Virginia Winery Quiz: Questions and Answers

Several weeks ago we posted a quiz to test readers' knowledge of Virginia wine and vineyards.........for those who may have missed it, we'll repost the questions below, without answers, and then post answers under the quiz:

1. Virginia is currently #5 in wine production in the United States. Which state is NOT ranked between 1 and 4?
A. Oregon
B. New York
C. Texas
D. Washington

2. Which Virginia wine pioneer does not have a tasting room open to the public?
A. Chris Pearmund
B. Doug Fabbioli
C. Gabriele Rausse
D. Dennis Horton

3. Which of the following varietals is not commonly found in Virginia?
A. Norton
B. Riesling
C. Viognier
D. Cabernet Franc

4. Which of the following is not a designated Virginia AVA (American Viticultural Area)?
A. Shenandoah Valley
B. Eastern Shore
C. Middleburg
D. Tidewater

5. Who was the "Founding Father" of Virginia (and American) wine?
A. George Mason
B. George Washington
C. Thomas Jefferson
D. James Madison

6. Winemaking in Virginia is primarily modeled after winemaking in:
A. California
B. Australia
C. France
D. Argentina

7. The Monticello AVA, probably the most famous AVA in the state, falls in all of these counties except:
A. Greene
B. Nelson
C. Madison
D. Orange

8. The oldest winery in the state:
A. Barboursville
B. Mountain Cove
C. Breaux
D. Naked Mountain

9. The year the oldest winery in the state started growing grapes:
A. 1967
B. 1973
C. 1980
D. 1955

10. The largest wine festival in the state is held here:
A. Richmond
B. Centreville
C. Mt. Vernon
D. Virginia Beach

11. Which of the following celebrities/moguls does not own a winery in the state?
A. Robert Duvall
B. Donald Trump
C. Dave Matthews
D. Jack Kent Cooke

12. Which winery is not located in Loudoun County?
A. Sharp Rock
B. 8 Chains North
C. Sunset Hills
D. North Gate

13. Mead, which is becoming quite popular in the U.S., is a wine-like beverage made from:
A. Dandelions
B. Beer
C. Peaches
D. Honey

14. Which winery in the state has a famous (or infamous, depending on your opinion) "no one under 21 and no dogs" rule?
A. Linden
B. Chateau O'Brien
C. Prince Michel
D. Bluemont

15. The only winery (so far) located in Prince William County:
A. Sunset Hills
B. Paradise Springs
C. The Winery at La Grange
D. Potomac Point

16. The highest tasting room in the state:
A. Virginia Mountain
B. Naked Mountain
C. Stone Mountain
D. Afton Mountain

17. The northernmost winery in the state:
A. Valerie Hill
B. Hiddencroft
C. Tarara
D. Breaux

18. This winery produces wine made from nearly every fruit (and the occasional vegetable), except grapes:
A. Wisteria
B. Peaks of Otter
C. Ox-Eye
D. Fincastle

19. Which winery is not located in the Northern Neck?
A. Ingleside
B. Hartwood
C. Oak Crest
D. Dog and Oyster

20. Which winery is not especially known for sustainable practices?
A. Blenheim
B. North Gate
C. Trump
D. Cooper

And now....the answers.....................

1. Virginia is currently #5 in wine production in the United States. Which state is NOT ranked between 1 and 4?
A. Oregon
B. New York
C. Texas
D. Washington

Texas is in the Top Ten, usually at #7 or 8, under Missouri and New Jersey.

2. Which Virginia wine pioneer does not have a tasting room open to the public?
A. Chris Pearmund
B. Doug Fabbioli
C. Gabriele Rausse
D. Dennis Horton
Mr. Rausse, former mentor to many of today's winemakers, grows grapes on the Monticello property and has his own line of wine, available at some wine stores and several state-wide festivals. But alas, he doesn't have a public tasting room.

3. Which of the following varietals is not commonly found in Virginia?
A. Norton
B. Riesling
C. Viognier
D. Cabernet Franc
Although some higher altitude wineries in VA offer a Riesling, this grape prefers cooler climates/shorter growing seasons.

4. Which of the following is not a designated Virginia AVA (American Viticultural Area)?
A. Shenandoah Valley
B. Eastern Shore
C. Middleburg
D. Tidewater
Tidewater, home to one of the largest urban areas in the state, is not currently an AVA.

5. Who was the "Founding Father" of Virginia (and American) wine?
A. George Mason
B. George Washington
C. Thomas Jefferson
D. James Madison
C'mon, everyone knows this by now!

6. Winemaking in Virginia is primarily modeled after winemaking in:
A. California
B. Australia
C. France
D. Argentina
Virginia follows the "Old World" style of relatively lower alcohol content and relatively less "zesty" than many New World wines.

7. The Monticello AVA, probably the most famous AVA in the state, falls in all of these counties except:
A. Greene
B. Nelson
C. Madison
D. Orange
Madison County borders the AVA but is not technically located in this AVA.

8. The oldest vineyard/winery in the state:
A. Barboursville
B. Mountain Cove
C. Breaux
D. Naked Mountain
Tasting room opened in 1974, two years before Barboursville planted their vines.

9. The year the oldest winery in the state started growing grapes:
A. 1967
B. 1973
C. 1980
D. 1955

10. The largest wine festival in the state is held here:
A. Richmond
B. Centreville
C. Mt. Vernon
D. Virginia Beach
Centreville/Bull Run's Spring and Fall Festivals, although more well-known, can't hold a handle to the number of wineries at the Richmond Wine Expo held in late February, which offers a nearly week-long agenda of sessions and workshops in addition to its two day wine expo on Saturday and Sunday.

11. Which of the following celebrities/moguls does not own a winery in the state?
A. Robert Duvall
B. Donald Trump
C. Dave Matthews
D. Jack Kent Cooke
Maybe someday this one-time restaurant owner and intensely private Virginia resident will plant some vines. He would love the smell of ripening grapes in the morning.

12. Which winery is not located in Loudoun County?
A. Sharp Rock
B. 8 Chains North
C. Sunset Hills
D. North Gate
Sharp Rock is located in the aforementioned Madison County.

13. Mead, which is becoming quite popular in the U.S., is a wine-like beverage made from:
A. Dandelions
B. Beer
C. Peaches
D. Honey
Try Virginia mead at Black Snake Meadery near Floyd, VA, and Hill Top Berry Farm Vineyard near Wintergreen Resort.

14. Which winery in the state has a famous (or infamous, depending on your opinion) "no one under 21 and no dogs" rule?
A. Linden
B. Chateau O'Brien
C. Prince Michel
D. Bluemont
Love him or hate him, Howard O'Brien makes some great wine.

15. The only winery (so far) located in Prince William County:
A. Sunset Hills
B. Paradise Springs
C. The Winery at La Grange
D. Potomac Point
Located near Haymarket.

16. The highest tasting room in the state:
A. Virginia Mountain
B. Naked Mountain
C. Stone Mountain
D. Afton Mountain
"Taste the altitude," at 1700 feet!

17. The northernmost winery in the state:
A. Valerie Hill
B. Hiddencroft
C. Tarara
D. Breaux
The Maryland border is about a three minute drive from the main highway near Lovettsville.

18. This winery produces wine made from nearly every fruit (and the occasional vegetable), except grapes:
A. Wisteria
B. Peaks of Otter
C. Ox-Eye
D. Fincastle
Give the pumpkin pie wine a try.

19. Which winery is not located in the Northern Neck?
A. Ingleside
B. Hartwood
C. Oak Crest
D. Dog and Oyster
Hartwood is northwest of Fredericksburg, not geographically the Northern Neck.

20. Which winery is not especially known for sustainable practices?
A. Blenheim
B. North Gate
C. Trump
D. Cooper
He's Fired.

Three Great Views: Looking Up

Another blogger recently wrote "why do so many people carry on about the views at Virginia wineries? The wine alone should be a draw." That sounds a lot like the Notebook bloggers complaining about live music at the wineries. Who knows - this particular blogger may love the live band element. But the Notebook loves the serenity of some the settings at the Commonwealth's wineries. Particularly those wineries in the mountains.

It's always a tough call when we visit the mountain wineries - views looking down, or views looking up (that is, being on top of a mountain, or in a valley). Three wineries in each category fit the bill perfectly and this post will examine three favorites in the valley, looking up at the mountains.

And of course the wine IS a draw at these locations. You will be hard pressed to find a Virginia winery that doesn't have at least one wine to your liking, unless you crave nothing but high alcohol Pinot Noirs prominently found in Sonoma, or sweet table wines commonly found in the front of grocery stores, usually with flip flops or slices of cake on the labels.

Great Views Looking Up

Pollak Vineyards, located in the Afton region west of Charlottesville and south of Waynesboro, has been a favorite of the blogmasters since they opened in 2008. They feature consistently excellent wines, at good prices. Their tasting room is airy with vaulted ceilings and bustling every month, from the cold and gray of January to the sticky heat of August. The winery spotlights Chardonnay, Viognier, Cab Franc and Meritage, but every wine is a winner.

The property, like many in the state, is huge with ample space to move around - even if the winery is packed, you can find an isolated spot by walking a few yards. There is a large pond that you can imbibe by, and take in the view of the surrounding mountains from the valley. The trucks on I-64 can be heard faintly in the distance but they are not a distraction.

King Family Vineyards is an eight minute drive from Pollak, located off the U.S. highway leading to Crozet and Charlottesville. Well known in the state as being a pioneer in the industry (King Family is one of the original Monticello AVA wineries), and the only winery with regular polo matches. There is a sense of "Dallas" (the TV show, not the city) in this winery, from the ranch-style layout of the property to the local members of the upper crust who come to watch the polo matches. But that should in no way deter you from visiting. The wine here, like Pollak, is outstanding, particularly the Chardonnay, Merlot and Crosé, a creative play on the words "rosé" and the nearby village of Crozet. The Crosé is crafted from their excellent Merlot. David King is a leader in the local and statewide wine industry and is frequently found during the weekends in the tasting room.

View from King Family Vineyards:

Wintergreen Winery is about a 30 minute drive from King Family or Pollak - follow the highway south towards the village of Nellysford and the Wintergreen Resort. You may get a craving for great local craft beer after passing not one but three popular microbreweries (Blue Mountain, Wild Wolf, and Devils Backbone), but keep driving - you will be soon rewarded. Wintergreen recently built a new events pavilion but the tasting room is the same intimate and quaint one we've grown accustomed to. Located on the banks of the Rockfish river, Wintergreen is surrounded by majestic mountains and the sound of the babbling creek complete the serene atmosphere. The wines are delicious; another Monticello AVA winery that excels at Chardonnay, the Black Rock Reserve is a must-try and must-buy. They also offer a raspberry wine and an apple wine, if you've grown tired of grape wines by this time (and trying these will also prepare you for a visit to nearby Hill Top Berry Farm and Winery, a few minutes away).

Wintergreen Winery:

There are plenty of other wineries with valley views looking up to grand mountains--CrossKeys Vineyards near Harrisonburg, Flying Fox Winery, northeast of Wintergreen, and Doukenie Winery in Loudoun County are three other blogger favorites with unique views.

Winery URLs:

Pollak Vineyards
King Family Vineyards
Wintergreen Winery
Hill Top Berry Farm and Winery
CrossKeys Vineyards
Flying Fox Winery
Doukenie Winery

NEW WINERY SPOTLIGHT 3: OTIUM CELLARS

Otium Cellars in Loudoun County opened about two years ago in the midst of a county-wide winery boom that's still going strong (at least six other wineries are opening in 2013-2014). Located down a long and winding road outside of Purcellville, Otium Cellars is actually the vineyard/winery wing of Goose Creek Farms and Winery, a private equestrian facility dedicated to raising World Class Hanoverian horses. The owners decided in 2007 to dedicate a portion of their rolling property to vineyards, with a concentration on German and French varietals.

Like several other tasting rooms in the state, Otium embraced true craftsmanship for their winery. Their tasting cabin offers two levels for partaking in cold or rainy weather, complete with a gas fireplace. As the case with so many tasting rooms, Saturdays can be hectic, with live music and crowds, but the property is vast and visitors are welcome to linger at the outdoor picnic tables, or bring their own picnic chairs.

Otium Cellars:

Tasting Room:

The owners "make what they like" here. Don't expect Cab Franc; the owner/winemaker is not a fan of Virginia's favorite red. Instead, he's crafted a delicious Cab Sauv, with notes of raspberry and coffee. Their Malbec is another bold winner, complex with soft tannins.

Otium's owners are German, which explains the presence of Dornfelder, only the second winery in Virginia we've encountered that offers this varietal. Although Germany is known for white wines on the sweeter side (like Riesling), Dornfelder's early ripening and solid acidity allow it to thrive in Germany's cool climate zone, resulting in a light to medium-bodied red wine, with lower alcohol levels and occasionally a hint of sweetness.

Otium also offers a Blaufränkisch, which is commonly referred to as Lemberger and is becoming rather popular in Virginia tasting rooms, pleasing fans ready for a red outside the confines of Cab Franc, Cab Sauv, Merlot and Chambourcin. This is a spicier red, rich in tannins, and will age beautifully. Bring it out in colder weather with beef stew or prime rib. They also offer a Pinot Noir, but being one of the few wineries in Northern Virginia with a Pinot Noir, they go quickly (we were unable to try it).

On the lighter side, Otium typically offers a semi dry or semi sweet table white, a Pinot Grigio, and a Chardonnay, which was a little too buttery for our taste buds. This winery will definitely be one of our "to go" places for reds.

After tasting, the owners encourage visitors to walk around the grounds and visit the animals, which include pigs, a pony, and some loud roosters. Otium is another winning daycation spot in the Napa of Northern VA (Loudoun County).