to note that most of the whites were highly acidic and may be better when paired with food.
Our visit to this vineyard was a great experience, but that is a testament to our company. Not the wines.
Vintage Ridge Vineyard
Vintage Ridge has a great outdoor patio….a perfect place to spend an afternoon.
As with our last visit to this vineyard, we had a great time and loved the atmosphere. I would highly recommend this vineyard as a great place to spend a fun afternoon. However, unfortunately, I can’t recommend their wines as quality. None stood out as great, but none stood out as poor. All in all, average wines in a great atmosphere. Similar to Veritas, but without the great views.
The Barn at Aspen Dale is also a working horse farm.
Aspen Dale Winery at the Barn
This vineyard is awesome in every way and ranks up there as one of my favorite Virginia wineries. The atmosphere, wine, and service were all great. The tasting is done in tandem with a food pairing. This is only the second vineyard that I have visited that included the food pairing as part of the standard tasting and it has been really cool both times.
Aspen Dale is set in an old barn and has a very cozy feel. There was a good musician playing which really added to the atmosphere. The area behind the barn had a water feature and several tables and was a very enjoyable place for our large group to social after the testing.
Unfortunately, I did not keep notes on the wines as I tasted them. However, they were all solid. Additionally, I found the Mary Madeleine’s Rose’ to be excellent and even purchased a bottle to enjoy at home. It was very crisp and refreshing with notes of cherry. In my opinion, it would pair nicely with a backyard barbeque of hamburgers and hot dogs, but would also be a great apertif’.
It was unamious! Our whole group loved our tasting at The Barn at Aspen Dale!
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