Corkscrew Racing / Be BOLD 7K Trail Race

This is actually not a post about wine tastings, nor is it a post  about hiking.  So, what is it doing on a wine and hiking page?  Well, it is a post about pretty close cousins to each:  hard cider and running.  And,  actually the running from this post was done on the trail, so it is very similar to hiking.  But, I wont waste anymore time justifying this post, because really the purpose of this whole post is to give a big  shout out to Corkscrew Racing.

I love the ‘swag’ from Corkscrew Racing. This is such a high quality glass we got to keep after our tastings. Every in my family tries to use it….but I have banned them. They did not do the work to get the glass, so it is MINE!

I have written about Corkscrew Racing before; specifically the Vine to Wine and Autumn Toast races they have held in the past at  Barren Ridge Vineyards.  This year they are expanding their race repertoire, and I had the good fortune to participate at one of their events last week:  The Be Bold 7K Trail Race at Bold Rock Cidery in Nelson County.  I cannot say enough good things about this company.  It is a husband-and-wife team with this wonderful vision:  hosting running races at vineyards breweries and cideries, with a fun after-post following the excursion.   An amazing concept; and they have seen their vision through wonderfully.  Although I don’t know all the ins and outs of hosting running races, I do know it’s much harder than it seems.  Robin and Dwayne handle it like pros: they have wonderfully personal customer service, and they offer quality product (not only in the racecourses and locations, but also in the T-shirts and tasting glasses ‘swag’….   because after races at these venues we get to taste their product!)   In addition, they are very efficient handling the crowds in terms of parking and registration….and the courses are always well marked and managed.    I have run enough races to be able to say that Corkscrew Racing runs a very tight ship, and does so with a considerably lower number of crew than most.

I would highly recommend one of these races  to anybody:  from someone who’s not a runner who wants to embark on a little adventure; all the way up to the season running pro.  The atmosphere is always very fun festive, and full of support, even for people walking the whole course.  And then, because the races also well organized; they seem to draw a pretty elite level runner.  So if competitions what you’re looking for you can find it at Corkscrew Racing events as well.

As to this specific race;  I had  never been to a Cidery before.  And, I really enjoyed the tasting after the race.  Let me tell you nothing is as refreshing as nice cold cider after a run.  Bold Rock is a really neat place, and I look forward to visiting just on it’s own;  and at future Corkscrew Racing series.

There is me in the foreground…gotta work on that form.

Another great thing that came out of this event with my discovery of all the trails and Rockfish gap.  I have been to that area before visiting vineyards and the Wintergreen resort, but I was unaware of the wonderful hiking and biking trails that existed.
This race was a 4+ mile trail run loop that was absolutely beautiful:  Mountain views, Stream crossings, and cow sightings were around every loop.  I did not even listen to my music, but rather spent the race appreciating the beauty of our surroundings.  I am woefully out of shape this spring, and normally would’ve huffed and puffed through a 4 mile run.  But the scenery made my exertion worthwhile.

Scenes from the after party!

After each of the runs there’s an after party with the tasting at that particular enterprise, the musical offerings of Chris and Goose.  I am not sure which one is who but their songs are always enjoyable, and they put everyone in a festive mood.  Food is also available for purchase, or you are welcome to bring your own picnic.  I did this race with a good running buddy of mine.  We spent some time soaking in all the sun, sites and sounds and cider; thankful for such a fabulous day.  And we enjoyed the  dogs, there were so many fun dogs at this event; both in the race and at the picnic!  Big dogs, little dogs, fancy dogs and crazy dogs.  It was a dog party, and we are both dog nuts!  Then we headed down the road to Devil’s Backbone Brewery for lunch.  My friend and her family are a huge fan of Devil’s Backbone, and I had never been.  I was intent on checking it out for myself.  And I was not disappointed.  They have my most favorite wine ever (Rombauer Chardonnay) on the wine list.  So, because of that and the glorious setting and tasty food,  I am now a fan too.

Above all, Corkscrew Racing events are fun times with friends!

I have found myself increasingly burning out from running, and after a half marathon next week,  I plan on hanging up my running shoes for awhile.  However,  I will always lace them up for a Corkscrew Racing event.  Check out their race calender.  Maybe I will ‘run’ into you there!   http://www.corkscrewracing.com/

Tarrara Vineyard and Fabbioli Cellars

Fun times with new and old friends at Tarrara!

I have a friend who endeavors to hit each winery in Virginia at least once.  And, from time to time, I have been blessed to join her on her conquests.  It is a tough job, but somebody has to do it!  For our most recent sojourn, she chose the far reaches of Loundon County, hitting Tarrara Vineyard on the banks of the Potomac River; followed by Fabbioli Cellars, both in the Harmony Cluster of Loundon County wine trails.  I had been to both of them before, but never for  a tasting at Tarrara…..and was glad to revisit Fabbioli because it was a stand out establishment from the first trek Mickey and I had taken to the area, back in 2012.

We started the day at Tarrara, and I started to recognize the area from a couple miles away, because I had run a half marathon back in the fall, which started and finished from Tarrara.  I far preferred being in the car on this journey, as opposed to running the rolling hills as I had done in the past!  That half marathon does not occupy a good memory in my mind….but through no fault of Tarrara…and anyway, I digress…

We were visiting on a gorgeous Thursday afternoon, one of the nicest days we have been given this spring.  And note to all,  if you want to beat the crowds, and experience very personalized service, play hookey and plan your tastings for Thursday afternoons.    Except for a few ‘wine club members’ who came through to pick up their treasures, we had the place to ourselves.  And, we had a wonderful pourer, whose name I neglected to get;  but whom made our visit that much nicer with her warm disposition and engaging nature.

The ‘cave’ entrance to Tarrara Vineyard’s tasting room

Tarrara Vineyard is located on what was a very large farm.  The tasting room is actually a cave like structure, built under the actual house of the owner.  It is a wonderfully unique site.  In addition to a few tasting areas, there is also an observation window that looks down into the wine production area.  The grounds are massive…with a section across the lake that holds concerts and special events during warmer months.  Tarrara grows a large portion of their grapes onsite, but also contract out through Virginia for grapes as well.  At one point, I believe I saw them listed as the third biggest producer of wine in the state, behind Williamsburg Winery and Chateau Morisette.  If they are not third, they are high on that list.

 

A glimpse into Tarrara’s tasting room. It has a very ‘hip’ vibe!

There is the old saying, ‘less is more’;  and Tarrara employs that concept quite well in their tastings.  They have a huge wine list, including their regular label; and then one bottled under the name Boneyard (a shout out to an actual ‘graveyard’ of old farm machinery onsite).  For the tastings, we sampled seven out of their repertoire of  more than double that number:   Three white,  three red, and the ever delightful D9, which was a port-style wine that was distilled at nearby establishment, Catocin Creek.   I have been at vineyards where you taste their whole list….be it 5 to 15 wines, and maybe even more.  But, at some point, along about 5-7, it is hard to distinguish the wines from each other.  So, despite not getting as much ‘bang for your buck’, I like the idea of limiting the tastings.  And, at Tarrara, they frequently rotate their tastings, which is a great marketing ploy to bring wine tasters back.

While I had never done a tasting at Tarrara, I am very familiar with their Chardonnay, from it being a Virginia Wine of the Month selection from last summer.  It is done in a California style; nice and ‘buttery’, which is too my preference.  As a side note, it seems more Virginia winemakers opt for the European style Chardonnay in stainless steel.  So, I am always glad to find one aged in oak.    The Tarrara Chardonnay stood out so much to us in the wine of the month selection, that we went ahead and ordered a half case for our ‘cellar’ last year.  And, I am pleased to report, it is just as I remembered it:  lovely.  All of the wines at Tarrara were good, but the D9 Port, and the Chardonnay were my favorites.  And despite being self-proclaimed ‘red wine drinkers’ , my friends agreed on the Chardonnay, and that is what we picked to enjoy on the Tarrara porch with our picnic.

Mountains are very spiritual to me, and thus I love it when vineyards have a mountain view.  Being that that occurrence is much more prevalent in central Virginia vineyards, I have always felt that gave our area a leg up on Loundon County vineyards.   So, I was pleasantly surprised to enjoy this view from Tarrara’s porch.   That is the Potomac river in the forefront. I doubt the mountain can be seen in the summer months, but I sure enjoyed on my visit.

My vineyard conquering friend brought another friend along for the ride, and it was not long before I felt like she was an old friend of mine as well.  An added bonus to my day.  We sat on the porch, with a beautiful view of the Potomac River in the foreground, with a mountain vista beyond;  and discussed life and love and death and faith.  Pretty heavy topics that just naturally flowed with the conversation.   You just cannot beat a lovely spring day, with great conversation among friends sharing a bottle of wine.  And Tarrara vineyard provided a lovely backdrop for stop one on our day.

 

Fabbioli Cellars

From there, we were off to Fabbioli Cellars.  As I mentioned in the intro, Mickey and I had done a tasting there a few years back, and it really stood out.  The wine was great, and we had a wonderful pourer whose knowledge of wine matched anyone I have ever had the pleasure of speaking with.  Further, for their tastings, Fabbioli offers small bites of gourmet food and chocolates with the wine.  Our visit in 2012 was the first time I had encountered such a practice.  And, it so adds to the experience.  Because for me, one thing I love about wine is the way it interacts with, and is affected by food.  Since that initial visit, we have been to a handful of vineyards who also add food parings to tastings, but Fabbioli does it the best.  And, this visit confirmed that statement for me.

Our delightful 7

When you arrive at Fabbioli, they make ‘reservations’  for a 20 minute personal tasting with you group.  The cost runs $15, which is a bit pricey.  But, the going rate for wine tastings in the Northern part of the state is typically $10, so considering the food parings, it is not an exorbitant charge.  Since we visited on a Thursday, they were not busy, and we were taken right back to our tasting station.  We had an enjoyable experience with two friendly and knowledgeable ‘wine educators’ (as the pourers are so called).  Fabioli also rotates their wine list for tastings, which means they also change their food pairings; offering up 7 different ones of each every month.  All of the food offerings are sourced local.  Learning about the food was almost as much fun as the wine; and I actually learned the proper way to pronounce two words that I have been butchering for some time:  ‘Acai’ and ‘Quinoa’.

Fabbiolli does a neat pear wine. It is a trick to get that pear in the bottle. I will not ruin the surprise! Visit for yourself to see how it is done.

My favorite course of the day was the ‘Una Pera’ wine which is an Asian Pear wine, served with the ‘roving Italian’s Fig & Ricotta w/ Pancetta & Honey small bite.  Although it is hard not to also favor the two dessert selections, with the chocolates being made local in the town of Leesburg by Abby Rose Confections.

I am reading a book about Virgnina Wines entitled, Beyond Jefferson by Richard Leahy.  It is an interesting read for anyone who has a fondness for Virginia wines…..a nice blend of history and anecdote.  He mentions that a critique of some Virginia Vineyards is that people with large amounts of money come into the industry and create a business, with wine being the secondary focus.  You can tell that is not the case with Fabbioli Cellars.   The tasting room  is housed in the basement of a house, smack dab in the middle of a residential neighborhood.  From our first visit there, I remember hearing the background of the owner, having worked in the wine industry for a number of years both in California and here for other winemakers and owners.  Then around about 2000, he decided to strike out on his own.  And, I believe along the way made a wonderful niche for his vision.  Having visited the second time now with about two years in between visits, I see the growth of the tasting room and patio areas.  It is not as flashy and fancy as some establishments.  But, it is welcoming and comfortable, full of personality and very authentic.

A content wine cat at Fabbioli Cellars!

 

One more unique aspect I would be remiss if I did not mention, since I often extol the virtues of the wine dogs I encounter.  Fabiolli, in all its uniqueness, opts instead for wine cats.  Very sweet and friendly ones.

 

 

 

 

 

The pretty picnic area on the grounds of Fabiolli Cellars. We chose the Tre Sorelle blend to enjoy on the porch. That translates to ‘three sisters’ to honor the owners wife and her sisters.

After our tasting, we were faced with the option:  do we head to one more vineyard for a tasting, or do we purchase a bottle and enjoy the nice patio at Fabiolli, picking up on our conversation from Tarrara.  Although both had their merits, we chose the later…..quite content with having had a successful day in Loundon Wine Country.

 

 

 

 

Prince Michel and Morias Vineyards

The Love Sign in downtown Culpepper. It is called ‘reel love’ and is made out of movie reels. It highlights the ’emerging arts scene’ in the area. We stopped by this on our way in between the two vineyards.

On a beautiful, unseasonably warm Saturday afternoon; we decided to visit two vineyards as a belated Valentine’s Day trip. The beautiful day was a welcome respite to what has been a very cold and nasty winter. As many of you know, Minnie has an infatuation with the “LOVE” signs that are sprinkled around Virginia. Once she discovered there was one located at Morais, our next wine trip destination was determined. We decided to stop by Prince Michel on the trip to Morais, because we had not been there in years and it was on the way.

We first visited Prince Michel approximately 7 years ago when we were first beginning to explore the world of Virginia wine. Our recollections of that visit were mostly negative, as it was very crowded when we visited and the customer service was somewhat lacking. However, we have since enjoyed a Prince Michel Semi Dry Rapidan River Riesling at our favorite local Thai restaurant and thought a return trip would be in order.

A secondary tasting room is inside the main building at Prince Michel. It is very comfortable and relaxing setting.

We arrived at the vineyard at approximately 11 am, so we were ahead of the Saturday afternoon crowds. There were at least three servers working at the bar, all of which were very nice and polite. Our particular server told us she has worked at the vineyard since its opening and she was obviously very knowledgeable about their wines. In my opinion, a good server can make or break a vineyard visit and our server at Prince Michel was definitely better than average. The pour size was very large; I’d say approaching a1/4 glass per each.

Prince Michel offers two tastings. The first is their Sweet Wines, which are mostly bottled under the Rapidan River label. Minnie elected to choose this option. The second option is their standard Red and White tasting. These wines are bottled under the Prince Michel, the Crown Orchard, or the Mt. Juliet label. Mickey chose this option.

Sweet Wines:  Minnie selected this option, so I cannot give you detailed tasting notes on each selection. However, in general, I think it is fair to say they are average. However, she did very much enjoy the Rapid River Chocolate wine, which is infused with Cocoa and Hazelnut. The sweet selections follow:

• Rapidan River Dry Riesling
• Rapidan River Semi Dry Riesling
• Rapidan River Sweet White Reserve
• Rapidan River Sweet Red Reserve
• Rapidan River Raspberry
• Rapidan River Peach
• Rapidan River Blackberry
• Rapidan River Chocolate
• Prince Michel Port-Style Dessert Wine
• Prince Michel Tres Bien

Red & White Tasting:

There is a nice gift shop inside the tasting room, as well as a self guided tour that explains the wine making process. A very nice extra for a visit to Prince Michel.

 

• Prince Michel Pinot Grigio
• Mt Juliet Petite Manseng
• Prince Michel Viognier
• Prince Michel Chardonnay (stainless steel)
• Prince Michel Barrel Select Chardonnay (oak)

Unfortunately, the white wines were all flat and without any type of strong flavor. Not horrible, just not something I would purchase. The best of the bunch is the Pinot Grigio, which is crisp and minerally (is that a word?).

 

• Prince Michel Cabernet Franc – Very spicy
• Mountain View Cabernet Franc – fruitier than the Prince Michel Cabernet Franc. I tend to enjoy fruity wines over spicy wines and this is was no exception.
• Prince Michel Merlot – Not as horrible as most merlots.
• Prince Michel Merlot Cab Reserve – 25% merlot and 75% cab sav. This is a pretty complicated red wine with fruit flavors at the front and a vanilla finish. In my opinion, this Vineyard’s best wine.
• Prince Michel Cabernet Sauvignon – Very noticeable tannins and with lots of pepper. Not my thing.
• Crown Order Cabernet Savignon – Noticeably less tanning and pepper than the Prince Michel Cab Sav. This is a fairly good wine that would be great with a steak. However, I would find it very hard to pay its price of $29.99/bottle.
• Prince Michel Symbius – This wine is a Bordeaux blend and has blackberry notes.

 

All in all, our visit was a good experience.   Mostly, this was definitely due to the service. Not the wine or view. I would recommend stopping by Prince Michel if you are in the area and have time to kill, but I would not make a special trip.

 

The Loveworks sign onsite at Morias. It is what drew Minnie to this vineyard, and it did not disappoint!

And then, we were off to Morais Vineyard & Winery.  In a word, “Awesome”! We absolutely loved Morais (Minnie would have like it even without the “Love” sign that is located in front of the tasting room). I must admit to having low expectations regarding this vineyard. They market themselves as a wedding destination, so I did not expect solid wine. I also expected below average service and less than stellar views given the location. This is one of the very, very few times in my life that I’ve been totally wrong J The wine and service were both stellar!

 

The main building at Morias. It hosts the functions like wedding receptions.

This winery is owned by a Portuguese family and the wines are made in a manner that is typical in Portugal. For example, the wine maker crushes all of the grapes for the red wines by foot (as opposed to by hand) in order to keep from crushing the seeds in the grape. I must admit to being incredulous that this really impacts the flavor, but their reds are phenomenal!

 

The on-site wedding chapel. It can seat 35 guests for an intimate ceremony. Weddings seem to be a big deal at Morias!

We were greeted by at least two pourers as soon as we entered the new and modern tasting room. Our pourer asked our names and remembered them during our tasting even though the room was crowded. She was very friendly and knowledgeable about the wines as well. The architecture can best be described as modern and the noticeable music made for a festive atmosphere. Morais has two tasting options, the first is the Standard White and Red Tasting and is $8; the second is the first plus their (3) dessert wines. The standard tasting is served with a plate of cheese, prosciutto, and crackers. The dessert wines are served with a selection of milk and dark chocolate.

Morias has a brand new tasting room to set the main building free for events. They have a nice centerpiece to the room – a wine tower!

 

The tastings at Morias are accompanied by a small plate of food. Which is always a nice touch, and takes the experience to a new level.

Brief notes on each wine follow:

• Select White – This wine is predominantly the “R-kats” grape from Georgia (the country Georgia – they make moonshine, not wine in the state Georgia). We have only had this varietal in on other Virginia wine that we could remember, Horton. We liked it at Horton and liked it at Morais as well. Very floral.
• Battlefield White – A blend of Vidal Blanc and Albarino. Very crisp, clean and dry. This is their “Vinho Verde” or “Green Wine.” An excellent appertif’.
• Rose’ – Very dark for a Rose’ with noticeable strawberry flavor.
• Select Red – 50/50 blend of Merlot and Cab Franc. Very, very smooth!
• Merlot – The world may be coming to an end, but I actually enjoyed this merlot. It was very smooth and velvety with lots of fruit.
• Cabernet Franc – Lots of fruit at the beginning with a clean pepper finish.
• Touriga Nacional – This is the National Grape of Portugal. Very heavy wine that would be great with a
  

  Another nice touch at Morias, their own personalized drink coaster. I have never seen that anywhere!

  steak or hamburger. A little much by itself.

• Jeropiga – A blend of Merlot, Cab Franc, and Brandy. 18% alcohol. A stick of cinnamon is included in the bottle.
• Moscatel – Brandy added to this wine as well. Very sweet, but not syrupy like most dessert wines with added Brandy (according to Minnie – I did not have the guts to try this one as I hate white dessert wines).
• Cherry Wine – We purchased a heart shaped bottle of this wine. It is made from cherries, not infused cherry flavor, and is very good. The alcohol content is 18%, so be careful with this one!

 

I would recommend that you drop everything and visit Morais immediately! It’s a great time!