We recently visited another new winery, Glen Manor Vineyards. In fact, Glen Manor Vineyards had only been opened for two weeks. We also got to chat with owner and wine maker, Jeff White. Jeff conducted our tasting and gave us a tour of the winery.
Glen Manor Vineyards has produced grapes for winemaking since 1995, and Virginia wine enthusiasts may be familiar with the Glen Manor vintages previously released at Linden Vineyards. Through his association with acclaimed winemaker Jim Law, Jeff honed his wine making skills and decided to produce his own wines from his Glen Manor Vineyards. The result of that decision was the construction of the winery in 2007; it opened in May of this year.
Jeff poured for us the two wines currently available for sale. Both were excellent, well-crafted wines. First up was the 2007 Sauvignon Blanc with its citrus and grassy nose. Mineral and citrus flavors prevailed and a crisp finish was noted. Perfect with shellfish, but we were inclined to sip a glass after our tasting! Not to be outdone was the 2005 Petit Verdot. Lots of blackberry notes were accompanied by smoke and tobacco. We both noted dark berries in the mouth with a bolder finish. Paul jotted down, “cigar wine”, but I would favor a big meal with roasted meats.
As we sipped and savored, Jeff gave us some details about the Glen Manor Vineyards. Currently, ten acres are planted with Sauvignon Blanc, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Manseng. We also got a brief tour of the facility that included the barrel room and crush pad. Jeff uses old world methods of hand sorting grapes to ensure that only quality fruit is used to produce his wines. We also got a glimpse of the vineyards and noted that the vineyards and facility were kept in immaculate condition.
Jeff does discourage limos and large groups from visiting the tasting room, and the result is a quieter, more intimate tasting experience. Visitors may enjoy a glass of wine on the deck which offers peaceful views of the vineyards and mountains. In fact, that is just what we did with a glass of the Sauvignon Blanc!
I purchased a bottle of each wine poured that day, and I know that we will be back to Glen Manor Vineyards. Put a visit to Glen Manor Vineyards on your agenda, and mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you.