Category: Wines

Civil War Dinner and Virginia Wine

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Continuing our celebration of Virginia Wine Month we attended an amazing dinner on Friday night. We went to the Gadsby’s Tavern Museum for a Civil War dinner paired with Gray Ghost wines. We were treated to a history lesson on the Civil War. We heard the part Gadsby’s Tavern and the Gray Ghost played in the Civil War. We were also treated to some delicious food and wonderful wines. Below is the menu and pictures from the evening.


Appetizer course was served in the Tavern assembly room.

Our history lesson conducted by Gretchen Bulova, Director of the Museum.

Shitake Mushroom soup in an herb broth

More history

Filet of beef wrapped in a puff pastry.

Chocolate charlotte ruse with a custard filling.

Gretchen Bulova, Al and Cheryl Kellert, Amy Payette

We had a wonderful evening enjoying the history, the food and of course the wines. The 2010 Merlot was tasted for the first time and it was wonderful! Gretchen informed us that the Tavern offers Virginia wine all the time. Horton makes two wines with the Gadsby’s Tavern label. She kindly gave us a bottle of each to try. Thank you Gretchen!

Potomac Point

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On our way home from the Northern Neck weekend, we stopped at Potomac Point Vineyard and Winery. It was almost exactly a year ago that we visited Potomac Point so it was time to catch up and check out what new wines were on the tasting menu.

There are three levels of tastings at Potomac Point. Since it had been a year, we selected the Premium level of tasting so that we could try all the wines. Not surprisingly, we were split on our favorite of the white wines. I preferred the stainless steel 2009 Chardonnay with it’s crisp notes of pear and mango. I thought it would be a perfect sipper on the balcony. Warren preferred the oaked 2009 Reserve Chardonnay. He noted vanilla melon. He thought this would be a nice white to accompany food.

The reds presented the same split decision. Warren preferred the 2008 Heritage. He noted cherry, dark fruit, mocha, and pepper. He thought this one would be perfect for fall meals. I preferred the 2008 Petit Verdot. I noted smoke, plum, cherry, and mocha. As most of you know from reading our blog, I am really enjoying the 2008 reds and petit verdot is my favorite varietal right now. This one lived up to my expectations.

After our tasting we decided to enjoy lunch in the courtyard. They have a full menu of foods and while Warren enjoyed a panini, I filled up on cheeses and bread. We selected the 2010 Abbinato to go with our lunch. We noted cherry, raspberry, and earthy notes. It has an intense purple hue. We enjoyed our time at Potomac Point and hope to return soon. If you find yourself at Potomac Point anytime soon, tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Northern Neck Weekend

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We spent the Columbus Day weekend on the Northern Neck visiting our friends, Bob and Jackie. They have a lovely home there, and we always make a point to visit them at least once a year. Along the way, of course, we stopped off at a few wineries to sample the latest pours. And we added to our list of new wineries visited. We visited General’s Ridge which was our 137th winery!

General’s Ridge Vineyard and Winery: Owners Rick and Linda Phillips operated the General’s Ridge Vineyard for several years to sell the grapes to local wine makers; however, they recently decided to open a winery to sell wines that bear their own label. The GRV White, a stainless steel fermented blend of Chardonel and Traminette, was a refreshing pour that presented tropical fruit notes. It is slightly sweet at 1%% residual sugar. We favored the GRV Viogner 2010 with its floral aromas and apricot flavors. Chambourcin lovers may wish to try the GRV Red, a blend of Chambourcin and Merlot. It resembled a bistro wine that could be served with pasta and red sauce, pizza, or burgers. Rick Philips was on hand to greet us, and though he is excited with GRV’s lineup of wines, he still does plan to sell at least 90% of his fruit to local winemakers. Michael Shaps is now the winemaker at GRV, and we look forward to more good things from General’s Ridge Winery.




Ingleside Vineyards: One of the oldest wineries in the state and certainly the oldest winery on the Northern Neck, Ingleside is always a favorite to visit. Favorite wines this time around included the Rosato de Sangiovese 2009 with its strawberry and cherry flavors and crisp finish. Paul and I both enjoyed the Petit Verdot from the outstanding 2007 vintage. A smoky nose gave way to aromas of dried fruit and tobacco; similar fruit flavors gave way to a spicy finish. Drink now but should age well. Paul was also enamored with the Merlot 2006 and noted dark cherry and blackberry flavors with a firm tannic presence. Winemaker Bill Swain is now adding Charbono, a varietal grown in California, to some of his red blends, and this Merlot does indeed include 6% Charbono along with 11% Petit Verdot and 7% Cabernet Franc.



Vault Field Vineyards: This small, family-owned winery continues to make some very nice wines. I enjoyed the 2008 Chardonnay that is aged in French oak barrels for nine months. Nice pear flavors and a honeyed mouth feel make for a fuller-bodied white wine that would pair well with poultry and fish especially if sauces are served. Of the red wines, we reached a split decision, and I preferred the complex 2007 Red Estate Bottled that is a blend of Merlot and Syrah. Owner and winemaker Dan Meenan does indeed grow the Syrah that in included in the Red, and the result is a nose of brambleberries, cherries, and spice with similar flavors in the mouth. With winter stews and roasted meats about to make the cold weather menus, this wine should pair well with these heartier dishes. Paul liked the fruitier 2008 Red Estate Bottled that is more of a Bordeaux-style blend. The 2008 vintage was produced in a more classic Virginia environment than its 2007 sibling—cooler nights and less intense heat with a bit more rainfall. The result is a more accessible red wine that is ready to drink now. The 2008 Reserve Red has yet to be released but we were able to both sample it and bring a bottle home!


With fall colors about to explode, a trip to the Northern Neck should be part of the weekend plans for the autumn season. Be sure to include a trip to these wineries, but be certain to mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you.

Blenheim 2009 Petit Verdot

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Last night we had pasta with red sauce and paired it with the 2009 Petit Verdot from Blenheim Vineyards. This really is one of my most favorite wines. As many of our readers know, I’m a big fan of stand alone petit verdots. And even though I favor the 2008s, this 2009 is really amazing. We noted blackberries, cherry, and a nice floral bouquet. It has a smooth ending that makes you want another glass. It paired beautifully with our pasta and red sauce. And it continued to delight our senses even after the meal. However, since it has a screw cap remember to open it up a little while before you plan to enjoy it. We opened it up a good 30 minutes before our meal and it was just the right amount of time to let it breath. If you find yourself at Blenheim Vineyards anytime soon be sure to check out the 2009 Petit Verdot and tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Virginia Wine Month Wines

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Last Saturday we continued our celebration of Virginia Wine Month by enjoying two more Virginia wines. We began the evening with some goat cheese and a baguette. To accompany our nibbles we selected the 2010 Barren Ridge Vidal Blanc. We noted orange blossom, peach, and minerality on the nose. In the mouth we detected similar peachy flavors with a mineral finish. It went very well with our cheese and baguette.

For dinner we had breaded baked chicken, pasta with parmesan cheese, and roasted veggies. The wine we selected was the 2009 Annefield Chardonnay. This elegant wine presented tropical notes and a vanilla finish. Even after the meal we were enjoying this wine. It paired beautifully with our meal and without! What have you been enjoying during Virginia Wine Month?

Bring Viognier to the Watershed!

/ Warren / 1 Comment

This is exactly what chef Todd Gray accomplished this past Tuesday. I attended a dinner at the acclaimed Todd Gray’s Watershed in Washington, D.C. that featured pairings of seafood with Virginia’s official grape, Viognier. In fact, Virginia Viogniers were the only wines served at the wine dinner except for a surprise red wine poured with the fourth course. Vintages from Tarara Winery, Delaplane Cellars, and Veritas Winery were poured at the wine dinner, and winemaker Jordan Harris and Veritas owner Andrew Pelton were on hand to introduce the wines.

The evening started with a sample of the aromatic 2010 Viogner from Tarara Winery paired with light starters that included fried clams on toast points. Four courses were then served alongside pairings of Viogniers and Viognier blends from the 2008, 2009 and 2010 vintages. The courses were stunning, and I only wish that chef Gray could cook for me every night. The wines were quite nice too, and it was interesting to observe which vintages were the favorites of my tablemates. I will list the courses here and vintages here with a nod toward my particular favorites:

First Course: Curried Pumpkin and Butternut Squash Bisque with Littleneck Clams, Celery Root and Toasted Pumpkin Seeds served with:
Delaplane Cellars Viognier “Maggie’s Vineyard” 2008 and “Honah Lee” 2009
This dish was absolutely divine and my favorite of the evening! The creamy texture of the “Maggie’s” seemed a perfect match for the lush squash soup.

Second Course: Marland Jumbo Lump Crab Cake with Hand Rolled Orechette Pasta with Little Tomatoes and Basil Pesto Butter served with:
Tarara Winery “Nevaeh White” 2009 and 2010
Succulent! That is the only word to describe the crab cake. The tomatoes and their characteristic acidity matched well with both vintages, but I’m a Chardonnay fan and the 2010 vintage presented a blend of 55% Viognier and 45% Chardonnay. The older sibling comprised 70% Viognier and 30% Chardonnay. Guess which one I preferred? (To be honest, I finished both samples!)

Third Course: Pan Roasted East Coast Halibut on Wild Rice Pilaf, Rock Shrimp, Mango and Cilantro Crème Fraiche served with:
Tarara Winery Viognier 2010
Halibut is my favorite white fish, and served atop the wild rice was an extra treat. The 2010 offering from Tarara was classic Virginia—floral aromatics and rich tropical fruit flavors. Perfect with white fish.

Fourth Course: Maple Balsamic Glazed Breast of Mennonite Chicken with Italian Sausage Bread Pudding, String Beans and Black Pepper Chicken Gravy served with:
Tarara Winery Syrah 2007
WOW! More of this from Jordan Harris, please. What a hidden gem! Concentrated dark fruit flavors with spicy elements demanded that I request a second sample. This Syrah will not be for sale to the general public but may serve notice that winemaker Jordan Harris is a serious Rhone ranger! Harris revealed to me his belief that the Virginia climate can be conducive to growing Rhone varieties that include not only Viognier but also Syrah and Mouvedre. Therefore, look for Rhone-style white and red wines at Tarara in the future.

Dessert Course: Warm Sticky Toffee Cake with Coconut Ice Cream and Armagnac Toffee Sauce served with:
Veritas Winery Viognier 2010
A nice way to end the evening. Less than 1% residual sugar makes this Viognier quite versatile. Toffee, caramel, spice—just in time for fall. Also consider this Veritas offering with Thanksgiving turkey.

The lovely evening of food, wine and conversation came to an end. I would like to remind readers that October is Virginia Wine Month, and Todd Gray’s Watershed does feature Virginia wines on the wine list. I hope that he continues this practice and expands the list to include other Virginia wineries. In the meantime, dine at Watershed and request a Virginia wine with your meal. Of course, I encourage readers to visit the wineries mentioned in this post, but please mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you.

Hendrix and Virginia Wine

/ Paul / 1 Comment

One of our goals for Virginia Wine Month is to visit local restaurants and establishments that sell and serve Virginia wines. While perusing the shops and restaurants in the Glover Park area of Washington DC, we happened upon Bourbon, a small bar/restaurant on Wisconsin Ave. Looking at the wine list scrawled on a chalkboard on the wall we noticed they serve the Barboursville Chardonnay. We decided we’d stay for lunch.


When our waitress arrived we proudly ordered two glasses of the Barboursville Chardonnay. While waiting for the wine we made our lunch decisions. I opted for the Mac and Cheese while Warren got a sandwich (I can’t remember exactly what kind). Our wine arrived and we began enjoying it while we waited for our lunch. Once our lunch came we enjoyed the wine even more. It complimented our choices perfectly. With lunch finished we continued to enjoy the wine while we enjoyed the views out the window on Wisconsin Ave. Warren was really enjoying the Jimmy Hendrix playing the sound system. I would have selected some smooth jazz instead. Either way, we had a good time and enjoyed the wine. We were also pleased we were continuing to support the Virginia wine industry.

We’re not sure where our celebration will take us next but be sure we’ll be enjoying Virginia Wine Month. What are you doing for Virginia Wine Month?

Virginia Wine Month!

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October is Virginia Wine Month! Virginia Wine Month is a time to highlight Virginia wines, drink Virginia wines at local bars and restaurants, attend special events, and buy Virginia wine. As Virginiawine.org says, “Discover Your Local Crush.” We plan to do just that by visiting local restaurants that sell and serve Virginia wines. What will you be doing for Virginia Wine Month?

We kicked off Virginia Wine Month last night by enjoying the 2005 Kluge New World Red. Yes, I know. Kluge is no longer a winery or producing wines. But Donald Trump will be having an invite only event on Tuesday to celebrate the opening of Trump Vineyard Estates. So even though Kluge will no longer make wine, Trump will with the help of Patricia Kluge. We look forward to checking out the Trump lineup of wines, if we can afford them.

For dinner last night we had thick steaks, mashed potatoes and roasted veggies. What better way to kick off Virginia Wine Month and compliment a delicious meal then with the 2005 Kluge New World Red. I’ve always liked this wine and enjoyed it even more last night. On the nose we noted cherry, raspberry, blackberry, plum, cedar and tobacco. In the mouth we picked up plum, dark cherry, mocha, and anise. With food the tannins came out to play. What a nice bottle of wine! I have one more bottle on my rack. I’ll continue to let it rest and look forward to its rewards in the future.

Bluemont Vineyard

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This past weekend we went to Bluemont Vineyard. We hadn’t been there for quite awhile so it was nice to see what the tasting menu had to offer. Anyone who has been to Bluemont knows that it’s a very popular place. The parking lot was packed as was the tasting room. We made our way to the bar and waited for our tasting. When it was our turn we found out you get to taste seven wines for $5.00. We thought that was a deal so we preceded with the tasting.


Of the white wines we really enjoyed the 2010 Stainless Steel Viognier, the Goat. This wine had a nice floral nose with peach aromas. We noted peach/stone fruit on the tongue with a mineral finish. We also noted the long finish. The sad part is the wine sold out while we were having our tasting. They literally sold the last bottle as we tasted the wine. No fear though, the 2010 barrel fermented Viognier is still for sale.

Of the reds we tasted the 2008 Merlot, the Ram, really stood out. As our tastress was pouring the wine in our glasses, she informed us that bottle was the last of the 2008 Merlot. She told us that if we liked it, we should get a glass right away. As I brought the glass to my nose, I instantly told her I wanted a glass. Right away this wine reminded me of the 2008 reds that I’m really enjoying right now. This wine had a beautifully fruity nose with lots of cherry. In the mouth the cherry continued with hints of pepper. The ending was smooth and the tannins were light. I really enjoyed this wine and was disappointed that it was already sold out. Again though, no need to fear the 2009 Merlot, the Ram, is now on sale. It has many of the same characteristics but not as fruity as the 2008.

After our tasting we enjoyed that glass of 2008 Merlot with a cheese platter and baguette. We also enjoyed some live music and the wonderful view from the deck at Bluemont. If you haven’t been to Bluemont lately, plan a trip soon to enjoy the wines and the view! And tell them Virginia Wine Time sent you!

Final Roundup: Southern Virginia

/ Warren / 1 Comment

This post will wrap up our reviews of wineries in the southern portion of the state.

Molliver Vineyards and Winery: The winery opened a year ago and currently has 10 acres planted in vines. Twelve wines were available for tasting including a vin chocolat. Our tasting occurred on a hot August day, so we were in the mood for chilled wines; our favorite, then, was the Traminette with its tropical fruit and ginger spice notes. In fact, we shared a glass after our tasting. The Vin Chocolat would certainly make for an interesting dessert offering if served with fresh berries.


Sans Soucy Vineyard: Sans Soucy Vineyards began to sell its own wine in 2008, but before then, it had been selling its grapes to other wineries. Six acres are currently in vines, and this includes the only tempranillo vines in the state! Paul was a fan of the Chat-o, a fruity Viognier with lots of peach and mango flavors. We both enjoyed the 2008 Cabernet Franc with its notes of raspberry and anise. Aged in French oak barrels for 18 months, it finished with a bit of vanilla. Lovers of Legacy, a blend of Chambourcin, Tempranillo and Cabernet Franc grapes, will be pleased to know that the 2009 vintage of this complex reserve wine will soon be released.



Villa Appalachia Winery: I was a big fan of the Simpatico back in 2007, and I remain a fan today. Its floral nose and tropical fruit flavors make for an easy sipper that does well on its own or with spicy food. Simpatico is a blend of Vidal Blanc, Malvasia, and Pinot Grigio. We were also able to sample the Rustico Reserve made from 50% dried Corvina grapes. It presented a raisiny nose with dried plum, anise and tobacco aromas. Since our last visit, the winery added a 2008 bottling of Aglianico and will soon release a barrel-fermented Trebbiano. After our tasting, we enjoyed a glass of Simpatico (of course!)



We hope to return to these more distant wineries in the future. In the meantime, plan a visit to these wineries, and mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you.