That’s the recipe for the Save Our Food Summer Festival, a fun-filled family event that will run from noon to 6 p.m. on July 25 at the Farm Bureau Center exhibition hall at The Meadow Event Park in Caroline County. The indoor/outdoor event is free for Virginia Farm Bureau members and $10 per carload for nonmembers.

“The Save Our Food Summer Festival is our way of celebrating fresh, local food and other products that go hand in hand with summer in Virginia,” said Wayne F. Pryor, president of Virginia Farm Bureau. “We believe this event offers something for the entire family.”

The festival will feature indoor and outdoor components. Outside, guests can enjoy the farmers’ market and live music. They can cool down with Virginia wine, specialty foods and children’s activities inside the Farm Bureau Center.

·Large Outdoor Farmers’ Market – shop and visit with Virginia farmers (produce and farm fresh meat producers) who bring their offerings from the farm to your table.
·Indoor Virginia Wine and Specialty Food Showcase – taste some of Virginia’s finest wines and sample Virginia barbecue sauces, salsas, vinegars, cheeses, desserts and much more.
Virginia Barbecue Cook-Off – watch five local barbecue masters work the grills to become the Save our Foods rib champion.
Family Cool Zone and “Down on the Farm” Kids’ Area – youngsters can learn more about agriculture and healthy eating in an area produced by the Children’s Museum of Richmond.
·Live Music – Jackass Flats, Susan Greenbaum and the Venture Rays will entertain throughout the day.

The Save Our Food Festival is presented by Virginia Farm Bureau and sponsored by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, the Children’s Museum of Richmond, Flavor magazine, the Goochland Center for Rural Culture, Richmond magazine, WWBT-12, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co.

The three-part event will begin at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 30th with a wine tasting and public fair intended to inspire action on lowering the carbon footprint in the community. Enjoy free organic snacks from MOM’s Market and unlimited sustainably brewed free beer from Sierra Nevada Brewery as you connect with other community members and get the scoop on options for greening locally. The three featured eco-friendly wineries are Barrel Oak Winery, Black Ankle Vineyards and Tarara Winery.

The film, a quirky hybrid of “I Love Lucy” and An Inconvenient Truth, follows the adventures of Abby Brouchard (Caroline Winterson), a stubborn mother of two who sets off to prove that combating global warming starts with local community involvement. Several of the key filmmakers will be present at the screening, including the director, Tom Reilly, musician, Rob Lynch, who wrote five original songs for the movie, and Director of Photography Jon Van Gorder.

The event was held at the Palomar Hotel in Washington, D.C., and a luncheon was included in this exclusive tasting event. The wines were outstanding, and the Italian tasting associates were friendly and knowledgeable. (They were also quite conversant in the English language.) I will present to you my personal favorites from the event, but I will say that all of the wines that I sampled were quite good; alas, only a few will receive the coveted gold stars.

Before I list my favs, I must provide a brief description of the region. Lombardy is located in the northern part of Italy, and vineyards there belong to tightly regulated consortiums. Grape varieties grown in this region can date as far back as the Roman Empire! However, I will spare readers the history lecture on this matter and declare that some of the varieties grown in Lombardy are unique to the region and have ancient roots. What I did discover is that most wineries in Lombardy are similar to local wineries/vineyards in that they are small producers and therefore overlooked in the grander scheme. For example, most wine drinkers may associate Italian wines with southern Italy or (regrettably) with the more generic offerings. found in straw-covered bottles—the pizzeria wines. However, the wines that I sampled were as terrior-focused as any French wine on the market. Tasting associates described soils that were optimal for the grape varieties grown in particular vineyards, and they emphasized the premium placed on limited yields that then maximized wine profiles. In short, the wines offered were those that were produced from well-managed vineyards. The result? Well-crafted wines, of course.

I should also describe how these wines were tasted. Guests were able to pre-sample wines that were going to be poured at the luncheon; once this tasting event was completed, tasters and tasting associates were seated for lunch. Given the number of wineries that participated, the dining tables were organized so that a cluster of Lombardy wineries could be represented at each table. I was seated at a table which featured such wineries as Sorsasso Winery and San Michele ai Pianoni . Tasting representatives were seated at these tables, and we, the tasters, were all able to interact with the reps as food and wine were served. After the luncheon, another tasting was available which featured wines not poured at the luncheon event. (Did I mention that coffee was offered, too?)

Ok—what were my favorites?

Cantina Cooperativa Villa Bianzone Valtellina Superiore DOCG Incontri 2003: 95% Nebbiolo, 5% local varieties—characteristic red-brick color with dark fruit, tobacco, and spice. Age worthy!

Sorsasso Terre Lariane Bianco Vigne del Largo 2008: blend of Verdesa and Sauvignon Blanc. Pear and stone fruit characteristics with minerality to boot. Best pairing with the smoked salmon that was served at the luncheon. Crisp and refreshing. Summer wine to sip on its own or with food. Did I mention smoked salmon?

Calvi Oltrepo Pavese DOC Barbera Tre 2006: 100% Barbera. Bramble berries and a peppery nose; violet notes, too. Favorite pasta dish with this one.

San Michele ai Pianoni Oltrepo Pavese DOC Pinot Nero Riserva Pynos 2004: 100% Pinot Noir. Yes, Pinot Noir from Italy but produced from vineyards located 350-380 meters above sea level. At the tasting,I thought this one needed decanting. By lunch time, it was ready to be served with both the salmon and the steak. (Filet mignon followed the fish course.) Dark currants and anise were noted here with a longer finish.

Lantierie Franciacorta DOCG Rose Arcadia 2006: 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay. Nice pink color. “Bready” with vibrant fruit notes.

Civielle Garda Classico DOC Chiaretto Pergola: 2008 Rose—My ultimate favorite. (It was 98 degrees outside!) Made from Groppello, Marzemino, Sangiovese, and Barbera. Lovely pink color with strawberry and melon characteristics. Yum!!! Again, the smoked salmon? Yes!

Torti Oltrepo Pavese DOC Ponot Nero Poker di Vino Re di Denari 2006: 100% Pinot Noir—Young, fresh and fruity. Drink now or later. Lovely!

So what up with the DOCG/DOC? DOCG means Denomination of Controlled and Guaranteed Origin, and DOC means Denomination of Controlled Origin.

In search of unique wines from Lombardy? Inquire about these wines at your local wine shop to find out how they can be purchased. Mention that you read about them on Virginia Wine Time.

Delfosse Vineyard and Winery: 2008 Reserve d’Oriane (always a favorite of mine)

First Colony: 2008 Chardonnay; sweeter wine lovers like our friend Michael Tyler might prefer the Sweet Shanando

Kluge Estate Winery and Vineyard: 2009 Albemarle Rose

The Winery at La Grange: 2008 Cuvee Blanc

Paradise Springs—Vidal Blanc

Philip Carter Winery: Governor Fauquier 2008 (although the newly released 2009 Chardonnay was our favorite of the festival)

White Fences: Meteor Firefly (off-dry rose)

Willowcroft Farm Vineyards: split decision here—I voted for the Riesling Muscat-Ottonel; Paul favored the 2009 Chardonnay Stainless Steel

We tend to avoid festivals, but I must admit that the Manassas Wine & Jazz Festival was a class act. We sampled artisan cheeses, appreciated local crafts, and tuned in to some fine jazz. In fact, we grabbed some crab cake sandwiches along a glass of wine and found a shady spot near the stage. It wasn’t long before Paul was bopping to the jazz beat of Marcus Johnson who performed a jazz arrangement of Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit. Quite an unusual take on the grunge classic, but we (and the crowd) enjoyed it. So what about the glass of wine? Did we pick from our favorite summer sippers list? Not quite—we both went for the Philip Carter 2009 Chardonnay.

Looking for that refreshing deck sipper or that favorite Wolftrap wine? Visit the wineries listed here to find the perfect pour for you. Be sure to mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you.

At Piedmont Vineyards and Winery:

At Philip Carter Winery:

May 29: Anniversary of American Wine – the 248th Anniversary Celebration of American Wine Festival, a three day event. Join hosts, Mr. Thomas Jefferson and Mr. Charles Carter, for our third annual 1762 Gold Medal Ceremony and discover why the Carter family is recognized as the first family of American wine.

It’s a day of fun in wine country for the entire family. Be there for the release of “Cleve”, a full-bodied red Bordeaux that is both complex and sophisticated, and enjoy the modern day juxtaposed to the eighteenth century! Hear the voices of Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Carter as they speak of their personal connection to wine in young America.

Link-in to the Philip Carter Virtual Tweet-up & Tasting that will explore each Philip Carter wine, including Cleve, during the event, and bring Twitter, Facebook & Foursquare fans together.

Activities include live music, delicious foods, hay rides and moon bounce, and much, much more. Author, Marc Leepson returns. and, as always, all well behaved canine friends are welcomed. Gates open at 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

At Barrel Oak:

It is Barrel Oak Winery’s 2nd anniversary and we are celebrating this Memorial Day Weekend in several amazing ways! We are:

1. Releasing our most popular wines this weekend: BOWHaus White and BOWHaus Red as well as our highly anticipated Rose.
2. Opening the new art show by Ben Roeder: “Traces of Memory, an Abstract Introspective”.
3. Featuring great live music Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights!
4. Giving a Golden Ticket to every purchaser of a case of our wine. These Golden Tickets contain the gift of a free tasting for two, a combo platter, a bottle of wine, or a membership in our BOWClub. These gifts range in value from $18 to $175.
5. Raffling off TWO Aged Barrels with memberships in our Barrel Club. Each membership has a value of over $1300. Everyone tasting our wines will receive a raffle ticket.

Additionally, on Saturday and Sunday we will have awesome food service from Local 647, serving the best locally sourced farm-fresh organic foods and runners up winners of ABC Weekend’s 2009 Best Food Cart in America Competition.

There will be great music Friday from 6-9 with Demetrios and Curtis and dancing to the sunsets on Saturday 6-9pm to local favorites eNVee and Sunday 6-9pm to the Fabulous Exaggerations! And Sunday we will have old-timey music during the day with Poor Ellen Smith.

We have seating for over 400 guests and of course as always, dogs, kids and picnics are welcome!

Please join us at BOW for the perfect blend of Farm, Family, and Fun!
———————–

Have a great weekend!

We were able to tasted wines at 15 different booths. We took lots of notes but couldn’t possibly let you know about each and every winery. Here are highlights from today’s tastings. We picked out a few to share with you. We’ll list the winery and the wine we noted.

Rockbridge-Pinot Noir
Castle Gruen-The King’s Red
Unicorn-Slightly Embarrassed
Abingdon-White Pinot Noir
Cooper-Viognier
Hiddencroft-Dutchman’s Creek
Virginia Mountain-Traminette
Aspen Dale-Consistant quality-we loved all their wines
Stone Mountain-Traminette
Pearmund-both were good
Kluge-Blanc de Blanc
Del Fosse-Reserve d’Oriane
Miracle Valley-Sweet Michelle
Vincent’s Vineyard-Cab Franc
Delaplane Cellars-Honah Lee Viognier

There were several other wineries in attendance but we didn’t have time to get to them all.

The Twitter Taste Off was described like this:

“You be the judge! Come into our wine laboratory and blind-taste your favorite Virginia varietal from several wineries side by side! Brandon Walsh, of Hosted Wine Tasting, will add a non-VA wine to each flight just to make it interesting. Varietals for this exclusive tasting includes Virginia’s best Chardonnays, Viogniers, Cabernets, Merlots and Bordeaux-style Blends.”

It was exactly that. We tasted a viognier from California and Virginia. The Delaplane Cellars Honah Lee Viognier beat the California viognier. We then tasted cab franc from both and the California cab franc won. The last tasting of merlots was a toss up. Half liked the California and half liked the Miracle Valley Merlot. Warren and I were split as well. I liked the California and Warren enjoyed the Miracle Valley.

We ended the day with some biscotti and a glass of the Delaplane Cellars Honah Lee Viognier while listening to Bianca Merkley on the music stage. It began to rain so we called it a day and headed home. We were pleased with the wines we were able to taste today. We highly recommend the wine festivals at the Plains. There’s something there for everyone.

What are you doing this weekend? We’d like to suggest the Spring Wine Festival at the Plains. There will be over 250 Virginia wines presented for tasting. There will be fine art, fancy food, culinary seminars, musical entertainment, and the opening night of Twilight Polo.

We attended this event last fall and loved it. Many of the wineries we are unable to get to, taste their wines at this festival. It’s a great way to taste some wines you’d never get to taste unless you made a trip to their tasting room.

Check out the website and get your tickets now! We’ll see you there!

Our cellar tasting began with the cult-favorite 2009 Avenius Sauvignon Blanc paired with mussels.  Is there another word for “divine”?  Please let us know!  Classic Sauvignon Blanc characteristics prevailed here with the signature minerality associated with the Avenius Sauvignon Blanc.  In fact, we met up with Shari who presented her 2009 Chardonnay at the Concrete Egg.  Yes, a concrete egg.  This storage device could well pass for an atom bomb, but indeed it does house evolving Chardonnay wine that would otherwise ferment in a stainless steel tank.  Shari explained to us that this is not new technology and the egg does provide a more stable environment for wine to develop.  We await the final results, of course, since this sample was quite young; however, we do anticipate a more French-style offering.

And so on to the red wine barrel samples.  Which were the faves?  We reached a split decision, but it a tough decision. Paul’s nod went to the 2009 Boisseau Cabernet Franc due to its fruit-forward presentation.  I gravitated toward the more complex 2009 Hardscrabble barrel with its blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc.  Jim’s father poured from this barrel, and I appreciated the story behind the blend—a difficult spring that gave way to a remarkable summer that will produce a cellar-worthy Bordeaux-style wine.

From there we proceeded to the special release room where upcoming releases were being tasted.  Here again we reached different conclusions.  I held my ultimate gold star for the special release room, and it was presented to the 2007 Hardscrabble Red. The composite here was similar to the barrel sample but included Petit Verdot and splash of Carmenere.  Dark fruit, pencil shavings, and a spicy edge defined this one; given that it’s from the stellar 2007 vintage, count on a cellar-worthy offering to boot.  Paul preferred the more accessible 2007 Avenius Red which was dominated by Petit Verdot but supported by a generous splash of 38% Cabernet Sauvignon.  Drink now or later, this pour offered blackberries, raspberries, and a bit of nutmeg to complement grilled fare that may include a dash of barbeque sauce.

With our barrel tasting done, we enjoyed a glass of the 2009 Avenius Sauvignon Blanc with a baguette.  It was a lovely spring afternoon, and Jim Law’s tasting room offers spectacular mountain views which aw appreciated as we sipped and nibbled. Remember, the cellar tasting is offered to case club members; so, visit Linden to try their current releases and you might be tempted to purchase a case in order to enjoy the benefits.  Be sure to mention, though, that Virginia Wine Time sent you.

My first blend was made up of 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, 15% Malbec, and 10% Petit Verdot. I really liked the stand alone versions of these grapes and thought larger amounts of merlot and cab sauv would make a nice wine. Well, in the end this first blend had too much spice for my taste. I didn’t understand that because I only had 15% of the cab franc which were I thought most of the spice would come from. Al explained to me that when you put them all together, they bring out different characteristics and my blend just happened to bring out more spice. Of course I needed to change the percentages in my second blend.

Since I really enjoyed the malbec as a stand alone, I decided to make that one of the major components of my second blend. I went with 30% Malbec, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot. This second blend was so much better than the first blend. The spiciness was gone and replaced with some nice fruit and decent tannins. I was ready to bottle this blend. Warren said he enjoyed it as well.

Al explained how they create 15 different blends, make a gallon of each one, and taste them at three different time intervals. The blend for this year’s Ranger Reserve is 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 20% Petit Verdot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 12% Malbec. We got a chance to taste it and of course it was wonderful. We had a great time at the blending class and look forward to blending again in the future.

Our session was conducted by winemaker Al Kellert who began the session with a brief history of the Bordeaux varietals.  This was very informative, and I learned that Petit Verdot was the earliest of these varietals to be planted in France. This may have occurred in a time before the contemporary era (or BC for traditionalists).  Also, Al answered the question that many participants may have wanted to ask—why blend?  Wine makers blend for a number of reasons—one good reason may be to hide flaws of certain individual wines especially during poor vintages. However, another reason to blend is to create a “whole that is better than the parts”.  This last reason suggests an artistic component to the process, and it is one that Al Kellert embraces as a winemaker.  In fact, The Gray Ghost Reserve is the end result of at least 15 different blends that are tasted at different intervals in the aging process.  The winning combination is one that has met a predetermined goal—a blend of all five varietals that harmonizes the best qualities of each so that no one varietal dominates over the others.

Our task, then, was to create a blend that met the criteria for a Bordeaux-style wine.  We were not informed of previous blends used by Al to produce the Ranger Reserve, so participants were not pre-disposed to produce a blend that mirrored Al’s previous products.  We began with bottle samples of each Bordeaux varietal, and these samples produced from estate-grown fruit—even the Malbec.  After these individual samplings, we were then charged to create our own blends.  My own favorite of the single varietal samples was the 2008 Merlot with its fruit-driven profile; I decided that this one would be my “headliner.”  However, the 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon provided backbone with its darker fruit characteristics, nice tannic structure and longer finish.  I ultimately decided that this one would be my co-star with the others acting as supporting cast members.  The supports added various degrees of smoke, spice, and berry fruits would complement the mix; so, armed with pipettes and a beaker I blended away!

So what did I create?  I must say that I was quite pleased with my end results.  I actually finished two blends, and both were dominated by the Merlot.  My first blend started with 30% Merlot with equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, but I opted to kick up the Merlot a notch to 40% in my second blend.  It was my second blend that I preferred. With this one, I also added in more Cabernet Sauvignon, decreased the Cabernet Franc a notch but added more Petit Verdot.  A relative splash of Malbec finished off my second blend.  As a result, I accomplished my goal, and I created a layered, fruit-driven yet complex blend that included dark fruit flavors, earthy/spicy aromas, and a generous finish.  And the color was dense to boot!

Of course, I was not alone at the blending table, and Paul was busy concocting his own vintner’s special.  I’ll let him describe his own process and results.  However, I will close by noting that I was very surprised at the quality of Al Kellert’s  Malbec.  In fact, more than one blender at our table featured the Malbec as the dominant varietal. This is a tough grape to grow in Virginia, and the Gray Ghost Vineyard has very few Malbec vines planted in it.  What little is produced each year is used in the Ranger Reserve, so an individual bottling would not be possible.  (There were requests to plant more Malbec, though!)

What were Paul’s blends?  How did we compare to the ultimate champion, Al Kellert?  I’ll let Paul provide those details.  In the meantime, plan a visit to Gray Ghost Vineyards, and mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you.

Looking for a Spring Wine Festival? We’d like to suggest the Spring Wine Festival at the Plains. There will be over 250 Virginia wines presented for tasting. There will be fine art, fancy food, culinary seminars, musical entertainment, and the opening night of Twilight Polo.

We attended this event last fall and loved it. Many of the wineries we are unable to get to taste their wines at this festival. It’s a great way to taste some wines you’d never get to taste unless you made a trip to their tasting room.

Check out the website and get your tickets now! And if you see us there, say hi!

1. We’re on the verge of something really big!
Readers of our blog know that we’ve been heralding Virginia wines for five year now, and the treat for us has been to witness the tremendous growth in the local wine industry. The number of wineries and vineyards in the area has exploded in the past few years; however, the most successful wineries have kept a focus on wine quality. It was fascinating to me to listen to and even interact with successful owners and winemakers such as Mathieu Finot of King Family, Jenni McCloud of Chrysalis, Luca Paschina of Barboursville and Jordan Harris of Tarara. Their quest is to discover what varietals work for Virginia, to experiment and take risks, and to ultimately put Virginia on the map as a region that produces unique yet world-class wines. Which ones will be the flagship grapes? Opinions seem to converge on Viognier, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot with Merlot and Chardonnay in the running. The panel discussions with wine makers and social media experts confirmed what I have known for years now—Virginia is on the verge of something big!

2. Social Media connects consumers to local wines.
Ok—I must admit that I am not a Twitter or Facebook fan. Paul handles all of that for Virginia Wine Time. However, after Sunday’s panel discussion on social media, I am now a fervent believer that Twitter, Facebook, and blogs fill the gap between local wineries and traditional media. Virginia wineries may not be headlining Wine Spectator, but then again most wine drinkers don’t really care. A tweet about a favorite Virginia wine creates a buzz that Wine Spectator could never create. Jenn Breaux Blosser of Breaux Vineyards is by far the most engaged with social media, and she had never been shy about networking via Twitter and Facebook. I do believe the testimonial that she delivered at the conference—social media pulls in customers that she could never reach via traditional media.

There are exceptions, though. I was thrilled to meet Dave McIntyre, wine critic for the Washington Post. Dave’s wine column in Wapo’s food section is one that I never miss, and he has been an active promoter of local wines. I’ll take Dave’s word about wine over Robert Parker’s any day of the week. However, I’d apply the same standard to bloggers and “tweeters” and admit that an expert palate like Dave McIntyre’s certainly trumps mine; so, if Dave recommends a Virginia wine, trust him—it’s really good and worth seeking out!

3. Virginia (and Maryland) makes some excellent wines.
The highlight of the day had to be the wine “Twitter Taste-Off” when we all got to sample the best wines that 21 local wineries had to offer. Paul noted that Breaux Vineyards’s 2002 Reserve Merlot and Chrysalis’ 2008 Albarino took top honors, and those were certainly excellent pours. However, there were a number of outstanding wines that included Michael Shaps’ Viognier (my own personal fave), King Family’s 2008 Meritage (which may give the successful 2007 vintage a run for its money), and Boxwood’s 2007 Topiary. The sleepers of the event had to be the 2005 Petit Verdot from Ingleside and the current Syrah from Maryland’s Black Ankle. (For those who like a fuller-bodied Chardonnay, Maryland’s Elk Run offering may be worth a try, too.)

I was definitely inspired by the day’s events, and now I am even more anxious to hit the wine trails to discover the quality wines that Virginia wineries have to offer. And now I am determined to visit Maryland wineries, too! Of course, another pleasure was to meet other bloggers, and who knew that we would be dubbed the “wine mafia”! Could this be a movie in the making? The Winefather?

Be sure to visit Virginia wineries this spring, and mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Today we attended the Drink Local Wine conference at Lansdowne. We had a great time meeting fellow wine bloggers and meeting members of the Virginia wine community.

The first session we attended was a panel discussion about the grapes that work best for Virginia. The panelists were Matthew Meyert from Williamsburg Winery, Jennifer McCloud from Chrysalis Vineyard, and Matthieu Finot of King Family Vineyards. The moderator of this discussion was Richard Leahy of Vineyard & Winery Management magazine. The discussion centered around grapes that work best in Virginia. Both hybrids and vinifera were discussed. It was interesting to hear all the different grapes that each winemaker thought worked best in Virginia.

Our second session was all about social media. The panelists were Lenn Thompson of the New York Cork Report, Jennifer Breaux Blosser from Breaux Vineyards, and Jeff Siegel, the Wine Curmudgeon. The moderator was Michael Wangbicker. This session started with a great discussion about how social media is part of any marketing plan for a winery. We learned that many wineries have seen increases in customers and sales. The discussion got a little heated at one point when it became print media versus online media. Everyone has their opinions. I shared mine. You can probably guess which side I am on. This was my favorite session. I really enjoyed the discussions. All the panelists did a great job!

After the social media session we had lunch. Here’s a photo of the new named “Wine Mafia” having lunch. It was great discussing wines and blogging with these guys.

Pictured: Anything Wine, My Vine Spot, New York Cork Report, Drink What You Like, and The Other 46.

After lunch we had a session about drinking local and eating local. The panelists were Mary Watson-DeLauder from Lansdowne Resort, Andrew Stover, Chef Wino, and Todd Kliman from Washingtonian magazine. The moderator was Dave McIntyre of the Washington Post. This one started out slow but by the end was pretty interested. I found myself Twittering more than listening until discussion began to peak my interest.

The final event of the day was the Twitter Taste-off. There were 20-some Virginia wineries pouring a red and a white. Participants were to go around the room stopping at different tables to taste the wines each winery brought. We then tweeted about our tastings. At the end we were to vote on our favorites. If you follow us on Twitter, you know we tweeted a lot about the viogniers we tasted. We tried to start with all the whites and then move on to the reds but as we were tasting we ran into so many wine friends that we had to stop and talk. By the time we go to the reds we were running out of time. We had to get our ballets in. After a few more tastings we turned in our ballets. We then waited for the results. The winner of the reds was Breaux Vineyards 2002 Merlot Reserve. The winner for the whites was the Chrysalis Vineyards 2008 Albarino. We enjoyed both of these selections and were pleased to see they won.

While others headed off to dinner after the taste off, we were headed home. We had a great day and thank everyone at Drink Local Wine for the wonderful hospitality. It was also great to meet all the bloggers we chat with on Twitter. We met so many people today! What a great way to promote Virginia wine.

Pictured: Sip, Swirl, Snark, Drink What You Like, and Anything Wine

Be sure to check out the website and get your tickets now. We attended the festival last year and really had a great time. We tasted some wines we couldn’t taste unless we visited the wineries.

This weekend is the Drink Local Wine Conference at Lansdowne Resort in Leesburg, Virginia. Most of the events will be happening on Sunday. There will be seminars and an amazing Twitter Taste-off with many Virginia wineries and some from Maryland as well. Warren and I are planning on attending on Sunday and participating in all the activities. We are really looking forward to the Twitter Taste-off. We are also really looking forward to meetings many of the wine bloggers we have come to know by their tweets and their blog posts.

Are you planning on attending the conference on Sunday? Even if we know you are attending, leave a comment letting us know you are attending. We’re interested to find out who all is planning on attending. And if you are attending, plan on looking for us and saying hello! If you haven’t signed up yet, do it now while the price is lower.

We hope to see you there!

Be sure to check out the website and get your tickets now. We attended the festival last year and really had a great time. We tasted some wines we couldn’t taste unless we visited the wineries. We look forward to attending the festival again this year! If you see us, say hi!

The first two wines we tasted were barrel samples of the 2008 and 2007 vintages. The 2008 spent a year and a half in French oak and the 2007 spent two and a half years in new American oak. I was expecting the 2007 to have some rough tannins but the opposite was the case. I really enjoyed the berry nose, dark fruit palate, smoother tannins and wonderful color. We had these wines with beef tenderloin. The dark fruit of the 2007 complemented the beef very well. While the 2007 made music in my mouth, the 2008 needed some more time. I look forward to seeing how it develops in the future.

With our second course of sauteed tiger shrimp, tasso ham and andouille sausage we had the 2006 and 2005 merlots. Of this couple I appreciated the 2006. This one was smooth, fruity, and went well with the spicy sausage. It was ready to drink now. Contrasting the 2006 was the 2005. To me this one fell flat. It didn’t make me want to drink it. It was a bit earthy for my taste.

Our last paring, the 2004 Merlot and the 2002 Merlot Reserve went with free range chicken braised with capers. The 2004 presented dark fruit, raisins and was smooth. The star of this pairing, however, was the 2002 Merlot Reserve. OMG It was so smooth with tons of dark fruit flavors and a beautiful color. I’m not one to have red wine with chicken but the 2002 Merlot Reserve went perfectly with the chicken. I had no problem finishing this glass. I wouldn’t mind having some more!

As we all finished our last course we started to compare our notes and talk about our favorites. Dave Collins asked for volunteers to talk about each wine after each course. We remembered this notes as we discussed our favorites. If I remember correctly we all came to the consensus that the 2002 Merlot Reserve was the winner of the evening. Even though the 2007 is still in the barrel, this one came in second. My final lineup was 02, 07, 06, 08, 04, 05. After our discussions we moved to the tank room to enjoy a barrel sample of the 2008 Malbec. I’m beginning to enjoy malbecs and this one impressed me. I’m ready for it to be bottled.

Our evening ended with a glass of the Nebbiolo Ice with Jen Breaux on the patio. We chatted about our evening, our favorites, and about wine and social media. We always have such a great time at Breaux. Jen Breaux knows how to make you feel welcome! Thanks Jen! Visit Breaux Vineyards soon and tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!

At the barrel tasting, Al Kelert opened the barrel room and a few barrels to allow us to taste certain wines in their current state. We started with the 2009 Chardonnay. We noted apple and tropical fruit flavors. We can’t wait for this one to make it in the bottle.

We moved onto the reds and started with the 2009 Merlot. We noted lots of cherry, smoke, and smooth tannins. I’ll be getting a case of this one when it is released. We then moved on to the 2009 Cabernet Franc. Here we noted raspberry fruit and smooth tannins. Another one I’ll be adding to my case list.

Next up were the two 2008 Cabernet Sauvignons…one in French oak and one in American oak. The French oak presented bright berry fruit flavors on the nose and on the palate. We noticed smooth tannins. The American oak was a bit more tannic and presented blackberry fruit, and a spicy edge. Warren wrote down chewy tannins. We were then able to blend the two together. The blend consisted of 60% from the French oak barrel and 40% from the American oak barrel. This made an amazing blend. The two compliment each other. The blend softened the tannins and brought out the fruit. Warren noticed some smoke as well. We look forward to this one making it in the bottle in the future.

After the barrel tasting we had a regular tasting conducted by Amy. We were able to taste the most recent releases: the 2009 Riesling, the 2009 Vidal Blanc, and the 2009 Adieu. All of the wines were wonderful and made it difficult for us to pick a wine for lunch. We finally decided on the 2008 Chardonnay. It went well with our grilled chicken. We finished the day with the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon with a handful of chocolate kisses…SO GOOD! If you haven’t been to Gray Ghost lately, you need to plan to visit them soon. And if you do, tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Participants were grouped and then seated at various tables in the tasting room, and each table was given the label of a certain wine producing region. For example, one table was called the “Napa” table; our table was the Virginia table! (Yes, it was purely coincidental.) Anyway, our winemaking partners were Troi and Derick. We all hit it off right away, and we quickly found out that Trois is a fan of local wines from Virginia and Maryland. With introductions completed, we were all eager to sip and blend. Our first samples were four tastings of Cabernet Franc picked from two different lots. An added twist was that the samples from each lot were then aged in different oak barrels—new American oak, French oak, and Hungarian oak. The Virginia table gravitated toward the French oak and Hungarian oak samples. We found these to be more fruit-forward with a softer oak finish. The sample from American oak tended to present more blackberry flavors with a noticeable woodsy character.

As we sipped, we took extensive notes so that we could compliment our favorite Cabernet Franc with an appropriate blend of other wines. Since the final product will be a Cabernet Franc, the blends had to include at least 75% Cabernet Franc. With this in minds, the Virginia table was ready to blend away, and we were presented with four other samples once we were done with our Cabernet Franc. These other samples included two offerings of the ’08 Cabernet Sauvignon from Tranquility Vineyard (each were treated with different yeasts), a 2009 Merlot from Sunset Hill Vineyard, and a 2008 Petit Verdot from Breaux Vineyards. What did we conclude? We all really enjoyed the Cabernet Franc samples and opted to create a 90% blend from the French and Hungarian oak tastings with a greater proportion coming from the French oak product. We then blended in 7% from the 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon (yeast sample #1) and 3% from the jammy, spicy 2008 Petit Verdot. Our final blend presented layers of mixed berries in the mouth with some violet and spice on the nose—the Virginia table was very pleased!

However, the other tables were also madly blending with pipettes and beakers operating at full speed. When all tables were done, we then had to sample all of the final blends and vote on our favorites. Without getting into the tasting notes for each blend, I’ll simply reveal that our particular blend place third out of the ten blends produced. The top-rated blend as well as the second place blend also favored the Cabernet Franc from the French and Hungarian oak barrels but in different proportions; though I was rooting strongly for the Virginia table’s blend, I did have to admit that the winning blend was the indeed the best. In fact, winemaker Nate Walsh revealed that the winning blend was very close to the one currently used to create the award-winning Cabernet Franc Reserve.

So we tried our hand at blending red wines, and we now understand how difficult a task it is to complete. We were intrigued by how different the same varietal, Cabernet Franc, tasted when produced from a different lot and aged in a different oak barrel. Terroir and winemaking methods do indeed make the wine! We also enjoyed meeting new friends Troi and Derick, and we hope to meet up with them on the wine trail soon.

Pay a visit to Sunset Hills Vineyard, and mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you.

Warrenton Wine and Arts Festival-For the second year in a row the Warrenton Wine and Arts Festival will take place on Saturday April 24 and Sunday April 25 at St. John the Evangelist school in Warrenton Virginia. At the festival you’ll be able to taste wines from about 20 Virginia wineries, hear music from local musicians, see and purchase art from several local artists, and browse the merchandise from several local and regional vendors. Be sure to check out the website and get your tickets now. We attended the festival last year and really had a great time. We tasted some wines we couldn’t taste unless we visited the wineries. We look forward to attending the festival again this year! If you see us, say hi!

Virginia Wine Week-Love By The Glass-March 22-28 is Virginia Wine Week. During this week more than 100 participating restaurants and wine shops across the state will be serving Virginia wines by the glass. Look for the Virginia Wine Week decal at the locations participating in this event and stop in and enjoy a glass of Virginia wine! Check out the website to find a list of the places where you’ll be able to enjoy a glass of Virginia wine.

Grand Opening-Saturday March 27th from 11 to 4 is the Official Grand Opening of Delaplane Cellars. It promises to be a wonderful event. Guests will enjoy live music, food pairings and the release of their 2007 Emerald Lake Reserve Viognier, their 2007 Springlot Reserve red Bordeaux blend and their 2007 Shirland Syrah. We’ve been to Delaplane Cellars before and absolutely loved the wines. If you are free on Saturday, plane to attend the grand opening!

Oh, and one more thing. Frank Morgan from Drink What You Like participated last week in the Colorado/Virginia Wine Smackdown with Jacob Harkins of Coloradowino.com. Check out the articles on both the blogs and find out just how well Virginia did in the competition. Thanks Frank and Jacob!

The 2009 Water Bent Viognier was a wonderful wine filled with fruit on the nose and on the palette. Warren noted pear. We thought this one went really well with the gumbo being served.

The 2007 Meritage showed characteristics of a wine meant for aging. The tannins were tight and you could easily tell that it is a young wine. We suggest you lay this one down for a few more years. It promises to be quite nice in a few years.

I talk about these Cellar Club selections as if you can buy them. You can if you are a Cellar Club member. I’ve been a member for more than a year now and haven’t found one wine I didn’t like. They have all been amazing. The greatest advantage to being a member is the wines they select are created JUST for the club members. How many other wineries do this? I’m not sure but I do know I like having some wines that no others will have. I’m greedy like that.

In this months’ Cellar Club Newsletter there was a coupon for 30% off a case of select wines from the regular tasting. Since Warren and I hadn’t done a regular tasting in awhile, we decided to check out the current selections and consider getting a case of the ones we really liked. We were looking forward to spring and summer and what wines would be appropriate for the seasons.

Our tasting associate Carole, walked us through our tasting, expertly describing each wine. My gold stars went to the 2007 Madeleine’s Chardonnay and the 2002 Merlot Reserve. Warren’s gold stars went to the 2008 Viognier and the 2006 Meritage. Isn’t it interesting that we usually have different selections for our gold stars?

Our next decision was what to include in our case. With the coming seasons in mind, I selected equal amounts of the 2007 Madeleine’s Chardonnay, the 2008 Syrah Rose`, and the 2008 Jennifer’s Jambalaya. We usually take rose` with us to Wolf Trap in the summer and the 2008 Syrah Rose` will be perfect while enjoying a concert.

Before leaving we caught up with Jen Breaux. It was great to see her and the other Breaux staff we’ve come to know and enjoy. Plan a trip to Breaux Vineyards soon and be sure to tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!

For those who may not know, a vertical tasting is a tasting of wine of the same variety but from different years.  In this case, Breaux Vineyards presented a vertical tasting of Cabernet Sauvignon that included the 2001, 2002, 2005, and 2006 vintages with barrel samples from the 2007 and 2008 vintages.  However, the event started with guests receiving a sample pour of the 2006 Meritage as they made their way to the tables.  This younger, fruit-forward blend was the perfect way to begin as it prepared palates for the more full-bodied offerings to follow. 

The first wines offered for sample were the barrel samples, the 2008 and 2007.  Both were still very young with the 2008 very tight on the nose; of course, this is to be expected with such a young wine still in its developmental stages. The 2007 barrel sample has signs of potential greatness with its characteristics of dark fruit and cedar. A tannic presence still prevails, but this will smooth with time.  Both wines paired nicely with the braised beef rib served over polenta; this course included a sinful chocolate truffle that I thought took the tannic edge off of both barrel samples while bringing forward the fruit characters.

The second course featured my favorite dish of the evening—pork wellington served over wild rise and a pomegranate crème fraiche.  An interesting twist to the wellington was the inclusion of a layer of mushroom slices between the pork and pastry shell.  This added a layer of earthiness to the flavor profile which perhaps was why this course was partnered with the earthier 2006 and 2005 vintages.  Of these vintages, my preferred the 2006; however, both vintages offered aromas that I described as leather and tobacco with tannins still more pronounced in the mouth.

The third course featured my favorite wines of the evening—the 2002 and 2001 vintages.  In fact, my gold star of the evening was given to the 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon.  Here now was the melding of fruit character and tannins to present a more complex wine with a nice, long finish.  I detected some smokiness on the nose with dark plum, black cherry, and mocha in the mouth.  Nice, silky tannins, too! “Excellent” sums it up!  Oh—the food pairing was just as excellent.  Grilled salmon over saffron rice served aside a chive rosewater-infused oil pecorino-romano.  The 2001 was a close second for me; the fruit profile here was more extracted than the 2002 which no doubt came with the extra year of aging. 
The evening ended with lagniappe, which in New Orleans means “bonus”.  Our bonus pour was the 2009 Cabernet Rose, a tank sample of an upcoming rose offering.  Another “still young” sample, this rose should settle down quite nicely in time for summer. 

So what was the final vote for the vertical tasting?  Did Paul award any gold stars?My final verdict was as follows: *2002, 2001, 2007, 2006, 2005.  Paul’s vote went like this: *2001, 2002, 2007, 2005, 2006.  Neither of us included the 2008 in the mix since it was still too young to judge; we wanted to be fair to the 2008 vintage!

These events are always fund and informative.  For winemakers, it’s an opportunity to showcase wines from several vintages with each vintage the result of varying circumstances not the least of which is the weather.  It was to surprise, for example, that the 2007 barrel sample presented quite nicely; that year was one of the best in Virginia with weather conditions resembling those of Napa in California. 

The evening flew by too quickly.  We caught up with Jennifer Breaux Blosser who heads the hospitality and events team at Breaux Vineyards and Sylvia Miller, one of our favorite tasting associates at Breaux Vineyards.  We also met SuzieLin (one of our Twitter buddies) and Joel Timmins for the Examiner. It was great meeting them and chatting about the vertical tasting.

Be sure to visit Breaux Vineyards, and do inquire about events such as this vertical tasting to learn more about Virginia wines through the years.  Please mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you.

Here are some pictures from the event.

Check out Virginia.org for more information on the special happenings going on in Virginia during the whole month of October!

WHAT:
The North End Wine Club at the Surf Club Ocean Grille is resuming. Twenty wines– reds and whites – will be available for sample from Surf Club’s exquisite collection. (Customers have the opportunity to
purchase bottles of wine — with special pricing — to take home for later enjoyment.)

WHEN:
Wednesday, September 23, 2009, begins: 7 PM

COSTS:
$10 per person (plus tax & gratuity)

WHO:
Open to the Public ~ NEWC membership not required

WHERE:
Surf Club Ocean Grille
Adjacent to the Wyndham Virginia Beach Oceanfront
5700 Atlantic Avenue
Virginia Beach, VA 23451

HOW:
Please call 757-425-5699 to R.S.V.P. or for more details.
*The North End Wine Club is limited to 100 people so call today to reserve your spot.

General Motors sponsored the event and had several new Buick LaCrosses parked at the event for people to check out and learn about. There were many representatives there offering cool Buick wine bottle stoppers for answering a few questions about the new Buick LaCrosse. Warren and I both answered the questions correctly and walked away with our own wine bottle stopper!

We made our way around the event visiting many of the 15 wineries. Here are some of the wineries we visited and which wines got our gold stars.

Cooper Vineyards-We had the chance to taste Cooper Vineyards wines back in July when they appeared at Hartwood Winery. It was good to see some familiar faces. Our gold stars went to the 2008 Coopertage Blanc and the 2008 Petit Verdot. We walked away with bottles of both of these.

Chateau Morrisette-I once called this winery the Disneyland of Virginia wineries but my opinion has changed somewhat. We have tasted their wines for a long time and this time our gold stars went to the Viognier and the Cabernet Franc.

Fabbioli Cellars-We love all the wines that Doug produces. We always enjoy talking with Doug as well. While we do love all the wines, the gold stars went to the 2008 8 Chains LoCo Vino and the 2008 Cabernet Franc.

Vino Curioso-We have only ever tasted these wines at festivals. We know they are planning to eventually have a tasting room but until then we’ll continue to learn about their wines at festivals. Our gold star here goes to the Yesterday which is a sauvignon Blanc.

Chateau O’Brien-We haven’t visited Howard in a long time so we need to plan a trip there soon. It was nice to see some familiar faces at the booth though. Our gold stars here go to the 2007 Northpoint Rose and the 2008 Virginia Apple Wine.

First Colony-Our gold stars went to the 2008 Viognier and the 2006 Late Harvest. Both very nice wines.

After visiting all the winery booths we got some lunch and then wandered around enjoying all the vendor booths. I had to buy some kettle corn and some peanut brittle. It was really good. We also enjoyed the live music at the event. We even picked up some reusable shopping bags from the Giant booth.

It was great day and the weather was perfect. We enjoyed all the wine, food, and vendors. We even considered getting a Buick LaCrosse at one point! If you happen to visit any of the wineries mentioned please tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Our focus of course was on the wines. There were many wineries tasting at the event. Many of the wineries we’ve visited before but there were also a few new ones. Here’s a listing of most of the wineries we visited at the festival and which wines got our gold stars.

Gabriele Rausse Winery-Stars go to the 2007 Refosco and the 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve.

Philip Carter Winery-Stars go to the recently released 2008 Chardonnay and the Meritage. We plan to visit Philip Carter soon because they have some new wines coming out this fall.

Gadino Cellars-Our gold stars were given to the 2007 Viognier and the 2007 Cabernet Franc…both really nice, strong wines. We have to make a visit to the winery soon.

Aspen Dale-We had a great time visiting with Shay McNeal when we visited Aspen Dale Winery so it was nice to see her again at the tasting booth. Our gold star here goes to the 2008 Parris Country Blend Merlot.

Fox Meadow Winery-We haven’t been here in a long time so it was nice to taste their current offerings. Our gold stars went to the 2008 Riesling and the 2006 Merlot.

Miracle Valley-We’ve visited this one a few times and always enjoy their wines. Our gold star here goes to the 2008 Cabernet Franc.

Holly Grove Vineyard-This is a new one to us. We are curious to make a trip to the eastern shore for a visit sometime. Our gold star here went to the 2008 Sunset Rose.

Bright Meadow-This is another new one to us. We’ll have to plan a trip down south for this one. Our gold star here went to the Burley Red.

After our tasting we made our way to the the food vendors and had ourselves some brick oven pizza with a bottle of Parris Country Blend Merlot from Aspen Dale. It went beautifully with our spicy pizza. While relaxing enjoying our lunch our friend Dezel from My Vine Spot came by. We spent some time catching up with him and enjoying more wine and nibbles.

After enjoying our lunch, we took some time to enjoy the polo matches that were taking place right in front of us. The arrangement of the food vendors, seating areas, and shopping vendors was perfect for enjoying the polo while enjoying other activities. Warren has decided he’d like to learn how to play polo!

At the end of the polo matches, we did a little shopping at different exhibits. We left with some peanut brittle and some biscotti. We loaded up our purchases and headed home. It was a long day but one we thoroughly enjoyed. If you visit any of the wineries mentioned, please tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!

The Plains, VA Bring out the big hats and sundresses ….The Wine Festival at The Plains and the 24th annual Commonwealth Cup of Polo happens September 12 and 13 at everyone’s favorite location – Great Meadow Equestrian Center just west of the Washington DC metropolitan area in The Plains.

What a difference an exit makes – just one exit past the sprawling city at exit 31 off of I-66, is where Virginia becomes gorgeous rolling farmland. This year, the Great Meadow Equestrian Center, located here, will be the site of two favorite events combined on one ticket.

The Wine Festival at The Plains and The 24th annual Commonwealth Cup of Polo come together at Great Meadow for a weekend of great wine, great food, great art and great international polo – USA versus Great Britain.

The Wine Festival at The Plains brings Virginia’s Tasting Rooms together in one location for a grand celebration of the vintage harvest. Guests of this event will discover a selection of locally-grown artisan wines being produced in the boutique wineries of Virginia, including many that are rarely brought out of the tasting room.

The Commonwealth Cup is the oldest and one of the most highly attended polo matches of its kind in the country. In this rousing and spirited annual challenge, the best players in the US square off against an elite team of Brits from the British Forces Foundation for a key benefit match.

The combined event features gourmet cuisine prepared by the region’s best chefs, a select group of fine art and fancy food vendors, and polo’s traditional half time divot stomp with a Virginia Wine twist. Sunday will also include a bagpipe concert and horse-drawn carriage parade. A Viking Appliance culinary stage will feature wine pairing and tasting demonstrations, including wine tasting 101 classes, the author of the popular book, Gourmet Getaways, the Executive Chef of the famed Boars Head Inn in Charlottesville, and winemaker pairings throughout the weekend.

This delightful Autumn afternoon of good fun support a very good cause. The event is a fund raiser for the Wounded Warrior Project, a 501c3 organization that implements initiatives that honor and empower our national heroes.

The Commonwealth Polo & Wine Event at The Plains is sponsored by Farm Wineries Council, Inc., Great Meadow Polo Club, The Washington Post, Moore Cadillac and Viking Appliance.

For information about the event and to purchase discount tickets online, please visit the event website at www.winefestivalattheplains.com.

Thanks to Donna and Carl from the Farm Wineries Council for all the information in this post.

-Philip Carter Winery, in the running for Virginia’s Favorite Winery, will be hosting an Oceania Mediterranean cruise doing the same itinerary as this year’s Pearmund Cruise, except in reverse (sailing Barcelona to Rome). The cruise departs Barcelona on April 4, 2010. The 10-day cruise includes the French Riviera (with optional excursions to Avignon, Chateuneuf-du-Pope, wineries of St. Tropez, and a visit to the ancient village of Grimaud), Monte Carlo (with optional excursion to Old Nice and a fabulous wine cellar for a cheese-and-wine pairing), and the amazingly-beautiful Amalfi Coast of Italy (with a spectacular optional excursion to Chianti to include a multi-course Italian lunch/feast paired with numerous Italian wines including Chianti Classico). Vintner and lawyer Philip Strothers and his wife Danielle will be hosting the cruise. There will be 2 wine tastings on board, a food-and-wine pairing dinner, and cocktail reception. Because Philip is both a lawyer who specializes in representing wineries in Virginia, and himself the owner of a Virginia winery, Philip also will add a unique dimension to the cruise. Philip will be hosting a couple of lectures to provide insight to our guests about what is involved in starting a winery in Virginia and also speak about the history of Virginia wine making. It promises to be a spectacular experience. What is most amazing is the price. It starts at $2,699 per person. This rate includes roundtrip airfare from Dulles and many other major gateway cities. It also includes prepaid gratuities (worth $250 per stateroom), a $200 per stateroom spa credit, and all the onboard activities (wine tastings, food-and-wine pairing dinner, cocktail receptions, and lectures). To book requires a deposit of $750 per person, with no further payment due until 90 days prior to departure. Additional information about this cruise is located here. $700 of the deposit is refundable if cancelled for any reason at least one day prior to final payment.

-Veramar Vineyard & Winery. We’re thrilled that one of Virginia’s most established wineries, Veramar, will also be hosting an Oceania Mediterranean cruise. The Veramar cruise is also 10 days, and sails June 17-27, 2010, from Rome to Barcelona. The itinerary is different than Philip Carter’s itinerary, however, and is concentrated in France with several ports in Italy. It will visit unique ports such as Cinque Terre (Italy); Cannes, France; Sanary-sur-Mer, France; and Sete, France. Anyone who has met the Bogaty family who owns Veramar knows that they are in for a real treat if they sail on this cruise. Aside from the fact that Justin Bogaty, the family wine maker, makes awesome wines, Jim, Della, and Justin are all delightful, warm people who will be sailing onboard the cruise. They will be hosting onboard wine tastings, cocktail receptions, and a food-and-wine pairing dinner for their guests. They also will be leading some extraordinary wine-themed excursions to some of the finest wine regions in Europe, to include Chateuneauf-du-Pope. The rate on this cruise, especially for June on an upscale cruise line like Oceania, is unbeatable at $2,999 per person, which also includes roundtrip airfare from Dulles and other major gateways. It also includes prepaid gratuities (worth $250 per stateroom), and all onboard activities (wine tastings, food-and-wine pairing dinner, cocktail receptions, etc.). To book requires a deposit of $750 per person, with no further payment due until 90 days prior to departure. Information about the Veramar cruise is located here. $700 of the deposit is refundable if cancelled for any reason at least one day prior to final payment.

-Pearmund Cellars, Winery at LaGrange & Vint Hill Craft Winery. Chris & Lisa Pearmund will be hosting this wine cruise aboard Uniworld’s River Royale, a 134-guest river boat sailing the Rhone River through the Burgundy & Provence region of France. This promises to be a very rewarding and unique experience for guests. River boats are all about the destination. They truly are floating hotels, and dock right in the heart of the cities and towns they visit. Guests will enjoy long ports stays, often late into the night or early morning. On this cruise, a shore excursion is included in every port of call. Bicycles are also available for use by guests free of charge, and complimentary wine is served at dinner. This cruise will feature optional shore excursions to wineries of the Burgundy & Provence region, along with included onboard wine tastings and cocktail reception with Chris and Lisa. The cruise sails June 27-July 4, 2010. The rate begins at $2,799 per person, but when booked by September 30th, the cruise line is offering a $150 per person discount. To book requires a deposit of $200 per person, with no further payment due until 90 days prior to departure. Additional information about this cruise is located here.

In appreciation, for anyone who newly books with us during the month of August (through August 31st) and who states they are booking because they read about the wine cruises on Virginia Wine Time, we will offer an additional $50 per stateroom ($25 per person) shipboard amenity credit on any one of the above three wine cruises. Shipboard credit is like spending cash onboard the cruise. These cruises can only be booked through Cruise Holidays of Alexandria. Our number is 703-706-0011.

Gray Ghost’s 2006 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon won gold at the Virginia State Fair Wine Competition held Monday, June 8 in Richmond! Produced from 100% Estate Grown grapes and aged three in years in French oak, Gray Ghost only produces a Reserve Cabernet in exceptional years. This is only the ninth Reserve Cabernet to be produced in fifteen vintage years.

15th Anniversary Celebration at Gray Ghost Vineyards
Saturday & Sunday, July 11 & 12, 2009
11:00 am to 5:00 pm

Enjoy wine tastings, winery tours, vineyard tours and live music by the Seth Kibel Jazz Trio! Experience a Civil War campsite and the firing of an operational Civil War cannon! 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. $10 per person includes tasting, Gray Ghost logo glass and all festivities. Barbecue lunch is $10 with 100% of lunch money benefiting the Culpeper Food Closet. Please call for lunch reservations or bring a picnic. Gray Ghost is located at 14706 Lee Highway in Amissville and can be contacted at 540-937-4869.

Information from Amy Payette, Director of Marketing at Gray Ghost and photos courtesy of T. J. Cabrera.

On Saturday we attended the annual Nebbiolo Vertical tasting at Breaux Vineyards. The food was absolutely delicious and provided by Grandale Farms. We had three flights of wine with a course of food to enjoy with each flight.

On Sunday we attended the Warrenton Wine and Arts Festival. Several local wineries were in attendance and it was nice to taste many of the wines we enjoy at their wineries. One winery that we haven’t had the chance to visit was Rogers Ford. We really need to plan to visit them soon. At their table we really enjoyed the Sumerduck Rose. We actually picked up a bottle to bring home before leaving.

Several Virginia wineries will be attending the festival including Barboursville, Delfosse, Pearmund, Tarara, and many others. There will be local artists and photographers attending the festival as well as antique dealers, musicians, and authors.

Tickets can be purchased ahead of time for $20.00 and at the gate for $25.00. Designated driver tickets are available for $10.00. Proceeds from the festival will benefit St. John Evangelist School, Church, and Knights of Columbus.

We will be attending the event and of course we’ll be writing about our experiences. Look for us there!

Several Virginia wineries will be attending the festival including Barboursville, Delfosse, Pearmund, Tarara, and many others. There will be local artists and photographers attending the festival as well as antique dealers, musicians, and authors.

Tickets can be purchased ahead of time for $20.00 and at the gate for $25.00. Designated driver tickets are available for $10.00. Proceeds from the festival will benefit St. John Evangelist School, Church, and Knights of Columbus.

We will be attending the event and of course we’ll be writing about our experiences at the event. Look for us there!

Mark your calendars and get your tickets now!

Al and Cheryl Kellert at the beginning of the event.

The table setting.

Al pouring the second flight of wines.

Our table during the event.

Another view of our table at the event.

The empty bottles from the event.

The wine library at Gray Ghost.

Warren admiring the wine library.

We look forward to this barrel tasting every year as one of the barrel samples is taken from the developing Chardonnay; Paul and I harvest Chardonnay every year at Gray Ghost, and this is our opportunity to witness the vine to barrel to bottle process. Our barrel sample of the 2008 Chardonnay presented enticing aromas and flavors of apples and pears, and we were pleased to find out that this one will be bottled in late spring.

From the Chardonnay barrel we sauntered over to the 2008 Cabernet Franc barrel. Paul was already eyeing the Merlot barrel, but this barrel tasting was very well organized with numbered stations so Paul had to wait a bit longer. Anyway, the 2008 Cabernet Franc had been in the barrel for six months and was showing black pepper and cherry on the nose with similar flavors in the mouth. Similar to a Cabernet Franc from the Loire region of France, this Cabernet Franc was already showing potential.

An incentive to attending the barrel tasting at Gray Ghost Vineyards was the opportunity to reserve favored samples in the future program. Tasters were given the opportunity to reserve favorites by the case at a substantial saving per bottle. Needless to say, Paul has already reserved his case of Merlot, and I opted to stake a claim to one case of the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon.

With our barrel tasting done, we bid adieu to Gray Ghost Vineyards. Before we left, we made certain to try the newly released 2008 Riesling and the 2008 Vidal Blanc. Both should be popular summer pours, so be sure to visit soon to give these a try. Of course, be sure to mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you.

After sipping and mingling, the gathering was then guided through samples of 08 whites and reds as well as 07 reds currently in the bottle. Of the future whites, we sampled the 2008 Traminette, 2008 Stainless Steel Chardonnay, 2008 Barrel Select Chardonnay and the 2008 Viognier. We both placed a gold star next to the 2008 Traminette. We noted grapefruit and stone fruit on the nose, and apricot and spice in the mouth, and we both predicted that this one is destined to become a holiday favorite this fall. Lovers of bolder Chardonnays should look for the 2008 Barrel Select Chardonnay to be bottled in June.

So what other wines made our all-star list? From Rebec Vineyard, we preferred the Riesling. Davis Valley Winery presented a blend of hybrids (chardonnel, vidal blanc, and seyval blanc) in its White that should prove to be a crowd pleaser for the summer time. We’ve reviewed Cooper Vineyards’ Norton, and the 2006 Norton is still one of my favorite Virginia Nortons. And finally, Cabernet Franc lovers may want to try the current offering by First Colony.

And so ended our trip to the winter edition of the Virginia Wine Showcase. For the record, we do pick and choose what to taste and how much to taste. For those who wish to navigate these events without getting inebriated, remember that you do not have to taste everything on the tasting menus. For example, I do not like sweet wines and do not taste them. Paul avoids most Chardonnays, and we both say “no thanks” to so-called hot tub wines. Also, do not be afraid to dump into the buckets even if you enjoy the wines you are tasting. Tasting portions do tend to be quite minimal, but if an associate is pouring too much into your glass then speak up! Finally, drink lots of water and be sure to eat. (Your palate will tell you when you’ve sampled too much wine—when Merlot tastes like Chardonnay, it’s time to call it quits.)

Be sure to visit any or all of the wineries featured here, but be sure to mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you.

So what’s up with Paul doing the Time Warp? On Halloween, we donned our best and scariest costumes and played tricks or treats at Barrel Oak Winery. Spooky movies, Halloween treats, and nice wines were on tap, and we were just in time to view the showing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. We made sure to allow enough time to do a tasting, and we settled on a bottle of the 2005 Merlot to share with grilled fare and a nice Gruyere cheese. (We also munched on popcorn and smores as we watched Brad and Janet struggle through a rough night with Dr. Frankenfurter!) And yes, Paul did do the Time Warp!!

We were also made privy to upcoming releases at Barrel Oak including a divine Viognier that showcased the talents of winemaker Rick Tagg, so stay tuned for that one!

Warren as a Prince having a taste of Barrel Oak wines.

Brian Roeder shares a taste of the upcoming Viognier.

Saturday evening found us at the special release party for Gray Ghost Vineyards’ 2005 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. This is always an elegant night filled with music, food, and wine ( of course). Gray Ghost Vineyards only produces a reserve Cabernet in exceptional years, and the result is always an exceptional wine. This Reserve offered rich dark fruit flavors with silky tannins that made it a natural partner for the evening’s menu offerings: prime rib, grilled salmon (my favorite), and grilled chicken with mushrooms. We were joined by our friends, Mark and Shane, who tend to favor Gray Ghost’s Merlot yet found the Reserve Cabernet a wine to add to the rack. Be sure to also sample Gray Ghost Vineyard’s 2007 Reserve Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc; both were newer releases that would accompany fast-approaching holiday dinners.

Guests gather before the release of the Cabernet Reserve.

Mark, Shane, Paul and Warren.

Owners Al and Cheryl Kellert take the dance floor.

So as we settle into fall, be sure to visit Barrel Oak and Gray Ghost Vineyards; be sure to mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Looking for ways to celebrate Virginia Wine Month? Consider visiting Virginia wineries this month. Find out if local wine shops are tasting Virginia wineries. Ask your favorite restaurants if they pour Virginia wines, and order them if they do. The Virginia Tourism Corporation can offer many other ideas—just click the links below:

Click here to learn more about state-wide festivals and events.

Click here to see a video about Luca Paschina, the general manager and winemaker of Barboursville Vineyards.

Click here to see 20 getaway ideas in celebration of Virginia Wine Month.

Make a point to celebrate Virginia Wine Month in October. And whether you’re tasting Virginia wines at a winery, wine shop, or restaurant mention that Virginia Wine Time suggested that you try Virginia wines!

We were able to visit and taste the current wines from:

Davis Valley Winery
Tomahawk Mill Vineyard and Winery
Delfosse Vineyard and Winery
Vino Curioso
White Fences Vineyard and Winery
Valhalla Vineyards
Rebec Vineyards
Williamsburg Winery
Bright Meadows Farm
Lake Anna Winery
New Kent Winery

Writing about each booth experience would make this post too long so we’ll just point out a few things we wrote down in our notes.

At the Valhalla booth we were able to do a reserve tasting. They had a separate area set up just for the reserve tasting. We walked up to the booth and saw our friend Susan. She was already tasting the reserve wines. We joined her and thoroughly enjoyed the wines Valhalla had on their reserve list for the day. It’s always fun to run into an old friend and enjoy some wine and conversation.

We tasted wines at the Vino Curioso and noticed a basket full of M&Ms, Skittles, lollipops, and goldfish crackers. We talked with one of the owners, Mike Matthews. We asked what this was about and he explained that they feel wines should be paired with fun things to eat as well as nice meals. Of course we spent a little time enjoying the wines with the pairings. It certainly made the tasting more fun.

One of the last booths we visited was New Kent Winery. We had heard of them before but have not had the chance to visit. We talked with Pete Johns about the concept and their wines. We heard previously that Tom Payette was working on a White Norton. We were pleased that we could taste this wine. The New Kent website describes the White Norton as follows and we couldn’t agree more. This is one that shouldn’t be missed.

“This unique Virginia rose wine was gently handled in a proprietary fashion unlike any other Virginia winery has done. Cool fermentation in stainless steel and blending finesse has made this light Virginia rose wine extraordinarily complex and sought after.”

The Virginia Wine Showcase always gives us the chance to taste wines we wouldn’t normally get to taste. Remember this the next time you are looking to sample many of Virginia’s finest wines.

Here are some pictures from the day.

An extra incentive is the award-winning wines that are offered for tasting and sale at the summer concerts. Concert goers in search of a versatile pour may want to consider the dry 2007 Rose or the sweeter blush-style 2006 Cameo. White wine drinkers looking for a more complex sipper might appreciate the 2007 Viognier; however, sweet wine sippers like my friend and guest blogger Michael Tyler opt for the 2006 Charval. Picnickers who bring along steak salads or grilled meats may want to splurge on the 2005 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon or Tarara’s heralded 2005 Meritage. Bringing along a bigger group of friends with varied preferences and palates? Sounds like an opportunity to sample lots of different foods and wines while bopping to the beat!

So don’t stay home this summer—pack a picnic and enjoy music and wine at Tarara Winery, and be sure to mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Click here to visit the page about the wine cruise.

What:

The Chesapeake Bay Wine Festival features some of the finest wines from Virginia wineries: Chatham Vineyards, Prince Michel Vineyard & Winery, Ingleside Vineyards, Cooper Vineyards, Oak Crest Vineyard & Winery, Belle Mount Vineyards, Vault Field Vineyards, Cardinal Point Vineyard & Winery and White Fences Vineyard & Winery. For more information go to http://www.chesapeakebaywinefestival.com/ or call 804-438-5559.

Highlights:
•Free Chesapeake Bay Wine Festival wine glass
•Free wine tastings from all wineries
•Live music by one of Tidewater’s favorites: Mary & The Janes
•Free Vineyard Tours
•Gift shop featuring gourmet foods, handbags, wine accessories, vinotherapy and more.

When/Where:
Saturday, June 7, 2008 (come rain or shine)
11 a.m.-6 p.m.
White Fences Vineyard

Irvington, Va. On the Northern Neck at the headwaters of Carter’s Creek near the confluence of the Rappahannock and Potomac rivers. About three hours from Washington, D.C., one hour, 15 minutes from Richmond, Va., and one hour, 30 minutes from Norfolk, Va.

http://www.whitefencesvineyard.com/directions.asp

Ticket Prices:
$20 per person; Designated Drivers admitted free of charge
Partial proceeds to benefit The Northern Neck Family YMCA Bright Beginnings Program

Contact:
Diana Naidoo,
The Hodges Partnership,
804.788.1414
dnaidoo@hodgespart.com

We toured around the tasting room facility and marveled at the changes that had taken place since our last visit. Here are a few pictures from the tasting room.

Al telling us about the evenings events.

The wine library where the wines were set out for pouring.

All the glasses ready for wine.

Round two at the buffet table, and this time to pair with the Reserve Cabernet Sauvignons. A special feature was the 1993 Reserve Cabernet; this was the first Reserve Cabernet poured by Gray Ghost, and it earned them numerous awards and rave reviews. I say special because this was the last time that this wine will be poured; remaining bottles will continue to rest in the library. So enough nostalgia—what Cabs were the faves? I kept grabbing the 1998 and placed this one at the top of my list. To me, this one represented a fine integration of aromas and flavors; I thought it was still nicely balanced. Paul went with the sentimental favorite, the 1993 Cab.

The candle light was lovely.

We had a great time.

The focus of our visit was art, and Paul brought along fourteen photographs from his extensive portfolio to present in the Woodland Winery tasting room. Paul is an avid photographer, and those who know Paul also know that his camera is always around his neck. He likes to capture the ordinary—old barns, chimney tops, leafless trees,—to create extraordinary art. Paul claims that he is fascinated by shapes; in fact, his exhibit is entitled, “Shapes Through the Lens.” The art is available for viewing and purchase at the winery until July 13, 2008. (A sneak preview of the exhibit can be seen here.) Paul is very humble, but I know that he was excited to plan the display with Megan, and he was quite proud of the work presented!

With the exhibit now on display, it was time to taste some wine, and John gladly obliged us all with a tasting. Also, Megan’s Mom and Woodland winemaker, Melissa, was on hand to chat about Woodland wines. Of the white wines, my personal fave was the 2006 Reserve Chardonnay. Ripe apple notes and flavors were obvious with a buttery texture and toasty finish; for those who prefer a fuller-bodied white wine, the 2006 Reserve Chardonnay should fit the bill. I do appreciate bolder white wines and would gladly sip this one on its own, but lobster with cream sauce or a lobster bisque would pair nicely with this Chardonnay. Paul favored the crisp 2006 Stainless Steel Chardonnay.

With our tasting completed, John obliged us all with a glass of the Cabernet Franc, and we took yet another look at Paul’s art to decide which piece was our personal favorites. Megan favored Red Barnand Table Grapes. Fingers to Heaven topped my list, but no one seemed to notice my Penmanship Art. We then enjoyed another gladss of the Cabernet Franc on the porch and chatted about wine.

Last but not least, we sampled the offerings at Cooper Vineyards, and we both enjoyed the 2005 Norton with its dark cherry and licorice notes.

Time did seem to fly, but we made certain to purchase bottles of the 2004 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. Warren’s bottle is destined for the wine rack as this one will only get better with age. This is a limited production wine, so be sure to make it out to Gray Ghost to purchase a bottle of this special offering–and be sure to mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you.

1. Italian vegetable medley paired with Horton Viognier

2. Herb-crusted Haddock paired with Willowcroft’s Cold Steel Chardonnay (Paul’s favorite pairing)

3. Brie with fruit topping paired with Breaux’s Vidal Blanc

4. Asian Beef and pasta paired with Veritas Claret (Warren’s favorite pairing)

Looking for a favorite Virginia wine? A Whole Foods in your area may have it in stock. If not, ask the the wine manager to stock Virginia wines.

And while you are there, check out the Fall issue of Edible Chesapeake—it is now available at most Whole Food markets, and be sure to read the article on page six. You may just recognize the author and the photographer! Edible Chesapeake promotes the “eat locally” concept, and this area does have much to offer in that regard; in addition, this informative magazine raises awareness of sustainable foods and organic products. And it’s priced to be affordable to everyone—it’s FREE!

Have you had a Virginia Wine that you’d like to recommend to others? In the spirit of the Virginia Wine Month, leave a comment and let us know!

We first sampled the 2002. Comments noted included: leathery, pepper, black berry, smooth, velvet. Here was a wine that had obviously benefited from aging. As we sipped away, this Cabernet Franc seemed to complement snacks on the table that included spicy summer sausage, manchego cheese, and a flavorful taleggio cheese. This one earned rave reviews for its elegance and complexity.

The 2005 was last on our list, and this one earned immediate rave reviews. “Rich garnet” was one comment on the color, and we promised to quote one panelist, Debbie, on her assessment of the 2005 Cabernet Franc. Her comment? Party in the mouth! Our panel unanimously observed a more fruit forward wine that was easily accessible. “Cherry” was the leading fruit descriptor, and three tasters noted a longer finish.

We know that we will want to return to Corcoran Vineyards to sample their latest releases, including the Cabernet Franc. However, readers will want to visit soon—be sure to mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you!

As we tasted beneath an outdoor tent, we were also able to catch up with winemaker Al Kellert who shared with us that the very hot summer conditions have been very beneficial to the vineyards. Indeed, we were surrounded by healthy vines already dripping with lovely fruit. Now as we sampled and chatted, Paul was very anxious to sample the 2006 Merlot; of course, he had to be patient as we tasted through the whites. We already knew that our lunch wine would have to be a white wine as we brought along spicy fried white fish, sliced melon, and white cheeses for lunch. We also concluded that the warmer temperatures demanded a refreshing white wine to boot. With these elements in mind, our gold star went to the Victorian White, a stainless steel fermented Chardonnay that is semi-dry and very versatile. We noted a fruity nose with lemony flavors and a pleasant finish that had summer written all over it! Warren serves the Victorian White as an appertif, and it is always a crowd pleaser. With Fall on the way, do also sample the spicy and Holidays-friendly 2006Gewurztraminer as it will be selling out soon.

Time seemed to pass quickly as we enjoyed our lunch with the Victorian White as our companion. We wondered how the period re-enactors managed to look so comfortable in their layers of clothing in the summer heat! The cool jazz sounds seemed to bring the temperatures down a few degrees as we sipped and savored amidst the vines at Gray Ghost Vineyards. We plan to return to Gray Ghost Vineyards soon, but we know that readers will visit even sooner—be sure to mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Gray Ghost does such a wonderful job of setting the stage for great events. The garden party was no exception. Beneath outdoor tents were tables alight with candleabrum to set a romantic yet springtime mood. A jazz ensemble serenaded diners. As we mingled with other guests, we were able to sample all Gray Ghost wines at the open bar and nibble on artisanal cheeses. Of course, we took advantage of the open bar and sampled new releases that included the 2006 Seyval Blanc and the 2006 Vidal Blanc. In the process, we met other wine enthusiasts who enjoy cool jazz, fine wine, and delightful cuisine.

You must visit Gray Ghost Vineyards. They produce some of the best wines in Virginia. If you find yourself at Gray Ghost, please tell them you read about them on Virginia Wine Time.

As we darted through a steady rain to reach the tasting room from the parking lot, we could hear the Matthew Grason band and its urban jazz/rhythm and blues selections. We were greeted by Chef Hump Astorga who had remembered us from a previous visit with Jennifer McCloud. Hump invited us to visit the tasting table before indulging in lunch, and we took his advice. The outdoor tasting tables offered nine wines to sample including the newly released 2005 Chardonnay Reserve. Also on the list was the highly acclaimed 2005 Viognier as well as the popular 2006 Sarah’s Patio Red and the seductive 2003 Norton Locksley Reserve.

After we finished our tasting, we enjoyed roast beef sandwiches prepared from the grill, cheeses with baguette, and a glass of the 2003 Norton Estate. As we settled at a table for lunch, the Matthew Grason band transitioned to a jazz/funk improvisation that had Paul dancing in his seat! The rain continued, but we enjoyed our lunch with the 2003 Norton Estate. Of course, we will return to Chrysalis Vineyards, but we know that our readers will be visiting even sooner—be sure to tell Jennifer McCloud and the helpful staff at Chrysalis Vineyards that Virginia Wine Time sent you!

This year’s 27th annual event will be held at Morris Farm, conveniently located just a mile off Route 29 on Route 33 in Stanardsville. Enjoy the beauty of the rolling countryside while sipping award-winning Virginia wines, indulging in gourmet fare, and experiencing a variety of fine art and music.

Participating wineries include: Afton Mountain, Barboursville, Burnley, Cardinal Point, DelFosse, First Colony, Gabriele Rausse, Hill Top, Horton, Jefferson, Keswick, King Family, Kluge Estate, Oakencroft, Prince Michel, Stone Mountain, Sugarleaf, Veritas, White Hall, and Wintergreen.

Advance tickets are $15 and can be obtained at any of the participating wineries or online. Tickets will be available at the gate for $20. The festival will be open Saturday, April 21st and Sunday, April 22nd from 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. For more information, or to purchase advance-sale tickets, visit Monticello Wine Trail.

Contact:
Liz Bryant
Alliance Group
804-225-5829
liz@alliancegroupltd.com

Article provided by Liz Bryant of the Alliance Group.

Before we made our way to the barrel room for all the chocolates we could possibly stand, we chatted with Amy Payette and Cheryl Kellert and learned that their 2006 Adieu, 2005 Reserve Chardonnay, and 2004 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon were recently awarded medals in a San Francisco wine competition. We congratulated them on a quick start to the medal counts, and with logo glasses in hand made our way to the treats. Warren nabbed one of the few black-stemmed glasses that have been the trademark of Gray Ghost glassware since the winery opened; however, they will be switching to a clear-stemmed glass that still bear the distinctive Gray Ghost logo. We both dashed for the chocolates which included brownies, dark chocolate bars, cakes, and chocolate covered dried fruit. Waiting for us at the wine table was Al Kellert who guided us through samplings of red wines that paired with our chocolate desserts.

Happy Valentine’s Day to all, and when you visit Gray Ghost, tell them that Virginia Wine Time sent you!

The event itself was held in the barrel room, and a harpist serenaded us with holiday songs. Of course, we are always hungry, and the array of fine foods prepared for the event was amazing! Chef Umberto Astorga presented gourmet fare that included game bird confit, lamb sausage, venison tenderloin, and vanilla cured tuna tartare. Wines poured that evening complimented the menu, and these included the 2005 Viognier, the rose-style Mariposa, the Rubiana, and the 2003 Lockseley Reserve Norton. Warren’s favorite was the 2003 Lockseley Reserve Norton; its intense cherry and raisin flavors along with its full body made it a natural pairing with the venison. Paul enjoyed the Mariposa and sipped this one with lighter cheeses and bread dipped in hummus.

During the course of the evening, we met other VIP members, and we all chatted about Virginia wines and Virginia wineries. At one point Jennifer McCloud offered a heart-felt toast to us all for being patrons of the winery and for attending the event. Time seemed to fly, and before we knew it, the evening had come to a close.

We said our goodbyes, handed out our blog cards, and purchased a few bottles of Chrysalis’ wine. Warren snatched a bottle of the lovely 2005 Albarino; Paul, the 2005 Viognier. We had a wonderful time and thoroughly enjoyed spending time with other wine enthusiasts. The benefits of VIP membership at Chrysalis were evident this evening, and we highly suggest that our readers consider joining the club. Of course, be sure to tell the gracious staff at Chrysalis that you read about them on the Virginia Wine Time blog.

With our holiday logo glasses in hand, we joined the holiday festivities in the Gray Ghost barrel room. We were treated to unlimited wine samples and all the food we could manage to eat. Special tasting for given of the Merlot, the Adieu, and the newly-released Reserve Chardonnay. Warren was eager to try the Reserve Chardonnay; in fact, he swiped Paul’s tasting ticket to enjoy a second glass. The Reserve Chardonnay is done in the California style without the heavy oak flavor; its honeyed texture and vanilla/nut finish make it a natural pairing with corn chowder, creamy pasta sauces, and crab cakes. Warren stocked up on the salmon and spinach dip while sipping this one. (In the meantime, Paul wondered what happened to his tasting ticket for the Reserve Chardonnay.)

As we enjoyed food and wine, we marveled at the decorations made from wine corks. Al Kellert, wine maker, creates Christmas trees, a fireplace, reindeer, and large holiday candles from wine corks, and these pieces are the source of Gray Ghost’s annual cork counting contest. Participants must guess how many corks were used to construct one of the chosen pieces, and this year it was the holiday candles. Paul attempted to be scientific about the matter and generated a very educated guess. Warren copied off of Paul’s answer and added a few corks for good measure!

We completed our tasting, and Lilia invited us to tour the facility. La Grange Winery is one of the newest wineries in Virginia; owner Chris Pearmund opened La Grange earlier in September after completing an extensive renovation of the historic La Grange manor house and its grounds. One would never have known that the manor house suffered through years of neglect. Our tour of the mansion revealed an incredible restoration of the three-level house with careful attention to historical details. Parlor rooms and their furnishings brought us back to 1790, the date the manor was built. However, we were growing hungrier by the second; so, we purchased a bottle of the 2005 Viognier and made our way to the grounds for a picnic.

So what was for lunch? We brought along Paul’s famous chicken strips; these he coated with herbs, spices and garlic then pan-fried in olive oil. (I think he’s been watching the Food Network!) The chicken strips paired quite nicely with the Viognier. We also enjoyed light cheeses on baguette slices. Of course, we were surrounded by magnificent views of autumn leaves, and the weather was cool and crisp. We also kept an eye on a ghoulish figure stalking the grounds; the Grim Reaper seemed to have haunted the house that day, but I’m sure he was there to enjoy the wines!

If you visit La Grange be sure to tell them you read about them on the Virginia Wine Time blog.

Hillsborough did an amazing job of decorating for the party and making the place look and sound spooky. Once inside they had lots of candy and nibbles to enjoy with some nice wines. They also had a DJ playing a good mix of music.

Dezel and Niki provided a very warm atmosphere for the event, and they served an array of Cabernet Franc-friendly foods. Warren made a dash for the Muenster, and Paul indulged himself with harder cheeses and cheese flavored crackers. Dezel poured eight Cabernet Francs, but he first provided us with tasting sheets that required us to rate the wines on a point system. As we acquainted ourselves with the rating sheets, we also acquainted ourselves with each other. Soon enough, the wine began to flow, and Dezel guided us through our tastings; we must add that this was a blind tasting, but we did have tasting notes with each Cabernet Franc sampled. Of the eight, two were from Virginia, two were from California; one Franc hailed from Washinton, and two others were produced from the Finger Lakes. A final treat was a Cabernet Franc from Chinon, France.

We had a wonderful experience and enjoyed spending time with such a great group of wine enthusiasts. We left with ideas for other tastings in the near future. Thank you Dezel and Niki!

If you visit Tarara Winery in the future, be sure to tell them you read about them on The Virginia Wine Time Blog.

Of course, we always bring food with us when we visit wineries, and on this day, we brought along spicy deli meats served on a baguette seasoned with olive oil and cracked pepper. An assortment of salty nuts, cheeses, and fruit also came along for lunch, and we enjoyed our wine and food while listening to the cool sounds of the jazz.

We went to Oasis to sample their new releases, and to our surprise the 2003 Merlot and the 2005 Riesling had been released since our last visit. Due to limited supplies, Oasis poured only three wines in the tasting room. We were able to sample the 2003 Barrel Select Chardonnay, the 2005 Riesling, and the 2003 Merlot; moreover, we opted for the sparkling wine tasting and sampled the Brut and the Celebration Infinity. These sparkling wines were truly delightful pours. It must be noted that Oasis’ 2004 offerings will be limited due to hurricane damage inflicted upon the vineyard. However, future releases will include the highly-rated Meritage, and we anxiously await its release.

We were also delighted to see Michaele and Tariq who are both so friendly and welcoming, We chatted about the Saturday polo matches, and we hope to attend one soon. We also plan to attend other Wolftrap concerts and will bring along Oasis wines.

For $50 ($35 for VIP members) we enjoyed southern BBQ provided by Red Hot and Blue, and the menu included beef brisket, baby back ribs, pulled pork, and grilled chicken. In addition, we received a souvenir glass to use for the Estate wine tasting. Now we should clarify the term, Estate—these were wines produced with the grapes grown and harvested on the Chrysalis properties. These wines included the award-winning Viognier, the newly released Verdejo, and the Chardonnay. Special attention must be paid to the Norton; Chrysalis considers the Norton to be the premier red wine of Virginia, and Chrysalis’ stated objective is to bring the Norton grape to a position of prominence enjoyed by te Norton arietal in the 19th century. In fact, in 1873, Norton wines produced in the United States received international acclaim in Vienna; however, with the prohibition movement in full swing not long afterward, Norton’s potential was never developed. Chrysalis has successfully returned Norton to it place of prominence, and we gladly tasted the results of this effort.

Speaking at the ceremony were Todd Gilbert from the Virginia House of Delegates, 15th District, Mark D. Obenshain from the Senate of Virginia, 26th District, and Gordon W. Murchie, President of the Vinifera Wine Growers Association. After the keynote by Gordon Murchie, the participants lined up at the door and cut the ribbon to officially open the new tasting room.

The vertical tasting took place on Saturday. Breaux was a very popular place on Saturday. The tasting room was populated with patrons waiting to taste. Breaux had so many visitors they had to set up a tent outside for more tasting space. There were also lots of people having picnics on the grounds.

Breaux had set up long tables in their tank room for the Nebbiolo vertical tasting. It looked as though they could seat 30 to 40 people for each tasting. After being seated, David Collins, the winemaker, told us about the history of Nebbiolo at Breaux. Then the tasting began.

We began with the 2004 and 2003 Breaux Nebbiolos out of the barrel. Both will be spending a year or two more in the barrels before bottling. The 2004 was very earthy, and rustic, with a red brick color and hints of raisin flavors. The 2003 had the same color but was smoother with dark berry flavors.

Next up were the 2002 Breaux Nebbiolo and the 2001 Veraldo Barbaresco. The 2002 Nebbiolo was from the bottle. It was fruitier with pepper, spicy flavors. It was slightly lighter in color but not in body. The 2001 Veraldo Barbaresco was a deeper red with a long finish and gave the sensation of sweetness without the sweet taste. The sensation of sweet was noted by some and questioned by others. Everyone’s palate is different.

Finally we had the 2001 Breaux Nebbiolo (current release) and the 2000 Allesandra Montigliero (Barolo). These were very similar. Both had dark brick red colors, smooth on the tongue, with some cherry/dark berry flavors.

Of course the foods prepared by Grandale Farm were perfectly paired with the wines. We had braised duck confit, caponata with prosciutto, Maryland crab mousse, sauteed grandale mizuno and chicory, aged Italian asiago, and nut toffee with vanilla wafer crust. Outstanding tastes to compliment the wines.

After the nebbiolos, we were treated to a taste of the syrah in the barrel room. They provided some chocolates to go with the syrah. While the syrah was very nice (especially with the chocolates), Paul really enjoyed the merlot they poured before the Nebbiolo tasting began. But then again, he’s partial to merlots. From the Nebbiolo tasting, Warren found the 2001 Breaux Nebbiolo to be most interesting. Not being all that familiar with Nebbiolo, we enjoyed the opportunity to taste so many and compare the different vintages. It certainly was an interesting wine afternoon.

Once we got to Linden we participated in their regular tasting and were able to taste their recently released 2004 Cabernet Franc and their 2005 Vidal Riesling as well as their current offerings. We could not find a bad thing to say about any of their wines. We enjoyed each one.

After our tasting we picked up our glass and our tasting sheet and went to the cellar to began the barrel tasting. The tasting sheet describes the event like this:

“Once a year we like to give you the opportunity to taste the new vintage. There is something magical about tasting a wine right from the barrel. The wines are young, unpolished, exuberant and full of fresh fruit flavors with a puckery dryness. We will tell you about the growing season, the logic behind the blends and how we think the wines will evolve.”

From the first barrel we were able to taste the 2005 Avenius. This wine is a blend of cabernet sauvignon and petit verdot. The grapes come from Shari Avenius’ vineyard which is close to Linden. She grows the grapes for Linden and Jim Law uses his skill to create the wines. Shari Avenius herself was using the wine theif to serve our taste of this developing wine. We would really enjoy having the chance to talk with her sometime about her vineyard.

The second barrel revealed the 2005 Hardscrabble which is a blend of cabernet sauvignon, petit verdot, merlot, and cabernet franc. This one became the favorite of Paul and Caroline. The man providing our taste explained that this wine would be staying the barrel for several more months. We look forward to it’s release.

Barrel three consisted of the 2005 Petit Verdot. This wine contained petit verdot and cabernet franc. Warren found this one to be his favorite. Kerry enjoyed this one as well.

The last barrel was the 2005 Boisseau which is a blend of cabernet franc, petit verdot, and merlot. Richard Boisseau has 3 arces of grapes that he sells to Jim Law for creating this wine. Richard explained to us that each wine takes the name of the vineyard from which the grapes come. Instead of naming the wine by the largest concentration of a certain grape, the wine takes the name from the vineyard’s owner. Interesting way to name wines.

After the barrel tasting we entered a different part of the cellar for a special release tasting. Over the weekend Linden released the 2005 Avenius Sauvignon Blanc, the 2002 Hardscrabble Red, and the 2004 Petit Manseng. All three were very good. With each wine they provided foods that paired well with each one. After this tasting we went back upstairs and enjoyed two bottles of wine and nibbles for lunch. While we were having our lunch, they sold out of the 2002 Hardscrabble Red. Paul was a bit upset because he was planning on buying a bottle or two because it was 100% merlot.

We have found that barrel tasting provide you insight to the upcoming wines. We thoroughly enjoyed this barrel tasting at Linden and can’t say enough about their wines. Here are some photos from our visit to Linden:

Caroline, Kerry, and Warren at the regular tasting.

Warren, Kerry, and Caroline enjoying the barrel tasting.

Richard Boisseau using the wine theif to provide Warren a taste of the 2005 Boisseau.

The first flight of wines was from 1998 to 2002. From that flight the 2002 stood out as an exceptional wine. Even though it is considered young for a cabernet, it was full of fruit flavor and exhibited signs of becoming even better in the future.

The second flight of wines was from 1993 to 1997. As you might guess, the 1993 was amazing. It’s holding up very well for its age. The tannins have smoothed over the years and the fruit flavors still shine.

We plan to write more about this event and others at Gray Ghost in a future article for the Daily News Record.

On a side note, we are off to New Orleans on Tuesday to visit Warren’s family. While in New Orleans we plan to visit Pontchartrain Vineyards. We will write about our visit there when we return.

For dessert we served the Windham Hope’s Raspberry Merlot. It was chilled and served with brownies and dark chocolates. At the end of the evening most agreed the stand out Merlot was the 2004 Oakencroft Monticello Merlot. All of the Merlots were delicious and had their individual characteristics. It was enlightening to compare and contrast the different years and different wineries. Don’t let the line in the movie keep you from discovering Virginia Merlots.

After our tasting, we joined a tour of their tank and barrel room. We were able to taste several of their wines right out of the barrel and a few out of the tanks. It was interesting to taste what the wines are like right out of the barrel. You can taste where the wines will be in the future. Here’s a picture from Horton’s cellar.