Virginia’s presence in the wine world just got another notch: A new AVA (American Viticultural Area, generically known as an “appellation”).
Approved in September 2012, the Middleburg AVA (named after the famous, historic horse raising and fox hunting village in southern Loudoun County) is a ribbon that stretches from the Potomac River (near Hiddencroft Vineyards) southward to the Delaplane area of Fauquier County. Many Northern Virginia favorites dot the AVA and a sign unveiling took place in late March 2013 at Boxwood Winery. This brings the number of AVA’s in Virginia to seven. The others are the Shenandoah Valley AVA, the Monticello AVA, the Northern Neck/George Washington’s Birthplace AVA, the Eastern Shore AVA, the North Fork of Roanoke AVA and the Rocky Knob AVA.
What, exactly, is an Appellation? An appellation is a legally defined and protected geographical indication used to identify where the grapes for a wine were grown. In order to be designated an AVA, 85% of the wine must have come from grapes grown within the geographical AVA boundaries. For counties like Loudoun and Fauquier, the number of wineries and vineyards (including vineyards that do not have public tasting rooms) has quadrupled over the past ten years alone. An AVA designation similar to Napa, Sonoma, Long Island and Finger Lakes will only enhance Virginia’s (and Northern Virginia’s in particular) status in the wild world of wine. One of many benefits of an AVA designation is the ability of a winery in that appellation to put the AVA on the label, so expect to see “Middleburg AVA” on labels from many Loudoun and Fauquier County wine bottles beginning next year.
The wineries in the Middleburg AVA ribbon can be found here. Not all Loudoun County spots made the cut; only the wineries lucky enough to be located in the appellation ribbon. But that does not mean the wine from these non AVA wineries will be shabby. Just a few wineries located a few miles outside the AVA border: Fox Meadow Vineyards, Fabbioli Cellars, and Marterella Winery.
The designation of the Middleburg AVA is a major event for Northern Virginia vineyards, and the bloggers expect announcements of future appellations in the Commonwealth over the next several years.
Showing posts with label Fauquier County. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fauquier County. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Fauquier County Winery Spotlight: Delaplane Cellars
Our continuing coverage of wineries in that most winery-unfriendly county in Northern Virginia......
Delaplane Cellars, perched up on a hill with an irresistable view of the mountains on the western horizon, is another winner in the Delaplane/Marshall/The Plains section of the county (also known as "Crooked Run Valley," named after a creek many visitors will cross at least four times in this part of the county).
This is where wineries share the landscape with cattle ranchers, "old money" grumps, and antique stores. Employing sustainable practices similar to Cooper Vineyards and North Gate Vineyard, the airy interior of the tasting room meets expectations created while driving (and then walking) up the steep hillside. And the wines are stellar. This Fauquier location reminded the blogmasters of spots in Sonoma County.
The long tasting bar guarantees a tasting nearly as soon as you walk in, despite how busy they are. Viognier is the winner here; yet another Virginia winery working wonders with the official white grape. Maggie's Viognier is aged in French oak, versus American oak (which is the norm for many other Virginia wineries). The resulting wine is smooth with notes of butter rum and tangerine. Delaplane also ages its Chardonnay in French oak, resulting in a pleasing, dry white that pairs beautifully with trout or perch.
Of the reds, Delaplane is now working with Tannat, which some predict could be Virginia's new unique red, alongside Petit Verdot and Norton. Delaplane offers a 100% Tannat, as well as a blend (blended with Syrah, Petit Verdot and Cab Franc). Both make great cold weather reds, for pairing with stew or chili.
For warmer days, Delaplane Cellars has several picnic tables along the sloping hillside, looking down on the tasting room, as well as a patio offering a view that is one of the finest in Northern Virginia. The tasting room is encased by windows that boast these views for the colder months ahead.
You could make a day at Delaplane Cellars, or move on to other spots a stone's throw away in the Crooked Run Valley:
Three Fox Vineyards, Barrel Oak, and Vintage Ridge Vineyards, to name just three others.
URL:
Delaplane Cellars
Delaplane Cellars, perched up on a hill with an irresistable view of the mountains on the western horizon, is another winner in the Delaplane/Marshall/The Plains section of the county (also known as "Crooked Run Valley," named after a creek many visitors will cross at least four times in this part of the county).
This is where wineries share the landscape with cattle ranchers, "old money" grumps, and antique stores. Employing sustainable practices similar to Cooper Vineyards and North Gate Vineyard, the airy interior of the tasting room meets expectations created while driving (and then walking) up the steep hillside. And the wines are stellar. This Fauquier location reminded the blogmasters of spots in Sonoma County.
The long tasting bar guarantees a tasting nearly as soon as you walk in, despite how busy they are. Viognier is the winner here; yet another Virginia winery working wonders with the official white grape. Maggie's Viognier is aged in French oak, versus American oak (which is the norm for many other Virginia wineries). The resulting wine is smooth with notes of butter rum and tangerine. Delaplane also ages its Chardonnay in French oak, resulting in a pleasing, dry white that pairs beautifully with trout or perch.
Of the reds, Delaplane is now working with Tannat, which some predict could be Virginia's new unique red, alongside Petit Verdot and Norton. Delaplane offers a 100% Tannat, as well as a blend (blended with Syrah, Petit Verdot and Cab Franc). Both make great cold weather reds, for pairing with stew or chili.
For warmer days, Delaplane Cellars has several picnic tables along the sloping hillside, looking down on the tasting room, as well as a patio offering a view that is one of the finest in Northern Virginia. The tasting room is encased by windows that boast these views for the colder months ahead.
You could make a day at Delaplane Cellars, or move on to other spots a stone's throw away in the Crooked Run Valley:
Three Fox Vineyards, Barrel Oak, and Vintage Ridge Vineyards, to name just three others.
URL:
Delaplane Cellars
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Fauquier County Winery Spotlight: Mountains to Valley
In our ongoing coverage of vineyards and wineries in that "winery unfriendly" county of Fauquier, we turn the spotlight to Cobbler Mountain Cellars and Miracle Valley Vineyards--two wineries about 15 minutes from each other, located off state highway 55 near Delaplane.
Cobbler Mountain Cellars, the younger of the two vineyards, gets its name from Cobbler Mountain (actually, mountains--the vineyards are located in the shadows of Big Cobbler Mountain and Little Cobbler Mountain, two foothills of the Blue Ridge). The blogmasters expect big things for this spot - they do nearly everything right. The owners are generous and hospitable. The wines are good to great. The tasting room is located in the cellar of their home. You truly feel that you're part of their family when you visit Cobbler Mountain Cellars.
It may sound like a cliché, but there is something magical about this location. The owners are aware of this too, and the theme here is Irish folklore. On one visit, a group of teenagers performed haunting Irish folk songs with ukuleles and mandolins, adding to the "magic in the air" vibe. The home/tasting room lies on a hillside, and benches, chairs and tables adorn the sloping lawn. Or, you can grab a table under one of the apple trees.
Which leads us to their offerings. This is a wine blog, but we have to call it like it is. The winner at Cobbler Mountain Cellars is their hard apple cider. This is not to be confused with apple wine. Apple wine is typically made incorporating grapes in the process. Hard apple cider is 100% apple. There is nothing better for a cool fall afternoon in October than hard apple cider. Cobbler Mountain's is incredible - like biting into a juicy golden delicious apple. Try it with brats or burgers.
As for the wine, not a sub-par one on the list, and their varietals are impressive, considering how young the winery is: Cab Franc, Cab Sauv, Merlot, Meritage. They have more reds than whites (their sole white grape wine is a very good chardonnay, with notes of buttercream). Of the reds, our favorite was the merlot--peppery but smooth. Cobbler Mountain Cellars is an oasis from civilization - only about 45 minutes from Washington DC, but another world.
From the mountains/foothills to the valley....Miracle Valley Vineyard, similar to Cobbler Mountain Cellars in size (that is, not a slick commercial operation). The tasting room is housed in charming old farm house overlooking a pond. The tasting is slow and leisurely paced. Several of their wines are award winners: Their Cab Franc and Cab Sauv are Virginia Gold Medal winners. Their Meritage is a Silver Medal winner at the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition. They've been making wine here longer than Cobbler Cellars, and have more options on the white side of the scale.
Of the whites, the viognier and reserve Chardonnay stood out. The viognier is steel-aged and introduced to Hungarian oak for 30 days, resulting in a dry, spritzer-like wine with notes of grapefruit and pineapple. The reserve chardonnay begins in stainless steel and then is introduced to Hungarian oak for a year. The result is an incredibly complex chardonnay that works perfectly with poultry dishes.
As for the reds, our favorite was the award-winning Cab Sauv, with soft tannins and the right amount of spice notes.
From the mountains to the valley - visit these fine spots this weekend. Support Fauquier County wineries!
Winery URLs:
Cobbler Mountain Cellars;
Miracle Valley Vineyard
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Fauquier County Winery Spotlight: Chateau O'Brien
In our continuing coverage of wineries in a county whose leadership is sadly "anti winery" (thanks to some old money grumps who sport bumper stickers on their Lexus SUVs that read "Welcome to Fauquier County....Now Leave"), we turn our attention to Chateau O'Brien at Northpoint, a unique spot that has its share of fans, and detractors (just check them out on Yelp).
The blogmasters are fans. The tasting room is housed inside a French-style farmhouse, high above I-66 (you can see it, but not hear it), accessible from state highway 55 on the way to Front Royal. Cross the railroad tracks, pass the old apple cidery, and climb the hill. Northpoint is the name of the old railroad depot, which brought apples from nearby Winchester to this outpost decades ago. As a tribute to this apple past, Chateau O'Brien offers a delicious apple wine. Now a word about the rules in this tasting room. Yelp reviews are full of complaints about the "no children under 18" and "no dogs" rules. The blogmasters welcome the rules. There are plenty of wineries in this county (despite the leaders' attempts to shut them down), and most do allow kids and dogs. But as this is a tasting room, not a Chuck E. Cheese, the no kids rule works fine for us. Sometimes you want to get away from kids, even if you're a parent. This rule sets Chateau O'Brien ahead of other wineries in the area (with the possible exception of Linden).
As for the "no dogs" rule, the winery owner has his own dog (named Buddy) and Buddy is rather high strung. The owners calmly explain that other dogs would just create turmoil for the other guests, not to mention Buddy. Both of these rules are posted in signs throughout the property. Please do not attempt to break them, as you will be told (politely or not politely, depending on the mood of the owner) to leave. Now that we have the rules out of the way, on to the fun stuff: The location, and the wine. Howard O'Brien, the aforementioned, slightly neurotic (and he'll be the first to tell you that), New York-bred owner, will welcome you with a smile (provided you didn't bring kids or dogs), and offer two different tasting processes: Classic ($6 per person) or Cellar ($12 per person). Howard himself usually conducts the Cellar tasting, and is rather generous with the pourings. Plus the wines are incredible, so we suggest the Cellar. (The Classic is designed more for casual Virginia wine fans, and includes the Virginia mainstays such as chardonnay, rosé, and that apple wine). Some of the wines in the Cellar tasting are really up there in bottle prices (think $79, the price of the tannat). Tannat is a varietal common to Uruguay, and a few Virginia wineries are experimenting with it. Howard has visitied vineyards in Uruguay personally to research and we think this wine is absolutely one-of-a-kind, on par with some of the best (and priciest) red offerings from California. At $79 a bottle, rather pricey, but you get to sample it during the Cellar tasting.
His syrah and petit verdot are also noteworthy, also rich and complex, but also a bit steep in price. Back to average Virginia wine prices, Buddy's Bistro Red is a lighter, pinot noir-like wine, and Padlock Red is a terrific blend of cab franc (60%), cab sauv, and petit verdot. The Cellar tasting is more red-focused; if you crave whites, go for the Classic tasting; the Northpoint white is a chardonnay/pinot grigio blend that is crisp and aged in steel, and great for warm afternoons for sipping on Howard's impressive, shaded deck. And his apple wine is one of the finest in the Commonwealth (actually, our third favorite apple wine in the state, after North Mountain, near Winchester, and North Gate, near Purcellville). This is not an events and live band heavy spot, so most likely you will have a very low key time here, as long as you follow the simple rules.....
Chateau O'Brien at Northpoint
The blogmasters are fans. The tasting room is housed inside a French-style farmhouse, high above I-66 (you can see it, but not hear it), accessible from state highway 55 on the way to Front Royal. Cross the railroad tracks, pass the old apple cidery, and climb the hill. Northpoint is the name of the old railroad depot, which brought apples from nearby Winchester to this outpost decades ago. As a tribute to this apple past, Chateau O'Brien offers a delicious apple wine. Now a word about the rules in this tasting room. Yelp reviews are full of complaints about the "no children under 18" and "no dogs" rules. The blogmasters welcome the rules. There are plenty of wineries in this county (despite the leaders' attempts to shut them down), and most do allow kids and dogs. But as this is a tasting room, not a Chuck E. Cheese, the no kids rule works fine for us. Sometimes you want to get away from kids, even if you're a parent. This rule sets Chateau O'Brien ahead of other wineries in the area (with the possible exception of Linden).
As for the "no dogs" rule, the winery owner has his own dog (named Buddy) and Buddy is rather high strung. The owners calmly explain that other dogs would just create turmoil for the other guests, not to mention Buddy. Both of these rules are posted in signs throughout the property. Please do not attempt to break them, as you will be told (politely or not politely, depending on the mood of the owner) to leave. Now that we have the rules out of the way, on to the fun stuff: The location, and the wine. Howard O'Brien, the aforementioned, slightly neurotic (and he'll be the first to tell you that), New York-bred owner, will welcome you with a smile (provided you didn't bring kids or dogs), and offer two different tasting processes: Classic ($6 per person) or Cellar ($12 per person). Howard himself usually conducts the Cellar tasting, and is rather generous with the pourings. Plus the wines are incredible, so we suggest the Cellar. (The Classic is designed more for casual Virginia wine fans, and includes the Virginia mainstays such as chardonnay, rosé, and that apple wine). Some of the wines in the Cellar tasting are really up there in bottle prices (think $79, the price of the tannat). Tannat is a varietal common to Uruguay, and a few Virginia wineries are experimenting with it. Howard has visitied vineyards in Uruguay personally to research and we think this wine is absolutely one-of-a-kind, on par with some of the best (and priciest) red offerings from California. At $79 a bottle, rather pricey, but you get to sample it during the Cellar tasting.
His syrah and petit verdot are also noteworthy, also rich and complex, but also a bit steep in price. Back to average Virginia wine prices, Buddy's Bistro Red is a lighter, pinot noir-like wine, and Padlock Red is a terrific blend of cab franc (60%), cab sauv, and petit verdot. The Cellar tasting is more red-focused; if you crave whites, go for the Classic tasting; the Northpoint white is a chardonnay/pinot grigio blend that is crisp and aged in steel, and great for warm afternoons for sipping on Howard's impressive, shaded deck. And his apple wine is one of the finest in the Commonwealth (actually, our third favorite apple wine in the state, after North Mountain, near Winchester, and North Gate, near Purcellville). This is not an events and live band heavy spot, so most likely you will have a very low key time here, as long as you follow the simple rules.....
Chateau O'Brien at Northpoint
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Fauquier Winery Spotlight: Hume Vineyards
In an effort to support the Fauquier County Wineries, which may be severely impacted by the ordinance passed on July 12, 2012, the Notebook will begin a spotlight on the wineries in the county. Come out and enjoy. These wineries are about 30 minutes further from the more popular spots in Loudoun County, but well worth your driving time (plus you can stop and admire, and photograph, all the cows, horses, sheep and goats that you want! Stick it to the stuffy wealthy land owners in the county!)
"A little Virginia winery with big ambition" is the slogan for Hume Vineyards, and that just about sums it up. Located about a mile down the road from Philip Carter Winery, and not far from Naked Mountain, Hume Vineyards opened its doors in mid 2010; a partnership with Breaux got the little Virginia winery firmly established, and now the location has impressive vineyards on both sides of its quaint, rustic tasting cabin.
As with most Virginia wineries bordering the Blue Ridge, the views are incredible. The front of the tasting cabin offers rolling foothills, and the rear of the cabin boasts the view of the mountains in the distance. There are ample picnic tables with umbrellas and a covered porch in front of the tasting cabin. The wine is superb. Further proof that Virginia is coming a long way with its reds, Hume focuses on Bordeaux varietals, delicious, bold and earthy: Cab Franc, with its notices of licorice; Cab Sauv; Petit Verdot; and Merlot. For the hot summer days, a bottle of deep red may not be the ticket, so Hume has that side of the spectrum fulfilled: Sauvignon Blanc, a honeysuckle-like Viognier (dry!), and a terrific rosé.
Judging from the number of guests during a recent freak hailstorm, word has gotten out about the pleasures of Hume Vineyards. We filmed this storm and will be posting footage of the storm in future Notebook entries. For now, enjoy the introduction to Hume Vineyards:
Sunday, June 17, 2012
The Battle of the Foxes
Virginia is home to three fox-themed wineries, all three unique and blogmaster favorites for several years (and we were tempted to make a "Fox and Friends" crack but decided to keep politics off this board). Fox Meadow, Three Fox and Flying Fox with an honorable mention to Twin Oaks Tavern, which has a fox as its mascot.
The stats: Fox Meadow and Three Fox are both part of the Fauquier County Wine Trail, and both can be enjoyed the same day. Flying Fox is south of Waynesboro, and Twin Oaks Tavern is off Route 7, a few clicks up the road from the very popular Bluemont Vineyards. So which Fox rules the farm....we mean vineyard? Fox Meadow Winery, by a nose. Every visit to Fox Meadow has been special and the view "looking down on the mountains" (their slogan) is one of the best in the Commonwealth. Fox Meadow was the recipient in 2008 of the Governor's Cup, for their outstanding Le Renard Rouge, a meritage-like blend of Cab Franc, Cab Sauv and Merlot. Their elevation is perfect for Pinot Grigio or Pinot Gris, and here they didn't have to pick just one varietal. They offer both. The Grigio is the drier version, although the Gris, with its apricot and honeysuckle notes, is perfect chilled and makes a good summer wine. This is a dry wine spot, although their "Freezeland" options (red and white) were created with the sweet wine fans in mind. The best thing that can be said about sweet wine is it didn't make the blogmasters want to spit the wine out, and that was the case with the Freezeland wines.
Setting: Big balcony overlooking the mountains, with shade provided by umbrellas and a gazebo. Picnic tables under large trees on the lawn for spillover. Inside, an airy tasting room and several tables (reserved for wine club members). The appeal of Fox Meadow is aesthetics. When leaving Fox Meadow, take the right turn out of the lot, and drive through the "Blue Mountain" community on the way down the mountain, for a real treat. This road will end up hugging the Shenandoah River, before dropping drivers off on Route 50.
Follow signs on route 50 to Three Fox, which is our second favorite Fox winery in the state. Three Fox Vineyards is an Italian themed winery named after playful foxes that were on the property when the owners surveyed their newly acquired land. The reds are the stars here, particularly the Cab Franc and Sangiovese (they currently offer both a regular and reserve Sangiovese). Also, their port-like wine "Dolce Chambourcin" is high on character, but surprisingly low on alcohol content. As for the whites, not as strong as the reds, but all with an Italian twist. Their Leggero Chardonnay is a perfect summer chard, with notes of butterscotch. They have more sweeter wines than Fox Meadow, following the "the closer to DC, the more sweet wines they have" principle. And their rosé is sweeter than the drier versions we've become accustomed to in Virginia, but excellent chilled and perfect for taking to Wolf Trap.
Setting: You will be impressed with this place the minute you cross the little bridge over Crooked Run. Shift your vehicle into overdrive to get more tork, and climb up that hill. Rolling Piedmont vineyards and meadows surround you. Crooked Run babbles down the hill, and Three Fox has two hammocks and several picnic tables by the creek. The tasting room is housed in a small barn-like structure, a bit cramped but during the warm months, they have an outdoor tasting tent. Do your tasting under this tent, overlooking the vineyards, for the full wine tasting experience. A few tables with umbrellas are situated between the vineyard rows (a nice touch!), and ample tables with umbrellas surround the tasting room. And then there's the Table in the Sky--you can't miss this table. Hike up the hill, past the beanbag and bocce games, and sit yourself down for a treat. Green Fauquier county fields surround you. Three Fox gets high marks on the "unwineding" scale!
Flying Fox Vineyards is located south of Waynesboro, in a winery populated section of Nelson County (not far from better-known spots like Cardinal Point and Veritas). They're a small operation, easy to overlook on your way to Wintergreen (winery or resort). But the wine are incredibly good; something for everyone. For the sweet fans, a Vidal Blanc called Fox White. Fox Red is a table wine perfectly suited for pizza, off-dry. An amusing label adorns these blends; each year, their mascot is featured in various acts of flight (in a World War I-era biplane; in a hot air balloon; being shot out of a cannon; or this year's image, clinging to a bunch of helium balloons, "sailing over Afton Mountain"). Their artist must love coming up with an image each year! On the more serious wine side, they offer a pure Petit Verdot, which stands up to some bold Old World reds as a prime rib or porterhouse wine, and will age nicely for up to 10 years in the right conditions. At $19, this wine is an absolute steal! "Trio" is a perfect blend of Petit Verdot, Cab Franc and Merlot, and our favorite wine on their menu. Their rosé is dry and refreshing.
Setting: A small garden area with a few tables, and a magnificent vista of the Blue Ridge beyond a large pasture. The tasting cottage sports a weather vane on the roof that gave this winery its name: The fox on the vane looks like he's flying, especially after a few glasses of their Petit Verdot.
The runner up in this battle of foxes is Twin Oaks Tavern Winery, which has a fox on some of its bottles, but appears to be moving away from the fox theme to an oak leaf theme. Still, the winery is young and deserves a shout-out. Located off route 7 on the way to Winchester, this spot offers some incredible reds: Cab Sauv, Norton and Raven Rock Red meritage blends. Their recently expanded tasting room offers a fireplace for colder days, and the decks and patios hug the hillside. The view here is northwest - the Blue Ridge and on a clear day, you can see into West Virginia. And as a final note, next time you visit the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York, say hi to their fox counterpart: Fox Run Vineyards!
Enjoy a short video from Flying Fox Vineyards:
The stats: Fox Meadow and Three Fox are both part of the Fauquier County Wine Trail, and both can be enjoyed the same day. Flying Fox is south of Waynesboro, and Twin Oaks Tavern is off Route 7, a few clicks up the road from the very popular Bluemont Vineyards. So which Fox rules the farm....we mean vineyard? Fox Meadow Winery, by a nose. Every visit to Fox Meadow has been special and the view "looking down on the mountains" (their slogan) is one of the best in the Commonwealth. Fox Meadow was the recipient in 2008 of the Governor's Cup, for their outstanding Le Renard Rouge, a meritage-like blend of Cab Franc, Cab Sauv and Merlot. Their elevation is perfect for Pinot Grigio or Pinot Gris, and here they didn't have to pick just one varietal. They offer both. The Grigio is the drier version, although the Gris, with its apricot and honeysuckle notes, is perfect chilled and makes a good summer wine. This is a dry wine spot, although their "Freezeland" options (red and white) were created with the sweet wine fans in mind. The best thing that can be said about sweet wine is it didn't make the blogmasters want to spit the wine out, and that was the case with the Freezeland wines.
Setting: Big balcony overlooking the mountains, with shade provided by umbrellas and a gazebo. Picnic tables under large trees on the lawn for spillover. Inside, an airy tasting room and several tables (reserved for wine club members). The appeal of Fox Meadow is aesthetics. When leaving Fox Meadow, take the right turn out of the lot, and drive through the "Blue Mountain" community on the way down the mountain, for a real treat. This road will end up hugging the Shenandoah River, before dropping drivers off on Route 50.
Follow signs on route 50 to Three Fox, which is our second favorite Fox winery in the state. Three Fox Vineyards is an Italian themed winery named after playful foxes that were on the property when the owners surveyed their newly acquired land. The reds are the stars here, particularly the Cab Franc and Sangiovese (they currently offer both a regular and reserve Sangiovese). Also, their port-like wine "Dolce Chambourcin" is high on character, but surprisingly low on alcohol content. As for the whites, not as strong as the reds, but all with an Italian twist. Their Leggero Chardonnay is a perfect summer chard, with notes of butterscotch. They have more sweeter wines than Fox Meadow, following the "the closer to DC, the more sweet wines they have" principle. And their rosé is sweeter than the drier versions we've become accustomed to in Virginia, but excellent chilled and perfect for taking to Wolf Trap.
Setting: You will be impressed with this place the minute you cross the little bridge over Crooked Run. Shift your vehicle into overdrive to get more tork, and climb up that hill. Rolling Piedmont vineyards and meadows surround you. Crooked Run babbles down the hill, and Three Fox has two hammocks and several picnic tables by the creek. The tasting room is housed in a small barn-like structure, a bit cramped but during the warm months, they have an outdoor tasting tent. Do your tasting under this tent, overlooking the vineyards, for the full wine tasting experience. A few tables with umbrellas are situated between the vineyard rows (a nice touch!), and ample tables with umbrellas surround the tasting room. And then there's the Table in the Sky--you can't miss this table. Hike up the hill, past the beanbag and bocce games, and sit yourself down for a treat. Green Fauquier county fields surround you. Three Fox gets high marks on the "unwineding" scale!
Flying Fox Vineyards is located south of Waynesboro, in a winery populated section of Nelson County (not far from better-known spots like Cardinal Point and Veritas). They're a small operation, easy to overlook on your way to Wintergreen (winery or resort). But the wine are incredibly good; something for everyone. For the sweet fans, a Vidal Blanc called Fox White. Fox Red is a table wine perfectly suited for pizza, off-dry. An amusing label adorns these blends; each year, their mascot is featured in various acts of flight (in a World War I-era biplane; in a hot air balloon; being shot out of a cannon; or this year's image, clinging to a bunch of helium balloons, "sailing over Afton Mountain"). Their artist must love coming up with an image each year! On the more serious wine side, they offer a pure Petit Verdot, which stands up to some bold Old World reds as a prime rib or porterhouse wine, and will age nicely for up to 10 years in the right conditions. At $19, this wine is an absolute steal! "Trio" is a perfect blend of Petit Verdot, Cab Franc and Merlot, and our favorite wine on their menu. Their rosé is dry and refreshing.
Setting: A small garden area with a few tables, and a magnificent vista of the Blue Ridge beyond a large pasture. The tasting cottage sports a weather vane on the roof that gave this winery its name: The fox on the vane looks like he's flying, especially after a few glasses of their Petit Verdot.
The runner up in this battle of foxes is Twin Oaks Tavern Winery, which has a fox on some of its bottles, but appears to be moving away from the fox theme to an oak leaf theme. Still, the winery is young and deserves a shout-out. Located off route 7 on the way to Winchester, this spot offers some incredible reds: Cab Sauv, Norton and Raven Rock Red meritage blends. Their recently expanded tasting room offers a fireplace for colder days, and the decks and patios hug the hillside. The view here is northwest - the Blue Ridge and on a clear day, you can see into West Virginia. And as a final note, next time you visit the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York, say hi to their fox counterpart: Fox Run Vineyards!
Enjoy a short video from Flying Fox Vineyards:
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