Un-Wine Friday – Fall 2015

I decided to play “hooky” from work on a recent Friday so Minnie and I could enjoy the fall foliage at a few Charlottesville area wineries without having to deal with the large weekend crowds. Our original plan was to visit First Colony and Trump, but we were pleasantly surprised to have a third vineyard added to our itinerary. We started our visit by making a quick stop at the Trader Joe’s in Charlottesville in order to “re-stock” our wine supply. Our second stop was a quick “in and out” at Wineworks in order to fill our “growler” and to purchase a box of Chardonnay. The “growler” and box of Chardonnay offered at Wineworks are both excellent values. We purchased both for $65. A great deal when you consider this equates to approximately 7 bottles of great quality wine. Now on to a more detailed review of the wineries we visited:

First Colony has a real thatched roof, which I really enjoyed seeing on our visit.

First Colony

The tasting room is constructed with rough cut lumber, but is bright and airy. We were the only customers in the tasting room during our visit and were served by a very knowledgeable and friendly pourer. I did not catch his name, but he was very knowledgeable about the wines and was a great  conversationalist. All in all, a very interesting guy. In my opinion, the pourer can make or break a winery visit and First Colony had an excellent pourer at the bar during our visit.

At the conclusion of our tasting, he told us about the Gabriele Rausse Winery which is located just down the road from Trump and Blenheim. We never would have noticed Gabriele Rausse Winery without his directions and recommendations.

The quality of the wines at First Colony certainly matched the competence of the pourer. In general, all of the wines were excellent. I found it to be one of the best vineyards in Virginia as far as wine quality.

• Rose’ 2014 – A very odd looking Rose’, almost yellow in appearance. It is very crisp, clean, and noticeably acidic. A very good wine. We purchased a bottle and are looking forward to drinking it soon!
• Chardonnay 2014 – As regular readers of our blog know, Minnie typically enjoys Chardonnays aged in oak barrels as opposed to stainless steel. With that being said, she loved this Chardonnay even though it is 100% aged in stainless steel. Very fruity and made with 100% grapes grown using the oldest Chardonnay vines in Virginia (planted in 1974 – a great year as it is also the year in which I was born!).
• Chardonnay Estate Reserve 2013 – I believe this to be Minnie’s all-time favorite Virginia Wine. You know what the means…buttery! This wine is full-bodied and 100% aged in American Oak.

We also tasted one other white wine, two reds, and three desert wines. All were good, but not quite as good as the Rose’ and both Chardonnays. First Colony is a great winery and I highly recommend it as a place to enjoy both great wine and a laid back atmosphere. It is just far enough from Charlottesville that you don’t have to wade through a crowd of drunken UVa students (are there any other kind of UVa students?), but close enough to be an easy drive.

This is what marks the entrance to Gabriele Rausse tasting room. That small wood side on the lift reads ‘tastings’

Gabriele Rausse Winery

As I mentioned previously, we had never heard of this winery and would never have noticed it from the road if we had not been given directions by the pourer at First Colony.  As all connoisseurs of Virginia wine, we have heard of Gabriele Rausse and enjoyed his wine at Barboursville and other vineyards around the Commonwealth. However, we did not realize he now had his own winery. This winery is similar to Wineworks in that it is “all about the wine.”

In fact, they are not open on Saturdays and all of the pourers also help make the wine and in vineyard operations.

The tasting room at Gabrielle Rausse.  It was nice and cozy and one of the more unique (and hidden) wineries we have ever visited.help to make the wine. The tasting room is beautiful, but very small and simply furnished. There are very few places to sit down. This place is definitely designed for a customer to partake of a tasting, purchase bottles of wine, and then go home to enjoy the wine.

 

 

 

A full tasting is $12/person and consists of 3 whites, one Rose’, and five reds. All of the wines were good to great, but the Dry Rose’ 2014 (Merlot and Cab Franc) and the Grenache 2011 were spectacular. We purchased a bottle of each and had the Rose’ with dinner after we returned home from our visit. This winery is a very neat and worth a visit. However, do not plan on spending an afternoon. Pop in, enjoy your tasting, purchase some wine, and move on to your next stop.

Trump Winery

We have visited this winery at least twice in the past when it was owned by Patricia Kluge’. However, we have not visited since the name has been changed to Trump and were interested in the changes put into place by “The Donald.” The architecture of the tasting room is less modern than before and has more of a “classic Virginia” look. Oak paneling, large wood trim, etc. They have also added seating to the exterior and cleared approximately a ½ acre of forest in order to open a spectacular view. Both changes were positive. Good job, Donald!

The ending to an especially good Un-Wine Friday in wine country

The wines have changed very little since our last visit. In short, they are all good, but not great.  The two standouts are definitely the sparkling wines. My favorite is the Blanc de Blanc.  We each purchased a glass of Blanc de Blanc after our tasting and enjoyed the view on a pretty fall afternoon. A great time.  The only downside to this winery was the crowds. It is pretty close to both Jefferson and Blenheim. This makes a visit very convenient, but also leads to a packed tasting room.  Trump is definitely much more commercial than First Colony and most other Virginia wineries south of the Leesburg area. The pourers were all very nice and seemed knowledgeable of the wine, but had not time for conversation or detailed descriptions.

I would encourage a visit to Trump as the view is beautiful and the wines are solid. However, be aware that it is likely to be crowded, especially on a weekend.

Wine-ding our way through the Blue Ridge

Three very unique, and vastly different wineries added up to a wonderful day in the Blue Ridge Mountains

For our most recent wine trip, we headed east of Harrisonburg and traveled in, over, and around the Beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains to three distinctly different Virginia Vineyards.  Along the way, we found arguably the best view from a vineyard,  a ‘old school’  winery with some very substantial wine, my choice for my most favorite sentimental winery in Virginia.  And my new favorite Virginia wine….which happens to be a (gasp!) red blend!  Each of these vineyards are off the beaten path so to speak, but close enough together that they can easily be paired together for a fun afternoon of wine tasting.

 

We began at Moss Vineyards, 1,000 feet above Sea Level with this breathtaking view:

The architectural theme abounds at Moss, from the building….

and tasting notes!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

to  the wine labels….

Modern and clean are two words that come to mind when describing Moss Vineyards, thus it was not surprising to learn that an architect had designed not only the buildings onsite….but the entire establishment, and built them all by hand.  The origins of this vineyard is the most interesting story I have heard yet:  The site was picked out via Google earth.  The prospective owner wanted a high elevation, north facing slope….and found just what he desired in an old tree farm, all online.    The road to the vineyard is a long, winding, bumpy road, and when you get to the property, you see it is fenced off, with very TALL fences.  That is because Bears (yes BEARS!) have a tendency to eat the grapes right off the vines.  But, you soon realize that a few bumps and bears are a small price to pay for this location location location!!!

I ‘borrowed’ these pictures off the Moss website, to full do justice to the view.

There are seven wines on the Moss tasting list: a Vigonier, a Rose and five reds.  Our pourer was very nice and knowledgeable who afforded us a nice treat: a chance to taste their prized 2010 Architettura, which is not usually an offering.  This is a wine that they make ‘only on the best years of harvest’, and it was true to it word.  It was a bold red blend dominated by the Cabernet Sauvignon grape.  The rest of their wines were drinkable, but not memorable.  I would say this is proof that their vines are still young and this vineyard will benefit with the aging process.  Combine the promise of the wine and the amazing setting, and I think Moss Vineyards is one to watch in the future.

Moss Vineyards has a little bit different of an operating schedule.  It is open from 12-5, Friday – Sunday during the months of March-November.

Inside the ‘rustic’ tasting room of Autumn Hill

Our next stop, Autumn Hill Vineyards also has a unique operating schedule.  In fact, we were lucky to catch them open.  They only open their winery to the public 4 times a year, when they host two open house weekends in the fall, and two in the spring.  Otherwise, they can be found pouring their wine at festivals throughout the region, and at select ABC stores in the state.  If you get a chance to taste this wine, you will not be disappointed.  Top to bottom, they have one of the best wine lists in Virginia.

Autumn Hill has a long, storied history. And, it is one of the oldest, continuously operating vineyards in the state.

Autumn Hill  has to be one of the most understated wineries  in all of Virginia, at least of the ones we have visited.  It is situated in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains….15 miles north of Charlottesville.  It is a small, unassuming and yet very welcoming establishment that dates back 30 + years.    The owners are a husband and wife team who have been growing grapes and making wine to stay busy in retirement.    Their years of experience are evident in the wine they produce.    We tasted eight wines, and I liked every single on on the list.   I can count on one hand the amount of times I can say that about a tasting.

As I said, we were lucky enough to catch Autumn Hill open on their first spring open house.  In addition to the regular tasting, they were offering up a vertical tasting of their Cabernet Franc.  Those are always so informative because you can get insight into how different weather patterns affects the final wine product.   And off to the side was a nice array of cheese and crackers with suggested wine parings.  The owners were on hand, with some family members.  And, it seemed like many of the guests knew each other.  I imagine fans of Autumn Hill wines are repeat visitors to these open houses.    The vibe was somewhat like a neighborhood block party…..with good wine!

Great ‘relics’ of Virginia Wine History decorate the tasting room of Autumn Hill Vineyard

One could almost mistake the tasting room at Autumn for a Virginia Wine Museum.  There were medals and trophies going back decades….as well as old festival posters and wine trail maps.  I would love to talk with the owners, who also happen to be the winemakers, sometime about the evolution of wine in Virginia.    You can tell they definitely make wine for the love of making wine.  We learned that last year close to 75% of their crops were lost to frost.  But they will not import grapes, as they want to stay true to an estate vineyard and in control of what they produce.  So, the 2012 Autumn Hill harvest will only be represented by Chardonnay.

The entrance to the tasting room at Kilwaruen

We finished our day at Kilaurwen Winery in Greene County.  This vineyard just popped up on our radar as we researching Moss.    I was drawn to the name, thinking it had a Celtic connection, likely Irish.  My family has a strong Celtic identity, through our Welsh roots.  Wales – Ireland…..close enough for me to want to check it out.  It turns out the owners do have Irish connections.  But the name Kilaurwen is not Irish at all, but actually a combination of their three daughters names.

The love of family starts with the name at this vineyard and is threaded lovingly throughout.    I was raised on strong family roots, and hope if nothing else, that is what I pass along to Billy and JJ.   And, having just lost my father this past winter, family ties have taken on a whole new meaning for me.   And, that is why it is my sentimental favorite Virginia Vineyard.

Kilaurwen sits in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains

When we pulled up, we were greeted by a man mowing the yard.  He promptly turned off the mower and headed inside with us do administer our tasting.  He also happened to be the owner, the wine maker and the proud patriarch of his family.  As he poured the wine, we heard all about his daughters and grandchildren.  In fact, he had turned his property into a winery as sort of a legacy to his family.  For twenty years, they have been growing grapes for other Virgina vineyards, and are about four years into making wine of their own.  I have heard it said that all great wine starts with the grape, in the actual vineyard.  And that it is best to grow a good grape, rather than try and manipulate it in the winery.  That is obviously the case here, because this wine is good.   It is almost as if the actual making of the wine was a seamless transition for him since he has such a good product.   As we went down the list, each wine seemed to get better than the previous one.  I tasted Fiesta White, and just knew we had to get a few of those to take home.  And then came the Fiesta Red.  This blend is aptly named because it is fun and feisty .    I think it is best served slightly chilled, and it is very reminiscent of a good Sangria. It is light and fruity and fun, perfect for the summer months ahead.  It is my new favorite Virgina Wine!!!  A red, I cannot believe it. Both Fiestas are at a wonderful price point for Virginia Wines….$15.

 

I loved the tables in the Kilaurwen tasting room. In fact, I am now on a mission to recreate them for our home.

But, back to the tasting….what a fun experience to listen to someone talk so lovingly about his craft and his family.  Rarely have we had the opportunity to listen to a winemaker talk about his or her product.  And it was so enlightening to do so.  We learned about the grapes that went into each of his wines, the soil in which they are grown, any manipulation done one the wines were harvested.  And his thoughts on the final product.  And again, we learned of the family.  Which wine is his granddaughters favorite….the wine he ships cases of to her in college, and about his grandsons Boy Scout troop’s camp-outs on the farm.  And when the family comes to help with the entire operation.  And his special excitement to have a grandson in college very nearby next year.  As we were leaving, Mickey said this is what a vineyard would look like were his granddad the proprietor.  And, if you knew his granddad, you would know what a compliment that is!

We took home a few fiesta’s…..but not enough to last very long.  We chilled our first bottle promptly when arriving home, and it was quickly gone.    They are a small operation that does not even appear to ship wine.  So, it looks like we will have to make a trip back over really soon.  What a unique place.  Very genuine and authentic, and I know this sounds cheesy but it is true:  A place full of love.

Kilaurwen Winery is only open Fridays-Sundays and Holiday Mondays from 12-5.

Trump, Blenheim and Wisdom Oak

The jaunty ensemble!

I took a really fun wine trip the week before Thanksgiving with some of my ‘Facebook friends’.  They are more than that, actually….I know them in real life as well: one is a work buddy, and the other I used to teach Sunday School with a few years back, and they each have a connection through playing church hand bells; but it is really through Facebook that we have reconnected recently.  And much of that connection has been  interestingly enough, over wine.  They like our wine posts, we like theirs…and one day (over Facebook) we decided the three of us should take an afternoon to wine taste in the area.   Many blog posts could be written about Facebook, some good….some bad.  But, in the case of ‘the jaunty ensemble’ (the reason we dubbed ourselves this will follow later in the blog),  were it not for Facebook, the three of us would not have connected as we have.

Our day started at Trump Winery.  I had been there twice when it was Kluge, and once just in the first week of the change over to Trump.  I was really excited to see what, if anything had changed, and to spend some time again in a stunningly beautiful setting.    The tastings  started off with the sparkling, which is a main focus, and thus ‘niche’ of Trump Winery.  So, there were a lot of sparklies (6 to be exact) to taste.  I typically am not a fan of sparkling, but to my surprise, I really enjoyed everything Trump had to offer on this list.  Twice, I turned to my fellow tasters and commented (something to the effect of ) ‘that is like a party going on in our mouth’!  Which is not surprising because their Sparkling Reserve is rated a 91 on the Wine Enthusiast list, which is incidentally the highest rating in Virginia.

The view off the back of Trump Vineyards

As is always the case, our tasting was greatly influenced by our pourer.  And in this case, very positively.    He was friendly, knowledgeable and attentive.  We learned some interesting things about the wines and the winery itself.  For instance, Trump has two winemakers…..one that focuses solely on the sparkling varieties.  For sparkling and regular, their wines are made in the French tradition, in the same vein that Thomas Jefferson attempted when he first brought vines to Virgina.  Although Trump’s version of sparkling cannot be called Champagne (since it is not made in that area of France),  the process is done in the same traditional way.

What a fun and unique event Trump was promoting for the holiday season.

Once the prerequisites of the the wine were out of the way, I of course needed to ask some more probing questions dealing with the owner.  Yes, The Donald has visited….and yes he is nice.  But, it is really his son who is ‘in charge’.  He too is nice, and very hands on and the whole transition has been a great one for the winery.  Not that I really expected any other answers, however, they did seem genuine.  Which is good to know.

We had a nice lunch on the porch (the winery has a full service kitchen) and enjoyed the unseasonably warm fall day.    Trump Winery is just lovely.  There is a garden space out front, porches on both sides, and a scenic setting to the back on the tasting room that overlooks a pond, vineyards, the former Kluge estate and the Blue Ride Mountains off in the distance.    Trump winery is doing lots of things right, and I look for it to be a major player in the Virginia wine world going forward.

The beautiful inside of the Blenheim Tasting room

The barrel room is down below, visible through glass partitions.

Less than a mile up a winding road is the other ‘celebrity name’ in Virginia Wine:  Dave Mathews’ Blenheim Vineyards.  This is my fourth trip to Blenheim, and it is ‘as same as it ever was’.  And, I say that in a good way.  Blenheim Vineyards obviously has a firm idea of who they are and what they are doing, and it shows in every aspect of their operation.      Although I am familiar with a few of his ‘mainstream’ songs, I am by no means very knowledgeable about Dave Matthews’ music…but when I visit Blenheim, I cannot help but think that the minimalistic design of the building mimics his music.    And, it is no wonder, as he designed the main building and tasting room of the vineyard.  It is simplistic, rustic and completely one of a kind.    Like nothing else in Virginia.  And, I think that is the point.

The view from the back of the tasting room deck.

On this go around, I did not do a tasting, as I was just a couple days removed from the stomach flu, and wanted to continue in that direction.   Blenhiem does a great thing…if you have tasted there before, and bring back your glass, your tasting is on the house.  I am unaware of any other winery who is quite so generous.  So, I passed along my Blenheim glass from a previous tasting to my friend, and with the glass, she enjoyed a complementary tasting.    I think that is a really cool way to reward repeat customers, of which, I am sure Blenheim has many.    As for me, I just sat on the balcony and  enjoyed the views of the Piedmont in the distance.

The painted red bottle label, designed by Dave Matthews himself.

Even though I did not taste on this trip, actually one of my most memorable moments of our wine tasting adventures happened at Blenheim, circa 2009ish!  Both Mickey and I were fairly new to the wine tasting hobby, and still pretty focused on whites.  Reds were a little complex yet for our then forming palate.  On any tasting list we encountered, reds were never the highlight for us.  And then came Blenheim’s Painted Red.    I am not sure we quite ‘swooned’ when we tasted it…..but something pretty close!  And we quickly bought a bottle, despite its $30 price tag.   Painted Red is their signature wine, a red blend aged in various oak barrels, and the label each year has the distinction of being designed by Dave Matthews himself.   We learned at this most recent tasting that the 2011 vintage, which was what was currently on the tasting list was a pair of boots that Dave Matthews wears when working in the vineyards.  They were anticipating the unveiling of the 2012 design shortly.   Incidentally, we have a collection of a few bottle in our ‘wine cellar’ that have really stood over the years, and the Painted Red with the joker card label occupies a prominent role in the that collection!

This is the tree that inspired the name change from Sugarleaf to Widsom Oak winery. We visited at the tail end of fall, so we were not able to see the tree in all its glory. I found this picture on Wisdom Oak’s Facebook page.

Our last stop on the day was at Wisdom Oak Winery.  Having previously been named Sugarleaf, the title change coincides with a tasting room facility change as well.  The new name reflects a huge oak tree on the vineyard property that graces the wine labels of the vineyard, and did so with even the previous name.  We of course sought out the tree on our visit, but being the end of fall, it was void of leaves….but impressive nonetheless.

This paiting on the wall of the tasting room plays homage to the tree that inspired the winery name change.

Compared to our previous vineyard visits of the day, Wisdom Oak is a very modest operation.  But one that is very earnest and committed to their own vision, in this family run winery.    The new tasting room is in a renovated house on property, just a few yards down the road from the original.  That building in now dedicated to the wine making process.    The feeling in the tasting room is that of being invited into a friends warm and cozy house.  It is tastefully decorated and comfortable, and has a nice selection of wine knickknacks and products.  I went very lightly on this tasting as well because of the whole ‘flu recovery’ thing, so the wines were not especially memorable to me.   But, we had a very friendly pourer and a very nice time at Wisdom Oak.

What did stand out at Wisdom Oak to me, far more than any other vineyard I have ever visited were the tasting notes.  Consider these expressions:

• “Makes for a perfect accompaniment to films by Terrence Malick, Bob Dylan records, and pretty much anything that is beautiful but difficult to actually understand.”  (Cab Franc Reserve)
• “Silken on the palette and notably fruity, the first impression is of cherries and currants, relaxing to a finish that is pleasantly herbaceous.”  (North Garden Red)
• “The tall, dark stranger among our 2012 vintages. This big, full-bodied red has an almost inky cast until it’s held up to the light, which reveals rich, enigmatic tones of crimson and vermillion that are sensual, but with a breath of danger. This is the wine your mother always warned you about. It is every bit as mysterious on the nose, which plays languidly across a broad spectrum aromas including baking spices, vanilla bean, wildflowers, cherries, and blackberries.” (Petit Verdot)
• Serve chilled. Pairs well with June weddings, afternoons at the beach, and happiness in general. (Rose)

And our personal favorite to describe the Cab Franc:

• “Fruit-forward and prodigiously peppery, this young red does not wont for swagger. A JAUNTY ENSEMBLE of raspberries, black cherries, nutmeg and white pepper announce themselves on the nose and practically strut across the palate, trailed by a lingering hint of tobacco that can only mean trouble. The fun kind, of course!”

And, we thus dubbed ourselves for the rest of the day (and on Facebook of course!)…The Jaunty Ensemble!

The wine of Wisdom Oak has inspired quite the descriptive tasting notes list!

With each wine we tasted, it seemed the descriptions got better and better….so, we just had to know the who what and why of the creation of Wisdom Oak’s tasting notes.  It turns out, the son of the owners is a recent college grad, in guess what……Creative writing!  And he is the creator of the best tasting notes I have personally encountered.   We sent our compliments to him (via the pourer) and suggested he market himself out as a tasting notes writer extraordinaire!

On each wine trip, I take something from it (other than a good time) and the tasting notes list at Wisdom Oak had me ruminating on this:  details, details, details.    I do not believe I have ever disliked a vineyard that we have visited.  Each one is so unique and reflective in character, and that is one of the things I like best about these trips: finding new and unique places.  As would be human nature, I connect with some of those characters better than others, thus ‘liking’ certain vineyards more than others.    On occasion, when we have given a ‘negative’ review, it is always on service, and not substance.

I like that Wisdom Oak works with what they have to make them unique.  They are not a ‘grand’ vineyard by any means, but a tiny detail (maybe not tiny to them,as  I am sure it took a long time to come up with such creative tasting notes narrative) will have them forever forged in my memory.

So, here is something to ponder:  What does such a series of tasting notes say about Wisdom Oak as a whole?  Then compare those notes to how Blenheim presents their tasting notes below (I just picked two whites and two reds as examples, but they all follow the same template:

• Viogonier:  crisp — honey — tart — banana
• White Table Wine:  floral — cantaloupe — yellow pear — honeysuckle
• Red Table Wine:  raspberry — lilac — caramel — cranberry
• Painted Red:  violet — blackberry — plum — cranberry

Remember what I said before about Blenheim being minimalistic.  So, a coincidence?  I think not.  The two could not be different in their presentation.  But, in staying true to themselves and their nature, both are producing a great product.

And there you have it, three more VA vineyards visited, and three more enjoyed.  Although they were all  close in proximity, they couldn’t be any more  different in style.  I enjoyed them all for different reasons, but mostly because they provided a backdrop to a memorable broadening of friendships, and another wonderful afternoon in the vines of Virginia!

Grace Estates and Afton Mountain Vineyards and a photo op at Cardinal Point

I loved the rustic signs in the Grace Estates Vineyards!

Minnie’s Take:

We had a nice, crisp fall day for our most recent wine trip, where we did a tasting at one winery in the Northern Monticellio wine trail, and one on along the Western cluster.  Our original plan for this trip was to re-vist a few vineyards that we had not been too since very early on in our wine tasting-hobby days.    But then, I found out about a new winery in Crozet from a beloved teacher of Billy and JJ’s.  Her daughter has just settled on Grace Estates as the venue for her upcoming wedding, and after hearing about her rave reviews, I was surprised Grace Estates had not popped up on our radar before.     Then, upon doing a little research on their webpage and seeing the beautiful views this winery offers…..we just had to alter our plans, and check it out.  And, we were not disappointed.

Turns out, Grace Estates  is now established on the Mt. Juliet Farms in Crozet, VA.  We had been in the vicinity of this property a few times before,when it was just a vineyard, and not a winery.   The property had been very visible to us as we traveled to both White Hall Vineyard and Glass House vineyard on trips in the past.  For the past 18 years, Mt. Juliet Farms has been churning out grapes for a number of VA wineries.   They boast 63 acres of grapes, which sticks out on the road as you travel by.  And then the sheer size and beauty of the estate high on the hill makes you do a double take!  In both of our drive bys, we had been interested in the property, so we were delighted when we arrived at the winery and made the connection.

Grace Estates from the road

Once we got up the long winding road to the estate, we saw that the view from that side was even better.

  The view and the grounds are reason enough to visit Grace Estates.  The employees are another.  They were prompt in greeting us and worked very hard in keeping up with many number of tastings they had in progress.  In between pours, we were able to garner some really interesting information from them.  First off, the winery has only just opened this past June.  However, from the history of the farm, they have well established grapes, and now about 20 % of their grape  to bottle wines under the estate name.  The name of the vineyard and the logo come from the Grace Family of the WR Grace Company  which is a chemical conglomerate.  One of the three brothers, John Grace recently brought the property, as it is a replica of the Kilarney Estates in Ireland which has ties to his ancestors.   Even though the house looks quite old from the road, it is actually a pretty new residence, and that is evident once you get up close and personal.   Mr. Grace’s primary residence is in Switzerland, and thus the basement of the house has recently been turned into a nice tasting room.  On  the first ‘chilly’ fall day we have had so far this year, we were greeted with a toasty fire and some beautiful paintings of the vineyard.  It provides a nice backdrop to a tasting.  Afterwards, we enjoyed a glass (Mickey a Vioginer, and me their Chardonnay) outside on the porch taking in the view.

Looking back towards the tasting room and porch of Grace Estates.

Our visit to Grace Estates was most enjoyable, and we look forward to seeing how this vineyard develops in the coming years.  With a beautiful setting and friendly employees, they are off to a promising start.

Cardinal Point’s LOVEworks sign is wonderful!

From Grace Estates,  we veered back to our original plan of visiting one of our early forays into the Virginia wine world: Cardinal Point.  We had a few of these to chose from, but I had an ulterior motive in picking Cardinal Point:  they have a Virginia LOVE works piece made out of wine barrels.  That in and of itself was reason enough to pay Cardinal Point a visit.  Turns out, that was all we got.  The tasting room was busting at the seams, and we were a bit pressed for time, so we decided to head up the road to Afton Mountain Vineyards.

Afton Mountain Vineyards was just up the road, and  Mickey had wanted to go there instead of Cardinal Point the in the first place, as he had been reading about all the upgrades Afton Mountain has made in the past few years and was excited to check them out.  But, I insisted on Cardinal Point for the LOVEworks.  In the end, I was so glad we check out Afton Mountain. (But, we also got a cute picture…..so it all worked out!)

First, there is the view…..

The amazing view at Afton Mountain….even on an overcast day!

Pretty much backs up their claim that ‘grapes don’t grow in ugly places’!

What a gem Afton Mountain Winery is……and they are doing so many things right.  First off, they have moved from their original tasting room into what used to be the house of the previous owner.  That tasting room and patio have then been expanded upon a few times, and an additional patio/ weather proof pagoda has been added on to the premises.  The facility is only overshadowed by the view:

And then, there is their service…..as soon as we stepped in the door, we were greeted by a friendly employee who asked if we wanted a tasting, and directed us to a couch to wait while a space was created for us in a tasting.  Shortly thereafter, we were added to one already in progress.  Interestingly enough, the other couple in our group had seen us at Cardinal Point, and left for the same reasons.  They were a fun pair, and combined with a hilarious pourer, we had the best time making our way down the enjoyable list of wines at Afton Mountain.  You have the choice here to taste just reds, just whites or both.  Our friends left after the whites, which left us to chat up our pourer for the rest of the tasting.   She had been at Afton Mountain through all of the expansion and gave us some nice history and fun anecdotes during her time working at the winery.

We are quite smitten with Afton Mountain Winery, and already have plans to head back next month with friends for our fall ‘un-win(e)d Friday!’

One other side note from this trip through the Monticello wine region is this:   weekends in Virginia wine country are getting busier.  There is much more traffic on the roads, and the tasting rooms are bustling.    At the outset, we thought we would meet small crowds since it was a home UVA football game.  But, it was noticeably busier than last fall.  It’s no wonder….as it is a great hobby, and a really great way to spend the day.  We are thrilled to see the industry booming, and hope that the vineyards will keep in step with the growth so wine tasting in the Old Dominion remains a pleasant pastime.

 

Mickey’s Take:

This past weekend, we decided to take a trip to enjoy the beautiful fall foliage while sampling some great wine.  We left Harrisonburg with a plan to visit Grace Estates Winery in the Crozet area and then perhaps check out Cardinal Point Winery and/or Afton Mountain Vineyards on the way back home.  Our visit to both Grace Estates and Afton Mountain were spectacular, as I will discuss in more detail below.

Grace Estates Winery

The tasting room for this winery is located in the “walk-out” basement of a very large home, located on top of a ridge, in the White Hall area of Albemarle County.  There is a patio and sizable yard area behind this home that are amply furnished with comfortable chairs, couches, etc. which are perform to enjoy both the wine and the view.  The view faces to the east and is absolutely spectacular.  Similar to Stone Mountain, but without the crazy drive.

The service was great.  We were greeted at the door and promptly seated for our tasting as the bar was full.  The servers were obviously busy, but they did not appear harried nor did they rush us through our tasting.  They were professional and friendly, but also very efficient.  My only criticism is that they did not seem extremely knowledgeable about wine.

I did not keep tasting notes on each wine and my memory is now fading (this happens when you approach 40).  However, the wines were not memorable with the exception of the Viognier and the Chardonnay, but for different reasons.  I found the Chardonnay to be very weak and over-oaked, very disappointing.  In contrast, the Viognier was medium bodied and full of a bright fruit flavor.  An excellent wine that can be enjoyed with a light meal or by itself.  The other wines were all average.  Not great, but not bad either.  Drinkable.

All in all, Grace Estates Winery is spectacular.  Definitely a “must see” if you are in the Crozet area.  You will love the view and service while probably finding at least one wine that you enjoy.

Afton Mountain Vineyards

 

In a word, “awesome”!  We first visited Afton Mountain Vineyards approximately six years ago when we were first beginning our journey to become accomplished winos.  Our recollection of the visit was vague, but we knew the tasting room was small and we heard bad things about their service in subsequent years.  Recently, I had heard that new owners had totally revamped this vineyard and that it was a great place to visit.  What an understatement!

The spacious new tasting room is in a renovated home with views to match those from Veritas (which is located just a few miles down the road).  Additionally, there is a large outdoor seating covered seating area that you can enjoy if you wish.  We were greeted at the door by an employee who immediately seated us and then directed us to the first available server.  Our server was extremely friendly, engaging, and knowledgeable about wine.  Definitely one of the top servers which we have encountered at our many (although not enough) vineyard visits.

The covered seating area is a great addition to the grounds at Afton Mountain

As at Afton Mountain, I did not do a good job keeping tasting notes.  Bad, Mickey!  With that being said, my recollection is that all of the wines are good.  However, the Pinot Noir and Cab Sav, were much better than average.  Very tasty and better than most.

The next time you want to a visit a vineyard in the Charlottesville area, I’d recommend that you skip the crowds at King Family/Veritas and visit Afton Mountain Vineyards!

Pollack and King Family Vineyards

Mickey Says:

My beautiful bride and I visited Pollak and King Family Vineyards on a recent Saturday afternoon to celebrate our 12^th Wedding Anniversary!  It’s hard to believe we have been married for 12 years as the time has flown by.  It’s also hard to believe that neither one of us enjoyed wine when we were married and did not visit our fist vineyard until our 5^th Wedding Anniversary.  What a great 7 years of viticulture enjoyment and an even better 12 years of marriage!

Pollack Vineyards is simply beautiful!

We had visited Pollak Vineyards on two occasions in the past, but both times were several years ago and our tastes have since changed.  We remember it to be a beautiful vineyard with great wines, so we took advantage of the beautiful late spring weather to visit once again and see if time would change our opinion.  In general, we greatly enjoyed our visit and would highly recommend this vineyard to anyone wanting to enjoy very good Virginia Wines.

The wines were all very good, but very acidic.  Not overwhelmingly so, but noticeable.  They all, with the exception of the Pinot Gris, should be enjoyed with food in order to cut the acid.  Pollak should consider serving food pairings with their tastings like some vineyards in the Northern Virginia area.

The tasting room is modern and spacious with nice views.  However, it was slightly overcrowded when we visited and the two servers could not keep up with the number of visitors.  All in all, more help and a better system of pouring would be welcomed.  The bottom line is Pollak is a good winery that was a pleasure to visit.

• 2011 Chardonnay – This wine is fruity and light, but very acidic.  Really needs to be enjoyed with food in order to really appreciate its flavor.
• 2011 Viognier – This light wine present noticeable notes of honeysuckle with a very balanced finish.  However, as with the Chardonnay, the acidity was obvious.
• 2011 Durant White – A very crisp white with a long finish.
• 2012 Pinot Gris – The only wine at Pollak that did not present noticeable acidity.  This wine was light and fruity and would be very enjoyable on the patio after a good meal.
• 2012 Rose’ – I have found most Rose’s from wines in the Monticello AVA to be somewhat acidic with an unbalanced finish.  This Rose’ is no exception.  The only wine I tasted at Pollak that I would definitely not recommend.
• 2011 Merlot – This merlot was of medium body with very slight tannins.  As regular readers know, I am not a big fan of merlot and this wine is no exception.  It was OK as far Merlots go, but not a wine that I would purchase.
• 2011 Cabernet Franc – This bright red was very peppery and would be very good with a backyard cookout.  A very good selection.

The pond provides a nice backdrop to the vineyard, and it is a beautiful sight to take in from the wrap around porch.

Minnie Says:

Pollack Vineyards is just a few miles outside of Charllotesville, but is has the feel of being completely out in the middle of nowhere , in all the best ways possible.  Even though we knew where we were going, we had a few moments of feeling lost as we traversed the winding roads into the vineyard.  Then as we rounded the last corner, the vines and tasting room seem to spring out of nowhere.  Practically flush up against the Blue Ridge Mountains, Pollack Vineyards boasts a quintessential central Virgnina Vineyard feel.  The setting is beautiful and serene:  a modern tasting room with wrap around floor to ceiling windows to take in the views:  of the mountains and a quaint pond and the well manicured vines.

This is our third trip to Pollack Vineyards and we have always been impressed with the wines, from the first trip we made in 2005 (when they were less than 2 years old).  I will leave the tasting notes to Mickey, but in general,  I thought all the wines were solid.  They all had pronounced acidity.  And because of this, they would all be interesting to taste with food to see how they stand up to different ingredients.

This great table was made by an employee of Pollack. It is a wine barrel split in half, filled up with corks. If only I had an extra $500 lying around, it could be mine!

We hit the tasting room and had finished our tasting just before a big crowd descended upon Pollack.  It is a good thing because they only had two pourers during the time we were there….which made for a long wait time, as we witnessed upon our departure.  We were lucky enough to have our pourer all to ourselves, and he was quite knowledgeable about the wine making process and the wine industry.  I always enjoy it when we have time to engage the staff at vineyards because we can always pick up some good tidbits.

• Two of the wines on the tasting list have the name Durant in them.  When I inquired as to what significance this name had, I learned that ancestors of the vineyards owners lived in Durant, Colorado during the mining boom.  They owned Smugglers mine.  The name pays homage to that connection.  Further, the newly forming Wine Club at Pollack will be nammed the Smugglers Society.   One of the reasons I love to visit all the vineyards we can is to see how the personality of the owners are reflected in the tasting room and the decor and the feel of the vineyard.  Pollack’s allusions to the Colorado mining side of their family is a prime example of such trends.  And one of the more unique names I have encountered.
• While we were tasting, another patron asked if the glass was included in the tasting fee.  To which the reply was no.  When she indicated that another vineyard just up the road included theirs in the fee, the Pollack employee told her ABC laws would not allow them to give out glasses based upon an upgrade in the law just prior to them opening in 2003.  Older vineyards are ‘grandfathered’ into the law, meaning they can still include the glass in the fee.   Another change to this clause is being able to ‘waive’ the tasting fee if a bottle is bought, which is no longer allowed by ABC laws.   I have often wondered about the different tasting fees at different vineyards, and have noticed how much the tasting fees have risen since we started our tasting hobby about seven years ago.   I guess I never thought how much the laws and regulations affect the changes.  This is especially interesting to me coming on the heels of our trip to Arrington Vineyards in Tennessee and noting how much their state laws affect the vineyard experience.   Another thing to always remember in the tasting fee is how many wines are offered.  We tasted 9 wines at Pollack for a $5 fee.  The glass would have been an additional $4.  We have tasted as little as 4 wines at vineyards and upwards of a dozen at others.  Bottom line is, not all tastings are the same.
• The final interesting tidbit I will share from our tasting at Pollack is the affect of rain on the vineyards and ultimately what ends up in the bottle from each vintage.  Ever heard people say such and such year was particularly good (or bad) for the wine making process?  Well, as we all know, weather has so much to do with growing grapes.  That is one reason that California is such an amazing wine making region:  because the weather is so predictable.  In Virgnina, not so much!  Take 2011, when we had two hurricanes sweep through in the early fall.  How does that affect the grapes, and thus the wine?  Rain is wonderful for the vines all through the growing season in the spring.  But once the grapes change color, too much rain can taint the fruit, and in extreme cases lead to rot.  Winemakers are then faced with the decision to move up the harvest and alter the wine making process.  The process of wine making is so interesting to me.  It is so complicated, and it seems like the more you know, the more you realize what you dont know!  It is a true science and art.

Now a few last words on Pollack Vineyards.  Not this past trip specifically, but in general.   When we first visited Pollack and they were fairly new, we were impressed with the young vineyards solid wine and felt it had amazing ‘possibilities’.  Gorgeous views, first rate tasting room and solid wine.  We thought it was poised to be one of the flagship vineyards in Central Virginia.  Our opinions have not really changed in three subsequent visits.  But the thing is, Pollack really has not changed either.  The wines remain solid, the setting is as beautiful as ever, but there is a nagging feeling I had when visiting there that Pollack is underachieving.  Admittedly, I have a bias on the ‘experience’ of  a vineyard, but I find the experience at Pollack to be a bit sterile.  The food offerings are minimal and in the flashes in time that we have been there, they do not seem to manage crowds well (as evident with just two visible employees).  And on a beautiful Saturday afternoon, there was no entertainment.   (although I do know they have an active Friday evening sunset series).  I feel a little bad being critical of Pollack, and judging by the crowds they attract, they seem to be doing just fine.  And, I would recommend anyone to visit there should they ask.  But, it would not be one of the vineyards I offer up to visit, or even come close to breaking into our top 10 list……which is a shame, because they seem to have so much potential.

King Family

The absolutely wonderful King Family Vineyards.

Mickey Says:

Cheers to us on our 12th anniversary. We are lucky to share such a fun hobby together in wine tasting.

Once again, we were reminded why King Family Vineyards is one of our favorite wineries.  The atmosphere is great, the view is breath taking, the service is good, and the wines are all solid.  I did not keep notes on each wine we tasted at King Family Vineyards as the tasting room was crowded and there was not much room to take notes.  However, they were all solid and could all be enjoyed with either food or by themselves.

King Family was very busy with the UVa Student/Yuppie crowd when we visited.  However, the staff was well prepared and did an excellent job of handling the number of visitors.  The only complaint was low number of restrooms for the large crowd, but a renovation is currently underway which will increase the number of restrooms.

This vineyard is absolutely spectacular and is a must visit for anyone wanting to learn about the Virginia Wine industry or for anyone wanting to spend a beautiful afternoon at a winery.

Minnie Says:

We have visited King Family numerous times, in fact, it was the first vineyard we ever visited in the Monticello region.  So, in a sense, our love of wine tastings began here.    Most of our visits in between have been to enjoy the Roseland polo matches on Sunday afternoons, which is an amazing experience in an of itself.   But, we have not done a tasting in quite a number of years.  When we arrived, the tasting room was practically wall to wall with patrons, and we stood there quite overwhelmed.  I had just uttered the words, ‘maybe we should go somewhere else’ when an employee of King Family greeted us and took a moment to decide where to direct us best for a tasting.  (there are 3 tasting bars, with multiple pourers at each bar).  Shortly thereafter, another employee materialized and escorted us to the end of a bar where a large group was wrapping up their tasting.  Amazing service.  I love that!  Because in a few short moments, we would have been on our way.

Currently, these doors lead to the barrel room. But King Family will be soon expanding the tasting room into this space, and establishing the barrel room elsewhere on the property.

I am so glad we stayed, however. We enjoyed speaking with our pouerer, who works for King Family on the weekends.  During the week, she is a UVA Law student who is prepping for her bar quite soon.  She was well versed in the operation at King Family, and had a solid knowledge of their wines.  We learned that King Family is in the process of expanding to accommodate the huge crowds they get for tastings.  A new barrel room is being built at the entrance of their property, and the  tasting room is expanding into the current barrel room.  And major great news, they are adding more bathrooms.  (If I had a critique of King Family, it would be that they only have two bathrooms, and their location builds up a huge line that snakes through the tasting room!  In fact, I would have this critique of most vineyards:  not enough bathrooms!)  But, I digress….

After sampling all their wines, we each got a glass and enjoyed the amazing views that King Family has to offer.  They rival any views we have seen at any vineyard we have visited.  There are many options to enjoy the grounds at King Family, and the place was packed with young and old, playing frisbee, picnicing, throwing footballs and relaxing.

As mentioned before, there is a polo field adjacent to King Family and a horse barn, and much of the merchandise that is sold in the tasting room, and indeed some of the wine is inspired by or related to the sport of polo.  The Roseland Polo club holds matches on Sunday afternoons and they are open to the public, free of charge.  It is a wonderful way to spend the afternoon, and we have enjoyed a few matches over the years.  Taken directly from the King Family website, the Roseland Polo matches are described as follows:

Roseland Polo is a favorite activity of the Good Time Wine Club!

Polo matches are held every Sunday from Memorial Day weekend through mid-October, weather and field

Roseland Polo is a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

conditions permitting. Matches begin at 1:00 pm and typically last about 1 1/2 hours. Matches may be cancelled depending on field conditions, rain, excessive heat or any number of reasons.

http://www.kingfamilyvineyards.com/polo.php

To me, King Family epitomizes everything I love about our hobby of visiting vineyards and doing tastings, and it is so quintessentially Virgina as well.  It ranks high on our top ten list, and I could really argue that it is becoming a flagship vineyard of the Virginia wine industry.  I thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon spent there, and imagine we will be back again real soon.

Mountains and Vines at King Family

Our top 10 Virginia Vineyards…Currently

Editors Note: In  the course of the last four years, we have visited over 50 vineyards in Virginia and California.  With each visit, our wine ‘hobby’ has grown, and with it our knowledge (so we like to think).  This blog just came to us on a whim, and is in its very early stages.  Thus in all of the reviews below, we are relying on memory….and in some cases, of over a year.  

We are presenting this top ten  list as a way to establish our blog, and we are sure this list will change over time.   Our reviews will be a mix of the experience at each vineyard (written primarily by Minnie) and then wines…(courtesy of  Mickey, especially any snarky comments, who ‘fancies’ himself as the Anthony Bourdain of Virginia wines!).   

We place value on both aspects: we value good wines, but we also cherish the experience of being at a vineyard.    In looking at our list objectively, I see that we probably weigh the ‘experience’ factor a bit more than the wines for the overall vineyard rating….often because we see our wine trips as a break from reality, a time to savor together as a couple, or in the company of good friends.  And enjoying our time there is of utmost importance to us. 

We have a few wine trips planned for this fall, and look forward to reporting timely reviews going forward.   Please give us feedback on our favorites and/or your tips on vineyards to visit.  We are always looking for ideas for future trips!

Cheers! ❤ Mickey and Minnie

10) Barren Ridge Vineyards:  Shenandoah Valley Wine Trail. Good to ‘pair with’ Bluestone Vineyards, Cross Key Vineyards

The experience: This is one of the closest vineyards to our home in Harrisonburg, and we have been so happy for all of their success.  They host a number of events on their beautiful grounds….weddings, live music, sunsets at the vineyard (which are stunning over the back of their tasting room)…and our favorite:  Vine to Wine 5K in the spring, and the Autumn Toast 5K in the fall.  After a grueling 3.1 miles on the roads around the vineyard, we reward ourselves with a picnic dinner, good times with friends, and a bottle of Barren Ridge Tinkling Springs.

Enjoying the sunset and the ambiance of Barren Ridge with good friends after the 2012 Vine to Wine 5K.

The Wines:  I tend to favor big whites and reds in the “California” style over the Bordeaux style, which seems to be more prevalent in the Valley and Central Virginia areas of Virginia. With that being said, none of the wines at Barren Ridge stand out as overly great. However, they are all solid and are good values. You won’t be “wowed” by most of the wine at Barren Ridge, but
you also won’t be disappointed. All in all…solid.

9) Veritas Winery:  Monticello Wine Trail.  Good to ‘pair with’ King Family Vineyards,  Afton Mountain Vineyard

The Experience:  Veritas Vineyard is one of the ‘it’ vineyards in Central Virginia, and for good reason.  It is beautiful, set at the base of Afton Mountain, and with an amazing tasting room and event facility.  Although we have done three tastings here over the years,  and enjoyed a few nice cheese plates on their grounds;   what keeps bringing us back is their monthly summer event, Starry Nights.   We love heading over there with good friends for a night of dancing and fun under the stars.

The only downfall of Veritas really comes at the cost of them being so popular.  They are always packed, which makes it hard to have a distinctive tasting experience here.  The staff often seems overwhelmed and stressed out.   And, over the years,  even Starry Nights seem to be reaching their capacity.  It is sometimes hard to even walk through the crowds….not to mention the line buying wine (and at the bathroom!)  But, the crowds go for a reason, and that is that Veritas is a good time, and a great place to see, and be seen!

The Wine:  It’s been a while since we’ve done a tasting, so take my comments with a grain of salt.  I seem to remember that the winemaker is a VA Tech graduate, which is a great thing (unless you like decent offenses in football).

None of the reds are great, but none are horrible.  They all are OK, but WAY overpriced.  The whites are all good, but not great.  The Viognier is the best.  Their desert wines are very good if you like that kind of thing.  Personally, I thought they tasted like Robitussin cough syrup (anyone have memories of their moms shoving that stuff down their throat as a kid whey they were sick), but my wife thought they were the best thing in the world (probably because she enjoys dumping Robitussin down our kids’ throats every time they sneeze twice in 24 hours).  The bottom line is the wines are decent if you are there for Starry Nights or to enjoy the view on a beautiful afternoon.  However, they are WAY, WAY, WAY overpriced if you want to purchase a bottle for home.  You can buy a bottle at Martin’s or Costco that is three times better for half the price!!!!

8)Fabbioli Cellars:  Loudon County Wine Trail – Potomac Wing.  Good to ‘pair with’ Tarara Winery,  Lost Creek Winery, Hidden Brook Winery.

The Experience:  This is one of the best tasting experiences we have had at a Virginia vineyard.  They have multiple tasting areas and utilize a individualized approach.  We lucked out into getting a pourer all to ourselves, who was extremely knowledgeable.   He imparted much knowledge to us, not only about Fabbioli wines, but the wine industry in general.  Having  a strong background in farming as well, he handled all the questions we peppered him with, giving us good insight in what it really takes to run a vineyard (a one day dream of ours!).

As part of their standard tastings, Fabbioli includes bite-sized food parings to taste alongside the wine.  Apparently this is a standard practice at French vineyards, but it was our first experience with the process.   The addition of food takes the tasting to a new level, both of knowledge of food/wine parings, but also with understanding many of the terms used in tastings that might be foreign (or even sound ‘snooty’) to some.    Fabbioli is big on the ‘buy local’ movement, so all the cheese and meats and chocolates were from Loudon County farmers and merchants.   That adds a nice touch.

The story behind Fabbioli  Cellars is inspiring:  the owner (Doug Fabbioli)  has worked a number of years in the industry for others, and is very established in his craft.  He then decided to make a go for it himself, and has transformed the basement of his house into the tasting room, and is finding much critical success.   We get the sense that some vineyards focus more on the events that a vineyard can host and some focus more on the craft of making fine wine.  Fabbioli Cellars is strongly in the later camp.   While the grounds are tastefully done,  it lacks any kind of view and is quite small in area.    So while the tasting experience is #1 on our list, it is not a vineyard we would frequent regularly for the atmosphere and to sip a glass (or two) on the premises.  However, any budding oenophile should check Fabbioli Cellars out….for sure!

Fabioli Cellars in located in the basement of the owners house. The tasting experience pairs food with the wine for a top notch experience.

The Wines:  The  wine that I specifically recall is the Paco Rojo.  It is a fruity red with enough body to hold up to a grilled hamburger, but light enough to enjoy by itself on the back porch.  It is a great value!  One of the best Virginia reds.  It very much reminds me of an Italian table wine.  None of the rest of the wines standout, but they were all good.  They were all wines you would gladly drink again, but you would not HAVE to buy on the spot.  I thought the overall quality approached what you would find in California.  However, as with all Virginia wines,the price point was a little high for the quality.  With that being said, supporting your local business is worth additional dollars, so buy Fabioli!

Doukenie Winery has a family farm setting, with a gorgeous tasting room, and a very attentive staff.

7) Doukenie Winery– Loudon County Wine Trail – Loudon Heights Cluster.  Good to ‘pair with’ Breaux Vineyards

The Experience:  Our visit to this vineyard is a prime example of how an attentive staff can impact their visitors in a positive way, and in turn their views on the entire vineyard.  Upon hearing my favorite varietal was Chardonnay, our pourer went to the back and brought out two separate vintages our their reserve Chardonnays not usually offered with the tasting.  She provided information on how weather had impacted each of the years, and how it translated into the differences in the bottles.  Extending beyond the talk of wine, she was so personable and attentive, that she elevated our overall impression of Doukeine. (which were pretty high to begin with!)

Their facilities are gorgeous, boasting a tasting rooms with expansive windows to take in the surrounding view.  There is a ‘sweet little lake’ with ducks that would be a nice place to spend a few hours.  And all of this is on a well-maintained family farm.  Doukeine Winery hosts the Virginia Wine Country Half Marathon: http://www.run4virginiawine.com/ This is on our future ‘to do’ lists.  There is a very popular Bed and Breakfast,  Stone Manor, just  a few miles up the road in Lovettesville, VA.  This B&B  which would make a great home base to visit Doukeine Winery, and discover other Loundon County vineyards.  We have never had the opportunity to stay there ourselves, as it books up far in advance.  So it is also on our future ‘to do’ lists.  One way or the other, we want to head back to Doukeine Winery real soon.

The Wines: As you may have gathered by my comments on Veritas, I’m typically not a huge fan of desert or fruit wines (i.e. raspberry wine, blueberry wine, etc.).  However, that is definitely not the case at Doukenie.  The Hope’s Legacy Raspberry is a great desert wine and, believe it or not, pairs well with Smores!  The Elderberry Fruit wine is also good, but I found it to be a bit to “syrupy” for my tastes.

The remainder of the wines, both reds and whites, were sound, but with no real standouts.  With the possible exception of the Chardonnay which had hints of cream and butter with a healthy dose of fruit.

7) Gray Ghost Vineyards– Blue Ridge Wine Way Trail.  Good to ‘pair with’ Narmada Winery

The Experience:  Of all of the visits on this initial list, Gray Ghost  is our most recent.  The tastings are free, and the wine superb.  I typically leave the wine remarks to Mickey, but I have to say…top to bottom, I think Gray Ghost has the best wines in Virginia….at least on the white side.  Because I often value the little nuisances of vineyards, I must mention here  Gray Ghost’s glasses (available at a charge).  They are very unique, with a a black stem and  great logo.  In fact, they have two glasses….an additional one for their delicious dessert wine, a smaller one with gold plated lettering, a real beauty.  Needless to say, we brought home both glasses for our wine glass collection, and they occupy a prominent position.

After our tasting, we headed up to the wonderfully decorated (and cozy) second floor to enjoy a bottle of their Chardonnay and a cheese plate with our GTWC friends.  The men engaged a discussion about Colonel Mosby, the Confederate General from whom this vineyard was named, giving us an impromptu Civil War history lesson.   The entire afternoon passed far too quickly, and it felt as if we had spent the day in a good friend’s living room.    A strong thunderstorm hit while we were at the vineyard which prevented us from enjoying (or even exploring) the outside grounds of Gray Ghost.  So, a return trip is definitely in order.   A nice add-on if you are in the area would be to drive through the town of Little Washington.   This small town boasts a world class restaurant, The Inn at Little Washington.  Being the ‘foodies’ that we are, we enjoyed just driving by this legend and gawking at it from the outside.

Gray Ghost is named after Colnoel Mosby from the Confederate Army during the Civil War.

The Wines: The best all around tasting we have had in Virginia.  All of the wines were above average, but the Whites really stood out from the competition.  I specifically enjoyed the Gewurztraminer, which I believe would be great with any spicy food dish or by itself, and the Chardonnay.  I enjoy a good Chardonnay, whether it is aged in Stainless Steel or Oak.  However, my favorites are big, bold, and buttery and aged in Oak.  Both of their Chardonnay’s are aged in Oak and are excellent!  Great on their own or especially good with a cheesy and/or creamy dish.

Chateau Morissete’s large tasting room facility

5) Chateau Morrisette Winery – Blue Ridge Wine Trail.  Good to ‘pair with’ Villa Appalachia Vineyards

The Experience:  If Virginia has a destination winery, this one is it!  Chateau Morrisette is located on the Blue Ridge Parkway,  miles from most of the population centers of the state.  But, this winery is prospering because visiting there is an experience.  Their wines are also the most readily available of the Virginia wines in local grocery stores and restaurants which makes Chateau Morrisette one of the most recognized Virginia vineyards.  We made the trip down as part to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary last summer.    Our experience was very reminiscent of many of the large vineyards we had visited in California the year before.

We got the sense that Chateau Morrisette is always busy, yet they handle their crowds well.  They have a great system for getting people through a tasting in a professional and almost personal way.  And, they have a very large retail section selling wine related items, and merchandise promoting ‘the dogs’.  Many of their wines are named after the owners dogs, and they often have dog events at the winery, and even have set up a large charity dedicated to dog interests.   They brand their love for dogs very well, and I think it is an appealing theme for many (of course, I am a crazy dog lady!)  After the tasting, there are numerous places to enjoy a glass of wine and a cheese plate on the premiss.  There are covered porches, an indoor section, and then a large lawn outside  with lots of Adirondack Chairs overlooking  beautiful views the Blue Ridge Mountains.   We watched in awe as a large thunderstorm slowly rolled in during our visit.   The winery runs a wonderful restaurant onsite, in which we had the pleasure to dine.  They pair their food…with of course, Chateau Morrisette wines.   There is not, however, a hotel onsite…..but one can find accommodations in the funky mountain town of Floyd…..or through rental cabins all along the Blue Ridge Parkway.

An amazing site…watching a thunderstorm roll into the vineyard.

The Wines:  I’m sad to say that the wines at this vineyard are mostly below average.  This is especially depressing when you realize that the owners are huge Virginia Tech fans.  I believe it is very possible that Tech’s football coaches all moonlight as the winemakers at Chateau Morrisette.

With that being said, I really enjoy their Sweet Mountain Laurel.  I know this is odd coming from someone who professes to love big, bold wines.  However, every now and again it is fun to have a nice, light, sweet wine before dinner.  This wine is a great value.

Their Chardonnay is also passable.  Definitely not something you would want to purchase unless it was on sale for  a VERY cheap price, but not horrible.

4)  Blenhiem Vineyards:  Monticello Wine Trail.  Good to ‘pair with’ Kluge Vineyards, Jefferson Vineyards

The Experience:  Blenheim is a very trendy, and yet unpretentious vineyard.  The owner, and as we understand, designer of the vineyard is Dave Matthews.  Even though I am not a huge fan, I think that is cool distinction for this vineyard.   Especially since we have been told that he is very involved with all aspects of Blenheim.  The tasting room is very modern, and to my untrained eye….very ‘architecuraly savy’ (I might have just created a word here).  Behind the bar is a large window and deck that looks out on the vineyard below.  The entire space is very welcoming.    The first time we visited Blenheim, we were both very partial to white wines…..and typically only drank red with steaks.  However, this visit began to change that pattern.  At first sip of their Painted Red wine, we loved it…..and even went so far as to take a $35 bottle home!  I will leave the rest of the wine discussion to Mickey, but suffice it to say for me to share that story three years later, it was a memorable wine!

Our wonderful friends that we do tastings with as often as possible, The Good Time Wine Club at Blenheim Vineyards.

The Wines:  The reds at Blenheim are awesome! All of them are smooth and full bodied. The best is the “Painted
Red” table wine. This wine would hold up to a steak, but could also be enjoyed with Pizza or by itself.

The whites are average at best. However, the reds are so good that the overall wine quality at this
vineyard is definitely way above average.

3) Chateau O’Brien Winery – Faquier County Wine Trail.   Good to ‘pair with’ Naked Mountain Vineyards, Three Fox Vineyards

The Experience: We discovered this winery by accident, and we are so glad we did!  This is a vineyard that takes their wines seriously, and offers three structured and tiered tasting options.  Mickey and one of our good time wine friends did the Cellar Collection Tasting which concentrated more on big, bold reds , while the rest of our group did the Classic wine tasting because it offered more whites.  We were all happy with our respective tastings.  The Cellar group had the advantage of having the owner do their pouring which they enjoyed very much.  We have read on reviews that he is rude and pretentious, but we just found him to be passionate about his product and proud of his wine.  And, all in all, our entire group of six felt the wines at Chateau O’Brien are on the top tier of wines we have had in Virginia.     There is a large social space at Chateau O’Brien with windows that open on a nice day, which all combine for an inviting atmosphere.  After our tasting, we shared a few cheese plates and chocolate plates on the porch and enjoyed our visit immensely.  Great wine, tasty treats and amazing friends made this a memorable afternoon indeed.  In fact, it is at Chateau O’Brien where we our group got its name, The Good Time Wine Club (GTWC!).

Cheers to the G.T.W.C.!!!
We thought the colors of these wines were just so beautiful, so we snapped this picture in remembrance of a great visit to Chateau O’Brien.

The Wines: The best Virginia reds we have tasted! We stopped into this vineyard after a disappointing visit to
another local winery not expecting to be “wowed.” We were pleasantly surprised!

I enjoy BIG reds with lots of flavor and a high alcohol content. This is definitely the place for you if
strong reds with lots of jammy fruit is your thing. Unfortunately, the price point of the wine at Chateau
O’Brien is high, but I believe it is due to the strong demand. Their reds are great and they know it!

Pippen Hill is breathtakingly beautiful in every way!

2) Pippen Hill Farm and Vineyard:  Monticello Wine Trail.  Good to ‘pair with’ Lovingston Vineyard (however, once you get there, you might find you have no desire to leave!)

The Experience:  Pippen Hill is all about the experience.  They have an amazing facility, inside and out.  It as if all the high end decorating magazine spreads have jumped off the pages and  all over Pippen Hill Farm and Vineyard.  From the breathtaking events barn, to the inviting porch, to the cozy tasting room; everything is tastefully done and beautifully presented, and in a word:  Grand!  (Our friend even took a picture of the bathroom for decorating inspiration).  We have idled away a few afternoons here, and every second was time well spent.

Pippen Hill also has a full service kitchen which in and of itself is a big draw.  The food is all inspired and unique cuisine (they have named it ‘vineyard to table’)….from charcuterie boards to mini sliders…..to amazing cupcakes, the food is very tasty….and meant to be shared.  The ingredients are local and the presentation is artistic, and of course it is all paired to the wine.   The setting and the wine and the food are then all elevated by the staff at Pippen Hill.  The pourers and servers are all knowledgeable about their product.  They are very attentive and very engaging.  They are masters of entertaining: like everyone there is visiting their house for a party, and they are the ‘hostess with the most-est’.   Pippen Hill is fairly new and perhaps a little under the radar yet in the Virginia Vineyard world.  But, look for them to be one of the ‘it’ vineyards real soon…..and when they do, you read it here first!

An afternoon spent at Pippen Hill with good friends should be done more often. Let’s play hookey and go back real soon!

The Wines: The best way to describe the wines at this vineyard is “young.”  None are really good, but none are bad.  However, I get the feeling that this vineyard is putting real effort into developing good wine and each passing year will be an improvement.  In my opinion, the whites are the best value with the Chardonnay as the best of the group.  It is aged in 50% stainless steel barrels and 50% oak barrels and is crisp and refreshing.  The Rose’ is also a sound wine that would hold up to most foods, but is crisp enough to drink on its own.  You won’t be wowed by any of the wine at Pippin Hill, but you will enjoy sipping them on their porch.

1) Stone Mountain Vineyards:  Monticello Wine Trail.  Good to ‘pair with’ Autumn Hill Vineyard (formally Sweely Estates) (however, once you get there, you might find you have no desire to leave!)

The experience:  Stone Mountain is the most unique vineyard we have ever had the pleasure of visiting.  We actually discovered this vineyard on a hike.  Looking down from Skyline Drive towards Bacon Hollar, we saw a large building which we took at the time for a hotel.  Thinking it was a place we might like to visit and stay in sometime, Mickey did a little research and found out it was in fact a vineyard….so we visited it very shortly thereafter, and have been back many times.

According to a  GPS, Stone Mountain is only 17 miles away from our house…’as the crow flies’!    Drive time:  more than an hour.   In driving there, you think you must be lost, and that there is no way you are headed to a vineyard.  To some, the drive up, around, through , up over and up again has been described as scarey.  But, rest assured in this little tidbit, curtsey of Mickey:  Firetrucks, construction trucks and concrete trucks have made it up this hill.  So, you can too!    The first time we made the trip, I distinctly remember thinking (after a particularly windy stretch of road…did I mention I get car sick?)  “This better be worth it!”  And you know what?  It is…..you feel like you have been transported to a Swiss Chalet as you reach the tasting room and savor the view.

Inside the rustic building, there is a wide open room that magnifies the mountain view.  A few sets of French doors open to a wrap-around porch and amazing view.   Stone Mountain does offer a few light fare items, and you can call ahead and reserve a box lunch.  But, we recommend packing a picnic, finding your spot, grabbing a bottle of the Revenuers Select and soaking in everything Stone Mountain has to offer!   In closing,  I want to share two of their slogans that will really make sense once you have visited Stone Mountain:   ‘Climb the Mountain, see how a positive change in altitude, brings a positive change in attitude’ and ‘We are not the first in Bacon Hollow to bottle alcohol, but we are the first to do it legally!’

Yes, this view is worth the drive into Bacon Hollar!

The Wines:  Three words describe the wines from Stone Mountain: Fun, Fun, and Fun! I doubt any of them would
meet with approval from “wine snobs”, but the majority of them are fun to drink and great for sipping
on the back porch or while hanging out with friends.

I haven’t done a full tasting in about a year, so I don’t remember the details of all of the wines
(however…we will be visiting and conducting a full tasting in a few weeks). I don’t remember any details
about their reds. Obviously, this would seem to indicate that none of them were great, but none were
bad.

Stone Mountain’s real strength is in their whites. The best is Bacon Hollow Revenuers’ Select which
is a sweet table wine. It is crisp with lots of fruit flavors and floral notes on the nose. I wouldn’t
recommend with any foods except for very spicy dishes. This wine is very easy to drink and is available in local grocery stores.

The Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, and Viognier are good. They are all crisp and fun to drink. The
Chardonnay Reserve (aged in Oak) is good as well, but is the weakest of the whites.

The wine at Stone Mountain is perfect for drinking on the porch and enjoying the view on a beautiful
afternoon!

Note:  If you do plan on visiting Stone Mountain, use the written directions on the website.  Taking a GPS led route might get you lost.  Trust us, that would not be a good time!