Category: Wine Trail

Winery 221 and Meet Up With Friends

/ Warren / Leave a comment

Now that we are both retired, Paul and I can take advantage of weekdays to enjoy local vacations, and we recently took a trip to the Charlottesville area and visited wineries in the Monticello AVA. We were able to visit the 221st Virginia winery for us and catch up with friends who were also in the area to appreciate local wines and spectacular fall scenery.

So what was winery #221? Southwest Mountain Vineyards, a new addition to the Monticello AVA has already earned an excellent reputation. The winery held a soft opening a few weeks before our trip; however, we were not able to attend. Therefore, it was our mission to find out what the buzz is all about. The two-storied tasting room is indeed expansive with the first level accommodating walk-in guests while those with reservations can enjoy a tasting on the second level. We made a reservation, received an excellent tasting of flights at the bar, and then marveled at the stellar view of mountains and foliage already putting on a pageant of autumn colors. Of course, we were interested in the wines, and these did not disappoint.

Three flights were offered: a white flight, a red flight, and a reserve flight. We shared a flight of each and noted our favorites. On the white flight, I preferred the easy-drinking White Blend 2020 composed of Viognier and Petit Manseng. Its tropical notes and fruity palate finished leaner than expected. Sip this one on its own or pair it with shellfish any day of the year; it’s also versatile enough to pair with poultry or pork. Virginia is known for its quality Cabernet Franc, and the 2021 vintage here was my favorite with its notes of violet, black pepper, and dried herbs. The 2019 and 2021 Red Blends were also well-crafted but still a bit tight—-buy now but drink later. Finally, the reserve flight featured my favorite grape, Chardonnay. Paul and I reached a split decision with Paul giving the nod to the approachable 2020 reserve while I gravitated to the oakier nuances of the 2021 Reserve.

As we sipped through our flights, we also nibbled on cheese and charcuterie available from the food menu. Our tasting associate also treated us to a sample of the 2021 Gruner Veltliner and the 2019 Petit Verdot. The Gruner was excellent and presented bright stone fruit on the nose and enough weight on the palate to enjoy with a holiday menu. Paul sang the praises of the 2019 Petit Verdot and suggested that this one was already hitting its stride. We ended up purchasing a bottle of each.

Of course, we like to ask questions, and our tasting associate was eager to answer them. Wines through the 2022 vintage were crafted by outstanding winemaker Emily Pelton of Veritas Vineyards. Grapes are grown on the Castalia and Ben Coolyn Vineyards, and varieties grown include Chardonnay, Viognier, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Petit Manseng, Cabernet Franc, and Gruner Veltliner. Upcoming vintages from 2023 and beyond will be made by renowned South African winemaker Boela Gerber.

Our visit to Southwest Mountain Vineyards kicked off a five-day vacation to the area, and we certainly visited other wineries while there. However, this trip also allowed us to catch up with friends. Below is a photographic journal of these gatherings:

Frank Morgan and Kathy Lang Wiedemann:

Nancy Bauer and winemaker Luca Paschina

George Hodgson of Veritas Vineyards

Stephen Banard, now winemaker at Delfosse (soon to be Mountain and Vine) Vineyards

Our next post with offer holiday menu suggestions based on some of the wines that we tasted on our trip to the Monticello AVA, Until then, we recommend that you take time to enjoy the gorgeous show put on by Mother Nature this time of year with your own trip to the Charlottesville area. Plan to visit Virginia wineries along the way, and mention that Virginia Wine time sent you!

Celebrating Pride in the Vines

/ Warren / 1 Comment

In a previous post, we committed to celebrating Pride Month by participating in Loudoun County’s Pride in the Vines, and we honored that commitment. As we plied (and tasted) our way along the trail, we made sure to have our Pride in Vines participant cards stamped by the participating wineries. Ten stamps from the wineries earned us the right to toss our card amongst other participants in the hope of winning a grand prize! (We earned double stamps on the first day, so we visited eight wineries to achieve the ten stamps.)

Our journey began with tastings at Willams Gap Vineyard and Forever Farm and Vineyard. We joined our friends, Steve and Joe, to mark a milestone—Steve and I retired from teaching! It was also our chance to bid them farewell as they embarked on a new life in Florida. The continued mild but sunny weather had me in the mood for rose, which I enjoyed at both wineries.

We continued accumulating stamps the following week with tastings at Bozzo Family Vineyards, Two Twisted Posts, and 868 Estate Vineyards. Warmer, humid weather prevailed this time, and Sauvignon Blanc at Bozzo and 868 provided a refreshing respite from the heat. Two Twisted Posts pioneered Pride in the Vines a few years ago, and the winery was well-decorated for the occasion. I favored the 2019 Chardonnay here and enjoyed its full-mouth feel with a baguette and cheeses.

Guests could stock up on pride pins, stickers, and flags as they sipped and savored. This particular sticker (below), for example, best described my reaction to the odious Supreme Court ruling in the 303/wedding web designer but not a wedding web designer with a non-client who was a married, heterosexual male case.

Scenes from the other wineries visited:

Our final swing through Loudoun County for Pride Month ended with tastings at The Wine Reserve, Hillsborough Vineyards, and 8 Chains North. Rose returned as my favorite sipper during this final swing, but the Cabernet Franc at The Wine Reserve gets a mention for a possible pairing with barbecue or grilled fare. It was at 8 Chains North that we earned the final stamp on our Pride in the Vines card, and it was there that we turned it in. Fingers are crossed that we win!

We extended Pride Month by one day to celebrate (I’m) Coming Out with the supreme legend, Diana Ross. We were amongst a crowd of fans at a sold-out show that was diverse and inclusive, and we brought along a bottle of the 2022 Rose from 8 Chains North to enjoy with the concert.

Paul and I took for granted that the decades-long struggle for LGBTQ+ rights had been secured and out of harm’s way; therefore, we became complacent over the years as Pride months came and went. Recent events culminating in the Supreme Court decision and the slippery slope it potentially creates have prompted us to become more visible community members.

Virginia Wine Time thanks the Loudoun County wineries that participated in this year’s Pride in the Vines, and we look forward to participating in the program next year. Be sure to visit the wineries mentioned in this post, and remember to say Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Solstice Paired With Virginia Wines

/ Warren / 1 Comment

Paul and I made our annual summer trek to the Charlottesville area, and this year it coincided with summer solstice, the official start of the summer season. These longer days allowed us to enjoy late dinners and wine on the porch at our favorite Stay cottage located on the Afton Mountain Vineyards property. In this post, I offer a review of favored wine varieties, blends, and sparkling wines that we sampled from various wineries in the Charlottesville area. Notice a special focus on summer wines since stocking up on these was our mission; however, any wine can be enjoyed in all seasons, and we do note some wines that some may find to be more appropriate for cooler weather.

White Wines/Rose/ White Blends/Sparkling:
Albarino: Pay attention to this grape in Virginia because it shows promise. Afton Mountain’s 2021 release features classic citrus notes and a leaner palate. A different twist will be offered by Jake Bushing’s 2021 Albarino that saw some time in oak barrels and thus presents a fuller-bodied palate.

Chardonnay: Always my favorite. Full-bodied treatments of this grape can be enjoyed at Septenary (2019), King Family Vineyards (2020) and Hazy Mountain (2019). Sippers who prefer a medium to lighter-bodied style may want to consider the releases from Pollak (2019) and Keswick (LVA 2021).

Sauvignon Blanc: This is another grape that has potential in Virginia. The 2021 offering from Septenary captures classic notes of boxwood and citrus with a refreshing acidity. Similar characteristics were noted in the current 2021 release from Jake Busching Wines. Sauvignon Blanc is also the key component in two white blends from Blenheim Vineyards. 2020 On The Line also includes Rkatsiteli, Chardonnay, and Petit Manseng while the 2018 Painted White incorporates Chardonnay and Petit Manseng. I will add that these two blends convinced me that Petit Manseng with its tropical fruit notes, acidity and texture brings much more to the table (or the bottle) as a blender than a stand alone.

Rose: Dry rose for us, please. Thankfully, Virginia wineries can deliver here too. We can recommend current releases now offered at Blenheim Vineyards (2020) King Family Vineyards (2021), Hark Vineyards (2021) and Septenary (2020). While rose conjures images of beaches or picnics, be sure to have Rose on hand for all seasons—-rose is versatile and can pair with almost anything.

Sparkling Wine: Any occasion or no occasion at all calls for sparkling wine. Try the 2018 Brut from King Family Vineyards produced from 100% Chardonnay, the Sparkling Amelie Blanc de Noir from Keswick Vineyards and/or the Sparkling Rose from Septenary.

Vidal Blanc: Once a driver at most Virginia wineries, Vidal Blanc seems be less common these days. Fortunately, the 2020 Virginia Verde from Hark Vineyards keeps Vidal Blanc alive, and it screams summer.

Red Wines: Cabernet Franc: This is probably the one red wine that is another all season gift. Enjoy it with light grilled fare in summer or with Thanksgiving turkey in the fall. I tend to prefer lighter style Cabernet Franc that presents juicy red berries with little interference from extensive use of oak or blends with other varieties. Blenheim’s 2020 release fits that bill. Pollak Vineyards’ 2019 bottling sees a bit more time on oak with a noted presence of black pepper; however, it too can be served on its own or with food. Septenary’s Cloverplains 2017 is a blend that leads with Cabernet France but includes Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot. Bright seed berries, sweet tobacco and subtle black pepper nuances offers a complex wine that can be enjoyed now or later.

Petit Verdot: This is another winning grape for Virginia. However, there are those who prefer this one on its own, while others would rather enjoy it as part of a blend. (Review my Petit Manseng comment). The 2018 vintage from Pollak Vineyards was surprisingly juicy and rich given the rather wet 2018 growing season. Hark Vineyards’ 2017 release is dark and brooding—-decant now or hold for a bit longer. Don’t ignore the 2019 vintage from DuCard Vineyards, especially if you are tracking down the gold medal winners from 2022 Virginia Governor’s Cup. Looking for a Petit Verdot-dominant blend? Give 2018 Blended Red from Blenheim Vineyards a try. It includes an equal part of Merlot followed by Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Others: We always grab a bottle (or two, three) of Bacco from Afton Mountain Vineyards. This one always includes Sangiovese, and the 2017 is delicious. If your library includes the 2016 Meritage from Pollak Vineyards, it is still showing quite well. Drink or hold. I bought a bottle to join its sibling on our wine rack. One will be enjoyed soon and the other will be poured in another year or so. Our 2013 Merlot from King Family Vineyards has definitely gathered dust, so it was a treat to try a sample of this one at the winery. I would put this one in the drink now category but made sure to purchase another one. Can it hold on for another year or two? We’ll find out.

Our front porch dinners paired with a perfect Virginia wine were lit with late sunsets followed by starry skies and dancing fireflies. Another treat was the cooler than usual night temperatures that allowed us to open the windows to enjoy cool nighttime breezes. If Mother Nature was treating us to a solstice concert, then she put on a stellar performance.

Plan to visit the wineries mentioned in this post to sample these well-crafted wines for yourself this summer. Let us know if you find others that you enjoyed but not described here. Of course, please mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Monticello Cup Winners

/ Paul / 1 Comment

This evening I attended the Monticello Cup Wine Competition Awards ceremony in Charlottesville. It was held at the Common House. Laura and Jason Lavallee of Wisdom Oak Winery won the 2022 Monticello Cup for their NINETEEN, a Bordeaux-style red blend. I was able to taste the winning wine. It’s a nice red blend but will benefit from some time in the bottle.

Frank Morgan of Drink What You Like, organized the event and was on hand to announce the winners. He announced the top 3 red and white wines of the Monticello Wine Cup Competition as well as the cup winner.

The top 3 reds were the Wisdom Oak 2019 NINETEEN, the Cardinal Point Vineyard and Winery 2019 Clay Hill Cabernet Franc and the Jefferson Vineyards 2019 Merlot Reserve. The top 3 whites were the Michael Shaps Wineworks 2019 Petit Manseng, the Jefferson Vineyards 2019 Chardonnay Reserve and the Trump Winery 2017 Blanc de Blanc.

During the evening I was able to say hello and catch up with many of the wine makers from the Monticello Wine Trail. I was also able to enjoy tastes of many of the wines submitted to the competition. The Common House provided some wonderful appetizers to enjoy with the wines.

It was a great evening to enjoy some wine and celebrate the winners of the competition. If you haven’t been on the Monticello Wine Trail lately, plan a trip soon! And when you do, tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!