This past weekend, Paul and I visited Brian and Sharon Roeder, owners of Barrel Oak Winery in Delaplane, Virginia. Barrel Oak Winery will open in May, but Brian and Sharon graciously allowed us a sneak preview of their facility and wines. In the process, we discovered that Barrel Oak Winery is a dream come true for Brian and Sharon.
We met Brian and Sharon at their home in Delaplane, and we quickly became acquainted. Both are friendly, outgoing personalities, and we even met Barley, who is ready to take on the demanding role of winery dog. We wanted to know how Brian and Sharon got into the wine-making business, and it literally started with a dream. Well, it was Sharon’s dream. Sharon was on a search for a life and career changing experience, and she had a recurring dream. In her dream, Sharon would see herself in a mountainous landscape tending to grapes in a vineyard. Finally, while on a trip to Key West, Sharon heeded Brian’s advice to make her dream a reality. In May, 2008, Brian and Sharon will fulfill the dream and open Barrel Oak Winery.
So what about making wine? Brian and Sharon have immersed themselves in learning this fine art. Sharon is the designated winemaker, and she has learned the business from the ground up. From vineyard management to harvesting to crushing to blending to tasting room management, Sharon has learned the ropes from masters in the business. Both she and Brian have been full-time students of such renowned experts as Jim Law, Chris Pearmund, and Tom Payette. In the process, they have dedicated several acres of their property to planting 7000 vines. Varieties will include seyval blanc, chambourcin, traminette, merlot, petit verdot and petit manseng. Although Brian and Sharon are the newest kids on the block, they have set their standards very high. Their goal is to eventually produce 10,000 cases of well-crafted wine.
Before treating us to a tasting of their wines, Brian and Sharon offered us a tour of their tasting room, which is still in construction. “Impressive” was the first word to come to mind, and that was probably an understatement. The main tasting room will be a 4000 square foot, state of the art facility that will feature a lengthy tasting bar. Sliding doors will also allow for the room to open up onto an expansive patio to offer breathtaking mountain views. These features will also offer versatility—events can be staged at the winery while regular tastings can be offered at the same time and without disruption to customers.
And there is more!! Above this main tasting area will be a loft that can accommodate meetings, seminars, and additional wine tasting space. A balcony effect will allow guests to look down upon the lower tasting room as they sniff, swirl, and sip. Below the main tasting room will be an additional facility that can only be described as “cavernous.” This 9000 square foot feature will be where all of the wine production and storage will take place. Here, too, state of the art equipment will be used to process grapes and to insure that wines will be stored at optimal conditions. Yet more space will be designated for tasting in this “wine cave”; in addition, a wine library will be constructed. As we toured the facility, Brian and Sharon’s passion and enthusiasm were evident; however, we also noted that their plans were carefully made. Though expansive, there will be no wasted space at Barrel Oak Winery. Even in the “wine cave”, pain staking efforts were made to ensure fluid operations from harvest to crush pad to fermenation and then to storage.
We should also mention that Brian and Sharon plan to have the most “green” facility in Virginia. Energy saving features will include the facility’s high vaulted ceilings, large sliding doors and windows, and a fireplace were all designed to conserve energy yet provide comfort to customers.
With our tour complete, it was time to taste wine. We hopped back into the golf cart and Brian brought us back the house. We stopped along the way to survey the vineyards and to visit with some equine friends who lived next door. Barley led the welcoming committee, but the several horses that grazed in the neighboring field seemed not to notice.
And now the wines! Return later this week for Part Two of this Dream Come True, and I’ll tell you all about them!