On Father’s Day Willowcroft Winery offered a barrel tasting that complimented the regular tasting; moreover, we did not have a Passport sticker from Willowcroft. We were determined to take advantage of two opportunities: a) to taste Willowcroft’s wines, and b) to secure another sticker for our passports.

Lew and Amy Parker converted an old horse barn to the winery now known as Willorcroft. Indeed, the facility and its low ceilings reminded us of a horse stable, and it was obvious that the stalls were converted to offices. Cozy and quaint were descriptors that came to mind. Of course, we were interested in Willowcroft’s wines, and they had six wines to taste. A standout was the Traminette, a hybrid that produces a wine very similar to the Gerwurtztraminer; Willowcroft’s Traminette offered nice fruit flavors with a spicy finish; Warren commented that Thanksgiving fare such as herbed turkey would pair quite nicely with the Traminette. (By the way, Willowcroft’s 2004 Traminette won best in show at the Pacific Rim International.) As always, we brought food with us, and our immediate goal was to find a wine to pair with lunch, and lunch items included pork tenderloin, summer sausage, and fresh raspberries. Needless to say, the Cabernet Franc offered itself as the perfect companion to our lunch. The 2002 Franc exhibited nice berry flavors with a smooth finish; it was blended with small amounts of Petit Verdot and Merlot. The Petit Verdot explained the deeper color and complexity of this wine. We purchased a bottle to enjoy with lunch, and it was a fine companion with our fare. We must also comment on the lovely mountain views to be enjoyed at Willowcroft, and despite the very warm and humid afternoon, the shade afforded by the trees on the Willowcroft property was quite a comfort. We also enjoyed the award-winning 2001 Merlot and its black cherry flavors; this one was another blend that included Petit Verdot. (Pay attention to this varietal and its potential for Virginia wines!) Those who enjoy a lighter-styled red wine would be advised to try the Fitzrada’s Reward, and be sure to ask an associate about the story behind this wine!

We must admit that before we enjoyed lunch, we opted for the barrel tasting. As we noted in our series on the winemaking process, barrel tastings offer a glimpse into the future, and we eagerly took advantage of this opportunity offered to us at Willowcroft. In fact, Amy Parker led us through the barrel tasting, and she provided us with a rating sheet upon which we were able to judge the barrel samples based on color, aroma, and taste. The first sample was a Merlot and Chambourcin blend; this was an interesting blend that Paul enjoyed very much. The purplish color associated with Chambourcin was clearly evident as was the cherry flavors associated with merlot. Warren, however, gave high marks to the Petit Verdot. The color and bouquet matched perfectly with the more full-bodied taste, and it provided an example of a well-integrated wine. The barrel tasting also offered sneak previews of upcoming Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. We enjoyed the experience as an educational one, and we anxiously await the finished products that will be bottled at Willowcroft!

After the barrel tasting we enjoyed lunch; however, we did secure stickers for our Passports before we left. We also purchased wine to bring home, and those included the Cabernet Franc and the 2001 Merlot. Visit Willowcroft Winery, and we can promise an enjoyable experience! We had.

Not only did we secure another sticker for our books during our visit to Willowcroft, we also got to sample the upcoming red wines.