Tucked in the mountains, twenty minutes north of Roanoke, on the The Botetourt Wine Trail (three terrific and rustic wineries in Botetourt County), lies Fincastle Vineyard, a charming family-run B&B and winery. This is one of those "GPS Wineries;" those rural Virginia places far, far away from civilization, where the only sounds are the cows in the distance and the occasional cicada buzzing in the trees. Northern Virginia has a few of these spots. Southwest Virginia wineries are all about this nature vibe. Luckily in the case of Fincastle, the wines are just as great as the natural atmosphere.
Drive up the dirt road at Fincastle, and you'll pass an elegant batch of vineyards. Turn the curve, go up the hill (actually the foothill of a mountain), and you'll see a Virginia home right out of the Waltons, complete with a sipping porch. The tasting room is housed inside their home, and the Bed and Breakfast is on the other side of the house (the owners do a nice job keeping the B&B guests, who may not necessarily be looking for a wine getaway, separate from the winery guests).
David and Georgia, the owners, will welcome you with a smile (David may have a hose or shovel or a bucket of paint in his hands). Their son Richard conducts the tastings and is extremely knowledgeable about the craft of winemaking, but as casual as a drinking buddy.
Fincastle's wines are good to excellent. Their Viognier was a bit too oaky for our tastes, but if you don't mind oak, you will enjoy it. Their stand-outs are their reds: A fantastic Cab Franc (Virginia's red), and a very good to excellent (depending on the vintage) Cab Sauv. Their rose is made for drinking on their sipping porch---a blend of Chambourcin and Vidal Blanc. Drink it cold - the colder, the better. Especially on one of those late summer Virginia nights, with the cicadas chirping at full blast. Their Chardonnay, like the Viognier, was also too oaky. There is a romantic reputation surrounding oaky wines that works for reds, but not quite for whites (at least in your humble bloggers' opinions). Steel barrel all the way for whites---steel sounds like something from Pittsburgh (versus oak from Sonoma), but steel aging brings out the best in white wine, particularly Chardonnay and Viognier.
Despite the oaky quality of Fincastle's whites, their wines are all winners. The porch overlooks a large meadow that the owners use to host festivals. Local musicians (including some from the nearby Galax/Floyd Bluegrass Trail) perform here during the warmer months. And as the case with other "faraway" Virginia wineries, the prices are right. You could pick up a case here and not feel broke.
If you're not on a romantic getaway (that is, you're just a bunch of average straight guys looking for a wine trail on the weekend), check into the Red Roof Inn in Troutville (a truck stop paradise off I-81 north of Roanoke), and visit Fincastle Vineyard and Winery, along with Virginia Mountain Vineyards and Blue Ridge Vineyards (the other two wineries on this wine trail).
www.fincastlewine.com/index.htm
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Video--Willowcroft Farm Vineyards
A short clip from Willowcroft, the oldest winery in Loudoun County.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Winery Spotlight: First Colony Winery (8/2/10)
Tucked behind trees, in the rolling hills south of Charlottesville, lies First Colony Winery, a solid spot in the heart of "Virginia's Napa" (the Monticello AVA).
A few minutes down state highway 20, from Monticello itself, First Colony is a nice diversion from the more-crowded "touristy" spots closer to the city of Charlottesville.
Drive down a gravel road, about a mile from the main highway, past modest homes, a few trailers, and the trees give way to open fields and vineyards. First Colony is housed in an appealing German-style building. You may see the owner, Randy McElroy, watering the plants near the entrance. He'll give you a southern-style welcome as you enter the tasting room.
Martha, the tasting room's general manager, or one of her staff will guide you through a laid-back tasting. Their wines are unique in the best sense of the term. First Colony is a member of the esteemed "Meritage club." To use the name Meritage for this special blend, a winery must apply for association membership. Not every Virginia winery is a member. The Meritage is fine, but the favorites are the pure Petit Verdot (First Colony is another winery that is making a straight Petit Verdot now, as opposed to blending it); Tannat, a bold red with origins in Spain, but very popular in South America, particularly Uruguay; a fantastic Cab Franc (most Virginia wineries have a Cab Franc but First Colony is one of the best); and a terrific dry rose.
Ample seating outside the tasting room: A patio near the front, and a deck in the back. The deck is enchanting - the forest and trees are at arm's length, and the deck is protected from the intense sun by an overhang. Seating options exist inside for rainy days as well.
The Charlottesville area differs from the Northern Virginia spots in price. Visitors who drive from the DC area are rewarded with good prices, and tucked away locations that are not as well known as the Barboursvilles, Hortons and Kluges, but superior in many ways.
First Colony is a staple at state-wide festivals, so if you can't make it to their spot, stop by to see them during a festival. Good hospitality, charming decor, peaceful surroundings, great wine--what's not to love? And no visit to First Colony is complete without a visit from Fritz, their "lucky" orange tabby; a rescue kitty.
www.firstcolonywinery.com/index.htm
A few minutes down state highway 20, from Monticello itself, First Colony is a nice diversion from the more-crowded "touristy" spots closer to the city of Charlottesville.
Drive down a gravel road, about a mile from the main highway, past modest homes, a few trailers, and the trees give way to open fields and vineyards. First Colony is housed in an appealing German-style building. You may see the owner, Randy McElroy, watering the plants near the entrance. He'll give you a southern-style welcome as you enter the tasting room.
Martha, the tasting room's general manager, or one of her staff will guide you through a laid-back tasting. Their wines are unique in the best sense of the term. First Colony is a member of the esteemed "Meritage club." To use the name Meritage for this special blend, a winery must apply for association membership. Not every Virginia winery is a member. The Meritage is fine, but the favorites are the pure Petit Verdot (First Colony is another winery that is making a straight Petit Verdot now, as opposed to blending it); Tannat, a bold red with origins in Spain, but very popular in South America, particularly Uruguay; a fantastic Cab Franc (most Virginia wineries have a Cab Franc but First Colony is one of the best); and a terrific dry rose.
Ample seating outside the tasting room: A patio near the front, and a deck in the back. The deck is enchanting - the forest and trees are at arm's length, and the deck is protected from the intense sun by an overhang. Seating options exist inside for rainy days as well.
The Charlottesville area differs from the Northern Virginia spots in price. Visitors who drive from the DC area are rewarded with good prices, and tucked away locations that are not as well known as the Barboursvilles, Hortons and Kluges, but superior in many ways.
First Colony is a staple at state-wide festivals, so if you can't make it to their spot, stop by to see them during a festival. Good hospitality, charming decor, peaceful surroundings, great wine--what's not to love? And no visit to First Colony is complete without a visit from Fritz, their "lucky" orange tabby; a rescue kitty.
www.firstcolonywinery.com/index.htm
Friday, July 30, 2010
Winery Spotlight: Fabbioli Cellars (7/30/10)
Anyone familiar with the Virginia wine industry, particularly the northern Virginia wine industry, will be familiar with the name Fabbioli. Doug Fabbioli is one of the Godfathers of Virginia wine, and opened his earth-friendly tasting room a few years ago off U.S. Highway 15, north of Leesburg. The views from his tasting room (vineyards mixed with typical Loudoun county McMansions) may not be as spectacular as Fox Meadow's, but the wine certainly is.
This is a red wine place. Virginia may be best known for its whites, but Doug Fabbioli is doing some great things with red - Cab Franc and Chambourcin, in particular. Despite his limited production, Total Wine sells several of his reds. But a trip to his small, but always hopping, tasting room is a treat. The pourers are chatty and provide history lessons to go with the wine tastings. Doug himself is usually onsite. Last fall, he dyed his beard blue on the afternoon we visited (Halloween weekend). He's an entertaining fellow, and his passion for the industry is infectious. In addition to growing grapes and making wine here, he consults with other nearby wineries (Notaviva, Sunset Hills and Hiddencroft), and writes a column for the free newspaper, The Old Town Crier.
He also has a few fruit wines that are extremely popular, especially for the chocolate lover crowd: A raspberry Merlot and a blackberry. Perhaps the most unusual in his collection is a pear wine which comes billed as an aperitif.
You get the feeling you are at a working winery at Fabbioli. No live bands, no dog parks....this is a winery through and through. He has a few picnic tables and a fire pit that works perfectly on cool evenings as well as fall and spring days. As for the more extreme months, this winery is better for tasting, buying a few bottles, and moving on to another Loudoun spot, due to the lack of indoor picnic areas.
Must tries: Chambourcin, Rosa Luna (a terrific dry rose), Tre Sorélle
(a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Verdot) and the raspberry Merlot.
www.fabbioliwines.com/
This is a red wine place. Virginia may be best known for its whites, but Doug Fabbioli is doing some great things with red - Cab Franc and Chambourcin, in particular. Despite his limited production, Total Wine sells several of his reds. But a trip to his small, but always hopping, tasting room is a treat. The pourers are chatty and provide history lessons to go with the wine tastings. Doug himself is usually onsite. Last fall, he dyed his beard blue on the afternoon we visited (Halloween weekend). He's an entertaining fellow, and his passion for the industry is infectious. In addition to growing grapes and making wine here, he consults with other nearby wineries (Notaviva, Sunset Hills and Hiddencroft), and writes a column for the free newspaper, The Old Town Crier.
He also has a few fruit wines that are extremely popular, especially for the chocolate lover crowd: A raspberry Merlot and a blackberry. Perhaps the most unusual in his collection is a pear wine which comes billed as an aperitif.
You get the feeling you are at a working winery at Fabbioli. No live bands, no dog parks....this is a winery through and through. He has a few picnic tables and a fire pit that works perfectly on cool evenings as well as fall and spring days. As for the more extreme months, this winery is better for tasting, buying a few bottles, and moving on to another Loudoun spot, due to the lack of indoor picnic areas.
Must tries: Chambourcin, Rosa Luna (a terrific dry rose), Tre Sorélle
(a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Verdot) and the raspberry Merlot.
www.fabbioliwines.com/
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Winery Spotlight: Fox Meadow Winery (7/27/10)
The fox seems to be Virginia's unofficial mascot--three wineries in the state are named after the curious forest critter, and a new winery in Loudoun County (Twin Oaks Tavern) features Mr. Fox on their labels. Perched on a mountainside ("looking down on the mountains" is their motto at Fox Meadow) is a great, family-run spot that provides ample opportunties for "daycations," especially for those "lucky" residents living inside the Beltway.
Take I-66 westbound (or, better yet, state highway 55, which runs parallel with 66 and is what we call "the Virginia Wine Highway") to exit 18, and follow Freezeland Road up (and we mean up...prepare for an incline) to Fox Meadow's modern yet comfortable tasting room. The owners, Dan and Cheryl, may be there to guide you through a very informative but lowkey tasting, or one of the friendly staff members (Tamara is our favorite) may be on hand.
Their wines are impressive. The standouts are the Syrah and one of the best reds in the state, a blend called Le Renard Rouge. Their whites are crisp and extremely good too. They are the only Virginia winery we've been to that offers both a Pinot Gris and a Pinot Grigio. The former is a bit sweeter; the latter drier, but both tasty. They do not offer a Viognier, and they explained that the altitude of the vineyards may not produce an above-average, or even average, Viognier. They have intense quality controls and notify their devoted customers and Wine Club members if something "went wrong" during a particular bottling. I find the admission of a "learning curve" by a winemaker to be refreshing. Both Sunset Hills Winery and Barrel Oak Winery have been upfront about their "experiments." Some experiments produce great wine (as in the case of Le Renard Rouge). Others are, well, learning curves.
The tastings at Fox Meadow are paired with foods - mainly cheeses (locally made cheeses---an A+ for that touch). But in one case, they pair the wine with a Rice Krispy treat (something the owners discovered when visiting a California winery).
White wine and a marshmallow treat--who would've thought? But it worked.
They have ample seats inside and outside. Fox Meadow has a large deck, a new gazebo, and several picnic tables under trees, near the vineyards. They also have indoor tables, and Wine Club members have use of an additional room with a cozy gas stove for colder days.
A trip to Front Royal is not complete without a jaunt up Freezeland Road to Fox Meadow. Their wines are served at Houlihan's in Front Royal as well. We bumped into the owners at Houlihan's once - they were drinking beer. Proof that even those surrounded by excellent wine every day of the week need to branch out every now and then too!
www.foxmeadowwinery.com/
Take I-66 westbound (or, better yet, state highway 55, which runs parallel with 66 and is what we call "the Virginia Wine Highway") to exit 18, and follow Freezeland Road up (and we mean up...prepare for an incline) to Fox Meadow's modern yet comfortable tasting room. The owners, Dan and Cheryl, may be there to guide you through a very informative but lowkey tasting, or one of the friendly staff members (Tamara is our favorite) may be on hand.
Their wines are impressive. The standouts are the Syrah and one of the best reds in the state, a blend called Le Renard Rouge. Their whites are crisp and extremely good too. They are the only Virginia winery we've been to that offers both a Pinot Gris and a Pinot Grigio. The former is a bit sweeter; the latter drier, but both tasty. They do not offer a Viognier, and they explained that the altitude of the vineyards may not produce an above-average, or even average, Viognier. They have intense quality controls and notify their devoted customers and Wine Club members if something "went wrong" during a particular bottling. I find the admission of a "learning curve" by a winemaker to be refreshing. Both Sunset Hills Winery and Barrel Oak Winery have been upfront about their "experiments." Some experiments produce great wine (as in the case of Le Renard Rouge). Others are, well, learning curves.
The tastings at Fox Meadow are paired with foods - mainly cheeses (locally made cheeses---an A+ for that touch). But in one case, they pair the wine with a Rice Krispy treat (something the owners discovered when visiting a California winery).
White wine and a marshmallow treat--who would've thought? But it worked.
They have ample seats inside and outside. Fox Meadow has a large deck, a new gazebo, and several picnic tables under trees, near the vineyards. They also have indoor tables, and Wine Club members have use of an additional room with a cozy gas stove for colder days.
A trip to Front Royal is not complete without a jaunt up Freezeland Road to Fox Meadow. Their wines are served at Houlihan's in Front Royal as well. We bumped into the owners at Houlihan's once - they were drinking beer. Proof that even those surrounded by excellent wine every day of the week need to branch out every now and then too!
www.foxmeadowwinery.com/
Friday, July 2, 2010
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