We’ve been waiting for Fall for quite some time now, and this past weekend gave us what we wanted—cool temperatures, pleasant breezes, and even hints of autumn colors. We decided to take advantage of the Fall-like weekend and visited Hillsborough Winery to sample the latest offerings. Of course, the scenery there is just magnificent, and we expected the wines to match the lovely views. We were not disappointed!

The view from Hillsborough.

Hillsborough has a penchant for naming their wines after precious gems. Our tasting revealed why—these were certainly gems worth discovering. Of note were both white wines, Carnelian and Opal. Carnelian was the latest white wine released, and this blend of Chardonnay and Roussanne was crisp and dry with a nice acidity that would complement most white meat dishes. Opal was a blend of Chardonnay and Viognier; several Virginia wineries have mastered this blend, and Hillsborough’s version tops the list. Warren described Chardonnay as the backbone of Opal while Viognier provided the support. Opal proved to be an elegant wine with a honeyed texture that revealed lush fruit. Opal will also be quite versatile on the dinner table as well; rich cuisine as well as herb-crusted poultry should pair up quite nicely.

Warren at the tasting bar.

Other gems included the reds; in particular, the 2003 Ruby Reserve was bolder and definitely age-worthy. Tannat gives the Ruby Reserve a bit of a chewy texture; Petit Verdot, its deep color. Ruby Reserve is certainly a big steak wine, but chocolate desserts scream for this one. In fact, we enjoyed a glass of the Ruby Reserve with dark chocolates after our tasting! Of course, we brought lunch, and we were in the mood for a lighter bodied red that would partner well with roasted pork loins. Our choice was the Garnet; this one was Paul’s personal favorite. A softer version of its red siblings, Garnet possessed a deep garnet (surprised?) color. Black cherry and plum flavors accompanied a scent of red berries and violets; some herby characteristics could be detected as well. Garnet typifies a true Bourdeaux-style wine and thus a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot.

Warren enjoying lunch.

We’ll be reporting from Hillborough again very soon.—we signed up to attend the Halloween party! In the meantime, we will enjoy our purchases which included Carnelian, Opal, and Ruby Reserve! If you visit Hillsborough, tell them you read about them on the Virginia Wine Time blog.

Molly the winery dog.