NEW WINERY SPOTLIGHT 6: THE BARNS AT HAMILTON STATION

The Notebook confesses that The Barns at Hamilton Station Vineyards is not exactly new, especially since wineries in Loudoun County are opening faster than we can keep track of. However we thought for the past two years that The Barns (as they like to be called) was an offshoot of nearby Hunters Run Wine Barn, partially due to its name. We also knew that Hunters Run's owners, Geri and Greg Nolan, were planning to expand their location, so color us confused.

The Barns, like Hunters Run, is technically located in the small town of Hamilton, which has a distinctive yet small "downtown" that straddles business route 7 between Leesburg and Purcellville. Most folks skip the business route in favor of the more familiar bypass, but there are some charming old homes in Hamilton. Postal codes are wacky in Loudoun County. Notaviva Vineyards, a mere 2 miles from the West Virginia border, is located in Purcellville, according to the post office. However the downtown of Purcellville is about 15 miles away from Notaviva. Sunset Hills Vineyards, which is very close to the Hamilton-listed Barns at Hamilton Station, also has a Purcellville address. One day we'd like to see a historic map of the county to see how these town limits appeared; probably similar to the large "townships" found in other states like Pennsylvania (townships are more like mini counties than traditional towns).

Enough geography....on to the location, and the wine. The Barns at Hamilton Station is, big surprise, located inside a barn, like so many wineries in the county. As the case with nearby Sunset Hills Vineyards and Willowcroft, the barn has been lovingly restored, and the builders incorporated artifacts found scattered around the pre-restoration barn (such as old license plates and rusty tools) into the tasting room décor. While the barn at Sunset Hills received a rather slick upgrade courtesy of crafty Amish carpenters, the barn at Barns at Hamilton Station retains more ruggedness. Plus, a gas fireplace (real wood fire being understandably too hazardous). Wood naturally absorbs sound, so even when the location gets crowded (and the inevitable live band is playing), you can still hear your table's conversation. Needless to say, the interior of The Barns works wonders during the cold months:

The Barn has a lower level that is rented for events (there was a wedding supply "Expo Hall" type exhibit going on the day we visited). Wedding supplies and winery....sounds like a match made in heaven. If there is an event in this space, the parking lot of the Barns at Hamilton Station may look busier than the tasting room itself is, so don't let that discourage you from visiting the winery.

The wine offerings are fairly typical of what you would find in Virginia: Viognier, with notes of apricot and fig; Chardonnay, slightly oaked and a bit more complex than other Chardonnays found in the area; Cab Franc, a bit lighter than other Francs offering notes of cherry; Merlot, a bit light and with a nice hint of oak. Nothing truly remarkable (yet...) about these wines but all good and satisfying. This is a new location and their prices are more competitive than other new wineries, which frequently price their wines on the high side ($25 and up) to make up for initial expenses. You can get away with that pricing in "recession proof" Northern Virginia, so we were pleased with The Barns' decision to keep prices a little lower (however no bottle is less than $20).

Since this winery is in Northern Virginia, expect to wait for a tasting. This is becoming the norm in the area, unless you get out to winery country early (arrive by opening time, 11 AM for most locations). Despite the number of new wineries in Loudoun County, the tasting rooms are always hopping. And Loudoun County now unfortunately suffers from "winery gridlock" on the roads, particularly route 9 (Charles Town Pike) heading from route 7 towards Harpers Ferry and Charles Town, where many wineries dot the highway. The Barns compensates for their busy factor by offering an ancillary tasting table, created with flat piece of wood and two barrels, as well as their regular tasting bar on busy days.

Outside, a deck, with a view of an unusual shaped pond, lets you forget you're only 8 minutes from downtown Leesburg. We were happy to see no McMansions in sight, which is becoming rare for wineries in the county. With such close proximity to the DC area, The Barns make a terrific all-day getaway, and if you crave other wineries, the aforementioned Hunters Run Wine Barn and Sunset Hills Winery are only a few minutes away (relatively speaking, depending on the traffic on route 9....).

The tasting barn at The Barns. Firepits await you outside, but arrive early to grab one:

The deck at The Barns:

Link for winery:
Barns at Hamilton Station

A Shout-Out to Boutique Wineries

Many wineries in the Commonwealth pride themselves on being "boutique wineries." The number of locations written up in the annual Virginia winery map using the term "boutique" increases every year. What, exactly, defines a boutique winery?

There is no standard answer to this question. There is no Wikipedia page analyzing what makes a boutique winery. In our travels to vineyards that label themselves "boutique," the answer to the question is similar, but never exactly the same. What we've pieced together is this: Limited number of bottles, relying on smaller festivals to move wine, no heavy advertising, small staff usually consisting of family members, small tasting room, not a wedding venue, limited number of bottles. We mention the number of bottles twice as that's the answer that was consistent amongst the winery owners we asked.

A Virginia location like Horton, Williamsburg Winery, or Chateau Morrisette will somehow find a way to produce mass quantities of wine, year after year after year, available not only in their tasting rooms, but also restaurants, grocery stores, and the biggest festivals in the state. If there is a bad growing year, these wineries known for particular varietals will find some way to get the grapes to make their signature wines. So, while one year, you may be drinking a Muscat from Chateau Morrisette labeled "Virginia" on the bottle (meaning the grapes for the wine were grown in the Commonwealth, perhaps not at the winery but at least in a vineyard in the state), but the next year the same varietal will be labeled "American," meaning the grapes were grown in another state (this is particularly true for varietals that are difficult to grow in Virginia, like Muscat.)

A boutique winery doesn't play that game. If there is a bad growing year for one of its signature varietals, the winery will simply not offer one the following year. Instead, a boutique winery may offer the same varietal or something similar from another winery (boutique wineries are more likely to engage in friendly competition, and sharing of their products, due to their relatively smaller sizes). "Relative" is the term we would use to describe a boutique winery. And rest assured a boutique winery in California or Oregon would look nothing like a boutique winery in Virginia (one winery the blogmasters visited in California produced as much wine a year, and had a tasting room just as large, as Tarara, one of the larger Virginia wineries, yet called itself "boutique").

With the winery boom in full swing in the Commonwealth, given characteristics outlined here, it's no surprise so many spots are calling themselves "boutique wineries." The blogmasters have visited boutique spots in the state that specialize in eggs and homemade jams (Crushed Cellars in Loudoun county) and chocolate (Glass House Winery north of Charlottesville), and one winery that resides in a camp ground (Belle Mount in the Northern Neck). Wine seemed to be a supplemental business, although the owners/winemakers were very serious about their wine and would probably be insulted by the "supplement" comment (so apologizes in advance).

We tend to prefer the boutique locations over the more commercialized spots; we can always count on the larger locations to be open every day of the week, so if we decide to blow off our day job on a Wednesday, we know where to go (boutique wineries are usually open Friday through Sunday only). And if we need to order a case for the holidays, the more commercial wineries in Virginia are our go-to spots for very good wine at reasonable prices (boutique wines, due to their limited production, tend to cost a few dollars more). Some locations in the state are open by appointment only (in fact that section of the annual Virginia wine map seems to grow every year; appointment only wineries typically mean you will be tasting their wines in their actual homes).

Our favorite boutique wineries in Virginia are too numerous to list here, but we will single out a few that we frequent regularly, mainly due to our proximity to them (being the prisoners of the Capital Beltway that we are). As these are boutique wineries, they usually don't allow (that is, have the room for) large groups, so please call ahead if you want to visit with a group of 8 or more:

Zephaniah Farm Vineyard, south of Leesburg, makes some of the best Chambourcin in the state and offers a tasting room inside an early 1800s era mansion. One of the family members will pour for you on your visit, and offer a tour of the house and (if you're lucky), wine cellar.

8 Chains North Winery, located off highway 9 (a winery heavy road in Loudoun county, also home to the aforementioned Crushed Cellars), specializes in red varietals. Owner/winemaker Ben Renshaw worked closely with Virginia wine pioneer Doug Fabbioli and crafts some delicious reds (and a few whites) that are far and away some of the best in the Commonwealth.

Marterella Winery, north of Warrenton, is an always fun spot that offers something for every palate - from off dry whites to bold reds.

Chester Gap Cellars, south of Front Royal, is one of our favorite locations in the state (the view alone is worth the trip to the winery), specializing in Virginia's signature grape, Viognier, and also offering some intense (with higher than usual alcohol content) red varietals.

Hume Vineyards, between Front Royal and Washington, VA, works mainly with Bordeaux varietals, offering very mature wine despite the young age of the winery (they opened in 2011).

What's your favorite boutique winery?

Virginia Wineries: Kid Stuff?

The blogmasters are often perplexed by the number of kids (and even babies) we've seen in winery tasting rooms across the state. Apparently many wine lovers opt not to get sitters for the day and bring their charges to the vineyards.

Now we love kids and babies. But are wineries really an appropriate place to bring them? These are tasting rooms - not Chuck E. Cheese. But as we are an upbeat blog, we will look at this with the glass half full: Babysitters were not available and the couple/family decided, at last minute, to forgo the trip to Kings Dominion or Water Country USA in favor of the grapes.

This all said, some wineries in the Commonwealth are more kid/baby friendly than others (usually these same wineries are dog-friendly, which could be the topic of a different blog post). And there are other locations in the state we urge families to avoid.

We have to reflect on the alcohol consumption laws in the United States. They seem somewhat backwards to us--you can join the military at age 17 and possibly die for your country, but you can't legally take a sip of wine or beer until you're 21? Something doesn't seem quite right here. In France and Germany, legal age to consume beer and wine is 16. So perhaps the wineries friendly to young ones are trying to tell the powers that be something.

Here are several wineries in Virginia that will have massive appeal to kids (moreso than other wineries):

Three Fox Vineyards: This winery is like kid heaven. Two big hills (one leading to a creek and the other leading to their "Table in the Sky," that feels like you're on top of the world). Lawn games. Hammocks by the creek. The winery is very kid (and dog) friendly and tastings are done outside as well as inside during warmer months.

Barrel Oak Winery: Dogs. A loft area upstairs with a TV that plays kids' movies. Dogs. Lots of space outside to run around. Dogs. Five minutes away from Three Fox, so you can make a day of it. Dogs. Live entertainment every weekend. A true festival feeling. Dogs.

Wisteria Vineyard: The look and feel of a working farm, complete with free roaming animals (sheep, roosters, domestic ducks). Another large property with a creek and a nature trail. Mountain views. Definitely a good family "daycation" spot.

Bluemont Vineyard: See Wisteria Vineyard.

Old House Vineyards: A good all season winery for the family. Especially if your kids are into chess and checkers. They will be fascinated by the pond with the bridge and island.

Sharp Rock Vineyards: A creek where amateur fishing and wading is encouraged.

Village Winery: In addition to wine, chocolate syrups are offered. And the kids will love the rustic farm feel of this spot, minutes from the historic village of Waterford.

As for wineries in the state that are not too fond of young ones, we won't mention them here - again, positive thoughts. But we strongly suggest you check a winery website very clearly before venturing to an unfamiliar place, if you plan on bringing your kids. For families, nothing is more frustrating than driving into the heart of Vavino country only to be welcomed by a "No One Under 21 Admitted" sign.

And please keep your kids under control while in the tasting room. Remember, this is a winery. Not a daycare center!

NEW WINERY SPOTLIGHT 2: KILAURWEN WINERY

After Arlington County, the smallest county (in geographical area) in the Commonwealth is Greene County, wedged between Orange County, Madison County, and Albemarle County, north of Charlottesville. For those familiar with the Virginia winery scene, Stone Mountain Vineyards, the highest vineyards and tasting room (1700 feet above sea level) in the state, is located in Greene County, offering a spectacular view of the east from the Blue Ridge mountains. Not far from Stone Mountain is a vineyard that's been growing grapes for Stone Mountain (and other nearby wineries) since 1994: Kilaurwen Winery.

The name sounds Celtic, but the winery is actually named after the three daughters of the owners (Kimberlee, Laura and Wendy). Open as a tasting room since 2012, the wines here are complex (the reds), fruit forward (the whites), and tasty; the winemaker has learned from the masters of the area, including Dennis Horton, Luca Paschina, and the late Chris Breiner of Stone Mountain. The tasting room, albeit rather sparse (the owners have been spending most of their free time tending to the grapes and maintaining their eye and soul-pleasing property that surrounds the tasting room), lends itself to intimate tastings with the husband and wife owners.

Cab Franc rules supreme here for the reds; currently Kilaurwen offers three: 2009 vintage and two 2010 (regular and reserve). Each are unique due to the growing years and the aging process. We preferred the regular 2010, bold but smooth and delicious, with notes of vanilla and cinammon. Whites were also well balanced; currently they offer an off-dry (nearly totally dry) Riesling and an award winning table white. Prices are perfect; not one bottle over $20, which unfortunately is becoming less common, even in the winery packed Monticello AVA.

There are no highway signs (yet), however with the help of a good map and/or GPS, the winery is an easy trek to or from Stone Mountain or Early Mountain Vineyards, the winery AOL mogul Steve Case took over from the Sweely family last year. Kilaurwen's property is vast; a path cuts through a dense patch of forest that leads up a hill to the vineyards, which are sloping, ensuring proper drainage. Currently no plans are in the works for live bands or weddings and events; that is music to the ears of anyone wanting a true Virginia wine getaway from noise and the stress that goes with noise.

Check out our short video and be sure to visit Kilaurwen Winery this summer, which will make for a rather surreal visit with the 17 year cicadas buzzing like an orchestra:

Video Clip: Valerie Hill Vineyard

Enjoy this short video from Valerie Hill Vineyard:

NEW WINERY SPOTLIGHT 1: Valerie Hill Vineyard

At least 15 new wineries are opening in the state this year, several in Loudoun County alone. For this post, we'd like to introduce you to a winery not in Loudoun, but Frederick County (Winchester area). Valerie Hill Vineyard is the first vineyards/winery to open in Frederick County since Deer Meadow shut its doors about five years ago.

Valerie Hill Vineyard is named after the house where the tasting room and events rooms reside. This house was built in 1807 and one of the family members working behind the tasting bar happily answer any questions about the house, and its history. Phil Newcome and his wife and sons preside over the proceedings. Currently the wines are made at nearby Veramar Vineyards, but the Newcomes have plans to undertake the winemaking in the next year or so.

Phil welcoming us to Valerie Hill:


The current star of their lineup is their 2011 Viognier, crisp and border effervescent. Two chardonnays are offered, one from 2010 (bone dry) and the other from 2011 (a more difficult vintage due to weather, thus more fruit forward). As for the reds, the chambourcin/cab sauv blend was intriguing and hearty. A few sweeter wines are offered as well (including a dessert wine). We can honestly say that we enjoyed the wine here more than the current base of Valerie Hill wines (Veramar Vineyard, which slightly disappointed us during our last visit in December).

The outdoor area borders the Allegheny mountain chain and is peaceful to the max. There is a chimney remaining from an old burned down house on the property which Phil intends to build a patio around.



Several tables and firepits have been set up behind the house, which makes Valerie Hill a great option for warm summer evenings (plus they are open until 9 PM on Friday nights - another big plus!) For cooler or rainy weather, an indoor seating area exists as well.



Now, more about the house. Valerie Hill estate served as a makeshift hospital during the Civil War. The Battle of Cedar Creek was fought nearby; this battle was not as famous as other Civil War skirmishes but it did have its share of gory casualties. And many victims were taken to Valerie Hill for treatment, and many died. The stories Phil told us about some of the operations that took place in this house are not for the squeamish and there are actual faint blood stains engrained in the main level hallway floor.

Of course the house is haunted, and a paranormal investigative team from Pennsylvania has visited the house on more than one occasion. It has been speculated that the house has at least three independent hauntings. One stems from Benedict, a child who lived in the house in the early 19th Century but was locked away for most of his life in the attic for being "socially undesirable" (he was mildly retarded).

The staircase leading up to the attic:



Other incidents have occured in the parlor room where many wine tastings are held. In fact the winery dog Buddy is a beagle and border collie mix; those dogs are usually feisty and friendly. But Buddy was high strung and actually growled at us a few times during our visit. Phil explained that Buddy tends to get edgy if he spends too much time in the house.

The parlor and Buddy:



We didn't expect to get a ghost tour during our visit, but it was fascinating. And the wine wasn't too shabby either. The family does not live in the house (for obvious reasons), and to date they have no plans to offer a Bed and a Breakfast inside Valerie Hill (for the daring or skeptical guests). We mentioned the idea to Phil, who pondered it carefully. Maybe some day......

In the meantime, enjoy this historic location with delicious wine.

Valerie Hill Vineyard

Loudoun County Videoclip 1: Notaviva Vineyards

Notaviva Vineyards is "wine paired with music." Located off route 9, about 2 miles from the West Virginia border on the way to Harper's Ferry, Notaviva is the labor of love for Shannon and Stephen Mackey, two musicians who decided several years ago to link two of their passions - wine and music - together. A musical note adorns their chosen logo on their labels, and their wines are musically named: "Vincerò" and "Ottantotto" (two Viogniers), "Cantabile" (Cab Franc).

Their winery was featured on the HGTV reality television series "Dream House" several years ago. Notaviva celebrated their fourth anniversary in 2012, and they are the perfect starting point for your Loudoun County vino tour: Washington DC's Wine Country.

Enjoy our short video shot in 2010 during a tasting on a quiet Thursday afternoon:

Video Clip: Wintergreen Winery

Located about 30 miles south of Waynesboro, near the entrance to Wintergreen Resort, lies Wintergreen Winery, one of the many gold nuggets of the Nelson County wine trail.

It seems like every entry written by the VAVINO blogmasters talks about the views at the wineries in the Commonwealth. The views along are worth seeking these locations out, even if you drink water instead of their product. That said, the views at Wintergreen are some of the more spectacular in the state, and the tasting room, situated on the banks of the babbling Rockfish River, is irresistible (if not a bit confined).

The wine selections lean a little more towards the sweet side, versus other spots in Nelson Country. Probably their most popular wine is the Thomas Nelson white, 70% Vidal Blanc and 30% Petit Manseng (the fact that this is the closest winery to Wintergreen Resort may have something to do with their number of semi-sweet wines here). Our favorites were their Viognier and their Three Ridges Red (46% Chambourcin, 40% Cabernet Franc and 14% Merlot). Further proof that the styles of wine in Virginia change radically with each growing season, the Black Rock Chardonnay Reserve was one of our favorite chards in the state about three years ago (dry, light acidity and not too oaky). The Reserve currently offered seemed more buttery and less dry than we remembered, but still quite good.

Wintergreen has a new events pavilion that can be rented for events, making the winery a perfect year-around spot for weddings. Several picnic tables dot the the edge of the river.

A quick video taken from Wintergreen in fall 2012. Please keep in mind that this was our third stop that afternoon......

Virginia Wine Lover: Best Of Voting (2013)

Don't let the Notebook sway your votes, but here's what we selected:

Best Virginia Wine:
Statewide--Virginia Wine--Winery: Fabbioli Cellars
Statewide--Virginia Wine--Wine Name: Chambourcin
Vintage: 2010

Best Chardonnay:
Statewide: Chatham Vineyards
Wine Name: Church Creek Steel Fermented
Vintage: 2010

Best Viognier:
Statewide: Blenheim Vineyards
Wine Name: Viognier
Vintage: 2010

Best Norton:
Statewide: Barrel Oak Winery
Wine Name: Norton
Vintage: 2009

Best Meritage (or Meritage-style):
Statewide: Glen Manor
Wine Name: Hodder Hill
Vintage: 2009

Best Fruit Wine (non-grape):
Statewide: North Gate Vineyard
Wine Name: Apple Wine
Vintage: 2011

Best Wine Bottle Artwork:
Statewide: Flying Fox Vineyards
Wine Name: Fox White
Description of artwork: A cartoon fox in a variety of methods of flight; label changed each year. Past years: Biplane, hot air balloon, shot out of a cannon.

Best Overall Winery:
Old House Vineyards

Best Winemaker:
Nate Walsh (Sunset Hills)

Best Outdoor Space:
Sharp Rock Vineyards

Best Indoor Space:
Pollak Vineyards

Best View:
Stone Mountain Vineyards

Best Winery Dog:
Franc from Unicorn Winery

Best Winery Cat:
Warren from Fabbioli Cellars

Best Tasting Room layout:
Saude Creek Winery

Best Food Offerings:
Fox Meadow Vineyards

Best Special Events:
Breaux Vineyards

Best for Picnics:
Sharp Rock Vineyards

Best "Green" (Sustainable) Winery:
Cooper Vineyards

Best Winery for Weddings:
Notaviva Vineyards

Best Wine Tour:
Philip Carter Winery

Best Mass Producing Winery:
Horton Vineyards

Most Romantic Winery:
Zephaniah Farm Vineyard

Best Virginia Wine List Restaurant:
Magnolia's at the Mill (Purcellville)

Best Gourmet Shop (not a winery) for Virginia Wine:
Olde Dominion Wine Shoppe (Occoquan)

Best Mass Retailer Virginia Wine Selection:
Total Wine

Best Weekend Wine-Themed Getaway Spot:
Charlottesville

Best Wine Festival:
Richmond (late February)

Best Wineries by Virginia Region:

Central--Pollak Vineyards
Eastern (Northern Neck)--Ingleside Vineyards
Eastern (Eastern Shore)--Holly Grove Vineyards
Northern--Hiddencroft Vineyards
Shenandoah Valley--North Mountain Vineyard
Southern--LeoGrande Vineyard
Western--West Wind Farm Winery

Video Clip: Villa Appalaccia Vineyards

Located near the Hokie Wine Trail, directly off the Blue Ridge Parkway....a perfect fall getaway!

The Hokie Wine Trail

With a growing viticulture education program and its location in one of the few AVAs (American Viticulture Areas) in the state, wine and Virginia Tech go together like football and orange colored beer. The AVA in question is the North Fork of Roanoke, which compared to other AVAs in the Commonwealth (especially the Monticello and Shenandoah Valley AVAs) has been winery scarce. Until now. While not as rich in commercial wineries as its long rival UVA, the Virginia Tech region is close to two new, outstanding wineries, and a short drive from other excellent spots. Why not visit on the next “away game” weekend? We’ve maped out a route that will take you two the new Christiansburg/Blacksburg area spots, as well as three along the way down, not far from I-81.

ON THE WAY DOWN: Blue Ridge Vineyard is perched in the hills, surrounded by the Blue Ridge and Alleghenies in all directions. An old barn houses the tasting room, and you’ll feel as though you stumbled onto an antiques store hid up in the mountains as you make your way for your tasting. The altitude of this winery allows Blue Ridge to dabble in varietals not common for Virginia, such as Riesling and its cousin, Gewürztraminer . Compared to Northern Virginia spots, this is not a busy location – after your tasting, you will pretty much have the run of the property to enjoy a bottle and soak in the endless mountain vistas – picnic tables are positioned randomly on the inclines, and their gazebo can create perfect Virginia memories. Not far from Blue Ridge Vineyard, a little closer to civilization (and the village of Fincastle), lies Virginia Mountain Vineyards. Another winery that features the entire family on the premises, welcoming visitors and pouring their surprisingly wide range of whites and reds (a terrific Traminette that goes well with spicy Asian dishes stood out) plus their most memorable creation, “Holiday Spice,” sweet wine with spices, which can be served warm and is a winter treat. This winery looks a bit slicker in operation, but the wine is well-priced and unique.

Fincastle Vineyard is your final stop on your way to Blacksburg. The GPS in our car took us on a wild goose chase, so we highly suggest mapping this winery out using “old fashioned” Google maps or Mapquest. The tasting room at Fincastle is located in the owner’s home, which is also a B&B. To allow privacy for the guests who may not be that interested in wine, the house has two patios – one for winery visitors and another for B&B guests. The wines are a bit on the sweet side, but excellent and also well priced. Our favorites were the chardonnay, a bit oaked but low in acidity, and their hearty cab franc, earthy with notes of blackberry and black licorice. Fincastle has a big lawn in front of the house that serves as festival grounds during the warmer months.

NEAR VIRGINIA TECH: Attimo Winery is located about 10 minutes from downtown Christiansburg, and reminded us of a winery in Loudoun County; proof that other metro areas in Virginia are growing in population, not just the Northern Virginia “metroplex.” As the case with many other wineries in Virginia, Attimo was started as a side business, but owners Rik and Melissa Obiso hope for an early retirement to settle full time in Christiansburg and make wine full time. Despite their young age, their wines have already won numerous awards in the country. Their Chardonnay, with hints of honeysuckle and butterscotch, stood out on the white side, and the Cabernet Sauvignon was pucker-inducing and very pleasing.

The last stop is another location that doubles as a bed and breakfast: Beliveau Estate Winery. Like Blue Ridge Vineyard, mountains surround the spot in all directions. The new winemakers welcome guests and treat them to very leisurely and generous pourings inside their country store-like tasting room. Another location that seems to favor wines on the sweeter side, including another excellent Traminette. There are hilltop seats and pondside seats scattered throughout the property, including a gazebo over the pond. Yet another rural Virginia winery that is damn near impossible to leave. And if you plan ahead of time, you won’t have to--stay in their B&B, or take the winding road to Blacksburg.

For part two of the trip, if you feel like an hour drive, visit the wineries southwest of Virginia Tech, dotted along the Blue Ridge Parkway:
Chateau Morrisette (home of several “Hokie label” wines, some of which you can find in grocery stores) and Villa Appalaccia.

Winery URLs:
Blue Ridge Vineyard
Virginia Mountain Vineyards
Fincastle Vineyard & Winery
Attimo Winery
Beliveau Estate Winery
Chateau Morrisette
Villa Appalaccia

To whet your thirst for great wine and views, here’s a video clip from Beliveau Estate Winery:

Video Clip: Grayhaven Winery

Grayhaven Winery: Truly unique in a pure Virginia way.

Winery Spotlight: Grayhaven Winery

Located midway between Richmond and Charlottesville, a few minutes from I-64, Grayhaven Winery is one of the most unique wineries in the state. Unique, not only for its wine (spotlighting intriguing white and red blends), but its location. Driving into the vineyards, you think you've gone back in time to the Woodstock era. The tasting room is a curious little building that you'd see in Lord of the Rings, and it's tight inside, but that adds to the tasting experience you'll have at Grayhaven. You may be greeted by "Jiggy Pig," a French bulldog who won the esteemed "Virginia Winery Dog of the Year" award last year. Deon Abrams, the winemaker from the wine country of South Africa, or his wife, will guide you through a slow-paced, sit down tasting. They have a few typical Virginia offerings - a nicely balanced Chardonnay, a lively Seyval Blanc - but the wines they poured for us were mostly blends with "table wine" labels. And these are not your typical table wines. Every one was unlike anything we've had in Virginia. On the white end of the spectrum, "Voyager" was our favorite, a blend of grapes you're more likely to see in upstate New York, or California: Vidal Blanc, Cayuga White, Golden Muscat and Chardonnel. Evidently the climate and soil in this part of the state allows for growing these varietals. All of their wines are made from grapes grown on the property. On the red side, Grayhaven is rightfully proud of its signature grape, Touriga, a varietal from Portugal and mainly used for Port wines. That should give you an indication of this varietal's richness, and alcohol content. It reminded us of the Tannat offered by Chateau O'Brien, albeit not as complex (or pricey). A perfect prime rib wine. Two red blends were offered: Trekker, with its notes of wild cherry and spice, and Rendezvous, a claret style blend, with less tannins and a lighter body than Trekker. Outside the tasting cabin, you can sit on the patio surrounded by their koi pond, and watch the butterflies and honing in on the numerous flowers (including a potted lime tree). There are horses on the property and the horses are allowed to run free. The large property includes a pond and several benches. There is a rustic vibe here that reminded us of Wisteria Farm Winery near Luray. Ask the owners about a low budget movie made here (or as they told us, "lowest budget"): Attack of the Vegan Zombies. The title describes the plot to a tee so let your imagination run wild. Grayhaven Winery is worth a pit stop on your next drive down U.S. highway 522, which is the easiest way to get there from northern Virginia. Catch highway 522 near Culpeper and just follow it down to the Mineral/Cuckoo area.

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

Virginia Wineworks: Another visit

The Notebook HAD to return to Wineworks (also known as Virginia Wineworks) for another visit, in the sticky July heat of Virginia! Short video:

Winery Spotlight: Sugarleaf Vineyards

Located off state route 20, south of Charlottesville on the way to Scottsville, Sugarleaf Vineyards is just one of many locations that makes the Monticello Wine Trail so special. An extremely narrow gravel road will take you to a grove situated between giant oak trees, mountains, and a large pond. (This narrow road will test your winery hopping mettle, so as the Boy Scouts once said, "Be Prepared.") Sugarleaf started about four years ago, and their wines at one time were above the norm in price. But now seasoned, the vineyard owners dropped their prices a bit to compete with other neighboring wineries, but their quality has not suffered. This is still the same incredible wine served several years ago in the Obama White House. The chardonnay is crisp with a hint of oak, but not overly oaked. Imagine a dry wine version of butter pecan ice cream, minus the sugar, and you wouldn't be too far off. Their vidal blanc, served extra cold, is full of citrus flavor and perfect for these hot July afternoons. As for the reds, not an under average one in the bunch. Our favorite was the pure petit verdot, with licorice and raisin notes. Don't overlook Sugarleaf on your next visit to the more well-known spots in this area of Charlottesville (First Colony, Cardinal Point, Jefferson). Buy a few bottles, admire the favorite tree of their parted former winemaker Dan Neumeister (who tragically died in a motorcycle crash a few years ago), and stay for the afternoon. Enjoy this video, with a cameo from the Sugarleaf resident dog:

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:

Winery Spotlight: Virginia Wineworks

Virginia Wineworks, or "Wineworks" (their new official name), is unlike any other winery you'll visit in Virginia. No "Keg Buses" full of overgrown frat boys, bachelorette parties, or live bands to be found here. This is a Working Winery. And you're aware of it the minute you pull into their gravel driveway. To enter the tasting room (more like tasting basement) of Wineworks, you walk through the barrel storage and tank area. Wineworks makes wine for other Virginia locations, and some barrels have masking tape indicating the names of those other wineries. We were surprised at the geographical reach of some locations - Wineworks is located south of Charlottesville, yet they evidently make wine for some locations in the Northern Neck.

There are two labels here: Wineworks, and Michael Shaps. Michael Shaps is one of the founding fathers of the Virginia wine scene, and his winemaking skill is well-known by anyone with even a passing interest in Virginia wine. The wines on his own label are a little pricier, but we actually preferred some of the blends on the more economical Wineworks label (we had a similar reaction to Ingleside and their Chesapeake label). Wineworks features wine in a box - the first Virginia location to do this. The boxes hold up to three liters of wine. Currently viognier, chardonnay and cabernet franc are offered in boxes; a good start for the Virginia box market as these are three signature Virginia wines. Wine snobs may be put off by the box concept, but for entertaining at a party, or dragging to Wolf Trap, box wine does just fine. Just make sure it's chilled (even the cab franc). The wines are good to excellent here (the boxed wine being in the good category), and the price is right (all box wines are $30 each). As for the bottled wines, our favorite Wineworks offerings were the Merlot/Malbec blend, "half a Meritage" (it's missing two varietals to be considered a Meritage), at $16 a steal and perfect with red meat, whether it's a filet mignon or burgers on the grill. On the Michael Shaps label, the chardonnay was excellent with faint notes of almond and pear. Viognier is produced under both labels. If you go for the full tasting in the tasting "basement," you can try the Wineworks and Michael Shaps viogniers back to back. Both beautifully done, but we preferred the Michael Shaps viognier (not as acidic).

The location is about half a mile through the woods past First Colony Winery, south of Charlottesville. First Colony makes fine wine and their set up is more conducive to "hanging out" (First Colony has been a favorite of the blogmasters for years). Start with a visit to Wineworks, and buy several bottles to go, and then meander back to First Colony to wrap your afternoon up.

Watch our short video on Wineworks:

Village Wine Stop #3: Waterford

Waterford is in the middle of Loudoun County, but it may as well be in the middle of rural central Pennsylvania. There is something decidely Lancaster Dutch-like about this village. Maybe it's the age of the village itself (1733). Or maybe it's the Quaker history of the village. Or the rolling hills leading to narrow streets in the village itself. Having the town as a home residence name on your address instantly increases your property value. This is the quiet Middleburg. Don't expect fancy dress shops and restaurants here. But there are several unique and highly underrated wineries surrounding the village.

Corcoran Vineyards was actually named Waterford Vineyards several years ago, until a certain crystal manufacturing company took note and sent them a not-so-nice letter. Lori Corcoran is the popular winemaker here, and in addition to making the excellent product at her winery, acts as a tasting room manager at nearby Sunset Hills Vineyard on an ad hoc basis. There are several fun "summer whites" here, perfect for chilling: Traminette, Cello (Petit Manseng), and a delicious apple wine. But the stand outs are the reds, in particular their Chambourcin and rosé, made from the Chambourcin. The tasting room is rather tight, inside a small cabin, and the property does have a few McMansions within sight (welcome to Loudoun county), but there is an intimacy here missing from many wineries in the county. Corcoran recently got into the brewery mold, and you can dabble in craft beer on the same visit as their brewery is very close to the winery.

Sunset Hills Vineyard is a totally different world than Corcoran - bustling, full of wine enthusiasts as well as what we call "the amateurs," there for one reason and one reason only--get sloshed. But Sunset Hills proves that bustling and commercial does not equate to inferior. Many of their wines are award-winners, and the tasting room is located inside a barn restored several years ago by Amish builders (another link to Pennsylvania). The owners, Mike and Diane Canney, are frequently onsite. Mike left a lucrative career as a nuclear physicist in Reston (Sunset Hills is actually named after the road his company was located on), and also races cars in his spare time. Being a scientist, he is very analyical and admits that his first vineyard was planted improperly. Now he has four distinct vineyards and specializes in Viognier, Cab Franc, and Cab Sauv. A Petit Verdot is on the way.

Village Winery is properly named, just a stones' throw away from the Waterford village limits. Owner/winemaker Kent Marrs is a Kansas native with planting and harvesting in his blood. All of his wines are entirely hand-crafted - no mechanical pumps (more Amish influence, perhaps?) His Petit Verdot stood out as a big bold red, and he has a fun apple wine as well as a few typical Virginia offerings (Viognier, Merlot, Cab Franc). However the big draw here is his elderberry products: Not only wine, but chocolate/elderberry syrup for desserts, a sparkling beverage with no alcohol, and a vinaigrette salad dressing. The tasting room is located inside a quaint, rather drafty barn, and there are plenty of picnic tables surrounding the rustic barn.

Casanel Vineyards is a blogmaster favorite, sandwiched between the Waterford area of Loudoun county and the small town of Hamilton. Named after owners Nelson and Casey DeSouza, the tasting room is a family affair, and usually every member of the family can be spotted there. Nelson is an entertaining native of Brazil who came to the U.S. and spent years as a successful construction contractor. Currently Nelson is working on an adjacent tasting room for buses, limos and loud bachelorette parties, "so our loyal longtime guests can enjoy a quiet tasting and we can still expand to appeal to big groups." It's a great idea and would be fantastic if other wineries followed his lead. Their Viognier is excellent--crisp with just the right amount of citrus tartness, and perfect chilled. The reds are the stars here: Norton and Merlot, in particular. Both are recent award winners. Grab a bottle for their gazebo located in a pond (you read right). Three Fox has its table in the sky. Casanel has its table in the pond.

The last stop is only a mile from downtown Leesburg: Dry Mill Vineyards. The horse on the label comes from the history of the barn that serves as the tasting room--this was once home to the horses of the Loudoun Hunt Club. The barn is a combination of the very rustic spot in Village Winery and the restored, highly impressive barn at Sunset Hills. And a corporate meeting room exists above the tasting room, for your next business meeting. Wines are good to outstanding, most under $20. Their two chardonnays (one steel barrel aged, the other oak) are worth trying back to back, to get a feel for what your palate prefers (steel vs. oak). Dry Mill is another location doing great things with Chambourcin, which is well on its way to join Cab Franc and Petit Verdot as official Virginia reds.

Loudoun County now has more wineries than many U.S. states. Waterford is a perfect starting point to branch out and experience a few lesser-known spots in the county.

Corcoran Vineyards
Sunset Hills Vineyard
Village Winery
Casanel Vineyards
Dry Mill Vineyards

Village Wine Stop #1: Middleburg

Middleburg is one of those northern Virginia villages featured in nearly every tourist guide and regional magazine at least three times per year. It is the center of northern Virginia horse and fox hunt country. The Safeway in the middle of town is the poshest Safeway you'll probably ever visit. Gridlock on a typical spring weekend day is nearly as bad as Old Town Alexandria. For our money, Middleburg the town is overrated. But there's hope as Middleburg features a few winning wineries a stone's throw away from town.

The first stop is arguably one of the most unique locations in the state (as far as Virginia wineries go): Quattro Goomba's Winery. This winery brings grapes in from California, Italy and Chile, and makes the wine in Virginia. Evidently Quattro Goomba's will be acquiring grapes from Breaux in the future, so a Virginia-grown product will be offered as well. The wines currently offered were a bit on the sweet side, but adequate. Like other wineries in the region, Quattro Goombas usually has a live band during the weekend, which continues to spoil the wine tasting mood for the blogmasters. We would rate Quattro Goomba's high for those just getting into the Virginia wine scene - you get the vistas of the Virginia countryside, the friendly staff, the generous tastings, but you don't get Virginia wine (yet).

Drive westbound on U.S. route 50 and follow the signs to Chrysalis Vineyards, the home of Norton, Virginia's original grape. If you want to experiment with this unique red, there is no better place to do it. Chrysalis is one of the original Virginia vineyards, and boasts a pictureseque setting amid the hills of fox hunt country. The tasting room and process is a bit small and confusing (respectively), and some of the wines were too sweet for our tastes, but for a Norton experience in Northern Virginia, Chrysalis Vineyards is worth a stop.

Swedenburg Estate Vineyard has its property right outside the town limits of Middleburg. This is our favorite winery in the region - wines are dry, Old World-style winners. Juanita Swedenburg was a pioneer of the Virginia wine industry, and fought long and hard for the state's now-flexible wine laws. Her spirit lives on as her son and grandchildren carry on with managing the vineyards. Despite being so close to the town, the vineyards and picnic area seem to be miles away. This is definitely a better warm weather spot as the tasting room is small and offers few tables (our only gripe about Swedenburg Estate Vineyard). The pinot noir itself is worth a visit, but stay to enjoy the mountain views and quiet vineyard setting.

Piedmont Vineyards, south of Middleburg (on the way to Delaplane), is another Virginia wine original. This is one of the oldest wineries in the Commonwealth, established in 1973. The owner/winemaker is a German gentleman who may put some off with his gruffness at first (he's all about his wine and making sure his guests have an intimate experience), but he warms up as soon as you start asking questions. Try the unoaked Hunt Country Chardonnay and the Hunt Country Red, a perfect sangria base.

The final stop on your tour could very well be Boxwood Winery, which the blogmasters have not visited. The slickness and formality of this place turns us off (you need an appointment to take a tour and try their wines at the winery). However you can try their wines at their satellite tasting rooms in downtown Middleburg or Reston Town Center. Their signature red, Boxwood, is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot, and is incredibly good, but not better than many other more affordable wines we've had in the region. But due to its location near Middleburg, and the fact that the property (gated of course) is so impressive, it deserves a mention.

There is no shortage of restaurants in Middleburg to find food to soak up your vino experience (although we were sad to see our favorite restaurant in the area, the Hidden Horse Tavern, closed on the last visit). Pick your spot, or tour all of them, and enjoy a daycation away from the Beltway madness.

Quattro Goomba's Winery
Chrysalis Vineyards
Swedenburg Estate Vineyard
Piedmont Vineyards
Boxwood Winery