Virginia Vine Spot

The Land Rover America’s Polo Cup 2008: Chukkers, Wine, and Fancy Hats

2008-05-14T16:13:00.011-04:00

Hello Friends,

This past weekend Dezel was an attendee at the Land Rover America’s Polo Cup held at Historic Morven Park in Leesburg, Virginia. This fun-filled two day event was highlighted by the USA versus Italian Polo team match, as well as live entertainment, spectacular aerial flyovers, stunning parachute jumps, an Italian versus USA gourmet food competition, a stylish fashion show, and a Virginia Winery challenge hosted and organized by Virginia Wine Lover Magazine.

USA vs ITALY

This event, spearheaded by Tareq Salahi, founder of Oasis Winery, was a charitable affair benefiting the Journey for the Cure Foundation - a nonprofit, charitable organization set up to support research and grants for the MS Society and Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Additionally, the Land Rover America’s Polo Cup is the world’s only invitational polo sporting event on an international level , so it was great to have it played right here in the Old Dominion.

Dezel and Todd (of Wine Compass Blog) Enjoying the Fashion Show

The event began with an opening cocktail party celebration Friday evening where a number of savory delights were prepared and sampled prior to the culinary challenge, which pitted Italian chefs against top America chefs. During this competition I tasted some nice samples on both sides of the fork so to speak. Wine Blogger Todd Godbout, of Wine Compass Blog was also in attendance to enjoy the evening events, and I think he would have to agree with me that both the food and fashion was fabulous. For more coverage of this event check out Todd’s post here at Wine Compass.

Frank Britt with some of the Virginia Winners

Following the cook-off, the ever-smiling Frank Britt, co-publisher of Virginia Wine Lover Magazine, took to the stage to announce the winners of the Virginia Winery Challenge. This was a competition coordinated by Virginia Wine Lover Magazine open to all Virginia wineries who wanted to participate. The competition was judged double blind by a panel of esteemed professionals in the field of enology and sensory evaluation using the modified UC Davis 20-point scoring system. See the winning Virginia wines below:

Red Wine:

Gold – Potomac Point Winery Petit Verdot, Silver – Pearmund Cellars Cabernet Franc, Bronze – Pearmund Cellars Ameritage

White Wine:

Gold – Winery at LaGrange Chardonnay, Silver – Villa Appalaccia Pinot Grigio, Bronze – Lake Anna Winery Totally White (blend)

Blush Wine:

Gold – Breaux Vineyards Syrah Rosé, Silver – Chatham Vineyards – Church Creek Rosé, Bronze – Tarara Winery Rosé

Sparkling Wine:

Gold - Kluge Estate SP Rosé, Silver – Kluge Estate SP Blanc De Blanc, Bronze – Chateau Morrisette – Star Dog

Dessert Wine:

Gold – Williamsburg Winery Late Harvest Vidal, Silver – Breaux Vineyards Soleil, Bronze – Winery at LaGrange Snort and Gray Ghost Adieu

BEST OF SHOW!!!

Potomac Point Winery – Petit Verdot

All of these winning wines, bronze to gold, are worth seeking out, especially at the winery on a sunny, picture perfect day. To my tasting pleasure, Skip and Cindi Causey of Potomac Point Winery were on hand to accept their award and was kind enough to open a bottle of the double gold winning Petit Verdot 2006 to share with the Virginia table. Great wine! Nice color, very expressive, fuller –bodied, easy drinking, good fruit character and balance - are good descriptors of this wine. To visit the Causey’s winery web site click here – the winery is located in Stafford County and is beautiful both inside and out.

Skip & Cindi Causey with the Award Winning Petit Verdot

Following the wine competition was the fashion show, which featured Italian designers versus USA designers. This was a very classy and engaging show featuring select spring time fashions, which was followed by the Gipsy Kings Family taking the concert stage. Dance! Dance! Dance!

Field Demonstration Images

The following day I arrived at the same location and the live entertainment and on-field demonstrations were already in progress. Highlighting this was a very nice showing of the Clydesdales and the world famous United States Marine Corps Silent Drill Team. A tasty Italian food spread and open bar complimented the day, and some of the Virginia wines poured were from Oasis and Breaux Vineyards. What a nice way to start the day!

Dezel's ready to enjoy the day!!!

Before the match was a very thrilling performance by the Blackwater USA parachute team. Those guys were awesome, and made jumping out of a plane from way, way, up look so easy. Great job guys! Additionally, there were some great military aircraft flyovers that got big “oohs” and “ahs” from the crowd.

Blackwater USA Parachute Team - Awesome Job Guys !!!

Next up was what the crowd of fans decked out in seersucker suits, fashionable spring dresses, and fanciful hats came to see - the USA versus Italian Polo match. The polo match was an exciting afternoon game with players showing their great skills all for a good cause. In the end the USA team was victorious winning 6-2 over the Italian team. Hooray! And Dezel, finally figured out what a “chukker” was. For those who do not know, it is the polo term used to describe a period of play, for which there are six chukkers in a polo match.

Images of the Polo Match

Following the match the crowds took the field to “wine down,” literally, and enjoy the Gipsy King Family and Huey Lewis and the News live concert performances. Be on the lookout for this event next year, as the USA team will compete against Australia in the 2009 Land Rover America’s Polo Cup World Championship at its new location - Capitol Polo Club in Potomac, Maryland.

The Cherry on Top - A Great Concert!

Stay tuned friends ... More Q&A and lots more to come !!!

Click Here to vote VA Vine Spot as your favorite wine blog - You can vote 1x per day!

Happy Sipping Friends - Tell your friends about the blog and thanks for your support and kind emails !

Dezel

Grayhaven Winery: A Hip Slice of Country Life

2008-05-09T15:25:00.009-04:00

Hello Friends,

I recently revisited the Heart of Virginia Wine Trail in Central Virginia to drop in on Grayhaven Winery which I missed during my last visit on the trail. The Heart of Virginia Wine Trail consists of four wineries: Cooper Vineyards, Lake Anna, James River Cellars, and, of course, Grayhaven Winery. All four wineries can be reached in a day with a very early start. The wineries on this trail are within 30 minutes of the Richmond, Charlottesville and Fredericksburg areas, and once you visit one, the others are within a 20-30 minute drive through rural and sometimes windy country roads.

Grayhaven Winery

Grayhaven Winery is a small family run winery located in Gum Springs, Virginia that is owned by Charles and Lyn Peple, whom, I might add, were growing and selling wine grapes in 1979 to local wineries of which there were few back then. Sixteen years later they constructed a tasting room, started making wine, and have been attracting wine lovers to their slice of “country life” ever since. Nowadays, daughter Max Peple and husband Deon Abrams, who is also the winemaker, assume day to day operations.

Mona - The Winery Dog

Waiting at the door to greet me when I arrived was the tail-wagging and friendly winery dog, Mona. Mona, as you will see later in this story, is quite the entertainer. Of course, the farm’s horses would not say that, but I give the little doggy the benefit of the doubt. Into the tasting room I strolled where I was warmly greeted by winemaker Deon Abrams and invited to the tasting bar.

Deon Abrams - Winemaker

While chatting with Deon, I learned quite a bit about the small farm winery’s background and his winemaking philosophy, as well as the fact that he was from South Africa and made wine there before settling here in the Old Dominion. Even though Deon is the chief winemaker, he explained to me that winemaking at Grayhaven is a true family affair, stating that, “a lot of our winemaking takes place at the dinner table where we'll try the new vintages and make group decisions as to how to proceed.” As my eyes perused the rustic, yet charm-filled tasting room, Deon’s South African influence is noted in the gift shop that has a number of unique artisan gifts and food items made by local crafters, as well as imports from South Africa. The true tell-tale is Grayhaven’s flagship wine; no, not Cabernet Franc, Norton or Viognier, but a grape variety developed in 1925 at Stellenbosch University in South Africa from crossing Pinot Noir with Cinsaut. This South African wine goes by the name of Pinotage.

Wine and Fine Nibbles

Grayhaven specializes in small lots of hand-crafted wines made from vinifera, French-American hybrids, and other unique grape varieties. Varietal wines offered such as Seyval Blanc, a rare Rkatsiteli, Touriga, Cabernet Franc, and Chambourcin are leaner wines with subtle flavoring and good balance. These easy drinking wines make for nice sippers or accompaniments to a number of food dishes since the flavors are not over powering, but complimentary. The exception to these leaner bodied wines would be the flagship wine, Pinotage, which is also the crowd favorite. Deon tells me that their Pinotage ripens beautifully with high brix levels and the results are much different than the rustic Pinotage examples I have come to expect out of South Africa, and even some of the more refined and “cleaned up,” as I call them, examples out of California and New Zealand. There is no distinct Virginia Pinotage style; however, this example is fuller- bodied with big red fruit flavors and spicy notes – a good wine for a hearty meal and a nice example of what the grape variety can do in Virginia soil.

Someone is Horsing Around - Guess Who ?

Following the informative and enlightening tasting with Deon, I chose a bottle of the light and refreshing Rkatsiteli with a local cheese spread, as well as a warm French baguette. As I made my way out to sit by the pond and enjoy the serene country setting, I noticed my little pal Mona, the winery dog, out in the fields entertaining ~~harassing~~ the horses. For a toy-sized doggie, Mona either thinks she is a very big dog, or the horses are very small. Either way, Mona rules the roost, and what is better than playing with horses is following a winery visitor who has a warm French baguette in his hand out to the pond. Needless to say, Mona followed and was quite the companion, even taking a splash in the pond while I basked in Grayhaven’s hip slice of country life. Time flies when you are having fun, and it was nearing time to say good-bye to a very relaxing day and return to the hustle and bustle of life in the city.

I'm Dezel, see you on the Wine Trail!

In closing friends, a relaxing country atmosphere, attractive surroundings, horse pastures, nice picnic areas (picnic baskets are welcomed here!), Southern (and South African) hospitality, and several unique Virginia wines are very good reasons to visit Grayhaven Winery on a beautiful summer day. Check their calendar for winery and event information. Their most popular event, the South African Food & Wine Festival, takes place at the winery on July 11th, 12th and 13th – click here for further information. When you visit Deon, Max, Mona, and family, let them know you saw them here on Dezel’s Virginia Vine Spot.

Winery Info: Grayhaven Winery, 4675 E. Gray Fox Circle, Gum Spring, VA 23065, Phone: 804.556.3917

Stay tuned friends ... More to come !!!

Also, for more on Pinotage, visit my pal Peter May at The Pinotage Club.

Virginia Wine Events: A Site you want to Bookmark!

2008-05-07T20:05:00.005-04:00

Hello Friends,

Donna and Carl of Capital Celebrations have launched a new web site to let all you Virginia Wine Lovers know about local winery events and other wine related information. Check the site out, bookmark it, and share it with your friends. A number of fun-filled summer events lie ahead, so use this site as your one stop hop to finding your next Virginia wine adventure.

Link: http://www.virginiawineevents.com/

Be sure to bookmark the website, and if you have not already, bookmark Virginia Vine Spot!!! The latter is a requirement for you (ha-ha).

Stay tuned friends ... Grayhaven Winery, Cellaring, and more to come !!!

Sweet Ending: Tokaji Azsú - One of the World's Greatest Sweet Wines

2008-05-01T19:35:00.010-04:00

Hello Friends,

This week’s sweet ending brings us to a delicious dessert wine that palates around the wine world refer to as one of the best sweet wines bar none. The golden nectar Dezel speaks of is no other than Hungary’s own Tokaji Azsú. Tokaji is a region in Hungary that is rich in history and well known for its sweet and sumptuous wines made namely from furmint grapes affected by botrytis cinerea, also referred to as noble rot when results are positive. Simply putting it, noble rot is a fungus; yes, I said fungus, which causes the grapes to shrivel on the vine and become raisin-like, concentrating the sugars and intensifying the flavors. These noble rot affected grapes produce intense, mouth filling, elegant golden wines with layers of complexity and depth of flavor (usually). Tokaji wines have been around since the Roman period and were served at the table of excellency and royalty during the 17th and 18th centuries. Today, even laymen like us can indulge - isn’t life grand! However, depending on how sweet and refined you prefer your Tokaji, it may cost a pretty penny for a 500ml bottle. Before getting to what is inside the bottle, let’s chat more about Tokaji Azsú and the sweetness / price factor.

Although we will focus on Tokaji Azsú here, there are several types of Tokaji wines, even some which are dry. Azsú is the most popular of the wines, and a rare wine called Essencia is the most rare and expensive of the Tokaji wines. Essencia is said to be cellar worthy for upwards of two centuries, and able to retain its quality and gain complexity over the stretch. Essencia is often described as intense and syrupy, with powerful flavors packing such a high sugar concentration that the alcohol level usually never exceeds 3%. Technically, I do not think this can be called a wine, but this is some sweet nectar I hope to one day try.

Wooden Tub and Botrytis Affected Grapes

In a nutshell, Tokaji Essencia is made from a very small amount of juice per individual (noble rot) grape, hence the price it demands ($400+). These golden droplets of concentrated juice naturally run off by the weight of the botrytis-affected grapes stacked atop each other in vats. I mentioned Tokaji Essencia because the same grapes that give up a sweet golden droplet for Essencia are used to make Tokaji Azsú, at least traditionally. These botrytis-affected grapes are placed in wooded tubs called puttons (50-55lbs of grape per putton) and kneaded into an Azsú paste. A dry base wine is made in a 136 liter cask with non-affected grapes and the puttons of Azsú paste are added, mixed and soaked to extract maximum flavors and sugar concentration. Therefore, when a wine label states three, four, or five puttonyos, you know how many wooden tubs of the sweet Azsú paste was added to the dry base wine. The higher the puttonyos, the more intense, sweeter, and richer – in more ways than one the wine will be. A six puttonyos can sometimes be hard to find, but three, four, and five puttonyos examples can readily be found at most wine stores. I suggest starting with a 4 puttonyos example, which sells for around $30, and if you like it, move up to a five or six puttonyos example ($50 - $80) and have the bottle for a special occasion - or be selfish like Dezel and have it all to yourself over the course of a few days. Now that we have chatted a little about this precious and rich dessert wine, let see what’s in the bottle.

1999 Tokaj Hetszolo Tokaji Aszu 6 Puttonyos

Review: The 1999 Tokaj Hetszolo Tokaji Azsú 6 Puttonyos is an attractive deep yellow gold color with honeyed-laced citrus and stone fruit flavors with underlying hints of pineapple and lemon zest. This wine is deliciously thick and voluptuous with an inviting complex bouquet. Sweet she is, yet, there is enough acidity present to keep all of her sugar in balance. Decadently rich, this wine is capable of long term aging. Enjoy this gem as a dessert on its own, or with a fruit pastry, vanilla crème brûlée, or fresh berries.

Price: $69.99 Alcohol Percentage: 11% Enclosure: Real Cork

Verdict: Buy and reserve for special dinner guests or a special occasion. This wine was purchased at Unwined Gourmet Wine and Cigars in Alexandria, VA.

Stay tuned friends ... Grayhaven Winery, Cellaring, and more to come !!!

Virginia Vine Spot Visuals

2008-04-27T11:40:00.008-04:00

Hello Friends,

This continues the springtime “Virginia Vine Spot Visuals” feature, and although the past few days have been rather somber and soggy, rest assured that sunshine is on its way - so I hope! About one of every five emails I receive is from a Virginia wine lover who wants to know where to discover the beautiful views. As I mentioned before, my plan here is to periodically post pictures of Virginia wineries I have visited with striking landscapes and picturesque settings. Oftentimes I tell people “she is a beautiful model.” The model I’m speaking of is Virginia, who, in her natural state, makes it difficult for the novice, amateur, or professional photographer to snap a bad picture.

Mediterranean Cellars Patio View

This picture was taken at Mediterranean Cellars, nestled in the lush, green, rolling hills of Fauquier County. This small family-owned farm winery is located in the town of Warrenton and sits atop a hill surrounded by sweeping views of the picturesque countryside and horse farms. This time of year the garden area bordering the outdoor patio should be near full bloom and colorfully attractive. With a full spectrum of red and white wines ranging from dry to sweet and tempting, there is something offered for every palate preference. Be sure to try the Rechina, a unique Greek-styled wine dating back to the 13th century, made from white savvatiano grapes with a distinct piney flavor. As the picture suggests, sit back, relax, and enjoy the good life!

For further information, visit the Mediterranean Winery website and be sure to let them know you saw them here on Dezel’s Virginia Vine Spot when you visit.

Contact Info: Mediterranean Cellars, 8295 Falcon Glen Rd, Warrenton, VA 20186

Stay tuned friends ... Grayhaven Winery, Tokaij, Cellaring, and more to come !!!

Click Here to vote VA Vine Spot as your wine favorite blog - You can vote 1x per day!

Happy Sipping Friends - Tell your friends about the blog and thanks for your support and kind emails !

Dezel

Virginia Vine Spot’s Q&A with Kent Marrs of Village Winery

2008-04-14T06:36:00.005-04:00

Hello Friends,

This post marks the start of a new feature I’m adding to the Virginia Vine Spot blog called “Getting to know your local industry.” What I have found touring Virginia wine country is that behind every bottle of Virginia wine are some very down to earth and passionate people. My plan with this new feature is to periodically have a Q&A session with some of the industry locals, and post it to the blog, so you, my wonderful readers and friends, can get to know your local industry a little better.

Kent Marrs of Village Winery in the Barrel Room

I begin this new feature with Kent Marrs of Village Winery in Loudoun County. I have had the pleasure of meeting Kent in the tasting room several times and he is one of the nicest guys you would ever want to meet. The tasting room, where Kent can be found on weekends, is housed in a renovated farm building, which sits next to a historic eye-catching barn. Welcomes are always warm and friendly, and from personal experience, all of my tastings have been informative and satisfying. Picnics are welcomed, so put this one on your calendar for a sunny weekend day. Enjoy the Q&A session with Kent Marrs of Village Winery, friends.

Dezel: Was there one special bottle that initially got you into wine? If so, what was this serendipitous find?
Kent: Linden Vineyards Cabernet Franc (click here to visit Linden Vineyard site)

Dezel: From wine connoisseur to winemaker, what and / or who inspired you to start growing wine grapes and making wine here in Virginia?
Kent: Jim Law (owner, grape grower, and winemaker at Linden Vineyards)

Dezel: As a grower, what vineyard techniques do you employ? Secondly, as an East coast grower, do the climatic variations make it difficult to maintain consistency in the quality and style of your wines from vintage to vintage?
Kent: We like the GDC trellis system – less disease pressure and less labor during the summer months. We also get pretty good consistency, except for 2007, which was very dry. 2007 was a great year for our wines.

Dezel: As a small farm winery, where do most of your wine sales come from?
Kent: The Tasting Room.
Dezel: Is it from Virginia wine lovers visiting your winery?
Kent: Some – Currently, I do not track those stats as I should.

Dezel: You did something rather innovative last year by setting up a wine booth outdoors at the Leesburg Outlet Mall for the holidays. How did this work and how well did it work out for you?
Kent: It worked well to promote our wines and increase sales. This year we are only at the Outlet Mall November and December. Sales are increasing at the tasting room and I want to maintain a good customer relationship by being at the winery more.

Images of Village Winery from past visits

Dezel: Your elderberry wine is a crowd favorite. Whenever I visit Loudoun wine country and start chatting about wine in tasting circles your elderberry wine always comes up. I believe out of the 130+ wineries in the state you are the only producer making an elderberry wine. Is this also your favorite wine, and did you know it would have such appeal when you started making it?
Kent: Elderberry is my favorite fruit- We also make a food product, elderberry syrup, which has become very poplar as well. We should release a new elderberry water beverage this fall. These are healthy products and our goal is to develop new products which will make consuming elderberry a daily benefit. My favorite wine is Petit Verdot

Dezel: You also offer a varietal Viognier, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, etc. Is there a particular style you are after with your classic European varieties (ex. Old World, New World)?
Kent: Old World style - The most important item to remember is “Great wines start in the Vineyard.” I went to a number of wine making classes, which Jim Law gave. He continually talked about the soil and site. Ten years later I understand what he was trying to tell us. It is not what we do in the winery.
Dezel: Has there been a wine that you are most proud of as a winemaker?
Kent: Petit Verdot- not because of what I do, but the grape itself and the site we have it planted on.

Dezel: Outside of your own wines filling your glass, tell us at least three other Virginia producers whose wines you thoroughly enjoy?
Kent: Jim Law’s wines are my all time favorite. Unfortunately, I have not been able to taste other wines due that I’m somewhat of a one man shop. I’m trying to change that. I do know, based on the customers that visit the tasting room that we have a great selection of wines and wineries here in Loudoun County and other parts of Virginia.

Village Winery Visuals

Dezel: Loudoun County wine country is one of my favorite places to visit on the weekends. There are so many good wineries, great restaurants, and unique shops out that way. If you had to tell someone why they should visit Village Winery what would you tell them?
Kent: If people enjoy historic areas and a wide variety of wines and new elderberry products – come by and visit us.

Dezel: Any new spring time releases or winery news that you would like to share with readers?
Kent: We have released our Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Merlot 2006. A special note on the Merlot- for the first time I’m picking up a light tobacco aroma. The 2007 Viognier will be released in a month.

Thanks for your time and appearing on Virginia Vine Spot Q&A, Kent. Readers wanting to learn more about Village Winery and their wines can click here to visit the Village Winery web site.

Contact Info: Village Winery, 40405 Browns Lane, Waterford, VA20197, 540.882.3780

Stay tuned friends ...More on Village Winery, Loudoun Valley, Tokaij, Cellaring, and more to come !!!

Click Here to vote VA Vine Spot as your wine favorite blog - You can vote 1x per day!

Happy Sipping Friends - Thanks for your support and kind emails !

Dezel

In the News: Virginia Tasting Room selected as one of the Best in America

2008-04-11T22:15:00.007-04:00

Hello Friends,

As I flipped through my latest edition of Wine Enthusiast Magazine (May 08), I noticed that Virginia’s own Kluge Estate Winery was selected as one of America’s Best Tasting Rooms. This is definitely a nice spotlight to have shined on you as a local producer since Wine Enthusiast Magazine reaches out to a global audience of wine lovers. For those of you who have not visited Kluge Estate Winery, find a picture perfect weather day and make a date with the tasting room. I have visited several times, and results have been hit or miss to be honest. When it is a hit, however, it is a homerun. The tasting room is smallish, yet sophisticated, and can quickly get crowded on weekends, but when you combine the farm shop, the nice spread of gourmet foods offered, the outdoor sun porch, and the picnic area surrounded by trees, results can be heavenly.

Images from my last visit to Kluge Estate Winery

Kluge Estate Winery is a full service winery, and is one of the few places I will tell readers to leave their picnic baskets at home and enjoy the delectable food items offered at the winery. The wines here are also very nice, and all the foods served come with wine pairing suggestions. For those who have not visited Kluge Estate Winery, I have included some of my photos from last years visit to wet your palate.

When you visit Kluge, be sure to congratulate them on being selected as one of America’s Best tasting Rooms. Additionally, be sure to grab a Monticello Wine Trail guide and visit some of the neighboring wineries in the area – you are sure to find a lot of other great tasting rooms too!

For further information on Kluge Estate Winery visit their website here. Be sure to mention you saw them on Dezel’s Virginia Vine Spot when you visit.

Stay tuned friends ...Q&A Session with Village Winery, Tokaij, Cellaring, and more to come !!!

Click Here to vote VA Vine Spot as your wine favorite blog - You can vote 1x per day!

Happy Sipping Friends - Thanks for your support and kind emails !

Dezel

Virginia Vine Spot Visuals

2008-04-06T08:58:00.007-04:00

Hello Friends,

Over the past two years I have taken a number of pictures from my travels through Virginia wine country. About one of every 5 emails I receive are from Virginia wine lovers who want to know where the beautiful views are. Starting with this post, I will periodically post a picture from my photo archive, accompanied with a short descriptive blurb. Since we are transitioning to the seasonal warmth of spring, my plan is to post pictures of Virginia wineries I have visited with striking landscapes and picturesque settings. Often times I tell people “she is a beautiful model.” The model I’m speaking of is Virginia, who, in her natural state, makes it difficult for the novice, amateur, or professional photographer to snap a bad picture.

One of many beautiful views at Oakencroft Vineyard & Winery

This picture was taken at Oakencroft Vineyard & Winery, located in Charlottesville, Virginia. Oakencroft is situated amidst a beautiful farm setting surrounded by lush green landscapes and a picnic area overlooking a lake and shaded by mature trees. Find comfort and serenity in this spot for two and enjoy a glass of wine and the attractive countryside.

To make a date with Oakencroft Vineyard & Winery visit their website here. Be sure to let them know you saw them here on Dezel’s Virginia Vine Spot when you visit.

Stay tuned friends ...A taste of Tokaij, Cellaring, and more to come !!!

Click Here to vote VA Vine Spot as your wine favorite blog - You can vote 1x per day!

Happy Sipping Friends - Thanks for your support and kind emails !

Dezel

Dezel’s Tasting Room Tips to Sip by

2008-03-30T16:34:00.011-04:00

Tasting Room Tips

Hello Friends,

Spring is here, the sun is shining, and the flowers are blooming, and Dezel knows that many of you will be coming out of hibernation and planning weekend trips to Virginia’s award winning wineries to sample the new releases. With good positive feedback from readers about my Top 10 Wine Events and Festivals posting last month, I decided to throw together some tasting room tips for you, which will hopefully lead to a pleasurable tasting experience for you and others. Of course, even with these tips and the best of preparation, it is largely up to the Virginia wineries to have a friendly and knowledgeable staff on hand to make you feel like part of the wine family. Without further ado, and in no particular order, here are a few tips to having a great time while visiting Virginia tasting rooms this spring and summer.

Review the tasting sheet for descriptions of the wine

I will start off with something that I stand guilty of – well, sometimes. Before leaving out for your wine tasting adventure, limit or do not use any perfume, cologne, or lotions. Although pleasing, they will definitely affect your ability to pick up the aromas of the wine, which will in turn alter your perception of its taste. And if it affects you, it can certainly ruin the experience for others too.
Before leaving out to go wine tasting have a good breakfast or lunch and bring a few bottles of water with you. Actually, packing a cooler with snacks and water is a very good idea.
Plan ahead, friends! Many Virginia wineries have limited hours, and some even go by appointments (especially for large groups and tours), so pick up the telephone and give them a call to make sure they will be open and ready to pour.
Here is one I wish I had in my back pocket: a Designated Driver. This is a prudent decision for a carefree day of wine tasting. If everyone wants to taste, there are also many local tour services available that are fun and affordable. I recommend trying Deidra at Virginia Wine Adventures.

Listen up - lots of great info will be shared with you

If you plan to picnic, call the winery you plan to picnic at and ask if they allow baskets. A few wineries are no longer allowing guests to bring food. You can also call the winery and find out what types of foods they offer - a cheese, sausage and baguette platter will usually do the trick.
When you taste, follow the flow from white wines to reds and then dessert wines if applicable. Wines are tasted from light, to drier, to sweet for a reason. You would not want to start off your tasting with a big tannic red and then try to fully enjoy a light fruity white wine – that big bad red won’t allow it!
When tasting, refresh the palate with plain crackers and water if available. If the winery offers cheese samples during the tasting save the cheese for later. Cheese can hide flaws in wine, and reduce your ability to detect subtlety. Simply put, you do not want cheese or perfumes affecting your sense of aroma and taste.
Some people will say that they are a red wine or white wine person; others may like only sweet wines. Keep an open mind and open palate and try everything if it doesn’t kill you or give you a migraine. You might just find something new that you like, and if it is all together not your style, do not feel ashamed to pour it out or spit.

Ask questions, you can learn a lot during a tasting session

Very important: always look at your wine. The color can give hints about the quality and age of the wine, and remember, always swirl, sniff, and sip every wine. As you do these things, think about the color, aromas and flavors – is the color attractive and brilliant, are you smelling apples, pears, apricots, cherries, or hints of vanilla, are the flavors consistent with the aromas?
Ask questions: be Curious George the Wine Lover. Wine tasting is your opportunity to not only educate your palate, but to learn more about the wine making process at the winery you are visiting. In most Virginia tasting rooms you will find a warm and knowledgeable staff, winery owners, and if you are lucky, the winemaker(s) themselves, ready to make your tasting experience memorable. Most wineries know the importance of a good staff - it provides repeat business and word of mouth promotion. Not all wineries are created equal, however, so if you encounter someone in the tasting room trying to rush you through your tasting, or not at all interested in the wine they are pouring, write or email the owners.
All wineries will have a tasting sheet listing what is being poured. Take the time to review the tasting sheet and as you sample the wines, see if you can pick the suggested aromas and flavors out in the wines.

Take notes – jot down what you liked, loved, and may buy

If you are on the bubble about a bottle purchase, ask for a second sampling to confirm your thoughts of the wine. Usually after a tasting, your pourer will ask if there is anything you would like to re-taste. But if they do not, ask politely.
Do not feel pressured to drink all the wine in your glass, especially if you are visiting a number of wineries. No one wants to get tipsy, right? Feel free to sip and spit or sip and swallow a little and throw the remaining wine in the dump bucket provided by the winery.
Some wineries, not all, have a tasting fee; usually a souvenir glass and great service is included with this fee. As mentioned below, some wineries will apply these fees to a bottle purchase.
Some wineries have a two tier tasting fee, one for tasting their everyday wines, and another fee for their reserve wines. Some wineries waive a tasting fee per bottle purchase, so be sure to ask about this before tasting. It just may help you decide which tasting option is best for you.

Smile! You are sure to make a friend in VA's tasting rooms

Spring and summer are busy times for Virginia wineries so try not to crowd the bar. If you're in a tasting room that is obviously busy, back away from the bar after receiving your next tasting to give others a chance to progress in their tasting order. There's nothing worse than fighting a crowd when trying to taste. Sometimes it is just the nature of the beast, but deal with it like the dignified wine lover Dezel knows you are!
I know I said in no particular order, but, last but not least is to have fun while enjoying Virginia wine at the source this spring and summer!

Inspired by mirth ~~wine~~ and having fun – Happy Sipping, friends!

Stay tuned friends ...Cellaring, and more to come !!!

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Happy Sipping Friends - Thanks for your support and kind emails !

Dezel

Coming Soon: Barrel Oak Winery

2008-03-21T22:12:00.012-04:00

Hello Friends,

This past weekend I had the pleasure of visiting with Brian and Sharon Roeder, owners of the soon –to- be open Barrel Oak Winery. Barrel Oak Winery, the latest edition to the popular Fauquier County Wine Trail, is located in the quaint village of Delaplane, a charming little town known for its historic landmarks, equestrian heritage, picturesque landscapes, and, of course, Virginia wine.

Barrel Oak Winery

Upon arriving, we were warmly greeted by Brian, Sharon, and their playful and fun-loving Golden Retriever. After some friendly conversation, we hopped on “Wally” the farm mule, which is another name for an all terrain farm buggy. Since I’m not too farm savvy, guess what I thought we were going to ride over to the winery on? Boy was I nervous! So off we went, over the hills on a short journey to the Roeder’s new state of the art wine production facility and tasting room.

Beautiful views await you....

The winery is nestled on a hill surrounded by beautifully tended acres, graced with rolling hills, duck ponds, a neighboring horse farm, historic structures, and sweeping vista and vineyard views from the tasting room and expansive stone floored patio – a truly undisturbed and calming symphony of nature. Barrel Oak Winery offers the ideal location to engage in conversation and laughter with friends while relaxing in a peaceful and enchanting setting and sipping on your favorite Barrel Oak wine. And yes, there will be a nice selection to choose from, including a Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Norton, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, a Chocolate Lab Infused Dessert Red, Late Harvest Viognier, Seyval Blanc, and last but not least, Viognier. There is something for every palate preference, no doubt.

The winery is nestled atop a hill (middle picture)

The large hand-built wine production facility and tasting room is currently under construction. The facility is being constructed using the latest innovations in green building practices. This practice provides environmental, economic, and social benefits, among other things. The Roeder’s expect to host their Grand Opening Celebration on Memorial Day Weekend, so mark your calendar, friends! From what Brian and Sharon showed us, the tasting room will be comfortable and spacious, boasting tall ceilings, a stone built fireplace, and wall to wall windows, allowing stunning views of the countryside and an abundance of natural lighting. The multi-level facility will also offer guided and self-guided wine tours to see how wine is made from beginning to end at Barrel Oak Winery. Other niceties will include light gourmet fare to pair with your favorite wine, a library room and gift shop, wireless internet, state of the art tank and barrel rooms, a custom covered crush pad, gravity flow processing system, and a lot more.

Brian shows us the area where wine will be made (middle picture)

Barrel Oak recently planted estate-grown varieties including Traminette, Seyval Blanc, Chambourcin, Vidal Blanc, and Petit Manseng. The latter, one of my personal favorites out of the Jurançon AOC of South West France, is bound to emerge here in Virginia. For their other wines, the winery sources in fruit from several top vineyards in the surrounding area. Heading the wine-making duties are Rick Tagg, a name familiar from Pearmund Cellar’s successful line-up of wines, and owner Sharon Roeder.

Enjoy the multitude of comforts at Barrel Oak Winery

So, what more can I tell you, friends? You are going to have to bookmark their web page and pay close attention to this winery's development. The grand opening is something that you will definitely want to be a part of, and from talking with Brian and Sharon, they would love to have you there. The winery is located less than an hour from the DC Metro area, but it feels like worlds away. If you enjoy Virginia wine and beautiful views this is the place for you because both are difficult to escape at Barrel Oak Winery. When you visit be sure to tell them you read about them here on Dezel’s Virginia Vine Spot.

Visit Barrel Oak Winery web site here.

Stay tuned friends ...Cellaring, and more to come !!!

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Happy Sipping Friends - Thanks for your support and kind emails !

Dezel

Corcoran Vineyards Traminette 2006: A Floral Fascination

2008-03-15T00:11:00.013-04:00

Hello Friends,

Our grape variety for today is Traminette, a hybrid variety whose name rolls off the tongue just as easy as the wine it produces. At least that is what we expect, right? In this posting we will chat a little about this hybrid grape variety, as well as sniff and snip a fine local example.

Traminette Grapes

Traminette was developed in 1965 at the University of Illinois. Traminette is a hybrid grape variety that is a result of crossbreeding the more popular Gewürztraminer with a variety known as Joannes Seyve 23.416, which is closely related to Seyval Blanc. To draw reference to the number mentioned (ex. 23.416), it is worth noting that a myriad of grapes are created and are simply known as numbers. Only the ones selected for their quality and other important characteristics are released for production and given attractive names – like, you guessed it, Traminette.

By 1968, Traminette, which was then known as NY65.533.13, was under the scope, so to speak, at Cornell University in Upstate New York. The grape research program at Cornell has turned out other significant hybrid varieties like Chardonel and Cayuga White, which are popular among the Finger Lake communities. The basic idea here is to cultivate a grape that is winter hardy and disease resistant with the finesse and quality of the classic European varieties, but without their defined and much preferred growing conditions. Thus we have hybrids, varieties created by man, in a lab by crossing grapes of two different species. What they were attempting to do in New York with Traminette, was to retain the flavor profile and basic structure of the parent Gewürztraminer, yet preserve the cold hardiness and vigor of Joannes Seyve 23.416. I think it worked.

Corcoran Vineyards Traminette 2006

Traminette’s coming out party took nearly three decades. I think it is safe to say that this is one patient grape, right? Traminette was officially named and released in 1996 and its popularity soon took off. Traminette is more winter hardy and disease resistant than Gewürztraminer and many fans of the hybrid grape variety argue that the quality of a Traminette wine in good vintage years can supersede that of its parent, Gewürztraminer. Their flavor profiles are comparable and both pair well with similar dishes, with spicy Indian and Thai cuisine being great mates for these wines. Outside of Upstate New York, Traminette is produced in Missouri, Pennsylvania, Michigan, New Jersey, and our very own state, Virginia, as well as a host of other cool climate states. Here in Virginia you will not find too many varietal bottles of Traminette. I get the impression that Traminette is used more as a blender in Virginia wines to add aroma, acidity or complexity. One Virginia producer that makes a nice Traminette varietal wine is Corcoran Vineyards in Loudoun County. I suggest all Virginia wine lovers secure a few bottles of this fragrant and well-made wine for the upcoming seasonal warmth. To the best of my knowledge, this wine can only be found at the winery, so pay the tasting room a visit one weekend and try some. That said; let’s pop the cork on a bottle of the Corcoran Vineyards Traminette 2006.

Enjoy a glass outdoors by the pond this spring

Review: The Corcoran Vineyards 2006 Traminette is lemon yellow in color with inviting floral aromas, highlighted by fresh cut roses and subtle hints of lychee fruit. On the palate are flavors of melon, honeysuckle, and touches of spice on the finish. There is good balance between the residual sugars and acidity and a slight tanginess, making this a nice springtime sipper on its own or a mate to Indian or Thai cuisine, even light picnic fare. This wine is drinking well now, so grab a bottle at the winery and bask in the friendly ambience while enjoying a glass by the relaxing pond. Price: $16 Alcohol Percentage: 12.5% Enclosure: Synthetic

Producer: Corcoran Vineyards, 14635 Corkys Farm Lane • Waterford, VA, (540)-882-9073

Stay tuned friends ...Cellaring, and more to come !!!

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Dezel

Weekly Wine Fact: Do you know ?

2008-03-13T21:06:00.011-04:00

Hello Friends,

Do you know how many wine lovers will visit Virginia tasting rooms this year? Any guesses? It was estimated that a whopping 950,000 wine lovers visited Virginia wineries in 2006, from 400,000 in 2004.

Spring is here, and wine is near!

Projections for 2008 tops out at over 1 million wine lovers visiting Virginia tasting rooms. Wow! I’m willing to bet that if you are a reader of this blog you are definitely one of the million. Have fun tasting and enjoying the picturesque views of Virginia wine country this spring. The fact here is that the popularity of Virginia wine continues to grow!

Stay tuned friends ...Traminette, Cellaring, and more to come !!!

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Happy Sipping Friends - Thanks for your support and kind emails !

Dezel

Tastefully Fun! The 9th Annual Washington D.C. International Wine and Food Festival

2008-03-05T21:56:00.014-05:00

Hello Friends,

This past weekend I had the pleasure of sampling some great foods, attending educational and entertaining wine seminars, and connecting with a number of passionate wine enthusiasts, as well as the opportunity to taste up to 800 international wines. What fun! Of course, I did not taste that many wines, but trust me - I had fun trying to. And, yes, I did practice what I preach and spit. So where can one do all this, you might ask? Well, all this and more took place at the Ronald Regan Building, where the 9th Annual Washington D.C. International Wine and Food Festival was held.

9th Annual Washington D.C. International Wine and Food Festival

The Washington D.C. International Wine Festival is a very popular event, attracting those in and out of the trade and wine lovers from near and far. I attended both Saturday and Sunday and conducted my wine tasting during the special time that was set aside for the press and trade. This was a few hours prior to the consumer tasting hours, which translates into no lines, no pressure, and significant time to interact with the wineries. I was also very pleased to find that most of the people pouring were affiliated with the wineries for which they were representing, if not the winemakers and / or owners themselves.

Producers from all over our great globe were represented at this huge event, and several Virginia wineries were in attendance including the following: Corcoran Vineyards, Fabbioli Cellars, Pearmund Cellars, Winery at La Grange, Horton Vineyards, Oasis, Barboursville, Tarara, Tomahawk Mill Winery, Mediterranean Cellars, and last, but not least, Kluge Estate Winery. The beauty of this show for me personally was not so much the producers who are already well represented and easily found in most local grocers’ and wine shops, but the smaller producers who were trying to have a spot-light shined their way for their often times limited production and quality hand-crafted wines. I would be remiss if I did not mention popular producers who were in attendance such as Fetzer, Rex Goliath, Barefoot, Clos du Bois, Blackstone, Ravenswood, Monkey Bay, Alice White, Sebeka, etc. for their wines, which, by the way, hit our store shelves at very reasonable prices with overall good quality-to-price ratios. It is worth noting that this event was a showcasing of wines in which tasting could only be conducted; bottles were not available for purchase through the event. Wines poured that I tasted ranged from $10 to over $75 to give you some idea of what was offered; however, the majority were in the $15 to $40 range.

Dezel & Weekend Wino (middle picture)

Some of my personal event highlights and experiences are as follows: First, I had the pleasure of meeting with Rob Lane and his lovely wife, who are founders of the Finger Lakes Weekend Wino blog (<- - Great resource to learn about Finger Lake wine country). Rob and his wife were helping out at the Finger Lakes booth both Saturday and Sunday. The wineries representing the Finger Lakes fine brand of Riesling wines were Standing Stone Vineyards, Hazlitt 1852, and Dr. Konstantin Frank’s Vinifera Wine. Up until this event, I had only read about Long Island wines on Lenndevour’s Long Island wine blog. That changed when I visited with Wölffer Estate who was pouring a nice Reserve Chardonnay and an easy drinking and flavorful 2004 Reserve Merlot. Like the Finger Lakes boasts world class Rieslings, a longer growing season and abundant sunshine gives Long Island an edge for growing vinifera red wine varieties such as the Merlot I sampled.

Wine Lovers enjoying a pour ...

Although I did not taste any red Burgundy wines like I would have preferred, I did taste a few very nice Pinot Noirs from Oregon’s own Willamette Valley and Amity regions that made up for it. Amity is a region just north of Willamette Valley that I knew little about. One of the Amity producers that stuck out to me was Amity Vineyards, who offered a smooth and elegant single vineyard Pinot and a more robust Reserve example that ranked up there on my Pinot meter. I look forward to visiting Oregon’s much talked about Pinot region sometime in the near future. A trip that is already on my schedule is right across the bridge to Maryland to jump on the Frederick Wine Trail. The trail consists of 6 wineries that are in close proximity to one another. Visiting Frederick’s Elk Run Vineyards during the event piqued my interest to find out more about our next door neighbor’s offerings. One last Pinot Noir offering worth positive mention was from Fulcrum Wines. Fulcrum is a very small producer out of Anderson Valley that is about 2 hours north of San Francisco. Fulcrum Wines poured their inaugural offering - a Pinot Noir that had great fruit, complexity, velvety, and was age worthy – this wine was pretty darn good for their first vintage, and Pinot is all they do.

And that’s me, yeah, sipping!

Other palate pleasing pleasantries came from Château Julien; a California producer in the Monterey wine region specializing in limited production premium wines. I found favor in both their Private Reserve Chardonnay and Merlot that was offered. The Merlot was soft, yet beautifully interesting and smooth. Speaking of Merlot, I was told by several California producers that the Sideways Effect is still in effect. Shame, Shame, give Merlot a chance! Lastly, were two nice Italian Pinot Grigio examples from Barone Fini Doc Wines. These were reasonably priced, dry, balanced, and crisp examples with good floral and fruit aromas – a nose definitely indicative of spring, which I’m sure all locals are ready for.

Happy Sipping!

In closing friends, if you missed this event be sure to mark your calendars for next year. Also, for another review of the festival visit my pal Todd, founder of Wine Compass Blog. Todd gives a great 2 day review of his wine experience at the show. Although I tasted so many wines, I missed many too. I felt like a kid in a candy, and so did many others. Hey, great wine, tasty food, and a plethora of budding wine enthusiasts – now that’s how to spend a weekend. See you next year!

Stay tuned friends ...Cellaring and more to come !!!

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Happy Sipping Friends - Thanks for your support and kind emails !

Dezel

Wine Event: 9th Annual Washington D.C. International Wine & Food Festival

2008-02-24T18:55:00.011-05:00

Hello Friends,

Dezel just wanted to remind you all about the 9th Annual Washington D.C. International Wine & Food Festival this coming weekend. This exciting event takes place at the Ronald Regan Building February 29th thru March 2nd. This is a tasting event like no other, which features over 200 international and domestic producers, pouring over 800 different wines. This is a good way to experience a number of wines from all over the world and talk to the people who produce them. A little tip from Dezel: this is the type of event where you will want to utilize your spitting talents, that is, if you truly want to enjoy it! I know spitting can sometimes being awkward and embarrassing for some, but practice common sense and use the spit buckets provided and fully enjoy this event.

Have fun; and remember, spit!!!

Select Virginia wineries will be in attendance, as well as our friends up north, the Finger Lake wineries. As a matter of fact, friend and blogger, The Weekend Wino will be working the Finger Lakes booth (Seneca Lake Wine Trail), so be sure to check out his Finger Lakes wine blog and say hello to him at the festival. There will also be a number of wine seminars, cooking demonstrations, and much more! For further event and ticket information visit the festival’s website. Have fun and hope to see some of you!

Stay tuned friends ...Cellaring and more to come !!!

Click Here to vote VA Vine Spot as your wine favorite blog - You can vote 1x per day!

Happy Sipping Friends - Thanks for your support and kind emails !

Dezel

Weekly Wine Fact: How many grapes...

2008-02-22T18:01:00.006-05:00

Hello Friends,

Here is a fun wine fact that should help you appreciate every bottle of wine you consume a little more. Have you ever imagined how many grapes it takes to make your average bottle of wine?

Well, it takes roughly 2 ½ lbs of grapes to make your average bottle of wine. That translates into 600 to 800 individual grapes. I bet that made you say, wow, right? I know I was a little shocked too. Keep in mind that wine grapes are much smaller than the plump and juicy grapes we purchase from the local grocer to consume.

Later this year when you visit the local tasting rooms, take a stroll through the vineyards and check out how much smaller wine grapes are in comparison. You will definitely notice the difference.

Stay tuned friends ...Cellaring and more to come !!!

Click Here to vote VA Vine Spot as your wine favorite blog - You can vote 1x per day!

Happy Sipping Friends - Thanks for your support and kind emails !

Dezel