On our final day of the Monticello Wine Trail we headed north. We were eager to visit Oakencroft Vineyard and Winery, King Family Vineyards, and White Hall Vineyards.

On our first stop, we visited King Family Vineyards. We’ve commented before on the beautiful mountain scenery that we repeatedly viewed while on the Monticello Wine Trail, and the view offered as King Family was no exception; however, here we also beheld a polo field! On Sundays, King Family Vineyards hosts polo matches that can be viewed from the tasting room and surrounding seating areas. Our tasting associate, Andrew, was very knowledgeable and guided us through our tasting of the King Family wines.

The King Family Tasting Room
Michael Shaps has been hailed as one of the most gifted winemakers in Virginia, and a sampling of his wines revealed why. The 2005 Chardonnay and 2005 Viognier were both delightful; however, the gold star had to go to the 2005 Cabernet Franc. The King Family Cabernet Franc offered surprising aromas of cherries as opposed to the usual raspberry aromas and flavors. We suspected some blending with small amounts of Merlot, and we were correct! Hints of spice and a smooth, velvety finish were evident, too. In fact, we enjoyed the 2005 Michael Shaps Cabernet Franc so much during our tasting that we decided to purchase a bottle and stay for lunch. This proved to be a nice partner with our smoked gouda and spicy salami served on a baguette with sun-dried tomato tapenade. From the veranda, we enjoyed our lunch and soaked up the breath-taking views. Warren even daydreamed about playing a few chukkers on the polo field with a glass of wine as refreshment. We purchased several bottles of King Family wine before hitting the trail once again; our next stop, White Hall Vineyards.

Warren at the tasting bar.
White Hall Vineyards began with 6 acres of grapes in 1991 and now has 25 acres of planted grapes. Tony and Edith Champ were influenced by California’s wine-making success to produce award winning Virginia wines. As with many other wineries in the Charlottesville area, White Hall sits at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains. In the tasting room our tasting associate guided us through the ten wines offered to taste. Of particular note was the 2003 Chardonnay Reserve, the 2004 Touriga, and the 2004 Petit Verdot. All three were award-winners, and we decided to enjoy a glass of the ’03 Chadonnay Reserve. Apples, pears, and toast were evident on the nose; pineapple and citrus flavors greeted the palate and ended with a lingering vanilla/nut finish. The ’03 Chardonnay Reserve would be divine with corn chowder or crab cakes! Warren left with a bottle each of the Touriga and the Petit Verdot. For those who enjoy port-style wines, do try the Edichi; crafted from Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, the Edichi would complement a cheese platter served after a meal.

White Hall tasting room.

Warren at the tasting bar.
Back on the trail, our final stop was to Oakencroft Vineyard and Winery. Oakencroft is one of our personal favorites, and we consider our visits there to be a highlight of any visit to Charlottesville. Oakencroft was founded in 1983 by Felicia Warburg Rogan. She has been praised by former Virginia governors for her strong support of the Virginia wine industry, and Oakencroft wines are consistent medal winners. Located in Albermarle County, Oakencroft also offers views of rolling hills, and wines can be enjoyed with a picnic beside a large pond that attracts ducks and geese. Of course, we wanted to sample wine, and we made our way to the tasting room.

The Oakencroft tasting room.
The tasting room was busy, but we received expert attention from the staff. We enjoyed all wines that we tasted; the 2005 Seyval Blanc was described as “vibrant”, and it certainly was alive with citrus characters. Think “crisp” as well; this gold medal winner would pair well with seafood. Another noteworthy white was the 2005 Chardonnay which was fermented in stainless steel. Paul favored this crisp, elegant wine. We were both eager to sample the reds; in particular, we wanted to taste the 2003 Petit Verdot. Warren is a big fan of Virginia’s Petit Verdot, and Oakencroft produces excellent wines with this varietal. Deep amethyst colors suggest a fuller-bodied wine, and it presents dark fruit flavors and subtle mocha in the mouth. This 2003 Petit Verdot has a long yet smooth finish. What to serve with Petit Verdot? Leg of lamb with roasted vegetables would be a perfect match!

Warren at the tasting bar.
After our tasting we decided to enjoy a glass of Petit Verdot with chocolates. While nibbling and sipping, Felicia Warburg Rogan walked by our table, and we briefly chatted with her. Feleicia said that she recognized us, and Paul refreshed her memory that we were from the Virginia Wine Time blog. At that point she remembered reading our blog since she had bookmarked our site on her computer. We were very pleased to hear this! Before leaving Oakencroft, we purchased a few bottles of wine to bring home including the 2003 Petit Verdot. This ended our wonderful trip on the Monticello Wine Trail.

The Charlottesville area plays host to some of the best wineries in Virginia and the East Coast. If you are a Virginia wine lover, you simply must plan a trip to this historic area of Virginia and enjoy the wines. We cannot wait to return!

If you do visit any of these wineries, please tell them you read about them on the Virginia Wine Time blog.

On the third day of our trek on the Monticello Wine Trail we made it to three wineries in the Trail’s western region, and these included Afton Mountain Vineyards, Veritas Winery, and Cardinal Point Vineyard and Winery. This was one of the hottest days of our trip; needless to say, we were hot on the trail in search of well-crafted wines!

Our first stop this day was at Afton Mountain Vineyards. Afton Mountain was established by Shinko and Tom Corpora in 1978 and sits at the edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The mountain setting and vineyards views provided a beautiful (and somewhat cooler) setting for wine tasting.

Our tasting room associate, Brian treated us to an introduction to Afton Mountain’s wines and provided informative descriptions as the tasting progressed. Notable white wines included the 2005 Gewurztraminer with its unique, aromatic qualities and the 2005 Un wooded Chardonnay, Paul’s favorite, provided nice pectin flavors that would refresh any palate on a warm day. The reds were equally enjoyable; try the 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon—dark fruit but medium-bodied makes it accessible and easy to pair with food. However, we decided to linger at Afton Mountain over a glass of the 2005 Virginia Clairet. The Virginia Clairet bears a remarkable resemblance to a Beaujolais; clear ruby in color, strawberry scents and flavors with a slight hint of spice charm the palate. If readers are looking for a light-bodied red that is destined to be a crowd pleaser at Thanksgiving dinner, give this one a try! We enjoyed our time at Afton Mountain, but it was time to move on to the next winery on our agenda—Veritas Vineyards and Winery.

Veritas Vineyards & Winery is a family-owned business operated by Andrew and Patricia Hodson. The winery opened in 2002 when Andrew began the craft of winemaking with his daughter, Emily. Amazing is the term to describe the elegant facility with its high ceilings and expansive mountain views. Future plans include a restaurant; however, Veritas does currently host and cater events such as weddings.

Veritas had ten wines to sample, and by this time we were also hungry; of course, lunch was waiting in the trunk of the car. Naturally, we were in quest of an appropriate pairing for the herb-spiced chicken that we brought along. The winner was the 2005 Viognier with its lush fruit and floral characteristics and subtle honey texture. Of course, we tasted the nine other wines offered on the tasting sheet, and other shining stars included the Chardonnay-Viognier blend known as the 2004 Harlequin, the 2004 Chardonnay, and the 2004 Claret. Give the 2003 Mousseux a try, too! This is a unique champagne-style wine made from Cabernet Franc.

With a bottle of the 2005 Viognier in tow and hunger pangs getting louder by the second, we selected a picnic table that allowed us to dine and enjoy the Mountain views. During our lunch we received a visit from the winery cat and the winery dog. They were both very friendly, but the cat was interested in joining us for lunch! The dog had strict instrucions on his collar: “Do not feed me.”

Our appetites satisfied, we made our way to the final stop of the day at Cardinal Point Vineyard & Winery. Cardinal Point is another family- run business and each family member contributes to the success of the winery. In fact, when we entered the tasting room, Sarah Gorman instantly recognized us as those guys from VirginiaWineTime! We were so amazed to be recognized from our blog, and we briefly felt like celebrities. However, Sarah made us feel like old friends and chatted with us about the winery, their own micro-climate, and the dreaded distribution laws.

Sarah also led us through tasting the fine wines at Cardinal Point. Standouts included the 2005 A6, a blend of Chardonnay and Viognier, the award-wining 2005 Quattro, and medal-winner 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon. The Quattro was particularly intriguing; the blend of Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Viognier, and Traminette impart lovely apple and pear notes. Looking for an appertif? Sample this one!

After our tasting we decided to enjoy a glass of their 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon. Sarah suggested we sip our Cabernet in the barrel/tank room, which also included a cozy seating area; as we relaxed, we also watched a DVD produced by a local film artist. Featured was the wine making process at Cardinal Point. The video footage was beautiful and captured the process in detail. Of course, enjoying a glass of their Cabernet during the DVD enhanced the show! This complex wine exhibits dark fruit characters that would accompany beef; however, Warren, ever the chocoholic, had visions of dark chocolates!

We are determined to return to Cardinal Point for a future visit, and we thank Sarah for the time that she spent with us. Our trip to Cardinal Point also signaled the end of our travels on the western portion of the Monticello Trail. Curious about the last leg of our trip? Tune in next time, and we’ll tell you all about it!

If you visit any of these wineries, please tell them you read about them on the Virginia Wine Time blog!

Day two of our trek on the Monticello Wine Trail brought us to the southern region, and we were able to visit four wineries. These included Jefferson Vineyards, Kluge Estate Winery & Vineyard, First Colony Winery, and DelFosse Vineyards & Winery. We were treated to some wonderful wines; for lunch, we opted to dine at Kluge Estate. The experience there was truly stellar! Though it was a long day, we tasted some great wine—read on to find out more.

Our first stop on the southern trail was Jefferson Vineyards, and it is here at Jefferson Vineyards that Thomas Jefferson’s vision of Virginia as a world-class wine producer has been realized. Jefferson Vineyards produces its wines from Thomas Jefferson’s original estate vineyards, and since 1981, Jefferson Vineyards has crafted award winning wines just minutes from the historical Monticello.

The tasting room at Jefferson Vineyards.
The quaint tasting room is staffed with knowledgeable assistants, and they guided us through the seven wines offered. Two notable white wines were the 2005 Chardonnay Reserve and the 2005 Viognier. The Viognier was a true classic; nice honeysuckle and apricot aromas abounded here. No wonder it took gold at the 2006 Governor’s Cup! We moved on to the red wines, and the standout here was yet another gold medal winner—the 2004 Meritage. In fact, we decided to enjoy a glass of the Meritage out on the deck. Deep garnet color then revealed scents of dark cherries, plums, and spice. Flavors suggested Merlot’s dominance but Petit Verdot subtly presents itself both to the eyes and in the mouth. Structure would be the word to use with this one. Oh, did we think about food! Filet mignon anyone?

Warren during our tasting at Jefferson Vineyards.
Speaking of food, we had already decided to lunch at Kluge; so, with pangs of hunger in our stomachs, we reluctantly left Jefferson Vineyards and made our way to Kluge Estate Winery & Vineyard. Our time at Kluge was the ultimate experience of our day on the trail’s southern leg.

Patricia Kluge planted the vineyard in 1991 and aspired to establish Kluge Winery and Vineyard as the premier winery on the East coast. Tastings are conducted in the Kluge Estate Farm Shop which sits next to the vineyards. Visitors can enjoy rustic settings from inside the shop, but chairs and tables outside make it possible to appreciate lovely, rural landscapes. The elegant gourmet shop offers an array of imported cheese, desserts and tasteful gift items; likewise, the lunch menu suggested a marriage of elegance and simplicity. With lunch in mind, we first sampled Kluge’s wines and made our way to the tasting room. We were immediately spoiled with the Brut, Paul’s personal favorite. Warren was also intrigued with the Albemarle Rose; this Rose is very dry and a blend of classic Bourdeaux varietals that include Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Merlot. (Think salmon with this one!) However, we both concurred that the 2003 Albemarle Simply Red was one of Virginia’s best reds from the tough 2003 vintage year. Medium-bodied and full of blackberry and plum flavors, this Bourdeaux-style red includes notes of spice and leather/tobacco. Velvety tannins give this one a smooth finish. We ended the tasting with a sample of the Kluge Cru, which is aged in Jack Daniel’s barrels!

Warren at the tasting bar at Kluge.
What to have with lunch? Well, we eagerly returned to the gourmet selections, but we both knew that the 2003 Albemarle Simply Red had to join us for lunch. We ordered a charcuterie with baguette and a tomato salad; of course, we also ordered the Simply Red, and a perfect match was made! We had enough of the Simply Red to enjoy with dessert, and we capped off our lunch with a sinful dark chocolate brownie.

Our hungers satisfied, we continued along the southern portion of the Monticello Wine Trail, and our third stop was to First Colony Winery. First Colony was established by Randolph McElroy, Jr. in 2000. We were lucky enough to talk with the assistant manager, Kerry, while tasting the wines. Kerry offered a wealth of information about First Colony Wines and their wine-making process. We were particularly interested in the Rose since the 2004 and 2005 vintages were made available for us to sample. The comparison was amazing; the 2005 Rose was produced with 100% Cabernet Sauvignon; of course, 2005 was an amazing year for the vineyards, and the result was evident here. Very crisp but nice berry and subtle candied apple flavors make this one either an accessible sipper or a lovely complement with food. Other favorites at First Colony included 2002 Chardonnay Reserve and the 2004 Meritage.

The tasting room at First Colony.
Our final stop on the southern trail was at DelFosse Vineyards & Winery. Located between two hills with beautiful views of their vineyards, Delfosse’s tasting room is currently under construction; so, the tastings take place on the covered deck. DelFosse had 14 different wines to taste. For those who like softer red wines during the sweltering summer months, the 2005 Dear Rock Farm might offer refreshment. Barbeque would certainly be a nice match up with this one. The 2005 Chardonnay was also interesting; the 5% blend of Viognier takes away the oaky edge of barrel-fermented Chardonnay. Paul shies away from oakier Chardonnays, but he found this one to be just right!

With our day’s experiences journaled and wine purchases safely stored in the car, we then ended our long day on the southern neck of the Monticello Wine Trail. More to come as we continued to explore the rest of the Monticello Trail!

If you visit Jefferson, Kluge, First Colony, or DelFosse, please tell them you read about them on the Virginia Wine Time blog!

The Monticello Wine Trail consists of 15 wineries in and around the Charlottesville, Virginia area. These wineries fulfill the vision of Thomas Jefferson who saw Virginia’s potential to produce first-class wines. We spent five days in this area and visited as many of the Monticello Wine Trail wineries as possible. In the end, we were able to visit 14 wineries and thus secured many more stickers for our Passport.

The Monticello Wine Trail is divided into regions, and they include North, South, East, and West. We focused on a different region each day and chronicled our experiences. Needless to say, we had a great time tasting new wines at great wineries!

We first tackled the eastern trail, and our first stop was Horton Cellars Winery. Horton produces some 40 wines and always has something new to taste. We usually taste everything on the tasting sheet, but this time we were more selective and sampled fewer of their wines. Of note since our last visit to Horton was the 2005 Viognier, in fact, we opted to share a glass after our tasting. Lovely honeysuckle and fruit aromas hinted at a crisp wine with peachy fruit flavors. We advise readers to also sample the 2004 Viognier as a comparison. The 2005 seemed more crisp, and the fruit characters provide a coolness that would complement any spicy cuisine. Other standouts included the Sparkling Viognier and the Tannat; the latter won gold at the Virginia Governor’s Cup. Another note of interest—in preparation for Virginia’s 400th anniversary, Horton offers three commemorative wines called Spirit, Voyage, and Courage.

Horton Cellars Winery

Warren at the tasting bar.
Our second on the eastern trail was Barboursville Vineyards. Barboursville, one of our favorite wineries, produces many award winning wines; our readers may concur that after a complete tasting of Barboursville wines, this winery only produces well-crafted, excellent wines. The newest offering was the 2005 Rose, and this blend of Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, and Cabernet Franc provided summer fruit flavors with a nice, dry finish. It was quite nice! Warren’s personal favorite was the 2004 Barbera reserve, a Chianti-style wine that begs to be paired with Italian food and roasted vegetables. We finished our visit at Barboursville with a bottle of their Chardonnay Rerserve. Pectin flavors abound here with a nice vanilla that lingers for quite a while. We enjoyed this one on the picnic grounds with lunch that included apples, berries, and almonds. We returned to Barboursville on Friday night to enjoy dinner at the renowned Palladio restaurant. The four-course meal with wine pairings featured Barbourville’s Brut, 2005 Rose, 2004 Chardonnay Reserve, and 2004 Barbera Reserve. As we left Barboursville, we decided to return sooner rather than later as our visits there are always delightful!

Barboursville Vineyards

Warren at the tasting bar.
Our final stop on the eastern trail was to Keswick Vineyards, and this was on a Sunday afternoon. Keswick Vineyards currently offers tasting of their wines at Keswick Hall, an upscale setting that resembles an exclusive club. They have future plans to build a separate tasting room at the winery. However, be certain to visit at the appropriate time. We arrived before noon, and Keswick does not begin tasting until after noon. The gracious manager invited us to return at a later hour, but given our time constraints we were not able to do so. This gives us another reason to return to the eastern Monticello Trail; in particular, we would like to sample the award winning Trevellian.

We enjoyed our visit to the eastern portion of the Monticello Trail. How did the rest of the trail go? Tune in later this week, and we’ll tell you about the northern region of the Monticello Wine Trail. Until then—Cheers!

And if you visit Horton, Barboursville, or Keswick, tell them you read about them on the Virginia Wine Time blog!