SPRING/SUMMER 2013 CELEBR ATING THE GOOD LIFE VIRGINIA FESTIVALS & EVENTS YOUR GUIDE TO WHAT’S GOING ON SOME LIKE IT HOT SPICY SAUCES – AND WINE PAIRINGS! MAMA MIA! DELISH ITALIAN, VIRGINIA STYLE! OUR THIRD ANNUAL READERS CHOICE AWARDS LISTS YOUR FAVORITE VIRGINIA WINERIES, WINEMAKERS – AND MORE! ROAD TRIP! WE GET OUR KICKS ALONG NORTHERN VIRGINIA’S INTERSTATE 66 Luca Pashina, Barboursville Vineyards PHOTO COURTESY OF VIRGINIA.ORG VIRGINIA’S FIRST-EVER WINE SUMMIT PLUS SCAN THIS QR CODE FOR OUR FREE MOBILE GUIDE TO VIRGINIA WINERIES WWW.VISTAGRAPHICS APPS.COM/VWL/ R E A D E R S RA N K C A B E R N E T F R A N C • R E A D E R S R A N K C A B E R N E T F R A N C • Cheers! R R YOU TOLD US, WE LISTENED!
From the pristine shores of the Atlantic Ocean to its plush rolling mountains, the commonwealth of Virginia is as beautiful as it is historically significant—and as an emerging producer of fine wines, Virginia is becoming known as more than just the Mother of Presidents. Fifth in wine production in the United States, the Virginia wine industry is one that thrives on the passion and dedication of vintners, aficionados, and enthusiasts who have an appreciation for the beauty, bounty, and culture that separates Virginia wine into a class of its own. Virginia Wine Lover Magazine celebrates Virginia wines, along with the personalities that make them, the events that surround them, and the food and lifestyle that pairs with them.
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
VIRGINIA FESTIVALS & EVENTSSEE OUR PICKS FOR WHAT’S GOING ON
GOT WINE?CLASSIC PIES AND
PERFECT VINO PAIRINGS
SAY FROMAGE!FIVE FABULOUS
VIRGINIA CHEESES
SPRING/SUMMER 2013
C E L E B R A T I N G T H E G O O D L I F E
VIRGINIA FESTIVALS & EVENTSYOUR GUIDE TO WHAT’S GOING ON
SOME LIKE IT HOTSPICY SAUCES – AND WINE PAIRINGS!
MAMA MIA!DELISH ITALIAN, VIRGINIA STYLE!
OUR THIRD ANNUAL READERS CHOICE AWARDS LISTS YOUR FAVORITE VIRGINIA WINERIES, WINEMAKERS – AND MORE!
ROAD TRIP!WE GET OUR KICKS ALONG NORTHERN VIRGINIA’S INTERSTATE 66
Luca Pashina,Barboursville Vineyards
PHOTO COURTESY OF VIRGINIA.ORG
VIRGINIA’S FIRST-EVERWINE SUMMIT
PLUS
SCAN THIS QR CODE FOR
OUR FREE MOBILE GUIDE TO
VIRGINIA WINERIESWWW.VISTAGRAPHICS
APPS.COM/VWL/
READERS RANK
CA
BE
RN
ET F
RANC • READERS RANK CA
BE
RN
ET FRANC •
Cheers!R
R
YOU TOLD US, WE LISTENED!
VWL 001 COVER FALL 2013.indd 1 2/7/13 5:06 PM
AT&T Spring Town PointVirginia Wine Festival
May 4 & 5, 2013
AT&T Town PointVirginia Wine FestivalOctober 19 & 20, 2013
11am-6pm Daily, Town Point ParkDowntown Norfolk Virginia Waterfront
Visit www.festevents.org or call (757) 441-2345 for more information.
May 4 & 5 , 201311am-6pm Daily
AT&T Spring Town Point Virginia Wine Festival
AT&T Town Point Virginia Wine FestivalOctober 19 & 20, 2013
Town Point Park
Visit www.festevents.org or call 757-441-2345 for more info.
Downtown Norfolk Virginia Waterfront
In partership with: Produced by:
May 4 & 5 , 201311am-6pm Daily
AT&T Spring Town Point Virginia Wine Festival
AT&T Town Point Virginia Wine FestivalOctober 19 & 20, 2013
Town Point Park
Visit www.festevents.org or call 757-441-2345 for more info.
Downtown Norfolk Virginia Waterfront
In partership with: Produced by:
May 4 & 5 , 201311am-6pm Daily
AT&T Spring Town Point Virginia Wine Festival
AT&T Town Point Virginia Wine FestivalOctober 19 & 20, 2013
Town Point Park
Visit www.festevents.org or call 757-441-2345 for more info.
Downtown Norfolk Virginia Waterfront
In partership with: Produced by:
Save the Dates!
May 4 & 5 , 201311am-6pm Daily
AT&T Spring Town Point Virginia Wine Festival
AT&T Town Point Virginia Wine FestivalOctober 19 & 20, 2013
Town Point Park
Visit www.festevents.org or call 757-441-2345 for more info.
AT&T Town PointVirginia Wine FestivalOctober 19 & 20,2013
11am-6pm Daily, Town Point ParkDowntown Norfolk Virginia Waterfront
Visit www.festevents.org or call (757) 441-2345 for more information.
May 4 & 5 , 201311am-6pm Daily
AT&T Spring Town Point Virginia Wine Festival
AT&T Town Point Virginia Wine FestivalOctober 19 & 20, 2013
Town Point Park
Visit www.festevents.org or call 757-441-2345 for more info.
Downtown Norfolk Virginia Waterfront
In partership with: Produced by:
May 4 & 5 , 201311am-6pm Daily
AT&T Spring Town Point Virginia Wine Festival
AT&T Town Point Virginia Wine FestivalOctober 19 & 20, 2013
Town Point Park
Visit www.festevents.org or call 757-441-2345 for more info.
Downtown Norfolk Virginia Waterfront
In partership with: Produced by:
May 4 & 5 , 201311am-6pm Daily
AT&T Spring Town Point Virginia Wine Festival
AT&T Town Point Virginia Wine FestivalOctober 19 & 20, 2013
Town Point Park
Visit www.festevents.org or call 757-441-2345 for more info.
Downtown Norfolk Virginia Waterfront
In partership with: Produced by:
Save the Dates!Experience The Boar's Head resort, located on 573 acres offering golf, spa, tennis, dining and event facilities. Regale in the Old Mill Room, a 2012 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence recipient. Newly renovated guest rooms and suites create an inviting retreat in tune with the rich history of the Charlottesville area.
Wine and Dine
www.boarsheadinn.comdining | lodging | golf | tennis | spa | meetings | weddingsOwned and Operated by The University of Virginia Foundation
9 Editor’s Note POPPING THE CORK10 Cuvee – VWL mixes it up with three
top Virginia winemakers
12 Cork Report – A full pour of wine-related news
16 Try This At Home – VWL readers host at-home tastings and report their finds on Cabernet Franc
17 Bloggers Imbibe – Cyber sips and tips from the blogosphere
ACCOUTREMENTS18 Wine, dine and shop mighty fine.
THIS ISSUE: Hot sauces and salsas A PERFECT PAIR20 Old Dominion eats: Virginia
ingredients make a delicious, Italian-inspired dinner
A FORK IN THE ROAD22 Get your kicks: From Alexandria to
Winchester, Interstate 66 provides food, wine and plenty of good times
GRAPEVINE44 Winery map46 Wine events48 Winery list
For Advertising Information 757-422-8979 ext.156 or [email protected] annual subscription rate is $9.95. For subscription orders and changes of address, call (757) 422-8979.
POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to Virginia Wine Lover, 1264 Perimeter Parkway, Virginia Beach, VA 23454.
Pop the corkIt’s time to celebrate VWL’s Best Of Reader’s Choice Awards
By Patrick Evans-Hylton
2013
CONTENTS|DEPartmEnts
Contents | Feature
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VWL 02-09 TOC_NOTES S-S13.indd 4 2/7/13 1:29 PM
For more information or to purchase tickets visit: www.wm.edu/muscarelle/wineauction
Lots to be auctionedThis year hundreds of quality red and white Burgundy wines will be auctioned
to include the renowned Leroy Wines. Wines from Chambertin, Morey St Denis,
Vougeot, Musigny, Vosne Romanee, Nuits St George, Corton, Volnay, Pommard,
Montrachet, Meursault and Chablis are all included in the auction.
Rotie, Harlan, Screaming Eagle, and many more excellent and affordable red and
white wines.
This upcoming yearThe French Burgundy theme featuring the renowned Leroy Wines will be a rare
Virginia wines and conclude with the running of the 139th Kentucky Derby. The
live auction and silent auctions will feature exclusive Burgundy wines and other
unique lots available only through this event.
MUSCA
RELLE
WINE AUCTION ONDERBY DAYWINEROSES2013
run for the&
3rd Annual Wine Auction on Derby DayMuscarelle Museum of Art | May 4, 2013 at 2:00 PM
www.VirginiaWineLover.com | SUMMER/SPRING 2013 5
LANDSDOWNE
VWL 02-09 TOC_NOTES S-S13.indd 5 2/6/13 4:11 PM
6 SUMMER/SPRING 2013 | Virginia Wine Lover
T here is no state in the US that boasts so many unique, entertaining and enriching destinations
and weekend getaways as does the Old Dominion. That explains the popularity of our destina-tion features in Virginia Wine Lover magazine. This issue carries readers from the beginnings of Interstate 66 in northern Virginia westbound to Strasburg and the juncture with I-81. There are many attractions and activities along the way. Of course many of Virginia’s best wineries are found in this region, and we’ve highlighted 28 of them in this feature.
Our next issue, Summer/Fall 2013, will fea-ture two very unique “trails.” First is the Crooked Road, Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail, which winds through the mountains of Southwest Virginia. Here, the bluegrass, old time and tradi-tional country music is as beautiful and rugged as the landscape itself. And you know that with our editor Patrick Evans-Hylton piloting the ship, there will be plenty of Virginia wine and local culinary delights along the way.
The second destination feature in our next issue will take readers to the other side of the state. This “new” trail focuses on one of Virginia’s oldest treasures, the stately oyster. Fact is all East Coast oysters belong to a single species, Crassotrea virginica, but all have distinct flavors depending on where they were raised, the salinity of the water, algae content and other qualities. Oysters are like wine in that they reflect the place of their origin, and no two elements could com-bine to make for a better culinary adventure.
Our writers will take readers from Virginia Beach, up Virginia’s Eastern shore with stops along the way at the many quaint and historic towns whose colorful names reflect their Native American heritage or the practicality of their founders. Yes, there is even a town named “Oyster.” The second part to this journey car-ries readers to up the mainland side of the Chesapeake Bay through Yorktown, Gloucester, Urbana and on to the Rappahannock.
Virginia has shown the world that we can pro-duce the finest wine available. Our new Virginia Oyster Trail is indeed the Napa Valley of oysters. Throw in more American history than the other 49 states combined, and then consider the beauty from the rugged Appalachians to our miles of coastline and inland waterways and it’s easy to see how it just doesn’t get any better.
select wines For PurchaseaPril 6th & 7th, october 26th & 27th
2 Monticello cuPsMore than 30 gold Medals
Take your taste buds on a culinary adventure
in Norfolk and savor every last delicious detail.
This charming coastal city has a vibrant pub and
restaurant scene that includes local craft breweries,
“gastropubs,” and Virginia’s first-ever urban winery
and tasting room. And with more than 80 chef-
owned restaurants mixed in, you’re sure to find
your fill.
DyNAmic.DiVerse.And Delicious.
visitnorfolktoday.com | 1-800-368-3097
8 SUMMER/SPRING 2013 | Virginia Wine Lover
VWL 02-09 TOC_NOTES S-S13.indd 8 2/6/13 4:17 PM
www.VirginiaWineLover.com | SUMMER/SPRING 2013 9
Anyone can take you for a ride to a winery, but when you reserve a James Limousine wine tour, you receive the whole grape
experience! Imagine stunning scenery to entice the eye, award winning wines to please the palate, and all the details neatly and meticulously handled by James Limousine to insure your total enjoyment and relaxation.
The knowledgeable wine tour experts at James Limousine will guide you in selecting the perfect package. Whether you choose the silver, gold or platinum tour, the experts at
James can pick the perfect route based on your winery favorites. Absolutely no detail is too small to customize for your wine tour.
Voted Most Attentive Limousine Company by Richmond Magazine 2011
Come experience why so many are calling Virginia the Napa Valley of the East CoastServing Charlottesville, Richmond, Williamsburg and Newport News
I ’ve got a secret. I know we aren’t suppose to play favorites, but sometimes I do.
And the issue you are holding in your hands is one of my favorite issues each year, because it contains the results of our Reader’s Choice Best Of awards.
Each year you take the time to share what you think about Virginia wine and all of its wonderful accouterments. In fact, from when the polling opened last fall until it closed on the last day of 2012, we had an amazing 50,085 votes in categories ranging from Best Winemaker to best wine in each of our state’s distinct regions.
For all of us, this is an exciting time to be Virginia wine lovers because, by-and-large, we are not only watching this incredible industry unfold right before our eyes, but we are part of it. Even when you go back to the sporadic, valiant efforts of planting wine growing grapes, you only go as far back as the late 1960s and early-to-mid 1970s.
Much of what we are seeing with Virginia wine was only kicked off in the past few decades, with the bulk of the growth not only in quality but also the quantity of wineries and the juice they produce just in the past five to 10 years. It’s astounding, and you are part of it every time you visit a winery in the common-wealth, open a bottle of Virginia vino, or sing their praises to other wine enthusiasts.
So in this issue, I am not only playing favor-ites, but you are too. You are telling us who you think is the most outstanding winemaker in the state, who you prefer as the top winery, and what festival is the best-of-the-best.
Thank you for your input, three cheers to Virginia wine, and three cheers for Virginia wine lovers.
In the photo: enjoying a quaff with Brian Roeder of Barrel Oak Winery during a trip to northern Virginia; see my travel piece in this issue.
EdItor’s NotE
VWL 02-09 TOC_NOTES S-S13.indd 9 2/7/13 1:25 PM
10 SUMMER/SPRING 2013 | Virginia Wine Lover
Popping CorkTHE
BARBOURSVILLE VINEYARDS
Luca Paschina, winemaker and general manager
Winemaker 30 years; at Barboursville 23 yearsPaschina graduated with a degree in oenology
from Umberto I Institute, Alba, Piemonte, Italy, and has worked in France, California, Italy and Virginia. He was named Virginia Wine Person of the Year in 2001 and appointed by four gov-ernors to the Virginia Wine Advisory Board. Under Paschina, Barboursville has been awarded three Virginia Governor’s Cups and numerous Monticello Cups for producing the leading wine of the year.
“Barboursville VIneyards is committed to producing European wine varietaals and clas-
sic blends influenced by French and Italian techniques, but in a style consistently revealing the nature of our terroir in the Piedmont. Ours is the most awarded winery in Virginia and is widely recognized abroad for establishing the reputation of Virginia as a distinct wine region.”
—Luca Paschina
Winery tasting room: open 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday–Saturday and 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Sunday, closing only Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Contact the winery for information on Palladio Restaurant and the 1804 Inn & Cottages.
VWL MIXES IT UP WITH THREE TOP VIRGINIA WINEMAKERSBY PATRICK EVANS-HYLTON
THREE FOX VINEYARDS
John Todhunter winemaker and general managerHolli Todhunter, winegrower
John is a biochemist by training and started making wine in graduate school at University of California - Santa Barbara. He has taken seminar courses in wine making and viticul-ture, studied with winemakers in Italy, and worked hands-on at various small- and mid-size wineries. Holli has learned grape growing by experience and guided study.
“We are a small, boutique winery that makes hand-crafted Italian / “old world”-style wines in Virginia in the Middleburg appelation. Current production is 3,000 cases annually and, with our new plantings of 2012, we plan to grow to 5,000 cases (give or take). Located on 50 roll-ing acres we are a taste of Tuscany in Virginia’s Piedmont.”
—John Todhunter
Winery tasting room: open Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Monday from 11 a.m.–5 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m.
10100 Three Fox Lane, Delaplane • 540-364-6073www.ThreeFoxVineyards.com
David Pagán Castaño, head winemakerWinemaker 10 years; at Breaux since early 2011
Castaño is part of the third generation of winemakers from his family’s southeastern Spanish winery, Castaño. He followed in my grandfather’s footsteps, but with more travel and more technology, studying in Spain and France, and working in California, New Zealand, Southern France and some regions in Spain such as the Canary Islands.
“Breaux is a family-owned winery on over 400 acres of land, over 105 of which are planted with wine grapes. The winery grows 18 varieties of grapes and annually produces over
24 labels. Breaux offers a wine for every type of consumer: from dry, elegant whites to deep, succulent reds, cheerful, bright summer wines and sweet wines for those customers with a sweet tooth.”
—David Pagán Castaño
The winery is open 7 days a week from 11 a.m.–5 p.m. in the winter and 11 a.m.–6 p.m. in the summer.
VWL 10-19 POP THE CORK S-S13.indd 10 2/6/13 4:24 PM
www.VirginiaWineLover.com | SUMMER/SPRING 2013 11
THE WINERY
Overview: “The winery’s tasting room
is open every day for extensive tastings in our current vin-tages, where light fare from our Palladio Restaurant is available for a nominal charge, to be enjoyed in several picnic areas; Palladio Restaurant is open for lunch Wednesday through Seunday, reservation suggested, and for dinner, Friday and Saturday, reservation required. Spacious and elegant rooms can be booked for special parties, weddings, presentations and group meetings.” —LP
April 6–7; Oct. 26–27: Barrel Tasting Weekends with 14-year vertical tastingsApril 20: Oysters & Bubbles, introducing two new sparkling wines in Brut and Brut RoseSept. 21: Italian Harvest FeastOct. 12: The Octagon, an annual feast featuring several vintages of Octagon wine
Five recommendations:Malvaxia Passito 2007, a classic dessert produced by air-drying the grapes and the slowest fer-mentation and extended aging.Octagon 2008, a Bordeaux blend based on superior Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot
and Cabernet Sauvignon from selected barrels from selected parcels, offering great finesse and cellar life.Vermentino Reserve 2012, a vivaciously luscious, seafood friendly white native to the Tuscan coast and Sardinia, which grows superbly for us at Barboursville.Nebbiolo Reserve 2009, the most revered of all Italian red wines, native to my home prov-ince of Piemonte.Cabernet Franc Reserve 2010, Gold Medal at California’s Sommeliers Challenge (2012), consistently our most highly awarded varietal. —LP
Cuvee is a new section of Virginia Wine Lover where we talk to three winemakers each issue to find out more about their wineries and winemaking
philosophies and get some useful tips on the enjoyment of the juice.
TH
E
Cuvee
THE WINERY
Overview: “We have beautiful, tranquil
views from our tasting room and its surrounding outdoor areas and vineyard. We have a tented, al fresco terrazza, an Old World brick patio, vine-side grass bocce courts, flower gar-dens, rolling hills and creek-side picnic areas and hammocks in our meadow by Crooked Run. Our guests can bring their own picnic can get some of our light fare (sausages, prosciutto, cheeses, crackers, etc.) for an impromptu picnic.” —JT
Highlighted events:March 30: Easter Egg Roll Through the VinesJuly 13: The Palio; Palio di Siena recreated
Sept. 14: San Gennaro FestivalSept. 21: The Lucy Stomp; competitive grape stomp and Lucille Ball and friends costume contestOct. 13: Classic Cars, Classic Vino Car Show (English, Italian and German classics in the vines)
Offerings: Three Fox usually offers 5–6 dry reds, 1 port-alternative red, 1 dry rose’, 4 dry whites, 1 off-dry white, 1 semi-sweet white and 1 sparkling.
Five recommendations:Piemontese Nebbiolo 2009, elegant with great structure, black cherry, currant, dark red fruit and spice notes, good for-ward fruit and a symphony of flavors in the finish.
Alouette Cabernet Franc 2011, loaded with black cherry, berry, roasted espresso bean and hints of mocha. Cano Pazzo Rose’ (non-vintage), Sangiovese derived rose’ with spice, berry and cherry notes. Gatto Bianco (non-vintage table white), an off-dry white with a great, sassy attitude; pineapple and citrus nose with a hint of mandarin, melon and pear on the palate. La Boheme Viognier 2011, an aromatic nose of pear, melon and mango; the palate has pear, nectarine, and melon notes with a hint of mango. —JT
THE WINEMAKER
Philosophy:“Make the wine in the vineyard and
shepherd it in the winery.” —JT
A Word of Wisdom:“Having a specific temperature, such as 55 degrees, for cellaring your wines is not as important as having a constant temperature; provided, it is less than 70 degrees. It is the up and down that taxes wines and causes the cork to expand and contract and allows more air to enter the wine than is good for it. “You need some air entry for proper bottle aging of reds but only a trace and you want no air for whites because they don’t really bottle age well in general. If you are planning on aging your reds, avoid screw caps. If you’re like us and drink most of your
wine soon after purchasing it, then screw caps are fine for reds. For white, screw caps are probably best (as they allow the least entry of air), but we do surely like the elegance and romance of a cork.” —JT
Highlighted Awards:Best DC Metro Area Winery, 2006, WUSA-9.com consumer poll
Best Overall Winery in Virginia, 2011, Virginia Wine Lover magazine
Top Three Northern VA wineries, 2012, Virginia Wine Lover Magazine
Gold Medal for 2010 Alouette Cabernet Franc, 2012 Finger Lakes International Wine Competition
Gold Medal for 2009 Piemontese Nebbiolo, 2011 Hilton HeadInternational Wine Competition
THE WINEMAKER
Philosophy:“A thorough command of viticulture as well as of winemaking technique is essential, for wine is virtually made in the vineyard. Respect for the underly-ing character of the varietal means protecting its ideal balance of acidity, alcohol, tannin and fruit against excess or deficiency in any parameter, and this will assure its highest expression on the palate and its greatest aging potential.” —LP
A Word of Wisdom:“Temperature of service is vital and so simple to achieve correctly. Keep a white wine in the refrigerator overnight, and remove 15 minutes before serving; place a red wine into the refrigerator for no more than 15 minutes, before serving.” —LP
Highlighted Awards:
Virginia Governor’s Cup (1999) for Cabernet Franc 1997
Monticello Cup (2009) for the Bordeaux blend Octagon 2006
Sommeliers Challenge Platinum Medal (California, 2012) for Octagon 2009
San Francisco International Wine Competition Gold Medal and Best in Class (2012) for Malvaxia Passito 2007
Critics Challenge Gold Medal and Best in Class (California, 2011) for Cabernet Franc Reserve 2007
THE WINEMAKER
Philosophy:“A fantastic wine is always going to come from healthy, delicious grapes, harvested from well-tended vineyards. Climate will always come into play, however, so the winemaker must be flexible enough to work with whatever kind of year presents itself. To make truly inspired wines, a wine-maker must be familiar with the raw mate-rials available and understand how to draw the most expression from them.” —DPC
A Word of Wisdom:“The most important skill a wine con-sumer can have is to be able to truly understand what he or she likes to drink. To develop this skill, you can taste wines by comparison. You can taste by varietal, year or region, and this will highlight the quali-ties of each individually, and you will be able to better break down the qualities of the wine and discover those flavors, sensa-tions and textures you like most.” —DPC
Highlighted Awards:Breaux Viognier: 1 of only 3 United States wines to be named to Oz Clarke’s list of the “250 Best Wines 2012.”2012 Riverside International Wine
Competition: 3 gold Medals Viognier 2010, Cab Franc Reserve 2007 and Meritage 2007.
2012 Decanter Awards: Silver Medal for Breaux’s Viognier 2010.
Gold Medal in the 2010 Berliner Wine Competition with my 2009 Rubicon Moscatel (winemaker)
Gold Medal in the 2009 International Concours Mondial de Bruxelles with my 2006 Rodal Pla (winemaker)
THE WINERY
Overview: “Breaux offers a tasting
room, special events, private events, weddings, wine dinners, tours, festivals, live music, and it’s dog friendly. Now we’re in the middle of a multi-phase expansion that, among other things, will include a bigger tast-ing room, an events room and rooms for private events and club members.” —DPC
Highlighted events:Feb. 16: Chocolate and
Cabernet TastingApril 13: Nebbiolo Vertical
TastingMay 11: Dog DaysJune 15: Cajun FestivalJuly 15: Key West Festival
Offerings: Breaux offers 4 dry whites, 1 semi-sweet white, 1 dry rose’, 7 different reds (both varietals and Bordeaux-blends), 1 dessert/ice wine’, andthere are also 12 exclusive wines offered only to Cellar Club members.
Five recommendations:Sauvignon blanc 2011, fruit flavors such as honeydew and lemon and laced with green apple and peach. The wine is light and crisp, with a bright acidity.Madeleine’s Chardonnay 2012, steel fermented. Fruit notes, a medium-long body and refresh-ing acidity. Flavors such as banana, pineapple and pear.Viognier 2012, rich and power-ful aroma. Intense tropical fruit flavors mixed with orange blossoms and anise. Full-bodied
with a creamy mouthfeel.Cabernet Franc Reserve 2007, concentrated aromas of dark cherries, licorice and spices such as clove and cinnamon. Full-bodied and with concentrated flavors; firm with well-integrated tannins.Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, intense aromas of black currant and plum mixed with sweet tobacco notes. Firm tannins and long finish. —DPC
VWL
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12 SUMMER/SPRING 2013 | Virginia Wine Lover
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Billed as “the most comprehen-sive wine and food seminar in Virginia that will offer a variety of ideas on what is trending in the national as well as local wine
and food scene,” the inaugural Virginia Wine Summit kicked off in Richmond Oct. 2, 2012.
More than 150 Virginia winemakers, winery owners, journalists, sommeliers, res-taurateurs and other food and wine industry professionals were in attendance.
Among the impressive lineup of speakers: Steven Spurrier, the distinguished British wine writer and organizer of the famous Judgment of Paris tasting in 1976.
Also on tap, Jean Case, wife of former AOL co-founder/executive Steve Case and owner of Early Mountain Vineyards; Food & Wine magazine contributor Anthony Giglio; Virginia First Lady Maureen McDonnell; and Gov. Bob McDonnell.
The summit kicked off with a Breakfast of Champions led by Annette Boyd of the
CorkReport
Climbing to the Top Virginia wine laUdEd IN fIRSt-EvER SUMMIt
By Frank Morgan
PhotoS coURtESy vIRGINIa .oRG
VWL 10-19 POP THE CORK S-S13.indd 12 2/7/13 5:00 PM
Gov. Bob McDonnell announced in January that Virginia wineries enjoyed record-breaking sales in fis-cal 2012.
During the fiscal year, which ended June 30, 2012, nearly 485,000 cases were sold; the previous record was about 477,000 cases sold in fiscal 2011.
Export sales grew too—more than tripling from 700 cases to more than 3,300, with new sales to China and the United Kingdom accounting for a significant portion.
Sales of Virginia wine in other states increased by more than 24 percent to 14,033 cases. The com-monwealth garnered more than $1.7 million in wine liter tax revenue.
CorkReport
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Virginia Wine Board Marketing Office and a panel of four wine professionals—wine importer Bartholomew Broadbent (also son of noted wine critic Michael Broadbent), Steven Spurrier, Anthony Giglio and Washington D.C-.based Master of Wine Jay Youmans.
Rather than a traditional breakfast of eggs, sausage and pancakes, the Breakfast of Champions was a fruit juice-only breakfast so-to-speak: 14 wines and two hard apple ciders.
“Virginia makes the kind of wines I like to drink.” ~ Steven Spurrier
More to Love about Virginia Wine
>>Continued on page 14
VWL 10-19 POP THE CORK S-S13.indd 13 2/7/13 5:00 PM
Philip carter winery has released 1762, a port-style wine made with the chambourcin grape and aged for two years in bourbon whiskey barrels.
the name—and release—celebrates winery principal Philip carter Strother’s lineage to the noted carter family of colonial times and records of the family’s winemaking heritage of the period.
1762 is available to carter charter wine club members, which has no enrollment fee but a requirement to purchase at least one case of wine annually.
More information: www.PCWinery.com —PEH
Run for the Roses
the third annual virginia wine country half Marathon will be held June 1, starting and ending at Doukenie winery in loudoun county.
Registration is now open to runners and fast walkers who can keep a pace of 16:00 per mile or better as well as finish in 3-1/2 hours or less.
the course winds on scenic roads past farms, vineyards and rolling hills. the event is also a fundraiser for a number of charities.
a post-race festival, also at Doukenie winery, includes tastings from more than a dozen wineries, food, entertain-ment and an awards ceremony.
More information: www.DestinationRaces.com/RunVirginia
The Breakfast of Champions session—dubbed the Judgment of Virginia—was a blind comparative tasting that included seven different flights of wine and one flight of hard apple cider. Each flight included one Virginia wine or cider pitted against the same type of wine or cider from another notable region at a similar price point.
From the front of the room, Broadbent, Spurrier, Giglio and Youmans led the audi-ence through the tasting beginning with a Viognier flight, followed by flights of Cabernet Franc, Bordeaux Blend/Meritage, Cabernet Sauvignon, Nebbiolo, Petit Verdot, Touriga Nacional and a cider flight.
After each of the panelists revealed their favorite wine in each flight, the preference of the audience was polled by a show of hands. The panelists, along with a large majority of the audience pre-ferred the Virginia offering in five of the eight flights—Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux blend/Meritage, Nebbioli and cider.
The results of the Breakfast of Champions tasting confirmed what many Virginia wine enthusiasts have long known—Virginia wine can stand up to, and is preferred in many cases, when tast-ed in a blind comparative setting against wines of similar price points from more notable regions.
The afternoon featured a keynote address by Spurrier during lunch where he advised the Virginia wine industry to focus on what is uniquely Virginia.
There were also in-depth educa-tional sessions. The day concluded with a grand tasting of Virginia wines that included some of Virginia’s top wines and Governor’s Cup medalists.
Frank Morgan blogs at www.DrinkWhatYouLike.Wordpress.com
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Wine Tours, Weddings & Special Events
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CELEBRATING THE GOOD LIFE
Subscribe Today!Free Tuscany Wine Bottle Opener with 2-Year Subscription…4 semi-annual issues for only $9.95. Visit www.VirginiaWineLover.com/subscriptions
Virginia Wine Lover magazine— the premiere publication that celebrates Virginia wines and the good living that accompanies them through food, travel and other pleasures.
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16 SUMMER/SPRING 2013 | Virginia Wine Lover
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Well read, and Well Red
Try ThisAt Home
We were thrilled with the turn out,” says Diane. “Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. We are planning to do this again with a different set of wines next year.
Diane Morris and her husband, Keith,
are Virginia wine lovers. After seeing our Try This At Home challenge, they hosted a Virginia-themed tasting last fall, focusing on Cabernet Franc.
“Keith and I love to visit the local winer-ies and taste their wines,” says Diane. “We noticed a large collection of Cab Francs in our cellar and decided it would be fun to try to a wine tasting with some of our wine lover friends.
“So we set a date, sent out the invita-tions, and planned the food. Tammy Barboza came up with a suggested menu. We taste tested the recipes one weekend and settled on the menu. Thanks to her cooking skills, the food was fabulous.”
There were 11 folks in attendance at the event in the Morris’ Jeffersonton home, and here are the results in order of rank:
CorkReportBOW WOW!
CHANGES AT CHATEAU MORRISETTE
Chateau Morrisette Winery introduces a new corporate identity and new brand labels for its wines. Widely known for its dog-themed wines, including The Black Dog and Our Dog Blue, Chateau Morrisette is updating its image with a new version of the winery’s corporate mascot, Hans. Traditionally, Hans has been fea-tured on an assortment of labels repre-senting the artistic vision of various artists. “It’s time we move forward and present a consistent look for our products, a look showcasing a true family of wines,” says winery owner David Morrisette.
Labeling will fall into four categories: Premiums and Reserves, Varietals, Signature Series and Orchard Series.
“The art featured on our labels is hand-drawn and water-colored, keeping with the tradition of using original art on labels. Morrisette adds, “On the shelf, these high quality images will create a poster board effect and remind our buyers of the breadth of wines hand-crafted at Chateau Morrisette.”
In addition, a series of travel packages have been announced, providing getaways that include lodging, dining and wine tasting. These include Mountain Blooms Getaway, Summer Sunsets Getaway and Black Dog Festival Package, offered at various times thourghout the year; contact the winery for more information.
The WinesCabernet Franc 2008, Rappahannock CellarsCabernet Franc Bellhaven 2008, Lake Anna WineryCabernet Franc Mountain View Vineyards 2005, Prince Michel Vineyard and WineryCabernet Franc 2006, Villa Appalaccia WineryCabernet Franc 2008, Narmada WineryCabernet Franc 2010, Mattaponi Winery
(Ed. Note: contact information for wineries can be found in the Virginia Winery Listing in the Grapevine section of this magazine.)
The MenuCourse 1 – Welcome Appetizers with Sparkling WineDeviled Eggs Stuffed with CrabSeared Sea Scallops with MarjoramCrackers and Celery Sticks with Brie and Peppadew
Course 2 – Entrée with the Cabernet FrancsToasted Walnut Hummus with PitaRoasted Anjou Pears with Stilton Cheese and Dried Cranberries in a Port GlazeTurkey Meatballs with Chile/Cranberry SauceChorizo and Machengo Cheese Pizza
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A VWL READER HOSTS A CABERNET FRANC TASTING AND REPORTS THE DELISH FINDINGS
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Bloggers ImbibeCybER SIPS aNd tIPS fRoM the blogosphere
Bloggers Imbibe
CorkReport
the internet brings folks together—instantly. across the world, people facebook, tweet and otherwise blog about
everything going on in their lives; fortunately many of them are imbibing at the time. What are some of Virginia’s top
bloggers enjoying at the moment? two of them—VWL contributing editor frank Morgan, who blogs at drink What
you Like, and brian Kirby of the blog the other 46—share their current Virginia wine finds with us. —Frank Morgan
RoCKGaRdEN CELLaRS VoyaGE dE VERt — A VirginiA suMMer MUSt HaVE WINE
o ne of the many exciting emerg-ing trends in the Virginia wine industry is the growing number
of wineries and winemakers establishing second labels to showcase their creativ-ity by experimenting with new varietals or teaming with fellow winemakers to produce collaborative wines.
The founders of Ankida Ridge Vineyards, Dennis and Christine Vrooman, along with their son Nathan Vrooman, have recently launched a new label called Rockgarden Cellars. As the winemaker, starting a second label provides Nathan the opportunity to produce wines from a wide range of grape varietals while maintain-ing the Ankida Ridge Burgundian brand, which focuses on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Nathan makes the Rockgarden wines at Ankida Ridge in Amherst but sources the fruit for Rockgarden wines from vineyards throughout Virginia. The Rockgarden name comes from one of Nathan’s non-wine passions, mountain biking, which describes a section of a bike trail covered with large rocks.
During the holiday, I had the oppor-tunity to catch up with Dennis and Christine to taste the Rockgarden Cellars current releases—a red Bordeaux blend called Voyage de Rouge, a port-style des-sert wine called Vin Doux and white blend called Voyage de Vert.
The Voyage de Vert—a blend of 85 percent Vidal Blanc and 15 percent Pinot Noir—is made in the Vinho Verde style with low alcohol and a touch of effer-vescence. Originated in Portugal, Vinho Verde means “green wine” or “young wine” and is generally meant to be con
sumed young, within a year of bottling. It retails for $18.
Light straw in color in the glass, this light and fresh wine opens with aromas of lime spritz and hints of honeysuckle and grapefruit followed by tangy lemon and lime flavors on the palate with a light touch of effervescence.
A fun and refreshing wine, the Voyage de Vert will be a popular choice for Virginia wine enthusiasts as winter yields to the warmer days of spring and intense heat of summer. This refresh-ing, spritzy wine would pair well with a spinach salad, shellfish or as an aperitif with friends on a warm evening.
—FrAnk MorgAn Morgan blogs at
www.DrinkWhatYouLike.Wordpress.com
bREaUx NEbbIoLo, Good For the soul
I remember asking Breaux Vineyards founder and owner Paul Breaux how he stumbled upon Piedmont’s most famous
grape. After a trip to the region in Italy, Paul fell in love with its Barolo wines and knew immediately he wanted to plant Nebbiolo upon his return. One of only a handful of wineries in Virginia that grows the variety (Barboursville Vineyards also produces an excellent varietal Nebbiolo), Breaux consistently produces age-worthy, complex expressions of the grape. Quite the feat, especially considering how finicky the grape can be, even in Italy.
Since first sampling Breaux’s Nebbiolo during a tasting several years back, I’ve had the pleasure of sampling a number of vintages, with the 2001 and 2006 Barrel Select (a cellar selection) topping my list. After opening the 2005 vintage, I now have a new favorite.
The Breaux Vineyards 2005 Nebbiolo retails for $72 and is available for purchase at the winery and online. A deep red color in glass, aromas of dark plum, leather and tobacco greet the nose. Flavors of raspberry, black cherry, spice and a hint of oak develop on the palate. Well structured with gripping tannins and good acidity make this a difficult wine to set down, especially paired alongside lamb. The wine has a long life ahead and will reward the patient.
—briAn kirby Kirby blogs at www.TheOther46.com
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18 SUMMER/SPRING 2013 | Virginia Wine Lover
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KimKim Korean Hot SauceFrom Steve Kim, produced by Ashman Manufacturing Co.www.Facebook.com/KimKimSaucewww.AshmanCo.com“… Handcrafted to add rich, authen-tic Korean flavor that enhances the natural tastes of every dish with a tangy, spicy kick …” —Steve Kim
Suggested use: Roasted Oysters with Smoldering Fuse Dipping Sauce; visit www.VirginiaWineLover.com for VWL executive editor Chef Patrick Evans-Hylton’s exclusive Roasted Oysters recipe. The recipe for Smoldering Fuse Dipping Sauce can be found in this article.
Things start to heat up in the spring and early summer, among them our tastebuds. From tasty Tex-Mex treats at Cinco de Mayo on May 5 through gatherings of friends and family on Memorial Day Weekend—heck, just about every weekend—we love some heat in the air, and in our bellies.
We pick three made-in-Virginia salsas and hot sauces that we love and offer some suggestions (with wine pairings!) on using them in dishes to wow your guests at all those seasonal soirees.
Three the Hot Way By Patrick Evans-Hylton
Fiery Peri Peri Dark Cherry SalsaFrom Gunther’s Gourmetwww.GunthersGourmet.com “A non-traditional salsa that pulls the taste buds between subtly sweet and fiery heat in every bite.” —Gunther’s GourmetSuggested use: Toss salsa with grilled, shredded chicken and add to slightly grilled flour tortillas with queso fresco and a salad of chopped cilantro and arugula; fold over tortilla and serve taco-style.
Suggested pairing: Riesling 2011, Fox Meadow Winery
“Sabrosa’s Medium all natural, no pre-servative, roasted bell pepper salsa is … perfectly Ph-balanced [to help keep acid-reflux and heart-burn at bay.] This medium salsa adds both great flavor and just the right touch of heat …” —Sabrosa Foods
Suggested use: Blue Crab Taquitos with Creamy Salsa; visit www.VirginiaWineLover.com for VWL executive editor Chef Patrick Evans-Hylton’s exclusive Blue Crab Taquito recipe. The recipe for Creamy Salsa can be found in this article.
Suggested pairing: Joy White 2011, CrossKeys Vineyards
Contact information for wineries can be found in the Virginia Winery Listing in the Grapevine section of this magazine. More made-in-Virginia products can be found at www.VaFinest.com.
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Smoldering Fuse Dipping Sauce
Great for oysters and other foods that you want to spice up or take for a dip.
Ingredients1/2 cup melted butter1/2 cup hot sauce2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
MethodWhisk the butter, hot sauce, lemon juice and pepper together in a medi-um bowl until combined.
This recipe is adapted from one in my cookbook Dishing Up Virginia (Storey, 2013). For more information, visit www.PatrickEvansHylton.com.
Creamy Salsa
Great as a dressing for a taco salad and with other Tex-Mex dishes or as a dip.
Ingredients1 cup salsa1 cup sour cream1 small bunch chives, chopped
MethodWhisk the salsa and sour cream together in a medium bowl until combined and fold in chopped chives.
—PEH
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www.VirginiaWineLover.com | SUMMER/SPRING 2013 19
CONGRATULATIONS TO LEN THOMPSON
CorkReport
Virginia Secretary of Agriculture Todd Haymore presented Len Thompson with the Virginia
Vineyards Association’s 2012 Grower of the Year award in February.
“Len Thompson is one of the unher-alded heroes behind the success of the Virginia Vineyards Association. For as long as I can remember he has donated freely of his time to support the association and the wine industry. He helps other growers and aspiring growers while producing grapes that have been utilized in wines that have won awards in international competi-tions,” said J. Rock Stephens, chair-man, Virginia Wine Board.
Thompson and his wife, Kay, pur-chased land in Amherst County in 1999, planting six acres. The grapes grown there include Chardonnay and Chambourcin. Wines produced from grapes grown at Amherst Vineyards have garnered numerous medals.
“Len’s contribution to the Virginia wine industry is unparalleled. As a grower he has not only excelled in his own right, but has not hesitated to pass that knowledge along to other growers. In addition, he has served in many leadership roles at the VVA, helping to advance the future of the Virginia wine industry for many years to come,” said Haymore. VWL
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20 SUMMER/SPRING 2013 | Virginia Wine Lover
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Old Dominion EatsVIRGINIa INGREdIENtS MakE a dElIcIoUS ItalIan-InspIred dInner
By patrick evans-Hylton
t here is no hiding the fact that we love Virginia, and the wonderful wine and food of the commonwealth makes this a delicious place to call home indeed.
We were inspired by some of the awesome offerings we found through Virginia’s Finest, a program of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services that assists and promotes many of the state’s culinary entrepreneurs, to create an Italian-inspired dinner for family and friends.
We hope you’ll find inspiration, too, for your soirees and suppers by looking first at your area farmers markets and gourmet shops for items grown and crafted here.
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ResourcesCookies & Corkswww.CookiesAndCorks.com
Kenna Cookieswww.KennasCookies.com
Linda’s Gardenwww.LindasGarden.com
“Mango Mango” Mango Preserveswww.AMangoParty.com
Montebello Kitchenswww.MontebelloKitchens.com
Pasta Valentewww.PastaValente.com
Patrick Evans-Hyltonwww.PatrickEvansHylton.com
Rowena’s Kitchenwww.Rowenas.com
Virginia’s Finestwww.VaFinest.com
Contact information for wineries can be found in the Virginia Winery Listing in the Grapevine section of this magazine.
Chef Patrick’s Piedmont Red SauceIngredients:2 tablespoons olive oil1 large yellow onion, minced2 cloves garlic, minced1 15-ounce can tomato sauce1 5-ounce can tomato paste1/2 cup Virginia Italian-style wine; we like Nebbiolo, Barbera or Sangiovese1 teaspoon dry oregano leaves1 teaspoon dry basil leaves1 teaspoon red pepper fl akes1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepperSalt to taste Method:Prepare sauce by heating olive oil in a sauté pan on the stovetop over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and stir often, about fi ve min-utes, until translucent. Stir in tomato sauce, tomato paste, red wine, oregano, basil, red pepper fl akes and black pepper. Turn up the heat and let simmer, uncovered, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Sea-son with salt to taste.
Note: we used Linda’s Garden herbs when possible for the recipe.
Yields 4 cups
This recipe is adapted from one in my cook-book, Dishing Up Virginia (Storey, 2013.)
- PEH
The MenuAmuse
Cookies & Corks savory wine-pairing cookies.
Arrange cookies on a platter with some hard cheeses, clusters of red grapes, and marcona almonds.
Garden salad with Montebello Kitchens Citronette dressing and a Garlic/Parmesan Puff Pastry breadstick seasoned with Linda’s Garden Garlic Blend and Tomato-Basil Blend of herbs.
With selected fresh greens from our local farmers market, we made a simple salad with grape tomatoes, carrot curls and thinly-sliced watermelon radish. Our breadsticks were made by rolling out prepared puff pastry, brushing it with melted butter, sprinkling on herbs and fi nely grated parmesan cheese, then slicing into long, thin strips with a pizza cutter, twisting, and baking in the oven at 400F until golden, approximately 12 minutes.
Black Olive & Garlic Fettuccine from Pasta Valente with Piedmont Red Sauce, Turkey Meatballs and shaved Parmesan.
We topped the prepared pasta with our own Piedmont Red Sauce (see the recipe in this article) and served it with turkey meatballs (Web Exclusive! Get VWL’s executive edi-tor Chef Patrick Evans-Hylton’s recipe at www.VirginiaWineLover.com) and topped with shaved parmesan.
� Paired with: Cabernet Franc Reserve 2009, Fox Meadow Winery
Dessert
Tutti Fruitti Ice Cream Sundae with Kennas Cookies Cherry Almond Biscotti and “Mango Mango” Mango Preserves
We take a premium ice cream and place a small amount in the bottom of a coupe glass, then top that with crushed Cherry Almond Biscotti from Kennas Cookies and a generous dollop of mango preserves, then repeat, garnishing with a whole biscotti cookie.
� Paired with: Pippin Black (cider and apple brandy blend), Foggy Ridge Cider
Nightcap
Lemon Curd Martini with Rowena’s Lemon Curd
As the evening wears down, we make a heavenly dessert martini by adding a teaspoon or two of Lemon Curd with citrus-fl avored vodka, and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice along with ice in a cocktail shaker. We shake it well and strain in a chilled martini or cocktail glass and top with a slash of sparkling wine.
� Sparkling wine used: Blanc de Chardonnay (NV), Thibaut-Janisson
a perfect pair
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22 SUMMER/SPRING 2013 | Virginia Wine Lover
BY PATRICK EVANS-HYLTON
A FORK AND THE ROADINTERSTATE 66
Before America became America, and when George Washington was just a teenager chopping down cherry trees and tossing coins across the Potomac, Virginia had a much different landscape than it has now. Many of the towns that we live, work and play in were estab-
lished by the mid-18th century, but the connections between them were limited and mostly only via waterways.
It’s hard to imagine, when zipping across interstates from city to city has become de rigeur as part of our every day existence. But
slowly that changed. The Great Valley Road, the King’s Highway, the Upper Road and the Fall Line Road were established, and fol-low, largely, the paths still taken today with Interstates 81, 95, 85 and 64, respectively.
In 1745 another route was open, hacked from tall trees and thorny vines, winding along escarpments and following Indian paths. Pioneer’s Road traversed northern Virginia between Alexandria and Winchester—just like the asphalt corridor today of Interstate 66.
A FORK AND THE ROADINTERSTATE 66
GET YOUR KICKS
FROM ALEXANDRIA TO WINCHESTER, INTERSTATE 66 PROVIDES FOOD, WINE AND PLENTY OF GOOD TIMES
66ON
INTERSTATE
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I started my journey along this ancient road-made-modern, beginning in the old seaport town of Alexandria. It is easy to imagine Old Town Alexandria as it was centuries ago, because great care has
been taken in preserving the look and feel.My first day started with brunch at
Jackson 20, a contemporary and comfort-able restaurant adjacent to the Alexandria Hotel Monaco. A classic Caesar salad was enjoyed, along with the delightful Eggs Chesapeake, a dish of poached eggs and Virginia crabcakes drizzled with Old Bay-infused hollandaise; an order of wonder-fully salty country ham was a great side. Endless mimosas are offered for just $11.
There are many things to do in Alexandria, and I followed a self-guided walking tour themed “George Washington” that is outlined on the city’s convention and visitors association’s website. Before I left, I treated myself with a little shopping in some of Old Town’s quaint shops.
Heading westward, I got on Interstate 66, and soon the sights of large jets spaced out to the horizon’s edge was noticeable, each waiting their turn to land at Dulles International Airport. Close by is my next destination, the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, part of the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum.
GET YOUR KICKS
>>Continued on page 24
RIGHT: Dining on the cobbled streets of Alexandria
BELOW: A view of Downtown Alexandria from the water
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Near Chantilly in Fairfax County, the Udvar-Hazy Center is an impressively large building from the outside and gets even more
so once you walk in. The museum show-cases America’s place in manned flight, and highlights include the Enola Gay, the Space Shuttle Discovery and an Air France Concorde supersonic airliner. The collection is approaching 200 aircrafts.
Also of note is a large observation tower that allows viewing of operations at Dulles.
Back on the interstate, it is a short drive to Manassas National Battlefield Park in Prince William County, site of the First Battle of Bull Run and the Second Battle
of Bull Run during the American Civil War. It’s hard to imagine the battles raging here, for this quiet rolling Virginia coun-tryside offers quiet and solitude to stroll about and reflect.
It was about this point, driving further west, that things started to change. The pace seemed to slow a bit, and there were more fields and farms than office buildings and shopping centers. Also, up ahead was a sight that foreshadowed our final destina-tion along Interstate 66: the Blue Ridge Mountains began to come into view.
We got off Interstate 66 and traveled north just a bit, along a charming road with rolling hills and open countryside. In no time at all, we were in Loudoun County and passing through Leesburg. Right outside of town I checked into my basecamp for the duration of my visit—Lansdowne Resort.
24 SUMMER/SPRING 2013 | Virginia Wine Lover
Where to go, what to knowFrom east to west along Interstate 66
Alexandria/Fairfax County
VIsItor InFormatIon:City of alexandriawww.VisitAlexandriaVa.com Fairfax Countywww.FXVA.com
PlaCes oF note:Jackson 20www.Jackson20.com
national air and space museum steven F. Udvar-Hazy Centerwww.AirAndSpace.si.edu/UdvarHazy/
tyson’s Corner Center www.ShopTysons.com
Wolf trap Foundation for the Performing artswww.WolfTrap.org
Prince William County/Fauquier County
VIsItor InFormatIon:Prince William County & Manassaswww.VisitPWC.com
FaUqUIer CoUntywww.VisitFauquier.com
PlaCes oF note:Great meadow Polowww.GreatMeadowPoloClub.com
manassas national Battlefield Parkwww.NPS.gov/Mana/ northside 29www.Northside29.com
a ForK anD tHe roaDINTERSTATE 66
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A Luxury Country Inn and French Restaurant on 265 acres in Middleburg’s wine and hunt country.
Corporate Retreats, Elegant Weddings and Special Events
36205 SNAKE HILL ROAD, MIDDLEBURG, VA 20117540.687.3333 / WWW.GOODSTONE.COM
A VISIT LOUDOUN DESTINATION RESTAURANT
Condé Nast Johansens: 2013 Most Excellent Inn in North America FinalistTripAdvisor: 2012 Certificate of Excellence
Wine Enthusiast Magazine: 100 Best Wine Restaurants 2012OpenTable: 100 Best Restaurants in the USA 2012
Goodstone. The Good Life.
Goodstone ad for VA Wine Lovers_Layout 1 1/3/13 4:11 PM Page 1
The 2nd Annual Blossom to Bottle 5KApril 13, 2013
www.BlossomToBottle.com
The Horse & Hound Wine FestivalJuly 13, 2013
BedfordWine.com
Peaks of Otter Winery & Orchards2122 Sheep Creek Rd.
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Lansdowne Resort is an impres-sive campus of luxurious accommodations and offer-ings. My guest room on the fifth floor afforded a sweeping
view of the championship golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones II and Greg Norman. Just beyond that was the ambling Potomac River, smaller at this juncture, and separating Virginia from Maryland. My vantage point offered beautiful views of the mountains.
Walking to the clubhouse for dinner at Crooked Billet, I passed Spa Minerale, Lansdowne’s spa offering a host of pamper-ing services and treatments; I made note of this.
The dining room at Crooked Billet was stunning; an oversized fireplace dominated one side of the space, with floor-to-ceiling on the other, again giving beautiful views of the golf course and river. The soaring ceiling, warm wood accents, professional service and delicious food was a perfect way to end the day.
I completely enjoyed my Caesar salad and found the crabcakes delightful. A fun dessert—a take on s’mores—offered a housemade marshmallow ice cream atop graham cracker crust, with the whole thing
drizzled with chocolate. In fact, I enjoyed many of my meals at
Lansdowne, as the resort features several distinct dining properties. Like other areas, expansive views are afforded at the finer-dining On The Potomac. Open, airy and comfortable, the restaurant mirrors the rest of Lansdowne’s design of bringing the out-doors-in with an effective use of earthtone palates and river rock.
Executive Chef Hans Rouillard offers a beautiful menu that captures the spirit of the farm-to-fork movement, with many local items appearing from appetizer to dessert. A cheese and charcuterie plate, featuring a selection of regional and local cheeses, local honey, quince jam and other accouterments was a great start to dinner one evening, while a Creekstone Farms Ribeye in red wine demi-glace with roasted root vegetables was a skillful entrée.
Other options I enjoyed included the casual Stonewalls Tavern and Riverside Hearth, which will be undergoing major renovations this year.
Throughout my stay at Lansdowne, the hospitality and offerings were truly first class and made for a wonderful place to settle in for my trip across the northern part of the state.
26 SUMMER/SPRING 2013 | Virginia Wine Lover
A FORK AND THE ROADINTERSTATE 66
>>Continued from page 24
>>Continued on page 28
LANSDOWNE RESORT
LEFT: Dining room at Crooked Billet
MIDDLE: View of the golf course and river
BOTTOM LEFT: Lansdowne Spa
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WineTrailValerie Hill Vineyard & Winery
Stephens City • 540-869-9567
Cedar Creek Winery Star Tannery • 540-436-8394
North Mountain Vineyard & Winery
Maurertown • 540-436-9463
Shenandoah Vineyards Edinburg • 540-984-8699
Wolf Gap Vineyard Edinburg • 540-984-3306
Cave Ridge Vineyard Mt. Jackson • 540-477-2585
The Winery at Kindred Pointe Mt. Jackson • 540-477-3570
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28 SUMMER/SPRING 2013 | Virginia Wine Lover
Like Alexandria, Leesburg is a charming town, and I spent time exploring the art galler-ies and other specialty shops, including some of the antique
dealers about town. The historic district is prime for a nice walk, and, when finished, I headed out, stopping at the Leesburg Corner Premium Outlets before finding lunch.
In nearby Ashburn, I loved Ford’s Fish Shack, a seafood-centric casual American restaurant.
I started with an order of Rhode Island Calamari, cooked perfectly, allowing the squid to remain tender; it was topped with some sweet cherry peppers and lobster-
ginger sauce. I thoroughly enjoyed the Connecticut-style Lobster Roll, a huge split roll filled with butter-sautéd, simply sea-soned lobster, and I added an order of corn-on-the-cob on the side. Local beers from Lost Rhino Brewing Company worked perfectly with my meal.
After exploring some area wineries in Loudoun and Fauquier counties, I headed down Interstate 66 to downtown Front Royal, just on the cusp of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Here, another quaint down-town provided an opportunity to stroll and enjoy the shops and sites.
A short drive north took me to Winchester, where I paused for a cock-tail at the bar in the lobby of the historic
A FORK AND THE ROADINTERSTATE 66
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>>Continued on page 30
TOP: Marker Miller Orchards
LEFT: Gazebo in Front Royal
BOTTOm LEFT: Patsy Cline Historic House in Winchester
BOTTOm RIghT: Lobster roll at Ford’s Fish Shack
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VWL 20-31 FORK IN THE ROAD S-S13.indd 28 2/6/13 5:24 PM
www.VirginiaWineLover.com | SUMMER/SPRING 2013 29
Tasting Room Hours: Open Year RoundThursday-Saturday, & Monday 11-5 • Sunday 12-5
Tasting Room Hours: Open Year Round
Mention or bring this ad for a complimentary
tasting for two through 12-31-13
10100 Three Fox Lane, Delaplane, VA • 540-364-6073www.threefoxvineyards.com
Three Fox Vineyards sits on 50 rolling acres, reminiscent of Tuscany or the Piemonte, in the heart of Northern Virginia’s
horse country and the Mosby Heritage Area.
“Posh” is waitingto greet you!
Scan this to view our
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A Tuscan getaway close to home.
44050 Woodridge Parkway, Leesburg, Virginia 20176 30 miles west of Washington, D.C.
D.C.’s Wine Country is also Lansdowne spa country.Sip and stroll at your favorite vineyard, soak up indulgent natural treatments at Lansdowne’s Spa Minérale, and then sink into one of our beds for a luxurious overnight stay. Choose from the Couple’s Spa Escape or the Shared Wines and Treasured Times packages, the value-filled way to explore the vine and the vibrance of you. Reserve today.
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Winchester & Frederick Countywww.VisitWinchesterVa.com
PLACES OF NOTE:
Ashby Inn & Restaurantwww.AshbyInn.com
Blue Ridge Hot Air Balloonswww.RideAir.com
Front Royal Canoe Companywww.FrontRoyalCanoe.com
George Washington Hotelwww.Wyndham.com
Hotel Strasburgwww.HotelStrasburg.com
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 24
>>Continued on page 30
VWL 20-31 FORK IN THE ROAD S-S13.indd 29 2/6/13 5:25 PM
30 SUMMER/SPRING 2013 | Virginia Wine Lover
A FORK AND THE ROADINTERSTATE 66
TO WOLF TRAPPack a picnic for summer nights at Wolf Trap!
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George Washington Hotel before rambling through the appealing closed off mall area and visiting a few stores. This was my second trip to Winchester in less than a year; for more information, read my article “Six Days in the Shenandoah” in the Late Summer/Fall 2012 issue of Virginia Wine Lover magazine.
The trip back to Leesburg afforded another opportunity to stop at additional wineries, among them Fox Meadow and Barrel Oak. Fox Meadow was charming; the tasting room, carved on the side of a moun-tain, provided a lodge-type atmosphere. I enjoyed several quaffs, and was reminded
of the Cabernet Franc Reserve 2009 that placed at Platinum Level in this past year’s Virginia Wine Lover Wine Classic.
At Barrel Oak’s beautiful cabin-esque tasting room, I spent the rest of the evening talking with owner Brian Roeder and drink-ing in the beautiful vintages offered there.
The next morning, I left Lansdowne Resort and headed to Warrenton, stopping at Northside 29 for a Greek omelet to start the day. My journey took me back to the highway, eastbound this time, then south-ward on another ribbon of road home to Hampton Roads.
Wineries:Aspen Dale Winery
Barrel Oak Winery
Chateau O’ Brien
Chester Gap Cellars
Chrysalis Vineyards
Delaplane Cellars
Desert Rose Winery
Fox Meadow Winery
Glen Manor Vineyards
Gray Ghost Winery
Hume Vineyards
Linden Vineyards
Mediterranean Cellars
Molon Lave Vineyards
Miracle Valley Vineyard
Mountain View Vineyard
Naked Mountain Winery
Paradise Spring Winery
Philip Carter Winery
Piedmont Vineyards
Pearmund Cellars
Rappahannock Cellars
Three Fox Vineyards
The Winery at La Grange
Unicorn Winery
Vintage Ridge Vineyards
Vint Hill Craft Winery
The Winery at Bull Run
Contact information for wineries can be found in the Virginia Winery Listing in the Grapevine section of this magazine.
LEFT: Fox Meadow Vineyards
MIDDLE: Tasting room atFox Meadows
PHOTOS COURTESY OF FOX MEADOWS
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VWL 20-31 FORK IN THE ROAD S-S13.indd 30 2/6/13 5:25 PM
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Col Alto
VWL 20-31 FORK IN THE ROAD S-S13.indd 31 2/6/13 5:25 PM
32 SUMMER/SPRING 2013 | Virginia Wine Lover
By Patrick Evans-Hylton
As Virginia Wine Lover magazine approaches its fifth anniversary, it continues to grow and evolve with the lifestyle that it celebrates: the Virginia wine community.
The number of statewide wineries continue to increase, as well as folk’s appreciate for the vintages and the accouterments surrounding them, like quaint inns nestled in wine country, limo tours, shops that specialize in Virginia wine, and restau-rants that include the offerings on their lists.
Continuing with the popular Best Of awards we began two years ago, we again opened our forums to you, the true Virginia wine lover, to see what is on your mind and in your glass in our Best Of reader awards.
An incredible 50,085 votes were cast in our poll, telling us your favorite vintages, favorite winemak-ers, even favorite wine dog. You’ve shared with us where you like to take a weekend getaway, and where you like to stay when you get there.
It’s been a great response for our second Best Of endeavor. Here are the results:
1. Rosemont Vineyards and WineryLake Country Sunset
WESTERN VIRGINIA
BEST WINERY
1. Chateau Morrisette
2. Foggy Ridge Cider
3. Villa Appalaccia Winery
BEST WHITE
1. Chateau Morrisette Our Dog Blue
2. Stanburn WineryChardonnay
3. Villa AppalacciaPinot Grigio
BEST RED
1. Attimo WineryA.D. 325 2011
2. West Wind FarmHeritage Reserve
3. Firefly Hill VineyardsCrimson
BEST FRUIT
1. Attimo WinerySweet Berry Sunset
2. AmRhein WineryVin de Peche
3. Chateau MorrisetteSweet Muscadine
BEST SPARKLING
1. Chateau MorrisetteStar Dog 2008
BEST DESSERT
1. Chateau MorrisetteFrosty Dog
2. AmRhein WineryRuby
3. MountainRose VineyardAutumn Gold 2010
WESTERN
SHENANDOAH
CENTRAL
SOUTHERN
EASTERN
NORTHERN
WESTERN
SHENANDOAH
CENTRAL
EASTERN
NORTHERN
VWL
VWL 32-43 FEATURE S-S13.indd 40 2/7/13 5:21 PM
VWL 32-43 FEATURE S-S13.indd 41 2/6/13 5:01 PM
It’s at the heart of every Virginia vacation.
VWL 32-43 FEATURE S-S13.indd 42 2/6/13 5:02 PM
www.VirginiaWineLover.com | SUMMER/SPRING 2013 43
Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, only hours from Northern VA and Washington DC, Charlottesville and Albemarle County, VA are the perfect destinations for wine lovers. With an eclectic mix of restaurants, local vineyards and mountain trails nearby, it’s no wonder this region was voted one of the top 10 wine vacation destinations in the U.S. by Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Plan your trip at visitcharlottesville.org.
Tradition savors spending an extra day with friends.
Where tradition is always new.
Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards
VWL 32-43 FEATURE S-S13.indd 43 2/8/13 9:42 AM
www.VirginiaWineLover.com ■ SPRING/SUMMER 2013 45
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Virginia Winery Map S P E C I A L
OO
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Where to Find Virginia Wine
With the number of Virginia wineries surpassing 150—and no signs of
slowing down—there are plenty of places to find some mighty fine wine,
right from the source. On the next page is an alphabetical listing of Virginia
wineries, by region, along with the city and phone number. The regions
listed correspond with our Grapevine calendar of events. This listing is
provided as a service to readers and wineries, which are listed free of
Three Fox VineyardsDelaplane – 2014410100 Three Fox Lane540-364-6073www.threefoxvinyards.comMon., Thurs.-Sat. 11am-5pmSunday 12pm-5pmSee our ad on pg. 29
Peaks of Otter WineryBedford – 245232122 Sheep Creek Road540–586–3707peaksofotterwinery.comOpen weekends Noon-5pm (Jan-Mar)Open Daily Noon-5pm (April-Dec)See our ad on pg. 15
Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards North Garden -434-202-8063
Pollak VineyardsGreenwood – 540-456-8844
Potter’s Craft CiderFree Union – 850-528-6314
Prince Michel Vineyard & WineryLeon – 800-800-WINE(9463)
Three Fox VineyardsDelaplane – 2014410100 Three Fox Lane540-364-6073www.threefoxvinyards.comMon., Thurs.-Sat. 11am-5pmSunday 12pm-5pmSee our ad on pg. 29
Peaks of Otter WineryBedford – 245232122 Sheep Creek Road540–586–3707peaksofotterwinery.comOpen weekends Noon-5pm (Jan-Mar)Open Daily Noon-5pm (April-Dec)See our ad on pg. 15
Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards North Garden -434-202-8063
Pollak VineyardsGreenwood – 540-456-8844
Potter’s Craft CiderFree Union – 850-528-6314
Prince Michel Vineyard & WineryLeon – 800-800-WINE(9463)
Note: contact information for Virginia wineries can be found in the Virginia Winery Listing in this issue of VWL
WESTERNSip-N-SewFeb-Aug. Second Friday of each month. Work on your latest sewing project while enjoying wine from the vineyard. 1 p.m. MountainRose Vineyard.
Celebrate the BeatlesFeb. 9. Dance to the music of the Beatles with DJ Kerri Taylor; light fare included with wine available for purchase. $. 7 p.m. Beliveau Estate Winery.
PUPPY LOVE DINNERFeb. 14. An intimate event including three courses paired with wine. Reservations required. $. 4 p.m. Château Morrisette Winery.
Wine Essentials ClassesFeb. 19, March 19. Winemaker Seth McCombs shares tips for pairing wines with food. Reservations required. $. AmRhein’s Wine Cellars.
Murder Mystery Dinner TheaterMarch 16. Solve a murder mystery during a four-course, wine-paired din-ner. Reservations required. $. 6:30 p.m. Château Morrisette Winery.
Welcome to Spring FlingMarch 22. Celebrate spring with live music and wine. $. 7 p.m. Beliveau Estate Winery.
Blacksburg Fork And CorkApril 27. An annual event featuring wines from over 20 regional wineries, food from local restaurants, cooking demonstrations, regional art, vendors, and live music. $. 12 p.m. At First and Main Shopping District, Blacksburg. www.blacksburgforkandcork.com.
Brewridge Music Festival, May 3-4. This Sixth Annual Festival Features Virginia Microbreweries, Concessions, And Live Music. Proceeds To Benefit The Mountain Lake Conservancy. $. At The Mountain Lake Lodge & Conservancy, Pembroke. Www.Mtnlakeconservancy.Org/Special-Brewridge.Html.
Lavender FestivalJune 30. Learn About Lavender, Try Dishes Made With Lavender, And Enjoy Live Music And Wine. 12 P.M. Beliveau Estate Winery.
Pork And CorkJuly 4. Wine, A Full Pig Roast With All The Fixings, Live Music, And Professional Fireworks. $. 6 P.M. Barren Ridge Vineyards.
Annual Country CookoutJuly 6. Wine, A Country Cookout, And Dancing Under The Stars To Live Music. $. 6:30 P.M. Shenandoah Vineyards.
Black Dog Wine & Music FestivalAug. 10. An Annual Event Featuring Live Music, Dancing, Winery Tour, Tastings, And Food And Craft Vendors. $. 11 A.M. Château Morrisette Winery.
SHENANDOAHWinter FestFeb.-April. Dance to music from DJ Steve Nelson every 3rd Friday; wine available for purchase by the glass and bottle. Reservations required. $. 6:30 p.m. Valhalla Vineyards.
Music at the vineyardFeb. 9. Enjoy wine and live music from 2nd Story Band. Bluemont Vineyard.
Wine & ChocolateFeb. 9. Sample wines with treats to dip into a chocolate fountain at this annual Valentine’s Day event. Reservations required. $. Veramar Vineyard.
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WESTERN: BLACKSBURG FORK AND CORKApril 27. An annual event featuring wines from more than 20 regional wineries, food from local restaurants, cooking demonstrations, regional art, vendors, and live music. $. 12 p.m. At First and Main Shopping District, Blacksburg. www.BlacksburgForkAndCork.com.
WESTERN: PORK AND CORKJuly 4. Wine, a full pig roast with all the fixings, live music, and professional fireworks. $. 6 p.m. Barren Ridge Vineyards.
grapevineSip & Splash Feb. 10. A local artist will lead guests through an interactive painting session; supplies and a glass of wine are included. Reservations required. $. 1 p.m. CrossKeys Vineyards.
Winter Wine Festival Feb.16. Sample Virginia wines and local fare at the Stonewall Jackson Hotel in Staunton. Proceeds to benefit the Historic Staunton Foundation. $. 12 p.m. www.historicstaunton.org.
Toast the WeekendFeb. 22. Live music from kat & the traveler/s in the winery tank room; the tast-ing room will be open for wine and food sales. $. 6:30 p.m. Bluestone Vineyard.
ST. PATRICK’S DAYMarch 16. Celebrate the holiday with wine, green pea soup, and music by My Lucky Fish. 2 p.m. North Mountain Winery.
St. Patty’s Day at VeramarMarch 16. Listen to live music and sample wine and homemade potato soup at the winery. 12 p.m. Veramar Vineyard.
An Evening in Paris WINE DINNERApril 13. Enjoy a four-course gourmet meal paired with wine at the vineyards. Reservations required. $. 6 p.m. CrossKeys Vineyards.
Fly Fishing & Wine Festival April 20-21. 13th annual festival celebrat-ing fly fishing and Virginia wine; events include fly fishing exhibits and wine tastings. $. 9 a.m. At Constitution Park, Waynesboro. www.vaflyfishingfestival.org.
Bloomin’ Wine FestApril 26-27. The kick-off event for the annual Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival Week; enjoy wine tasting, artisans and vendors, crafts and food. $. At Loudoun Street Mall, Winchester. www.thebloom.com.
Wine And WagsMay 10. Bring Your Dog And Enjoy A Free Wine Tasting On The Deck. 12 P.M. Lexington Valley Vineyard.
Uncork The Cure Wine FestivalMay 11. A Benefit For Susan G. Komen For The Cure With Live Music, Food Vendors, And Wine Tasting From Local Wineries. $. 11 A.M. At Daleville Town Center, Daleville. www.Dalevilletowncenter.Com.
Virginia Wine & Craft FestivalMay 18. Wine Tastings From 20 Virginia Wineries, Regional Foods, Live Entertainment, Children’s Activities, And Work From Over 100 Artisans And Crafters In Downtown Front Royal. $. 10 A.M. Www.Wineandcraftfestival.Com.
Shenandoah Valley Beer & Wine FestivalMay 25. An Annual Event With Live Music, Craft And Food Vendors, Regional Microbrews And Virginia Wines. $. At Massanutten Resort, Mcgaheysville. Www.Hrchamber.Org/Valleyfest.
Vineyard Vibes June 16. Live Music At The Vineyards Featuring Nathan Neff And Justin Williams. 2 P.M. Crosskeys Vineyards.
Covington Cork And Pork FestivalJune 28-29. This Second Annual Festival Features Barbeque Competitions, Wine Tastings, Arts/Crafts Vendors, Live Music, And Children’s Entertainment. Held On Main Street, Covington. Www.Covingtoncorkandpork.Com.
CENTRALGroundhog Day Open House Feb. 2. Enjoy A Complimentary, Holiday Wine Tasting At The Vineyard. 11 A.M. Hickory Hill Vineyards.
Mardi GrasFeb. 9. An Afternoon Of Live Music, Jambalaya, King Cake, And Wine Tasting. $. 11 A.M. Cooper Vineyards.
Be Mine With Wine Feb. 9. A dessert and wine pairing featur-ing sweets from Paradox Pastry. $. 10 a.m. Keswick Vineyards.
Winemaker’s Valentine DinnerFeb. 9. Chef Shane of Caroline Street prepares a five-course gourmet meal paired with wines chosen by Winemaker Brad Hansen. Reservations required. $. 6:30 p.m. Prince Michel Winery.
Valentine’s Day DinnerFeb. 9 & 16. Enjoy a six-course gourmet dinner paired with reserve wines; live music and dancing. Reservations required. $. 6:30 p.m. DelFosse Vineyards & Winery.
Sweethearts’ Weekend Feb. 16-17. Enjoy Food Samples Paired With Meads And Fruit Wines. $. 11 A.M. Hill Top Berry Farm & Winery.
Virginia Wine ExpoFeb. 19-24. Features Wine From Over 60 Virginia Wineries, Specialty Food, Live Music, Auctions, And Wine And Food Pairing Seminars. Proceeds Benefit Feedmore. $. At Richmond Convention Center. Www.Virginiawineexpo.Com.
Spring Open HouseMarch 9-10. Sample Wines, Preview Upcoming New Releases, And Enjoy Gift Shop Specials. 11 A.M. James River Cellars Winery.
WESTERN: ANNUAL COUNTRY COOKOUTJuly 6. Wine, a country cookout, and dancing under the stars to live music. $. 6:30 p.m. Shenandoah Vineyards.
St. Patrick’s Day March 17. Holiday Wine Tastings; Wear Green And Receive An Extra Discount On Wines. 12 P.M. Peaks Of Otter Winery.
Spring Beer Dinner March 21. Enjoy Multiple Courses Paired With Blue Mountain Craft Beers. Reservations Required. $. 6 P.M. Blue Mountain Brewery.
Blossom To Bottle Open House March 22. Enjoy picnics and tastings among the blossoms at the winery. 12 p.m. Peaks of Otter Winery.
Music in the Glass HouseMarch 29. Bring a picnic and listen to live music from David Tewksbury; Glass House chocolates and wines available for purchase. 6 p.m. Glass House Winery.
Jazz & ChocolateMarch 30. Enjoy live jazz music, wine tasting, chocolate fountain, and chocolate vendors. $. 11 a.m. Cooper Vineyards.
April Fools Wine FestivalApril 6, 7. Six Heart Of Virginia Wineries Offer Tastings, Music, Craft And Food Vendors; Picnics Welcome. $. 11 A.M. James River Cellars Winery.
Beaverdam Wine FestivalApril 13. Event Features Live Music, Food And Craft Vendors, And Wines From Four Virginia Wineries. $. 11:30. At John Lewis Thompson Learning Center & Pop’s Country Store Museum, Beaverdam. Www.Beaverdamwinefestival.Org.
Farmville Wine FestivalApril 20. This Fourth Annual Festival Includes Virginia Wines, Food, Art, And Live Entertainment. Proceeds Benefit Meals On Wheels. $. At Riverside Park, Farmville. Www.Farmvillewinefestival.Com.
20Th Spring Barrel TastingApril 20-21, 27-28. Sample Cabernet Franc Wines Paired With Cheeses; Cellar Tours With Barrel Tastings Will Be Offered. Autumn Hill Vineyards.
Montpelier Wine FestivalMay 4-5. Tastings From 24 Virginia Wineries, Arts And Crafts, Specialty Food Vendors, Live Music, And Children’s Entertainment. $. At Montpelier, Montpelier Station. Www.Orangevachamber.Com/Montpelier-Wine-Festival.51.0.Html.
Wine Festival At MonticelloMay 11. Enjoy Wine Tasting, Live Music, And A Sunset Tour Of Monticello. Reservations Required. $. 6 P.M. At Monticello, Charlottesville. Www.Monticello.Org/Winefestival.
Mother’s Day Winemaker’s BrunchMay 12. A Four-Course, Wine-Paired Holiday Brunch In Saddleback Hall. Reservations Required. $. 12 P.M. Veritas Vineyard & Winery.
Mothers Day At The Winery May 12. Celebrate Mother’s Day With Wines From Byrd Cellars. Byrd Cellars.
Rassawek Spring Jubilee Wine & Heritage FestivalMay 18-19. Enjoy The Heritage Show Activities As Well As Wines From Nine Virginia Wineries. $. 10 A.M. Rassawek Vineyard.
Lucy’s Weekend May 25-26. An Annual Benefit For The Richmond Spca Featuring On-Site Dog Adoptions, Live Music, Guest Winery, Tastings, And Pet-Lovers’ Wineglass; Leashed Dogs, Lawn Chairs And Picnics Welcome. $. Cooper Vineyards.
Summer Solstice Wine FestivalJune 22. Select Heart Of Virginia Wineries With Tastings, Live Music, Crafts, And Food; Picnics Welcome. $. Noon. Grayhaven Winery.
Summer Solstice Wine Festival June 22-23. This Fifth Annual Festival Features Local Virginia Foods And Wines, Arts And Crafts, And Live Music. Lazy Days Winery.
Wine & Cheese WeekendJuly 6-7. Learn To Pair Local And Imported Cheeses With Wines. $. 11 A.M. Burnley Vineyards.
Horse & Hound Wine FestivalJuly 13. Enjoy Wine From Virginia Wineries, Live Music, And Art, Craft And Food Vendors.$. 11 A.M. At Johnson’s Orchards, Bedford. www.Bedfordwine.Com.
Annual Summer Norton TastingAug. 3-4. A Vertical Tasting Of The Five Vintages Of Norton And Two Vintages Of Norton In A Port- Style Red. $. 11 A.M. Burnley Vineyards.
Birth Of Democracy FestivalAug. 31. An Annual Celebration Featuring Wine Tastings, Music, Craft Vendors, And The Blessing Of The Harvest. $. 11 A.M. Democracy Vineyards.
50 SUMMER/SPRING 2013 | Virginia Wine Lover
CENTRAL: APRIL FOOLS WINE FESTIVALApril 6, 7. Six Heart of Virginia wineries offer tastings, music, craft and food vendors; picnics welcome. $. 11 a.m. James
WESTERN: VALLEYFEST BEER & WINE FESTIVALMay 23. A kick-off to summer with Virginia wine - and beer - tasting, food, live music, crafts, and more. $. 11 a.m. At Mas-sanutten Resort. www.HRChamber.org/ValleyFest
NortherNBeat The Winter BluesFeb. 2-3, 9-10, 16-17, 23-24. Enjoy Live Music, Wine Tasting, And “Feel Good” Food In The Barn. 12 P.M. Sunset Hills Vineyard.
Tasting For The Big GameFeb. 2-3. Try Five 868 Wines Paired With Chef Author Clark’s Interpretation Of The Ultimate Football Snack Foods. $. 12 P.M. 868 Estate Vineyards.
Ravishing Red Days Of Winter Feb. 2-3. A Vertical Tasting Of The Fox Meadow Vineyards Meritage, Le Renard Rouge, In The Wine Cellar. 12 P.M. Fox Meadow Vineyards.
Wine Appreciation ClassFeb. 4. Learn About Norton, Virginia’s Sustainable Grape, From Vineyard Owner Jennifer Mccloud. Reservations Required. $. 6 P.M. Chrysalis Vineyards.
Mardi Gras PartyFeb. 9. An Annual Event Featuring Live Jazz, Gumbo, King Cake, And Wine. 11 A.M. Paradise Springs Winery.
Valentine Chocolate FondueFeb. 9-10. Enjoy Wine And Chocolate Fondue By The Fire. $. 12 P.M. Old House Vineyards.
Les Fromage Et Les Vins D’amourFeb. 9. A Valentine-Themed Event With Guest Speaker Don Kinnan; Sample French Cheeses Paired With Narmada Wines. Reservations Required. $. Narmada Winery.
Design With WineFeb. 13. A Painting Class With Jill Perla; Complimentary Glass Of Wine Included. $. 7 P.M. Above Ground Winery.
Valentine’s DinnerFeb. 14. A Special Five-Course Wine-Paired Meal With Local, Seasonal Specialties. Reservations Required. $. 7 P.M. 868 Estate Vineyards.
Sinfully Sweet Event Feb. 16. Celebrate Valentine’s Day With Four Selections Of Desserts Paired With Potomac Point Wines. Reservations Required. $. Potomac Point Winery.
Chocolate Daze Feb. 16-17. Chocolate And Wine Tasting With Live Entertainment From Alan Gant. Reservations Required. 2 P.M. Fox Meadow Vineyards.
Winter Wine Night Feb. 23. Enjoy Asian Cuisine Paired With Lost Creek Wines; Evening Includes Live Music From Peter James. Reservations Required. $. 4 P.M. Lost Creek Vineyards & Winery.
Winter Wine Class March 7. Learn About Sparkling Wines And Fortified Wines Such As Port, Sherry And Madeira. $. 6:30 P.M. Pearmund Cellars.
Throw A Wine Tasting PartyApril 6. Learn To Throw A Wine Tasting Party From Director Of Marketing, Amy Payette; Includes Lunch And A Glass Of Wine. Reservations Required. $. 10 A.M. Gray Ghost Vineyards.
Great Grapes Wine Festival April 27-28; Sept. 7-8. Two Opportunities To Enjoy Wine Tastings, Wine Pairing Demonstrations, And Live Entertainment For The Family. $. 12 P.M. At Reston Town Center, Reston. Www.Uncorkthefun.Com.
Mother’s Day celebration May 12. Celebrate the holiday with wine tastings, live music, winery tours and gour-met box lunches. Reservations required. $. 11 a.m. Gray Ghost Vineyards.
Virginia Wine Country Half MarathonJune 1. A destination running race compli-mented by wine, food, and entertainment. $. 7 a.m. At Doukenie Winery. www.run-4virginiawine.com.
Here Comes Summer In The VineyardJune 8. Welcome summer with wine tasting, tours, and dancing to the music of The English Channel. $. 6 p.m. Lake Anna Winery. Father’s Day CELEBRATIONJune 16. Celebrate Father’s Day with wine tastings, winery tours and gourmet box lunches. Reservations required. $. 11 a.m. Gray Ghost Vineyards.
Cajun ZydecoJuly 6. An annual event featuring live Zydeco music with Zack Smith & The Dixie Power Trio, tours and wine tasting, and Cajun fare from Gregory’s Grill. Reservations required. $. 6 p.m. Lake Anna Winery.
CeNtrAL: SUMMER SOLSTICE WINE FESTIVALJune 22. Select Heart of Virginia wineries with tastings, live music, crafts, and food; picnics welcome. $. Noon. Grayhaven Winery.
eASterN: PRINCESS ANNE WINE CLASSICApril 20, 21. Two days of tastings from 14 Virginia wineries, music, artists and other vendors. $. Back Bay Farms, Virginia Beach. www.TheNoblemen.org
19th Anniversary CelebrationJuly 13-14. A weekend of activities includ-ing winery tours, vineyard tours, wine tast-ings, live music, local vendors, and a Civil War camp. 11 a.m. Gray Ghost Vineyards.
Manassas Wine & Jazz FestivalJuly 16. This Ninth Annual Festival Features Virginia Wines And Jazz Music In Old Town Manassas. $. 10 A.M. At The Loy E. Harris Pavilion, Manassas. Www.Visitmanassas.Org.
Last Days Of Summer JazzAug. 31. Enjoy Live Music From Spectrum, Tours, And Tasting, Made-To-Order Pizzas From Fired Up Pizza. $. 6 P.M. Lake Anna Winery.
EastErnFriday Night Music LoungeFeb. 1. Enjoy Live Music From Kevin Kelley With Saudé Creek Wines And Light Hors D’oeuvres. $. Saudé Creek Vineyards.
A Taste Of Wine & Chocolate Feb. 9. Learn About Pairing Chocolate And Wine For Valentine’s Day. Reservations Required. $. 5 P.M. Ingleside Vineyards.
Bacchus Wine & Food Festival Feb. 8. Enjoy Samples From Local Restaurants, Live Music And Auction, And Wine Tasting. Proceeds Benefit The Virginia Living Museum. $. 7 P.M. At The Virginia Living Museum, Newport News. Www.Thevlm.Org.
757 Wine ExpoMarch 16. More Than A Dozen Virginia Wineries, Seminars, Live Music, Artisans, And Vendors. $. Noon. Chesapeake Conference Center, Chesapeake. Www.757Wineexpo.Com
Smithfield Wine & Brew FestApril 13. Hosted By The Smithfield Rotary Club, This Festival Features Virginia Wines And Beers, Live Entertainment, And Food And Retail Vendors. Proceeds Benefit Local Charitable Organizations. $. At Windsor Castle Park, Smithfield. Www.Smithfieldvawinebrewfest.Com.
Spring Barrel Tasting April 20. Be The First To Taste New Wines From The Barrel; Event Includes Tour, Tasting, Souvenir Wine Glass, Live Music And Light Fare. $. 1 P.M. Ingleside Vineyards.
Princess Anne Wine ClassicApril 20, 21. Two Days Of Tastings From 14 Virginia Wineries, Music, Artists And Other Vendors. $. Back Bay Farms, Virginia Beach. Www.Thenoblemen.Org
Wine & Run For The RosesMay 4. Third Annual Wine Auction On Kentucky Derby Day Benefit For The Muscarelle Museum Of Art. The Day Includes A Tasting Of Virginia Wines, A
Live Auction Of Rare And Fine Wines, And The Televised Kentucky Derby On Widescreen Televisions. $. Muscarelle Museum, Williamsburg. Www.Wm.Edu/Muscarelle/Wineauction
Spring Town Point Virginia Wine Festival May 4-5. Spend A Spring Weekend In Town Point Park Tasting Wines From More Than 25 Virginia Wineries As Well As Enjoying Live Music, Gourmet Foods, And Craft Vendors. $. 11 A.M. Daily. At Town Point Park, Norfolk. Www.Festevents.Org.
Taste Of New Kent Wine FestivalMay 11. Spend The Day Tasting From 14 Virginia Wineries; Event Also Features Food Vendors, Live Music, Carriage Rides And A Variety Of Arts & Crafts Vendors. $. 11 A.M. New Kent Winery.
Wine Class May 18. A Fun And Informative Wine Class For Women; Sample Unusual Pairings And Enjoy Tastings And Treats. Reservations Required. $. 1 P.M. Ingleside Vineyards.
Summer Celebration Wine FestivalJune 8. An Annual Event Featuring Virginia Wineries, Live Music, And Food And Craft Vendors. $. 11 A.M. At Lee Hall Mansion, Newport News. Www.Leehall.Org.
Summer Beach BashJune 22. Kick off the summer with live beach music in the courtyard; includes tour, tasting, souvenir wine glass, live music and optional dinner. Reservations required. $. 6 p.m. Ingleside Vineyards.
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EastErn: TASTE OF NEW KENT WINE FESTIVALMay 11.Spend the day tasting from 14 Virginia wineries; event also features food vendors, live music, carriage rides and a variety of arts & crafts vendors. $. 11 a.m. New Kent Winery.
EastErn: SPRING TOWN POINT VIRGINIA WINE FESTIVALMay 4-5. Spend a spring weekend in Town Point Park tasting wines from more than 25 Virginia wineries as well as enjoying live music, gourmet foods, and craft vendors. $. 11 a.m. daily. At Town Point Park, Norfolk. For more festival information visit, www.festevents.org.
Corporate Chalets include 25 tickets, full service private buffet, butler service, and 4 bottles of complimentary Virginia wine. Chalets are $1,800 until March 31 and $2,000 beginning April 1. Email Mike Reff for more information about purchasing a Corporate Table or Chalet at [email protected]
Questions about the PAWC can be directed to Mary Love and Liz Evans at [email protected] or call 757-408-0388
Saturday, Sunday,
April 20th & 21st, 2013from Noon to 5PM
Back Bay Farms1833 Princess Anne Road
Virginia Beach, VA(At the Pungo light!)
Purchase Advance Tickets for the Event at www.thenoblemen.org/events
SPONSORED BY:
Tickets are $30.00 in advance and $35.00
at the door.
CORPORATE TABLES include 10 tickets and a fruit, wine
and cheese tray for $500
The Princess Anne Wine Classic will be held on a picturesque 80 acre horse farm complete with white picket fences and horses roaming the adjoining pastures as we sip fine Virginia wines and taste craft beers. The Noblemen, an area philanthropy organization made up of local business men who have, this past year alone, successfully raised over 1 million dollars in donations and community impact for area kids in need, are happy to be hosting the second annual wine tasting in the south end of Virginia Beach. Hampton Roads is no stranger to successful wine festivals and we look forward to a wonderful turnout from quality vendors as well as the many citizens of Pungo and Virginia Beach . The event will include up to 16 Virginia wineries, craft beers, BBQ with all the fixings sold on site, local artist show, corporate tables and chalets, and live entertainment by Lewis McGehee as well as The Pete Hansen Trio.
The Noblemen Present
The event will include: 16 Virginia Wineries with tastings
and full bottle sales
10 Craft Beers with tastings and bottle sales
Corporate Tables
Corporate Chalets
Live Music by Lewis McGehee and The Pete Hansen Trio
Local Artist's Show
BBQ with all the fixings sold on site
Best of Show Contest conducted by Chef Patrick Evans-Hylton of
Hampton Roads Magazine and Virginia Wine Lover Magazine