August, 2007 is an important month for a pioneer winery in Virginia. Oasis Winery turns 30! We recently visited Oasis Winery and caught up with Michaele Salahi; of course, we tasted the wines there and brought along some lunch–no surprises there, right?
As many readers may know, Oasis Winery is usually mobbed on the weekends; so, we decided to visit on a week day when things were more sedate. This was a great decision—we arrived in the early afternoon and got to chat with Michaele and then received a very informative tasting from Lori, our tasting associate. On top of that, we were able to enjoy the breath-taking mountain view that Oasis offers from its outdoor patio all to ourselves!
Now on to the wines. With gold stars in hand, we sipped and savored. Of the whites, we both agreed that the favorite was the Barrel Select Chardonnay. With its enticing pale straw color, this oak-aged Chardonnay presented scents and flavors of apple and pear with a nice vanilla/buttery accent on the finish. Friendly with poultry or shellfish, the Barrel Select Chardonnay is done in the classic French style (which in American means not overly oaked). Though this was the favorite, don’t rule out the Dogwood Flower Chardonnay, a non-oaked option that is semi-dry yet refreshing on a warm day. In fact, Paul checked this one as a bottle to bring home!
So what about the reds? The unanimous choice was the limited-production American Tribute. Though not part of the regular tasting, this one can be sample for a $10.00 fee; it’s worth the splurge. The American Tribute was produced to commemorate Virginia’s 400th anniversary and was poured for Queen Elizabeth II when she recently visited the former colony now premier wine-producing state in America. American Tribute represents a cooperative project between Oasis Winery and Hewitson Wines of Barossa Valley in Australia. It is a blend of 95% Shiraz and 5% Viognier, and the result is described in the tasting notes—intense. Very bold and full-bodied, the American Tribute presented dry fruit, leather and spice in the mouth. The ultimate cigar wine but must be enjoyed on a special occasion with leg of lamb, the American Tribute can be enjoyed now but will benefit from some aging. (Paul favored this one with grilled veggies!) For those who prefer a less assertive yet elegant red wine, try the 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve. Aged in French oak, this Bourdeaux-style red wine is softer and easy to enjoy even in the midst of summer either on its own or with a favorite grilled beef dish.
In the course of our tasting, we were able to catch up with Michaele Salahi. She was very excited to see us, and she readily shared with us that Oasis plans to celebrate its 30th anniversary with a special event on August 25. This will include a winemaker’s dinner and a blessing of the vines, an ancient tradition. Michaele also shared a very interesting story. In the mid-1970s, Oasis founders Corinne and Dirgham Salahi had a vision of owning a winery in Virginia, a region thought to be unsuitable for wine-making. At the same time, the founders of the renowned Inn at Little Washington held a similar vision of opening a world-class restaurant in rural Virginia despite objections from well-meaning family and friends that such a thing was impossible. The outcome for all concerned? Both Oasis Winery and the Inn at Little Washington are long-running success stories and have earned international accolades as a result.
Our tasting completed, we only had to decide on our lunch partner. Grilled chicken with herbs, almonds, and a block of Emmental cheese waited patiently in the trunk of the car, and we went with our gold-starred favorite, the Barrel Select Chardonnay. We settled on a perfect outdoor location so as to enjoy the mountain landscape and vineyards, and Lori brought out our Chardonnay perfectly chilled and resting in an ice bucket. As we dined and sipped, Paul and I noted colorful butterflies hovering atop fragrant flowers and various species of birds that ranged from long-winged hawks to brightly hued cardinals.
Lunch came to an end, and we bid our farewells to Michaele and Lori. We do plan to return and hope to do so with our friend, Michael Tyler. Oasis Winery is his favorite, and we marked wines that we know he will enjoy. Before then, do visit Oasis Winery and let the friendly staff know that Virginia Wine Time sent you!