5 Unusual Virginia Wineries

Despite the number of Virginia wineries approximating 275, with the number growing each year, you can be sure of one thing when it comes to wineries in the Commonwealth: No two are alike. Some tasting rooms may be similar (we have friends who still get the tasting room at Pearmund Cellars confused with the one at King Family), but the wine lists will be different, the shape of the tasting building will vary from location to location, and of course the views will be unique to the winery.

We have visited over 210 Virginia wineries (slowly but surely, we are getting to all of them...), and looking through our logs and photo albums, we have pinpointed five that we feel are the most unusual. And we don't mean unusual in a negative context. Every Virginia winery brings a different adventure, whether you're a fan of mountain views, water views, bustling places, quieter places, dry wine, or off dry wine.

Our five most unusual (unique) wineries in Virginia:

5. Maggie Malick Wine Cave (northwest Loudoun County)
The closest in our list to Northern Virginia, Maggie Malick Wine Caves is located in a string of relatively new wineries on Harper's Ferry Road, off state route 9. The wine cave where the tastings are held is a man-made structure using the most economical, and eco-friendly, cooling technique available: Natural. A layer of grass covers the cave, ensuring cool temperatures that the barrel-aging wine needs, and also keeping the customers cool in the hot months (and warm in the colder months).

Maggie Malick Wine Caves entrance:

Guests may feel as if they are walking into the entrance of a place where trolls live. Actually, we'll save the Tolkien references to another winery on this list. Maggie offers an interesting selection, particularly for this section of Loudoun County. The Albariño is crisp and dry and a nice alternative for those who may be tired of Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio. Tannat is a bold red with raspberry notes and will age on your rack nicely.

Inside the cave:

Bring your dog! There is a large pond in the back and dogs are welcome (and highly encouraged) to take a dip. Maggie Malick Wine Cave makes for a very memorable experience in a county rapidly becoming rather choked with wineries (not that that's a bad thing...)

4. Cedar Creek Winery (south of Winchester)
If you're new to the Virginia wine scene, but have been to at least five wineries, you have probably noticed that most in the state offer two varietals: Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc. Cedar Creek Winery, on the edge of the Allegheny range south of Winchester, knows what grapes grow best in this climate and soil. So those are the only two varietals offered. Expect a vertical tasting of these two wines in an extremely relaxed, rec-room like environment (complete with intriguing pictures on the wall and antiques).

Tasting the line up at Cedar Creek:

Most likely, the owner and winemaker, Ron Schmidt, will guide you through an informative and entertaining tasting. What sets this winery apart, besides the "only two varietals" rule, is the lack of live music, weddings, dogs and kids, and general festivities. Not that there is anything wrong with those; Virginia wineries are thriving thanks to the live music and event venues many of them offer. But at Cedar Creek, it's all about the wine, and getting absorbed into the beautiful scenery. Seriously, this is one of the most beautiful locations in the state.

Don't expect food purchases here, aside from perhaps a small bag of Cheez-It crackers. But you are welcome and encouraged to bring your own picnic.

3. Burnley Vineyards (north of Charlottesville)
Burnley is one of the Commonwealth's original wineries; planting started in 1977, the first wines were offered in 1980, and the tasting room opened in 1984. This winery is not far from more famous (and decidedly slicker...again, not a bad thing) Barboursville Vineyards, about an 8 minute drive from Burnley. Visiting the two wineries on the same afternoon will give you two completely different Virginia winery experiences.

Entrance to Burnley:

The entrance to the winery has probably not changed much since 1984. We haven't visited the winery in a few years, so the basketball hoop may be gone, but for some reason, we doubt that. They focus on making wine here, not on window dressing at the winery. That would also explain the interior of the winery, where your group can "unwined":

The wines are all very well-priced. This is an excellent location for those who are just getting into wine, and still like their offerings on the sweeter side. Although dry fans will find a lot to like with their Cab Sauv and Norton.

Vineyards at Burnley:

2. Wisteria Farm Vineyard (Stanley, VA)
This is the only winery in Virginia that offers a red varietal called Carmine, which is a cross of Cabernet Sauvignon and lesser-known Carignan. Carmine is a totally American grape, not even grown in Europe. It fares best in northern California and Pennsylvania, but they grow it at Wisteria.

This is a working farm, so you will be sharing the grounds with animals (mainly roosters, rabbits, and sheep), some of which roam the property freely. Others are inside pens, making this a good choice for the kids.

Besides Carmine, their Seyval is a winner, and perfect for the hot summer days that are in our near future in the Commonwealth. And those views...another eye pleasing location in Shenandoah Valley.

1. Grayhaven Winery (between Richmond and Charlottesville)
Continuing with the farm vibe, Grayhaven winery in central Virginia gets our vote as the most unique winery in the state. What makes it unique to us is the vibe...this is by far the most relaxed winery we've been to. There is even a small playground on the premises. Horses roam freely on the grounds. And the tasting room is housed in a Hobbit-like structure, complete with a koi pond in front.

Like Wisteria, Grayhaven offers a wine that is not found elsewhere in the state: Touriga. This is a variety developed by the Portuguese and often used in the production of Port wines, and goes very well with red meats. Like Tannat, it will age well. Another favorite is Sojourn, a blend of Touriga and Cabernet Franc, with a balanced acidity, soft tannins and a plum notes; perfect for pasta dishes with tomato sauce. The selection of wines here is vast. The owners are originally from South Africa and know what they are doing (South Africa, like Australia, New Zealand, Chile, and Argentina, is a big player in the southern hemisphere wine universe).

This location is miles away from other wineries, so be prepared to stay awhile. You'll feel transported to another world.

What are the most unusual Virginia wineries you've visited?

A Few More Newbies in NOVA

Keeping up with the winery openings in Virginia, especially Loudoun and Fauquier Counties, is like keeping up with Beatles singles in 1964. Just when you think you've seen the last one for awhile, six more pop up.

In Loudoun County alone, there are eight wineries appearing on the Virginia wine map this year which did not appear last year. One particular stretch of road in Loudoun now has such a concentration of wineries, a new county wine cluster could be created.

On route 9 (the second exit outside downtown Leesburg traveling west on the route 7 bypass), heading towards Charles Town and Harper's Ferry, WV, so many wineries dot the highway (taking advantage of the easy access and visitors from the entire DC area) that gridlock during the weekends at some of the intersections is becoming commonplace.

Get an early start, head out to route 9, and follow the signs for Harper's Ferry. Along county highway 671 (Harpers Ferry Road), near the popular winery Breaux, a string of wineries have emerged, all creating unique senses of place and some very good wines. One location was not even slated to open its tasting room this year, however their 2012 Chardonnay was a Gold Cup medal recipient, and one requirement of receiving the medal is to have a tasting room open to the public. Two Twisted Posts Winery was up to the challenge, and set up an outdoor wine tasting tent, and is open every other week to the Virginia wine loving public.

"The winery that accountants built" was the impromptu slogan we heard during our visit to Two Twisted Posts. Accounting is the profession of choice for several family members, and their stories are similar to others we've heard from Loudoun County winemakers, who are growing (or grew) tired of the white collar desk jockey existence, and wanted to bond with the outdoors and become a part of a booming agricultural industry. We were served by the owner and winemaker, who originally hails from England with accent fully intact. Their debut wines are two Chardonnays (including that award winner), a Vidal Blanc, an off dry blend of Chardonnay and Seyval Blanc, a Cab Franc, and a Cab Sauv they call "Don't Call Me a Cab," due to its lighter, somewhat sweeter style (the rainy Virginia weather during the last several harvests had much to do with this). All offerings were good to outstanding, and we left with a few bottles of the 2012 Chardonnay. We now prefer a touch of oak versus 100% stainless steel aging for our Chards (a change from several years ago, when we praised stainless steel relentlessly; palates do change and mature over time). The oak in this 2012 Chardonnay was pitch perfect, and the glass had notes of pineapple and mango, with a soft finish (not overpowering like some California Chardonnays).

The wine tent at Two Twisted Posts:

As for the reds, both the Cab Franc and the Pinot Noir-esque Cab Sauv were winners. The Cab Franc is fairly typical of other Virginia Cab Francs, with notes of black pepper and that mineraly finish. The Cab Sauv may come as a bit of a surprise to those accustomed to California or Washington state varietals, but there is a reason Virginia is still viewed as "finding its way" with the reds. The climate in Virginia is just too unpredictable for reds; to quote the PBS documentary Vintage: The Winemaker's Year, anyone with even an minor background in viticulture can grow grapes in the west coast states.

The next newbie along route 671 is a stone's throw away from Two Twisted Posts: Cardamon Family Vineyards. This is another incredible little spot that is still building its tasting room. Tastings are currently offered in a tent up a small incline from Harper's Ferry Road:

The twist at Cardamon (named after the family who runs the location) is "wine and salsa pairings." Chuck Cardamon, owner and winemaker, was stationed in Napa during his career in the Navy. So of course, he had to delve into the winemaking industry, and now crafts some wines that are reminiscent of California New World, but with enough Virginia character to make them appealing to our Old World style tastes.

The wine tent at Cardamon Family Vineyards:

Cardamon's current offerings include Rkatsiteli, a crisp white varietal hailing from eastern Europe that several Virginia locations are now working with (this was our favorite wine here; a nice alternative to the better known Viognier), a new rosé (blended with Seyval Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot), and Batoria (a blend of Cab Franc, Syrah and Petit Verdot - all grapes grown right on their property). He also makes an apple wine that's the driest style apple wine we've had; great for hot summer afternoons.

There are picnic tables scattered throughout the property, including between the vineyard rows, to make you forget you're only a few feet away from a busy road.

Now about those salsas.....several Virginia wineries offer food pairings with their tastings (most notable are Fox Meadow Winery near Front Royal and Fabbioli Cellars off route 15 in northern Loudoun County). Chuck makes several different styles of salsas that blend perfectly with his wines. These salasas (some sweet, some sour, some spicy, some with a touch of salt) change the character of the wine, so if you've wondered how food can alter a tasting experience, this is a place to visit. He sells his salsas, and if you care to check out his recipes, pick up a copy of his book.

The third newbie on this stretch of Harper's Ferry Road is Maggie Malick Wine Caves, by far one of the most unusual spots we've visited in the state. A man made cave built into the hillside of a Blue Ridge foothill is visible as you park your car. The owners excavated the hillside and built the cave made up of concrete, rebar and I-beams. After waterproofing, they covered the cave with four feet of earth. The cave maintains a more consistent atmosphere in all seasons, and this allows the owners to reduce energy costs. And the owners are delighted to be the only winery in Virginia with grass growing on their tasting room's roof.

Because of the elements-proof set up of the tasting room, it doubles as the barrel room. The cave opens up on the other side to a patio with tables, where the entertainment usually resides during the weekend.

Maggie Malick Wine Caves (entrance and inside):

As for the wines, quite a few offerings, which is particularly impressive given this winery's young age. On the white end of the scale, Melange Blanc (a crisp, slightly sweet white blend), Viognier, Chardonnay, Albariño, and Petit Manseng; on the red side, Melange Rouge (a light red blend, for chilling), Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, and Tannat. A few selections, like the Petit Verdot and Tannat, could benefit from some aging, but not one bum note in the selections. We were impressed that Maggie Malick's offered both a Viognier and an Albariño, as that allowed us to taste these similar varietals side by side. We look forward to visiting again in the winter to see how the climate control aspect is working out.

The Notebook couldn't resist stopping by Breaux, to find out the latest on their new tasting building (a long time coming, seeing how Breaux has one of the tightest - considering their popularity - tasting rooms in the Commonwealth). Almost there!

Visit the Route 671 newbies on your next winery jaunt, and tell them The Notebook sent ya.

Winery URL links (click on winery name):
Two Twisted Posts
Cardamon Family Vineyards
Maggie Malick Wine Caves