Weekends in Charlottesville – Page 3 – Charlottesville UnCorked

Seeking Mountfair Vineyard on the Appellation Trail

Published on June 12, 2011June 12, 2011 by Tricia TraugottLeave a comment

On one of my recent outings with a good friend, open to spur of the moment adventures and travelling down bumpy back roads, we headed out to Mountfair via “the shortcut”!

We had just stopped in to revisit Glass House Vineyards, another excellent boutique winery on The Appellation Trail, and decided to take the shortcut over to Fox Mountain Road. Delightful and scenic, with the surprise of a covered bridge (didn’t get a picture, Drat!) and mountain views I had never seen! From Free Union Road and Glass House, turn right on 668 Chapel Spring Road which becomes Fox Mountain Road. This is approximately 7 miles, but an enjoyable detour.

I had been to Mountfair in the Fall, the tasting room had recently been completed and I was curious to see the progress made by this sweet little winery on the eastern side of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is a little further out than some of the other wineries, but I recommend putting it on your list! Look for events by following them on Facebook! I was at City Market (the farmers market in Charlottesville ) and heard a rumour of a wine pairing event with L’Etoile! Doesn’t that sound fabulous! L’Etoile is a mainstay in C-ville. Located near the bridge across from the Amtrak station, it has charm and character with delicious dishes and have a commitment to buying “fresh and local”! Check them out for lunch, dinner or samples (yum) at the market! If that’s a perk of the wine club, it may be time to join! We’ll keep you posted!

Kelly Meyers Rogan is the tasting room manager at Mountfair and is as sweet as any Riesling. Not only was she informative and gracious (stayed beyond closing time for us) but she is working on becoming a wine maker herself! She is presently apprenticed as a wine maker and taking the University of California at Davis wine making program!

Kelly has a degree from The University of Virginia and is excited about her future in the Virginia wine industry! When you stop in at Mountfair, be sure to say hello for me! She is working on getting a refrigerator for snack items for visitors tempted towards a picnic on the terrace! Great idea!

We tasted a couple of the wines and enjoyed them all, but liked the Indigenous, a blend of 50% Cabernet Franc and 50% Petit Verdot, the best. Don’t worry, there are more wines to come! Being a small boutique winery and having sold out of several of their wines, more are being bottled!

There is a very sentimental story behind the Wooloomoolooo wine, but for privacy reasons, let’s just say that it’s rather spiritual. When offered in the future, take advantage of savouring this wine! Western Albemarle and Mountfair are rustic and appealing, a great place for a weekend afternoon any season of the year!

A “Vine” Afternoon at Barboursville Vineyards

Published on April 6, 2011April 7, 2011 by Tricia Traugott6 Comments

Did you ever think you could live in a place too long? Too long from the perspective of taking for granted a beautiful purple Phlox covered countryside with vineyards, mountains and history just a short drive down the road from… Super Walmart? Thanks to my friend and social networking mentor, Lewis Nelson, blog writer of Family of Five, he arranged an afternoon outing with Fernando Franco, viticulturist at Barboursville Vineyards. It was a reminder and welcome opportunity to stop and appreciate the beginnings of Spring in Central Virginia.

Fernando

Lewis, his lovely wife Holly and precious daughter Gwen introduced me to their friend , Fernando who is not only a highly esteemed viticulturist but a salsa dancer and V.P. of the Charlottesville Salsa Club. With a resume of 30 years of growing grapes and a disarming knowledge of Agronomy, we had a real expert to explain the intricacies of wine making. Originally from El Salvador, Fernando spent over a decade at Prince Michel and in Napa as a vintner and viticulturist before taking over the vineyards at Barboursville thirteen years ago. Fernando opened up the conversation by hospitably pouring us a glass of Sauvignon Blanc followed by a delicious Viognier. Most of my experience has been with Barboursville red wines and their dessert wines, Phileo and Malvaxia, but I would have purchased either one of the whites we tasted.

The Tour

Our tour started in the large tasting room, a double-sided fireplace separating it from the gift shop. Souvenir shopping is fun here with lots of wine related novelty items that are easy to pack in a small carry-on suitcase. The Octagon room has Octagon wine barrels on the floor and a photo history and memorabilia on the surrounding walls. At the center of the room is a table set with a floral display flanked by bottles of their signature award-winning Octagon wine, a meritage of the winery’s finest Bordeaux varietals.

Octagon represents the eight sided architectural style used in the central hall designed by Thomas Jefferson for James Barbour’s plantation house. Unfortunately the home burned in Christmas 1884 and we are left with the ruins to contemplate a bygone era in Virginia history.

We then passed into a long hall of stainless steel vats. Immense vats, especially in comparison to our smaller boutique wineries in the Charlottesville area. This is definitely the granddaddy of vat rooms in our area! We tasted some red blends straight from the vat including a Cabernet Franc that was excellent!

Afterwards, Fernando offered us a ride to the newest area being cultivated at Barboursville, the Goodlow Mountain vineyard. Hopping into his vehicle, we drove off the property and back on to the south end, passing by some of their oldest vines.

36,000 New Vines

The 2011 plans for the vineyards call for 24 acres with 36,000 new vines to be planted which will increase the total planted acreage by 20 percent! 3 acres will be devoted to their newest varietal, planting 4,600 vines of Petite Syrah. The conditions of Goodlow Mountain vineyard are similar to those found in the northern Rhone Valley of France where the Petite Syrah thrives. Fernando knows his vines and feels “this site maybe the most perfect site developed so far.”

Completing our tour and my friends off in their own directions, I was left to wander the grounds on my own, exploring rooms and ruins on a sunny afternoon. The following are some of my favorite photographs. If you are in need of a classic backdrop for a photo shoot, this is definitely the location! Brides, pay attention!

Clouds Billowing from a Fireplace in Ruins

Look for a future post about Palladio, the Five Star Restaurant at Barboursville!

Good Bye Barboursville, We’ll be Back! Hopefully, you will be too!

Delfosse

Published on March 27, 2011March 27, 2011 by Tricia Traugott2 Comments

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I–
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference

…Robert Frost

I know this may be one of the most over used quotations, but it fits so perfectly that I can’t resist. For some unknown reason I have procrastinated visiting Delfosse Winery in Nelson County, but after recently running into Yvette Okros, Tasting Room Manager for Delfosse, we decided to make it a priority. With another winery also in mind, we travelled south on 151, the Rockfish Gap Turnpike, toward Wintergreen. We veered off at highway 6 in the direction of Delfosse Winery . Our GPS steered us left onto Old Roberts Mountain Road. Surely, this wasn’t the way most people visit Delfosse! Gravel road, rutted in many places and traversing over the crest of a small mountain? Definitely this was the road less travelled by!

Arriving at our destination, we found a breath-taking Virginia valley flanked by European-style terraced vineyards. We were warmly welcomed by Yvette, who ushered us in and introduced us to the owner, Claude Delfosse. Yvette arranged a table for us to sample wines and get to know Claude a bit. It was nice to have the opportunity to casually hang out with Claude and ask questions about wine making at our leisure.

Claude Delfosse, a Fulbright Scholar, decided to “take the road less travelled by” himself when he veered away from his professional career of Aeronautical Engineering. French by birth, he chose to make the U.S. his home and settle in Virginia . He was relaxed and pleasant, sipping wine with us and expounding on the attributes of some of his wines. He lights up with a big smile when reflecting on some of his award-winning wines. I really liked the way Claude named some of the wines after his family members. One stand-out wine, Reserve d’ Oriane, was named after his daughter. A complex blend of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc with a touch of Viognier and Petit Manseng. The Merlot was excellent also, but Claude seemed most proud of the 2006 Meritage , a Double Gold Medal winner at the Monticello Wine Cup! We clearly agreed! We enjoyed homemade crepes along with our wine for an added treat!

We closed out the day and headed out to explore the grounds. Not the best day, cloudy and overcast before bud break, so no lush vines to photograph. The winery sits at the foot of a hill across from a pond with a quaint bridge for photo ops. A generous elegant patio area expands the dining space outdoors and features a whimsical frog sculpture fountain at the center. This must be a wonderful spot in warm weather and we plan to spend some time here enjoying wine with friends in the Spring and Summer!

Perched above the pond and winery and just below the Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard is a precious log cabin surrounded by perennial gardens and a flagstone patio. What a heavenly spot for a weekend getaway! The cabin is perfect for a couple and you can invite friends or host a gathering from this vantage point. During the day, take advantage of the miles of hiking trails surrounding the property.

I can only say that I’m sorry I have missed out on this winery in the past and will rectify that in the future!

I highly recommend the drive south from Charlottesville on 29 with Delfosse as your final destination and enjoy the hospitality of Mr. Delfosse, Yvette and Dave ( our wine server who was knowledgeable and unintimidated while pouring in front of his employer!).

Groupon Deal at High Meadows Vineyard Inn!

Published on February 8, 2011 by Tricia TraugottLeave a comment

A friend of mine has a wonderful B & B near Charlottesville and in the vicinity of Blenheim, Sugar Leaf, Keswick, Jefferson Vineyards and more!

The deal is On! Check out High Meadows Vineyard Inn featuring elegant accommodations adjacent to a vineyard tended by Gabrielle Rausse himself!

The GroupOn Coupon offers: $250 for a Two-Night Weekday Stay for Two and Farm & Winery Tour with Picnic Locavore Lunch at High Meadows Vineyard Inn (Up to $625 Value)! No time to write more, all the details are on the link. Will plan on a much more in-depth review of this delightful Inn in the near future. Don’t wait too long, the last GroupOn Deal they offered sold out very quickly!

Valentine’s is For Virginia Wine Lovers!

Published on January 27, 2011January 27, 2011 by Tricia Traugott2 Comments

Call me Cupid!

Need some ideas for your special sweetheart this Valentine’s Day? Check out some of our local wineries and revel in chocolate and wine, an indulgence for all your senses! Pick out a sentimental card and a rose and you have the ingredients for a very romantic weekend!

DuCard Winery Valentine’s Sunday Brunch
Sunday, February 13 2011 11:30 AM seating
Here’s an elegant idea for you and your special Valentine to enjoy at their Madison County tasting room. Charlottesville personal chef Cindy Shepard will be serving a gourmet brunch featuring local ingredients (click here for menu) and paired with DuCard Wines (of course!). Vicky Lee will set the mood with her harp (victorialeemusic.com) $40 per person. Seating is limited – for reservations contact scott@ducardvineyards.com or call 540.923.4206.

Glass House Winery

Mark your calendars for Sunday Feb 13th, when Glass House welcomes acoustic rock musicians The Lost Souls to Glass House. 2-5pm. No cover.
Also on Sunday Feb 13th, they will be celebrating Valentine’s Day with cheese and chocolate pairings with their wines! For $15, they will pair a cheese or one of Glass House Winery’s delectable chocolates with each of their wines for this tasting. Don’t miss it, as Michelle is dreaming up some new flavors for the occasion. Regular $5 tastings will also be available.

Keswick Vineyards Be Mine With Wine

Feb 12th, 11am – 4pm
Wine, strawberries, and sweets… Spoil yourself or someone you love with Keswick Vineyards’ special wine, 2 different kinds of hand-dipped strawberries and other sweets for a Valentine’s Day indulgence. Discover how these luscious confections complement each wine. After your tasting, enjoy the romantic setting while you savor a glass of wine and take a guess at how many candy hearts are in their Rosé bottle to win a free future tour and tasting for you and your sweetheart.

The cost is $12 for wine club members and $15 for non wine club members. Reservations are recommended.

If you’re unable to break away on the weekend, stop by during the week and pick up a bottle of Norton wine for Kris’s homemade brownies! I borrowed the recipe from the Keswick blog:

Double Norton Brownies

We’ve had a lot of requests for the recipe for Kris’ brownies that we had in the tasting room last weekend, so here it is! It’s really simple!

Just take a regular box of brownie mix (chocolate or fudge) and substitute Norton wine for the water and 1/4 of the amount of vegetable oil that the mix calls for with Norton chocolate sauce. Mix it together and bake as directed.
The chocolate sauce will make a more fudgy texture so you can use less or more depending on how fudgy you want them.

To make an extra special treat, we topped them with strawberries dipped in whipped topping (we used equal parts mascarpone cheese and whipped topping, sugared to taste) and rolled in coconut and then drizzled the whole thing with more Norton chocolate sauce!

King Family Vineyards

February 12, 2011 – February 14, 2011Valentines at the Vineyard

Reserve Now

Celebrate Valentine’s Day weekend with your special someone at King Family Vineyards! Enjoy Gearhart’s chocolates specially selected to pair with their wines. $15/person includes souvenir glass, glass of wine, and 3 handcrafted chocolates. Reservations are recommended. 11am-5pm Saturday and Sunday, 9am-5pm Monday.

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.

When the President comes to town…

Published on October 29, 2010 by Tricia TraugottLeave a comment

Big, big event in Charlottesville this Friday night! President Obama is lending his support for Tom Perriello by hitting our little town the weekend before midterm elections.

He will be speaking at the Charlottesville Downtown Pavillion.

I’m not sure if he thinks Tom can’t do it alone or he just wants to come to Cville in the Fall and enjoy our beautiful town during peak Autumn color! Either way, for all you folks who want to avoid crowds or support Robert Hurt by being absent; Pollak Vineyards will be an evening worthy of a President!

Friday evening from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m., the last of the Friday Night Sunset Concert Series for 2011 will be the happening place for wine lovers and Fall foliage enthusiasts. I’m not sure who the entertainment will be, but the terrace at night is beautiful, the wine is superb and our weather should be perfect if a little chilly, so bring a blanket or sweater!

Directions to Pollak from Cville-

Take Interstate 64 West to Exit 107 (Crozet). Turn left onto 250 West. Go about three miles, passing the estates of Mirador, Seven Oaks, Ramsey and Ridgley all on your right. Just past Ridgley estate, take a right fork onto Rte. 796 (Brooksville Rd.). Continue about a half mile and turn right on Newtown Road. Entrance to Pollak Vineyards is about a half mile on your left.

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: