10 Virginia Wineries in a Day

Winery hopping is a term usually reserved for a day event for winos (with a DD, or Uber, or Lyft, for the day) who visit many tasting rooms, buy a few bottles to go, and then move on. This is something that does not occur very often for the Notebook; typically, we visit 2 or 3 wineries, and then hang out for several hours at the first (or last) winery.

Winery hopping in the past has been best suited for areas where wineries are a stone's throw away from each other: the "banana belt" southeast corner of Seneca Lake in the Finger Lakes is a good example. About 25 wineries within 3 miles, due to the micro climate on this part of the lake that resembles Napa County for growing (the extremely deep section of this part of the lake controls freezing, and the soil is more fertile). And speaking of Napa, that is another wine region where visitors can hop around wineries in close proximity to each other; just select south Napa, central Napa, or north Napa, and do it.

Virginia has not really been conducive to this type of winery hopping. Even wineries in the Monticello AVA, although there are many, require at least 15 minutes of drive time per winery. For years, we've been pondering when Virginia will officially enter the realm of "day winery hopping." Thanks to Loudoun County, Virginia is now on that special map. In particular, the wineries along route 9 (Charles Town Pike), near the West Virginia border. This formerly remote highway now suffers from unfortunate "winery traffic jams" on Saturdays, and some Sundays...especially one frustrating intersection containing what must be the longest red traffic light in the county (those familiar with the Loudoun County scene will know which intersection we're talking about). Route 9 is now the Northern Virginia Wine Highway, and adding Harper's Ferry Road, a right turn off westbound route 9 that cuts a diagonal over to West Virginia, gives winos (driven by someone not partaking) even more to choose from.

We were up to the challenge. So here are 10 Wineries in one day, with winery links, for those who want to follow along. We'll start on the western side and work our way back to Route 7. (Important note: In order to preserve yourselves, we strongly urge doing tastings only; as inviting as the mood may be to "stick around," the nature of winery hopping is to hop).

1. Breaux Vineyards
There is no better way to start the hopping than at this Loudoun County (and Virginia) winery staple. The new tasting building is gorgeous and the views are some of the best in the state. Virginia wine with a Cajun atmosphere.

2. 868 Estate Vineyards
A whopping quarter mile from the Breaux turn-off, this is a newer winery with vineyards at an elevation that gave the winery its name. A bit too early for lunch, but the restaurant on the premises is award-winning.

3. Two Twisted Posts Winery
We suggest turning LEFT when you leave 868, in the direction of West Virginia, to check this even newer winery. Several years ago, they had to open to the public before their tasting room was finished, as they received the Governor's Cup straight out of the chute with their chardonnay. The owners set up a tent near the driveway and this soon-to-be-legendary-Virginia winery was born.

4. Hillsborough Vineyards
Another Loudoun staple, with consistently stellar wines and mountain views galore from their hilltop tasting room.

5. North Gate Vineyard
Take a right as you hit the village of Hillsboro, drive about 2 miles, and one of the Notebook's favorites in the entire state will appear on the right. Wonderful wine, nicely done LEED-certified tasting room, and calming pine forest views.

6. Doukenie Winery
Virginia wine with a soft Greek touch, another long time favorite that also updated its tasting room in the last few years. The painted turtle-filled pond with its "peninsula" jutting into the water makes you want to stay here for hours...but you have 4 more tasting rooms to hit!

The patio and pond at Doukenie:

7. The Wine Reserve at Waterford
The name is a mouthful but this newest location on our list, where Loudoun Valley Winery previously existed, is a winner, and offers a different kind of tasting experience. Whichever you select, "Virginia Tasting" or "Regions Beyond," you are in for a treat.

8. 8 Chains North Winery
Ben Renshaw is one of the top winemakers in Virginia. His wines, especially the reds, are shining examples of what the Commonwealth offers. Ths is the wine The Notebook shared with French wine snobs, who previously would not even think about trying a Virginia wine. They were totally won over.

9. Hunter's Run Wine Barn
A touch of the Emerald Isle in the middle of Loudoun County. Gerri and (occasionally) Annie welcome you and offer some charming wines, including very tasty port-style.

10. Casanel Vineyards or Dry Mill Vineyards (all depends which direction you land on business route 7...)
At this point in the day, your bellies are full of wine, and since you have a DD, or are using a Reston Limo or other service, direct the driver to either turn left or right at the T intersection of route 9 and business route 7 (the intersection past the new traffic circle over the route 7 bypass). Flip a coin if you have to. You cannot go wrong with either selection. Turning left towards Leesburg brings you to the cozy Dry Mill Vineyards, with its rustic tasting building built from an old horse stable. Turning right towards Hamilton leads you in the direction of Casanel, and if you're lucky Nelson himself will be on the premises, entertaining you with stories about his foray into the winery business. Grab a spot in the gazebo on the pond and kick back with a glass (perhaps of water or Gatorade...)

Cheers!

New Tasting Rooms Arrive in Loudoun

The Notebook was surprised and pleased to encounter not one, not two, not three, but four new tasting rooms in “DC’s Wine Country” (Loudoun County) over the past few months (and there is fifth new tasting room opening soon.) These elegant new spaces prove that the popularity of the Virginia wine scene is no passing fad.

Breaux Vineyards:
Breaux has been a mainstay on the VAVINO scene for years, and despite their popularity (consistently rated as one of the state’s best wineries offering the finest wines), their tasting room was almost always crammed, and the wait for a tasting could sometimes take 20 minutes (the exception, of course, was if you visited on a Wednesday afternoon around 2 PM.) The owners blueprinted the new tasting building (and adjacent events building) several years ago. They wanted to make them perfect. And did they ever.

The tasting building is bright and airy, offering plenty of room to spread out, regardless of how busy they are. This is the way a tasting building should be; wood dominates in the tasting room, for maximum sound absorption. A host in the tasting room sends guests to spots at the tasting bar that are available, or about to become available.

New tasting building at Breaux:

Under construction (July 2014):

August 2015:

Another major improvement is the patio in the back, affording visitors with breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge foothills. And this patio is “21 and over” and “no dogs!” We love kids, we love dogs…but sometimes you want to escape them. For families with kids (or dogs), there are plenty of other options for you.

The décor tastefully incorporates the owners’ Louisiana Cajun heritage. With so many new wineries popping up all over the county (including one which opened a mere quarter mile from Breaux several years ago), it is refreshing to see an established winery take such measures to improve the experience for their guests. The original tasting room is still used for spillover and smaller group events.

Breaux has always been a long-time friend, and with these improvements, they will reclaim their spot as our go-to winery in northern Loudoun County for out-of-state guests interested in the best of what Virginia wine and wineries have to offer.

Cardamon Family Vineyards and Two Twisted Posts Winery:
These wineries (a stone’s throw away from each other along Harper’s Ferry Road) have only been open for a little over a year, and previously tastings were conducted in tents near their gravel parking lots, quite close to the main highway. We visited their new tasting buildings recently, and they’re both special, and definitely different from one another.

Cardamon’s tasting bar hugs one side of an intimate, living room-style tasting room, and the view of the foothills so close to the house makes one believe he’s in Wise County, not Loudoun County. It seemed as if the entire family was behind the tasting bar the afternoon we visited, and the family made you feel like you were sipping great wine among long-time friends. And as usual, Chuck's salsa and wine pairings were a treat.

Two Twisted Posts’ tasting room is a bit more industrial in feel than Cardamon's; think Sonoma County instead of Wise County. Their story is interesting—they won a Governor’s Cup for their slightly oaked, extremely delicious Chardonnay two years ago. However, they had not finished their tasting building yet, and in order to accept the Governor’s Cup, a requirement of the winery is to offer tastings to the general public. They set up their tent and complied. We loved this location from the minute we set foot and were greeted by owner Theresa Robertson, a charming and witty host who entertained us with stories about her family history and their new adventure.

Zephaniah Farm Vineyard:
Further south in Loudoun County, in the “Harmony Cluster,” lays another perennial Notebook favorite. Zephaniah still conducts their tastings inside their 19th Century house, as the sit-down intimacy of this experience is adored by many. However, a chalet-like tasting building was erected up the hill, with a spectacular view of the surrounding woods and meadows. The owners invite all guests to visit the tasting room and relax, either inside the wood-dominated building (constructed primarily for special events and weddings), or on the porch (appointed with rocking chairs, to give it a truly Southern feel). And this could be the only winery in the state with a swimming pool near the tasting building. Where the owners take Nestea (or maybe chardonnay) plunges after hot days of working in the vineyards?

The new tasting "chalet" at Zephaniah Farm Vineyard:

Finally, we were intrigued by the new circular building on the grounds of Fabbioli Cellars….we understand that their new tasting building will be opening soon. So expect a “Part 2” to this Notebook entry in the next few months.

Cheers!

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