On Saturday we opted to miss Vintage Virginia and visit Pearmund Cellars. We have been to Pearmund before but not since the new Passport To Virginia Wineries 2006 book came out. So we decided to pack a lunch, do a tasting and get the sticker for our books.

Since our last visit their tasting menu has changed and some new wines have been released. Among the wines on the tasting list were their new 2005 Riesling and the 2004 Lisa’s Merlot. All of their wines were tasty and lived up to the tasting notes.

For lunch we decided on the 2004 Viognier. As it warmed up in the sun we enjoyed tropical fruity taste more and more. We enjoyed the viognier with ham sandwiches, cheeses and crackers, and almonds. During our lunch the winery dog visited us several times to check out what we were having. He’s such a sweet dog.

Before leaving Pearmund we decided to make some purchases. Paul bought the 2004 Lisa’s Merlot and Warren left with a 2004 Lisa’s Merlot and a bottle of the 2005 Riesling. Both selections are excellent additions to our collections.

On Memorial Day we went to the Bishop’s Garden at the National Cathedral. While we weren’t visiting a Virginia winery, we were enjoying a Virginia wine. With us we brought a 2005 Vidal Blanc from Gray Ghost.

The Vidal Blanc has a clear, pale yellow complexion; it possesses citrus and pear aromas. On the palate, citrus and melon flavors prevail with subtle hints of peach. It has a tart, crisp finish—somewhat sweet, but not overwhelmingly so. This Vidal Blanc has already won numerous awards including Best in Class at the 2006 LA County Fair International Wine Competition, and it is destined to be a crowd pleaser this summer. It’s a lovely appertif and pairs nicely with spicy mango salsa; other spicy dishes would also be complementary. Feel adventurous and dare to pair this one with blue cheese!

On this particularly warm day, the Vidal Blanc was a perfect companion for our picnic. Fresh mango, strawberries, and light cheeses matched quite well; spicy ham sandwiches on baguettes seasoned with olive oil, cracked pepper, and Italian herbs likewise paired very well. A special mention of the buttery-soft St. Andre cheese should be made; this cheese is a delight, and we brought it along to enjoy with the fruit and wine. On this warm afternoon, the Gray Ghost 2005 Vidal Blanc was cool, crisp and refreshing.