Virginia Wine News – Page 2 – Charlottesville UnCorked

ALERT! “Noise Ordinance”- Keswick,We’ve Got Your Back!

Published on March 5, 2011March 5, 2011 by Tricia Traugott17 Comments

Keswick Vineyards is doing their best to be a good neighbor!

Come support our neighboring vineyards at the Albemarle County Office Building March 9th at 6 p.m. !

This is a reprint of Keswick’s blog that I felt should be seen by as many people as possible.

A Call to Action

I got into winemaking for many reasons, the love of farming and definitely a love of wine. I get butterflies in my stomach when I see sweeping vineyards and land being farmed to create products that not only bring joy to customers, but also provide a much-needed boost into the economy of the surrounding areas.

It is with this in mind that I request your help regarding a certain matter, that not only affects us at Keswick Vineyards, but also potentially many other wineries in the county of Albemarle in the future. We opened our doors last year for weddings to be hosted on the property knowing that many a bride would want to say their vows surrounded by beautiful vineyards, with gorgeous views of the Southwest Mountains. What better way to start a new chapter in one’s life.

Albemarle County’s noise ordinance leaves much to personal interpretation, and dependent on the surrounding residents may be used to force the wineries to cease holding these events. It is with this in mind that I urge you to read the information regarding this ordinance, and if you feel like we do, to sign the petition as either a resident or non-resident of Albemarle County [there are two specific petitions].

Petition for Albemarle county residents

Petition for non-residents

We are having a public hearing at the county office building on March 9th at 6pm and showing your support would be greatly appreciated.

Kindly

Keswick Vineyards

Loudoun, DC’s Wine Country: Clusters of Divine Wine and Dine!

Published on February 11, 2011 by Tricia Traugott3 Comments

Charlottesville UnCorked is taking a detour to the North!

I was recently invited to a most elegant and delightful dining experience hosted by Visit Loudoun! I have been enticed to venture back to Virginia’s horse country, drive the Snickersville Turnpike and revisit the charming historic town of Middleburg. Emerging as a weekend destination for tourists and Virginians, Loudon County, trademarked as DC’s Wine Country, is only 25 miles from Washington, D.C. and actively promoting their culinary and historic assets. The wine trail in Loudoun is divided into five geographic “clusters” for scenic and strategic driving experiences to clusters of wineries and vineyards.

It was my good fortune to be included at a dinner at the historic Bolling Haxall House in downtown Richmond for an evening of fine dining paired with some of Loudoun’s finest wines! The focus of the event was to garnish interest in Loudoun County for weddings, conferences and tourism by highlighting some of their award-winning cuisine and wines offered in the heart of The Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area.

I was greeted by Jeremy Harvey, VP of Destination Marketing, Visit Loudoun and Jacqueline Toppings, Director of Public and Industry Relations. They immediately made me feel welcome and introduced me around while delicious hand crafted hors d’oeuvres were circulated and Chrysalis Winery, Boxwood Winery and Breaux Vineyards wines were served. Heavenly! Jennifer Ritter, Director of Sales invited me to dine at their table and the combination of personalities with her hostess skills transformed it into the best table in the room! The renowned French Chef William Walden of the Goodstone Inn and Estate was introduced and subsequently presented a fabulous meal of fresh,artistic, locally sourced cuisine.

Enter to Win Follow Your Heart to Virginia Sweepstakes and a stay at the Goodstone Inn & Estate!

Each course was described in detail by Chef Walden followed by a “Bon appetit!” and toast as the plates were served. The menu’s first course was an ever so velvety braised leek, garden potato with sherry vichyssoise served with petite homemade rolls; it paired very well with the Chrysalis 2009 Viognier. The Viognier had melon and cantaloupe flavors, and aged in neutral oak barrels for a creamy texture. The winter greens salad of roasted beets, spiced pecans and champagne vinaigrette had been delicately enhanced with edible flowers, a delicious work of art. The salad was so exquisite that it unfortunately overshadowed the Chrysalis 2009 Albarino. When I get a chance I will have to try it again.

The third course actually elicited an “Oh my Gosh!” from more than one of us. How anything so small can have that much flavor was an accomplishment in itself. Home grown raspberries from the Goodstone Estate were used in the Raspberry Sorbet with Chambord served in a chilled porcelain cup.

The Domestic Rack of Lamb, an award winning specialty of Chef Walden followed and was absolutely mouth watering and beautifully plated. The Boxwood Winery 2008 Topiary, selected to accompany the main course was not only perfect, but my favorite wine selection of the evening! A garnet red blend of Cabernet Franc with Merlot and Malbec grapes.

I would definitely buy this wine!

The fifth and final course was a feathery light chocolate souffle served with an individual pitcher of warm chocolate sauce. This confection capped off a perfectly grand evening. I wish I had taken more photographs, but honestly, if you were served this meal, wouldn’t you just want to enjoy it? Well, I certainly DID!

I think whether you live in Charlottesville, our own tourist destination, or other areas of Virginia, Loudoun County has a wealth of wining, dining and historic spots worthy of a weekend getaway and more! As they say in Loudoun County, Take It In!

Thank You Loudoun County Tourism for a sample of what Loudoun has to offer!

I plan on another post about additional features and links if you are planning a trip to DC’s Wine Country, look for it in the future..

Glass House Winery: A Confection of Chocolate, Wine and the Tropics

Published on January 23, 2011January 23, 2011 by Tricia Traugott4 Comments

Have you ever taken a vacation to a remote destination on a tropical island and returned wanting to tell all your friends, but really thinking it better to keep the secret to yourself? Our experience at Glass House Winery was just that, a treat to savor and enhanced only by the prospect of sharing it with others. Glass House Winery in Free Union, Virginia was only opened a few months ago and word is rapidly spreading.

The winery is strategically sited, embraced by rows of grapevines overlooking a small, geese populated lake with a backdrop of Buck Mountain. The structure of the winery is striking, an eclectic juncture of a copper clad tasting room and a soaring tropical greenhouse, thus the name Glass House. Jeff and Michelle Sanders spent substantial time (five years) on the island of Roatan off the coast of Honduras and recreated some of that lush tropical atmosphere in their greenhouse. The greenhouse serves as a conservatory for Kumquats, Banana Trees producing ice cream flavored bananas, a highly prized Royal Hawaiian Pineapple and tables graced by tiny Sago Palms.

21st Meritage — Applauding the 21st Amendment

The floor is a Brazilian wood similar to teak and the climate is carefully controlled with a vented roof and mechanical sun screen. A perfectly delightful spot for a light picnic (self provided) complemented by a bottle of artisan wine. The greenhouse can accommodate 88 guests seated for weddings or events! Invite me, please!

Attention to detail begins in the mosaic studded retaining wall in the parking lot and proceeds to the doorway where, Vina, the wine goddess greets you, grapes in one hand and a glass of wine in the other. Several other clever whimsical touches including a giraffe create a fun and light hearted foyer.

Accents of pineapples adorn niches and shelves, carrying on the logo of Glass House and reinforcing the symbol of Virginia hospitality. The winery puppy, Dogbert, eagerly approached us with a wagging tail, and then stretched out for a nap in the warm sun by the patio door.

Michelle Sanders, owner and Chocolatier Extraordinaire, offered us glasses for tasting and a history of the young winery. We started with a 2009 Pinot Gris followed by a 2009 Viognier. The Pinot Gris was unremarkable and light, but the Viognier had more character and with a creamy texture and nice bouquet. The third wine was the Cvillian, a red blend of Chambourcin, Cabernet Franc and Merlot grapes grown on the property and on nearby vineyards. We purchased the next wine, the Twenty First, a Meritage blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot grapes and named after the 21^st amendment. Can you recall the significance of that amendment? It also had the most fruit and was quite good.

On our visit to DuCard Winery, in Madison, we were tipped off to the dessert wine. Marty Mitchell, the tasting room manager at DuCard was so delighted with it that she actually is credited with naming the wine, Meglio Del Sesso, her initial observation. In Italian it translates to “Better than …” use your imagination! We sipped this along with a sampling of Michelle’s own hand crafted chocolate Red Wine Cream – a ganache made from Norton wine and dark chocolate, hand enrobed in 72% dark chocolate. An exquisite combination! The chocolates are artistically packaged and sold only at the winery. The gourmet chocolates are Early Grey, Salted Caramel and Espresso and sold by the dozen. A perfect Valentines gift for your sweetheart!

Music is provided in the evening on Fridays. Look for special events at their website or Facebook page! The winery is open Fridays noon-8pm
Saturdays noon-6pm
and Sundays and holiday Mondays noon-5pm

A “Belated” Trip to Mountfair

Published on November 14, 2010November 15, 2010 by Tricia Traugott3 Comments

Can it possibly be any prettier than it was this weekend in Charlottesville?

Everyone has been commenting on the recent surge of red, orange and gold leaves so late in the season. Usually by this time in November the majority of leaves have fallen, backpack blowers are roaring and the wind is blowing. Not this year! Only a hint of a breeze and blue sky made ideal conditions for a perfect hot air balloon flight over the Rivanna Reservoir and rolling acres of spent vineyards.

Chores finished, Saturday afternoon we set off for a country drive to two more wineries (and a promise of homemade chili and live music). Mountfair Winery hosted a special event to announce the release of their 2008 Belated – a velvety smooth blend of 60% Merlot, 30% Cab Franc,and 10% Petit Verdot. They also just completed the tasting room after a few years under construction. The Barrel Room is a rustic 1400 square foot multi purpose event space with a raised stage for live music supported by soaring pine timbers and accented by 100 stacked wine barrels.

The view from the patio overlooks a gravel road, but just beyond it, rows of grapevines underscore a beautiful view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. I was sadly disappointed to find out that my quest for the 2008 Wooloomooloo made with 60% Petit Verdot was for naught! Only 150 cases were produced and between wine club members and a live wine tasting via Twitter it was gone! I’ll know next time. The 2008 Belated was very good with a true jammy taste and only I wish we could have stayed until the chili was ready and the music began. For those who have never ventured further north on Browns Gap Turnpike (810) , it is a scenic drive but turning right on Fox Mountain Road lacks curb appeal and one wonders if they might have made a wrong turn. You haven’t, just keep driving up the road and you’ll find the new tasting room on your right. This is definitely a winery and vintner to keep in mind for the future!

Returning toward Free Union, we took a hard right onto Breakheart Road and encountered a picturesque landscape of vineyards and horse farms. When we first moved to Virginia, White Hall had a fantastic Chardonnay and was soon our favorite winery. One of my fondest memories was a picnic that we shared with my Mom and Dad, my Dad loved Soliterre! Charlottesville.

: Spectacular November at White Hall

The White Hall Winery tasting bar was completely surrounded with visitors, and considering how gorgeous the day was, we decided to head home to our firepit in the backyard and have a private wine tasting! White Hall will be there for us to return to another weekend, that’s one of the great advantages to living here in Charlottesville!

A Petit Influence of République française ala Prince Michel

Published on November 9, 2010November 9, 2010 by Tricia TraugottLeave a comment

On our return trips to Charlottesville from Northern Virginia and D.C. we occasionally pause to enjoy just one of the many pleasures of living in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. A brief stop at Prince Michel Vineyard and Winery for a glass of Symbius, a deep ruby colored Meritage of Bordeaux varietals, is my personal favorite. As you approach the northern edge of the Monticello Wine Trail you can’t miss the three steel wine goblet wind sculptures. Very contemporary in contrast to the Jeffersonian architectural details of the winery itself. The tasting room entrance is flanked by pergolas and white columns surrounding brick courtyards.

The expanse of the tasting room is a little cold and impersonal but this time we were greeted by the friendly smile of Patty Sevre. Intrigued by her display of cut decanters and stemware we hovered over her as she cut custom designs for visitors while they toured the winery. Patty’s family has been in the glass cutting business for fourteen generations. Her family hails from the Alsace-Lorraine region of France (incidentally, where I first tasted wine as a child!) and is very proud of their incredible legacy in the art of glass works. She had a career for forty years cutting glass for Tiffany & Co.

Presently, she and her husband Kenneth Sevre work together blowing glass and are on site at Prince Michel on Thursdays! Seizing the opportunity, we selected a small glass to be cut personally for a Christmas gift for my Mom! It is beautiful and I look forward to giving her such a special gift this Christmas! Check out her website for more in-depth historical background and contact information.

Patty Sevre custom free hand design cut glass

Finishing our wine, we marvelled at the wine and dining accessories on display in the tasting room gift shop. It is a great place to purchase personalized gifts for any wine lover in your family and we highly recommend it for a Black Friday shopping stop where everything will be 20% off that day only!

I had recently heard about the luxury suites available for rent at the vineyard. Driving to the rear of the winery and up a curved drive you will find two homes each including two one-bedroom suites decorated in the French provincial style featuring a luxurious bath, romantic fireplace and galley kitchen. The Suites at Prince Michel are elegant and have private secluded garden patios with views of the mountains and vineyard. According to the website, you can select one of four themes from the blue and beige of the La Concorde, the green and gold of the Les Champs Elysees, the tailored elegance of La Tour Eiffel or the provincial charm of La Paris. They are very affordably priced at 175.00 per night or 300 for two nights. Weddings and events are welcome at Prince Michel and the location situated centrally between Charlottesville and Washington D.C., wonderful for a midway spot close to historic sites and the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Diving into Wine Tasting

Published on October 25, 2010October 25, 2010 by Tricia Traugott4 Comments

Just a hint of a breeze and mild blue skies made Saturday at Booster Park in Orange, Virginia ideal skydiving weather. It seemed like divers were dropping every fifteen to twenty minutes and offered spectacular entertainment for the wine tasting observers below at The Pick of the Piedmont Fall Wine Festival. Every time I set my camera down to taste another cabernet franc or petit verdot, the parachute photo opportunities would slip away as I hastily switched hands!

I finally caught these jumpers on camera and was so inspired that when I have a couple of hundred dollars of mad money I’m headed to the Orange County Airport skydiving! It might take a couple of glasses to get my nerve up, but when I do..!

Of the 14 vineyards represented, a few stood out for their wines or hospitality. WellHung Vineyard gets the award for marketing and originality! Tracy Verkerke, came up with the name and design , Amy Steers, a nurse turned viticulturist and Kathy Rash, business planner are the three women involved in the business of WellHung.They have the additional benefit of expert Virginia winemaker Michael Shaps bottling their dreams into reality!

Cooper Vineyard had the most interesting wine that we sampled, their signature chocolate wine, Noche. Do you think we might ever find this in the feminine section of our local pharmacy pairing two PMS favorites? It does make a great gift and was on special pricing, 3 bottles for 50 dollars!

They are also close to completing the new LEED certified tasting room, possibly opening as early as December of 2010. Hope we’re invited!

Burnley Vineyard is practically a neighbor, situated just a few miles from our home and unfortunately is forgotten because it is so close! After spending a little time chatting with the owner, Dawn Reeder I realized my mistake and plan to stop by soon! We really enjoyed the Rubix port style wine made with Norton grapes and discussed the compatibility of cigars and this particular vintage.

The vendor that really attracted our attention was the Potts Chocolates, Blair and Margo Potts personally handed out delicious delicate samples of truffles and chocolates while explaining the elaborate process of making these unique treats.

Salty caramel chocolate was by far our favorite! They are in the process of developing their website and can be reached at Blair.Potts@PottsChocolate.com to order online. For more on the food aspect of this event and the person who invited us,look for my fellow blogger and friend, Pam who will be elaborating at www.Foode4thought.blogspot.com

Pick of the Piedmont Festival

Published on October 22, 2010October 22, 2010 by Tricia TraugottLeave a comment

We are anticipating an absolutely incredible afternoon tomorrow with crisp Fall weather and even a little frost on the pumpkin tonight! Texas Rangers are playing tonight, trying to beat the Yankees for their first ever entry into the World series! What a Weekend! If you haven’t already made plans for October 23rd and 24th, try to come out to Orange for The Pick of the Piedmont Fall Wine Festival! I’m glad our friends invited us to this event!

The following wineries and vineyards are participating, some of these wineries are new to me so it will be nice to get a chance to taste their wines! Barboursville Vineyards, Burnley Vineyards & Daniel Cellars, Cooper Vineyard, First Colony Winery, Grayhaven Winery, Lazy Days Winery, Lake Anna Winery, Peaks of Otter Winery, Potomac Point Winery, Rockbridge Vineyard, Stone Mountain Vineyards, Well Hung Vineyard, WindSong Winery, and Wintergreen Winery. Horton will also be participating!

Tickets are available online and are $20.00 and $5.00 for designated drivers and youths 13-20. Wine cooking demonstrations, arts & crafts booths plus live entertainment, hours are from 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.

Location: Region: Central Virginia
Locality: Orange County

Booster Park
19046 Constitution Highway (route 20)
Orange, VA 22960
Driving Directions

Baskets with a Vintage Touch!

Published on October 7, 2010October 7, 2010 by Tricia TraugottLeave a comment

: The Virginia Shop at Barracks Rd.

Unfortunately for us UVA football fans, the 2nd of October, 2010 was not the best weekend! However, it was an excellent weekend for The Virginia Shop at Barracks Road. Florida State and UVA fans were looking for gifts that reflect the local flavor, whether it was Jeffersonian, Southern hospitality or even more popular, Virginia wines. I happened to be in the shop and was ever so pleasantly greeted by Elizabeth Carras,a part-time employee (you would never know she wasn’t the proprietor with her hands on attention!) offering a tasting of two wines from Lovingston Winery, cleverly named WaHoo White and Rotunda Red! The WaHoo White consists of 57% Sauvignon Blanc, 36% Chardonnay, and 7% Petit Manseng. The Rotunda Red embodies the family motto, “We bleed orange and blue, but we drink red,” this wine is a nod to their family’s two generations of UVA alums. and is a blend of 57% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc and 13% Petit Verdot. I really enjoyed it with the cheese straws!

The Virginia Shop was so busy, I decided to return the following afternoon for more shopping and information about their gift baskets. As I walked in, Tiffany Smith, Co Manager of the shop was assembling a gift basket for a local couple to give a friend in Northern Virginia. She explained that they do an extensive number of gift bags and baskets for weddings and events and will include items from the store as well as added off-site items.

They have UPS shipping and free local delivery within an approximately 10 mile radius are just two of the reasons to do your souvenir gift shopping here!

Don’t miss Boutique Week October 15th through the 22nd! There will be food and wine tasting all week-long plus a featured discount item daily. A great opportunity to sample some of Virginia’s finest foods and wines!

The Virginia Shop is also the home of The Virginia Wine of the Month Club. In the store they have a very nice selection of wines from our local wineries including Keswick, Veritas, Jefferson, Del Fosse, Pollak, Cardinal Point, White Hall, Kluge, Lovingston, Prince Michel and Stone Mountain!

Our local Virginia Shop is not a franchise and they work hard to take care of you however large or small your order. They also offer corporate discounts for your holiday giving!

Subscribe to Cville Uncorked and mention this blog and you will receive a 20 % Discount on wine in the month of October!

Happy Fall Everyone!

You can follow them on Twitter @thevashop

CvilleUnCorked Debut

Published on September 17, 2010September 18, 2010 by Tricia Traugott2 Comments

4 years ago today, my father passed away. Spending the day alone (my husband was at the cemetery with my mother in Texas) didn’t seem like the way my Dad would have wanted me to commemorate his passing. Since I have been planning to launch a blog about one of my passions, wine tasting and visiting vineyards, this turned out to be a perfect day to begin!

He would have enjoyed being outside on a beautiful Indian Summer day in the heart of the Piedmont wine country, watching the swans floating on the pond and the slideshow of cloud formations passing overhead. Today, I felt he was with me.

I am not a wine connoisseur, anything but! I started out tasting a small glass of wine in the Mosel River Valley in Germany as a young child-no minimum age there and I guess I liked it. However, after returning to the United States there wasn’t the same level of appreciation of wine that we are experiencing today. Instead of refining my palate, I deteriorated to (Yes, I’ll admit it!) BOX WINE-ugh! Providence stepped in and we moved from Texas to this beautiful landscape and a burgeoning wine country of Central Virginia!

I love everything about wine- from the clusters of grapes on the vine, the shapes of the leaves themselves and the neat rows undulating over the rolling hills to the presentation of the wine itself. The bottles are interesting, the labels are clever and the stemware sparkling. Beer is fun but wine is romantic! This blog is an attempt to give tips and suggestions to people who are not familiar with Virginia or are just starting to become passionate about wine!

My first choice was Keswick Vineyards because they are so friendly and not intimidating, plus the scenery is reminiscent of the English countryside! The wines are award winning, the tasting room is intimate with generous bar space and is pet friendly to boot! Sunday afternoons is “Yappy Hour”, bring your canine sidekick and a picnic for a laidback event which periodically is a fund raiser for local S.P.C.A’s. There are plenty of shaded picnic tables, so bring your basket or purchase some delectables from the tasting room shop. More details to come tomorrow about upcoming weekend events and award winning wines!

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