Category: Wines

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!

Virginia Wines of Summer 2023

/ Warren / Leave a comment

The end of summer is upon us now, and it finishes with quite a bang as the area finally gets its own dose of excessive heat. Paul and I visited a few wineries instead of a real vacation, and I recap some of our favorite wines of the 2023 summer.

Glen Manor always tops our list of wineries to visit, and I was particularly interested in sampling its 2022 Vin Blanc, a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Petit Manseng. Its fruity aromas and bright, fresh palate paired well with a warm summer day and dragonflies that flitted about outside. The Sauvignon Blanc consistently earns my top marks, and the 2022 vintage was no exception. This vintage presented tropical fruit notes and seemed destined to be enjoyed with shellfish. We frequently attend concerts at Wolf Trap and, several days later, brought along a bottle of Glen Manor’s 2022 Morales Rose to sip as the sultry vocals of pianist Diana Krall serenaded us.

Another day, we completed a club member pick-up at Delaplane Cellars; of course, we tasted the current releases offered at the winery. The non-oaked 2022 Chardonnay offered a light touch on the palate with pear and citrus flavors. It was perfect with light cheeses that we brought along for the afternoon tasting. The 2020 reds in Virginia seem fruity and accessible, and this was the case for the 2020 Rusticity. Buy this one now to enjoy with grilled fare and an al fresco dinner.

Finally, Paul and I journeyed to Capstone Vineyards, and we restocked on its sparkling wine and the 2022 C2 blend of Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc. We also purchased a bottle of the 2022 Vintner’s Blend, a wine that unleashes a pleasant fruity, berry assault in the mouth—-buy to enjoy now or savor in the fall. However, with the Capstone Sparkling Wine, we officially said our goodbyes to summer on Labor Day, and I made one final toast to my retirement, which formally began on July 1 of this year. Our last clink of the flutes signaled a new beginning for me!

What were some of your favorite Virginia wines this summer? Let us know. Plan a visit to the wineries mentioned here; of course, tell them 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!

Happy Pride Month!

/ Warren / 3 Comments

Readers know that Virginia Wine Time is the work of a gay couple, and it has been distressing for Paul and me to watch the LGBTQ+ community become fodder in the culture war currently plaguing the country. Pride Month seems more necessary than ever now, and we applaud Virginia wineries that have decided to honor it.

Please read Matthew Fitzsimmons’ recent well-written article on Pride Month featured in this month’s Town Crier. Also, know that certain Loudoun County wineries will be honoring Pride Month through the Pride in the Vines passport program. We plan to visit some of these wineries this month, starting with Williams’ Gap winery next weekend. Other wineries include:

8 Chains North Winery
868 Estate Vineyards
Bleu Frog Vineyards
Bozzo Family Vineyard
Carriage House Wineworks
Fabbioli Cellars
Forever Farm & Vineyard
Good Spirit Farm
Hillsborough Winery
October One Tasting Room
Two Twisted Posts Winery
Walsh Family Wine
Wine Reserve at Waterford
Zephaniah Farm Vineyard

Plan to visit some of these wineries and others that honor Pride Month, and when you do tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Dinner Wine

/ Paul / Leave a comment

On Friday evening we decided to enjoy filet mignon with a mushroom sauce and sautéed potatoes. As usual, Warren was the chef and everything was delicious. Our wine of choice was the 2012 Hardscrabble from Linden Vineyards.

The wine paired nicely with the filets. We noted dark seed berries, cedar, spice, a whiff of dried herbs and a hint of sandalwood. We thought it was a wonderfully smooth and elegant wine. It’s always fun to pull an older bottle wine from the rack to see how it’s progressing in the bottle. We think the 2012 could last a few more years on the rack. If you have it, consider enjoying it now or holding on to it for another few years.

If you haven’t been to Linden Vineyards lately, plan a trip soon. And when you do visit, tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Weekend Wineries

/ Paul / Leave a comment

On a recent Saturday we went to Walsh Family Wine to check out the latest wines and enjoy the nice weather.

Warren chose the red wine flight and I chose the white wine flight. We shared our tastes.

My tasting consisted of:

2021 Bethany Ridge Sauvignon Blanc
2020 North Gate Estate Petit Manseng
2020 North Gate Estate Chardonnay
2020 Viognier

Warren’s tasting consisted of:

2015 North Gate Merlot
2020 Bethany Ridge Cabernet Franc
2019 Russ Mountain Merlot
2020 Bethany Ridge Tannat

While we enjoyed all the wines on the tasting, we did have some favorites. We both selected the 2020 North Gate Estate Chardonnay from the white wine tasting. We both noted the apple flavors, the round mouth feel and the long length. We were split on the reds. I enjoyed the 2015 North Gate Estate Merlot and Warren enjoyed the 2020 Bethany Ridge Cabernet Franc. We thought they were both versatile and ready to enjoy now. We also noted the 2020 Bethany Ridge Tannat was age worthy and could stand some time on your wine rack.

After our tasting we enjoyed a bottle of the 2020 North Gate Estate Chardonnay with a delicious bread and cheese board. All the cheeses paired nicely with the Chardonnay. Before leaving we purchased half a case of our favorites.

After our time at Walsh Family Wine, we decided to check out a new winery, Good Spirit Farm. They have only been opened about a month. Most of their plantings are relatively new and have not produced grapes to make wine with yet. Nate Walsh will be the winemaker in the near future. As more grapes are ready for winemaking, more wines will be produced.

Once again I selected to try the white wine flight and Warren selected the red wine flight. Each flight has a mix of Good Spirit Farm wines and other wines from different regions.

My tasting consisted of:

2021 Pazo Señorans Albariño
2020 Melanie Pfister Paar Pinot Blanc
2020 Good Spirit Farm Chardonnay
2021 Good Spirit Farm Rosé

Warren’s tasting consisted of:

2020 Good Spirit Farm Red Blend
2020 Lapostolle Grand Selection Merlot
2018 El Enemigo Malbec
2020 Good Spirit Farm Petit Verdot

After our tasting we shared a glass of the 2020 Good Spirit Farm Chardonnay. We had a chance to meet and chat with the owner Mike Gutermuths. His son also works in the tasting room. Before leaving we bought a few bottles to bring home. We plan to return in the future when they have more of their own wines to share. If you haven’t been to Walsh Family Wine or Good Spirit Farm, plan a trip soon and tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Dinner Wine

/ Paul / Leave a comment

Last Friday Warren spent a good part of the day making osso bucco in the slow cooker. The smells of veal shanks, tomato, bay leaf, thyme and rosemary filled the kitchen all day.

What wine did Warren select to pair with his amazing osso bucco? He selected the 2016 Nebbiolo from Breaux Vineyards! It was an excellent pairing. We decanted this wine for a couple of hours before we enjoyed it with our meal. We noted dark seed berries…dark raspberry, dark blackberry, a hint of clover and oak nuances. It is our opinion that you can still hold this on your rack if you have it. We could see keeping this for a few more years.

We recall the 2016 season to be typical for Virginia. Do any of our readers recall any details about the 2016 growing season in Virginia? Please share your thoughts in the comments. If you haven’t been to Breaux Vineyards lately, plan a visit soon. And when you do visit, tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Dinner Wine

/ Paul / Leave a comment

Lately we’ve been returning to favorite wineries and tasting wines from our library and pairing them with delicious meals.

Warren spent this past rainy Saturday in the kitchen creating a mushroom demi-glace to serve atop a roasted veal chop partnered with roasted potatoes and roasted green beans tossed with blanched sweet peppers.

The next step was selecting a wine to appropriately pair with this delicious meal. Warren spent time perusing the wine rack for the perfect wine. He selected the 2016 Octagon from Barboursville Vineyards.

Once the wine was aerated into our glasses and a taste was had we noted blackberry, dark current, tobacco and a lengthy finish. There was also a bit of a “chew” on the palate. It paired beautifully with the veal chop and mushroom demi-glace.

We need to plan a trip to Barboursville soon. We only have one other Octagon on our wine rack. If you haven’t been to Barboursville recently, you need to plan a trip as well. And when you visit them, tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!