This past Saturday, I reserved a tasting at Silver Dog Vineyards.  The winery is still in a soft-opening stage as the tasting room is still being completed.  Silver Dog Vineyards joins stellar neighbors Linden Vineyards, Crimson Lane Vineyards, and Capstone Vineyards in raising the bar for excellent wines in northern Virginia.

Owners Eric Gronning and Lori Robertson began planting vines on the 18-acre property in 2018.  Higher elevations at almost 1200 feet allow maximum aeration and optimal protection from sudden freezes such as the one that occurred this past March.  Soil composition of both loam and rocks allow for mineral nuances to be expressed in the wines.  Current varieties now planted in nine acres of the property include Chardonnay, Petit Manseng, Barbera, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Sangrantino.  Yes, Barbera and Sangrantino.  Eric Gronning has a passion for these varieties due to his experiences with Italian wines, these grapes in particular.  Barbera is a fairly well-known variety and commonly planted in the Piedmont region of Italy.  Sangrantino, though, was a new one for me.  This variety is grown in Umbria and known for its dark fruit flavor profile and high tannins.

Silver Dog Vineyards is currently in a soft opening stage until the tasting room is completed.  Erik Gronning is an architect, and he designed a tasting room that seems inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright as the structure melds into the natural landscape.  It evinces a wine country feel and offers views of Capstone Vineyards and Crimson Lane Vineyards from its patio.  Mountain tops on the horizon add to the natural, peaceful ambiance. The goal is to complete the tasting room around September.  Also of note is that the tasting room is off-grid and uses solar power as an homage to conservation of the natural resources and surroundings.  So why Silver Dog as the name of the winery? When Lori and Erik considered getting into the wine business, they wanted to honor their beloved dog, Silver by bestowing its name to the vineyards.

So onto the wines.  The wines that were poured were from the 2023 and 2024 vintages and crafted by winemaker Shai Van Gelder.  I was impressed with the wines that I tasted.  The 2023 Chardonnay seemed more Chablis-style with elements of citrus, green apple, and baking spices.  Vinified in a combination of new French oak and stainless steel, this Chardonnay was medium-bodied but finished crisp. I’m all about Chardonnay, and I liked this one. The judges at this year’s Virginia’s Governor Cup thought the same way and awarded a silver medal to this Chardonnay. The 2024 Petit Manseng was surprisingly lean on the palate. Tart citrus and pineapple notes abound here with a sharp, acidic finish.

I admit to being on a Spanish rosado kick this summer.  These roses typically offer richer red fruit flavors and a fuller feel in the mouth, in contrast to the famed lean, crisp styles from Provence.  The 2024 Rose from Silver Dog, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (70%) and Barbera (30%) recalled the Spanish style with opulent cherry and pomegranate aromas and flavors accompanied by stone fruit accents.  Dry and weightier on the palate, I caught a floral note once the glass was empty.

The star attraction, though, was the 2023 Rock Island Red composed of Barbera (36%), Cabernet Sauvignon (28%), Petit Verdot (22%), and Sangrantino (14%). Give this one a generous swirl before sniffing and sipping to savor the dark plum, blackberry, and spice characteristics. Eighteen months in new and neutral French oak barrels provide depth and add complexity to this blend. Tannins frame the wine and linger for a bit. This blend showcases the blockbuster 2023 growing season in superb fashion.  It is still evolving, so buy a couple of bottles—one to enjoy now and one for later. The 2023 Barbera finished my tasting—cherry, blackberry, fleshy plums, hints of spice.  This one was just made available for sale to the public.

After my tasting, I decided to snack on charcuterie, cheese, and a glass of the 2024 Rose.  I appreciated the mountain backdrop to the afternoon, and I mentally flash-forwarded to fall and visualized how gorgeous it will look when seasonal colors transition to vibrant autumnal hues.  I’ll have to return to find out.

I ended my lovely tasting experience with purchases of my favorite wines, and I am anxious to discover what lies ahead for Silver Dog Vineyards.  Make a reservation to visit Silver Dog Vineyards soon, and mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you.