Oops! I forgot!

I’ve come to realize, that life does suck some times.
Even though I preach, “Life Is Good!”, we all encounter challenges that make us dread getting up in the morning. Recently, I have gotten frustrated with the job search but I know that I will find something that will be more beneficial in the long run.
The thought of retiring has crossed my mind. But, I’m not the type to go hang out at the local McD’s and enjoy my senior cup of coffee with the rest of the local old farts.

Then, a few old friends got me to thinking…
Write!
The!

Book!

Although they think it should be about Virginia wine, I’m considering going a different direction.

I started one 10 years ago, my ramblings were of trips and tales that I encountered in the ’80s.

Oh, those tales are GREAT and I’m still going with that. With my extra time, I will start rewriting the original score.

But in the meantime, I’m going to meet my goal of 100 Virginia vineyards before I return to the workforce.

I kept looking at the VinoWine app and trying to figure out which direction to go. I asked Tish to pick either south or south east. After telling her which ones I was considering visiting she told me to head to the S.E.

The ride down 231 was nice, temperatures were cool and I had the music turned up (Temple of The Dog) and I was on my way toward Orange county.

The first stop of the day had me heading down to the Keswick area to visit…Keswick Vineyards.

Stop by for a visit.

These wines stood out:

’14 V2, a blend of Verdejo and Viognier. Melon and apricots dominate the bouquet. Refreshing tropical fruits on the palate with a touch of honeysuckle on the finish. Broiled salmon with roasted veggies would go well with this white.

’13 Trevillian, a blend of Viognier, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris. An earthy nose with petrichor, vibrant acids fill your palate. Crisp and honeysuckle round out the finish. The only downfall is there are only a few cases of this wine left. A roasted chicken with lemon and thyme would help soften the acids.

A nice stop and if you’re doing wine tours, I would put this on your list to visit.

Next up was Horton Cellars. The last time I visited was in ’05 after the Rolling Stones concert in Charlottesville. Back in the day, you could pay $5 and taste ALL the wines. Of course, you wouldn’t be walking after making it through the list of 20+ wines.

I like this wine too!

So, I had to pick 10 for $5 and these were the ones I preferred:

’14 Albarino Private Reserve, a crisp floral nose of limes that transcends to apples on the palate. The fruity finish makes this the perfect deck sitting wine and would be great with a Wahoo loin with some intense spices.

’14 Nebbiolo Rose Private Reserve, a citrus nose of grapefruit with rose pedals on the palate. A refreshing finish with a touch of effervescence. A plate of cheese with a warm baguette would be a good choice for an evening of relaxing.

’13 Tannat, a dry medium bodied red. A nose of red fruit, with cocoa and butter on the palate. Very fruit forward and jammy flavors on the finish. This is the carnivores dinner wine. Steak, brisket with nice rub will balance this wine well.

’12 Petit Verdot Private Reserve, a deep ruby color wine. Dried fruit on the nose with plum and smoky flavors on the palate and notes of coffee on the finish. Pasta with a rich red sauce.

Just down the road was my next stop, Barboursville Vineyards.

My last visit left a bad taste in my mouth and it wasn’t from the wine.

The high volume of traffic on the weekends has the staff in the tasting room treating your visit like a festival. Sample and step back. How can you learn about what you are drinking by not asking questions and just keeping the glass full?

Oh well, this visit wasn’t a repeat.

My favorites were:

’14 Sauvignon Blanc Reserve, off dry white with earth grass notes on the nose. A citrus palate of grapefruit with low acids on the finish. Lobster ravioli would be wonderful with this bottle.

’14 Sangiovese Reserve, this Tuscan varietal had a gentle smoky nose. Well balanced cherry flavors on the palate with a plum lingering finish. I would enjoy this with a pulled pork sandwich with herb roasted potatoes.

’13 Cabernet Franc Reserve, aged in French oak for 12 months. A complex red with floral notes of currants and white pepper. Ripe berries on the palate that finish with a touch of smoke and bold tannins. This is my pizza wine.ff

At this point, this was my favorite stop…I had one more to visit.

About 10 miles to the north on 29, would be my last stop of the day…Early Mountain Vineyards.

Gorgeous facility and the wines weren’t bad either.

My flight at Early Mountain

’14 Pinot Gris, a refreshing wine. Tropical fruit on the nose with melon on the palate with a wonderful low acid finish. Pasta with basil pesto would be a nice pairing.

’13 Foothills, a full bodied Cab Franc & Merlot blend. Cherry and earthy aromatics, fruit forward with smoke and leather flavors in the mouth. A lingering low tannin finish.

With these 4 it brings my total for the year to 81!

I’m almost done y’all!

More Vino in Nelson County!

Let’s talk about work, I applied and no one responded. One job was suggested, I applied but I was over qualified for the position. That’s a first! So, I did what I could and decided to join Tish and head toward Nelson County to enjoy some Bluegrass and of course…taste wine.

But first, Tish and I took in a concert, Foreigner and Kid Rock or as I like to call him The American Badass! Both of these bands kicked major ass!

I only wish Kid had brought some of his American Badass Lager down from Detroit. Next tour, you need to work out the distribution for your beverages so the fat man can enjoy some!

Saturday we were late getting out the door but it was all good. Karen and The Old Woman, were stuck in traffic on Rt. 64. This allowed us to take our time but I’m not a fan of cruising on the interstates, if I have to drive below the speed limit, I want to be on secondary roads with a full red solo cup.

We had a a straight shot to our meeting point, Afton Mountain Vineyards. It has been two years since my last visit and it won’t be my last.

’14 Rose, pinkish in color and made from Cabernet Franc. Rose pedals and strawberry aromas, with a refreshing palate that has you wanting more. I could enjoy this wine with roasted chicken or smoked turkey.

’13 Cabernet Sauvignon, a nose of raspberry and light oak. Fruit forward in the mouth that finishes with a touch of black pepper. These flavors would pair well with a rich red gravy pasta.

We all agreed on the Rose and enjoyed a bottle while telling tales.

Vertas Vineyard was the next stop. We had a bottle there the we had a late lunch at Blue Mountain Brewery. then we ended the day at Bold Rock Cidery for a little Bluegrass and a little fermented apples. After the girls got their fill, we called it a night and headed to our motel in Lovingston, Va.

There were no early risers this morning. Coffee was needed and then it was time for brunch at Devil’s Backbone Brewery. After filling our gullets and a few brews for the girls, we began our day of wine.

Hill Top Berry Farm Winery was just down the road from our brunch. This winery makes its wines from fruit grown on site and with no grapes. They also make quite the number of meads.

My favorites were:

Blue Heeler, a blueberry wine, tart semi-dry that would go well with spicy foods.

Oracle, rose pedal mead, nice bouquet with a slight sweetness. You could reduce this down and pour it over a bowl of ice cream.

Even if you’re not a fan of the sweeter wines, you should stop and taste these wines as there is something for everyone.

We made our way south on Rt. 29 and a few back roads led us to our next stop, Democracy Vineyards.

A fancy tasting room decorated with vintage Presidential election memorabilia. Now it was time to see what wines were worthy.

’14 Unum, a Petit Manseng based wine, melon on the nose. Tart, crisp apricots with a tangy finish. Spicy curry dishes would go well with this wine.

’12 Forum, a blend of Merlot and Pinotage, dark fruity nose with dried herb flavors on the palate. A finish with low tannins and spice round out this wine. This would go well with a nice risotto.

Just down the road is Virginia’s oldest vineyard, Mountain Cove Vineyards.

Narrow roads had us thinking we made a wrong turn. Then we saw the rows of vines and a little shack that was the tasting room.

Here is what I liked from this stop:

Skyline Rose, a red and white blended Rose. An earthy nose transitions to strawberry flavors on the palate with a subtle sweetness on the end.

Blackberry, wine made with fruit from their site. Think fruity on this elixir. Not as sweet as you would expect, but a well balanced flavorful wine.

The Old Woman seemed to buying wine at each stop. Most of these were inexpensive and we all opted for a glass to enjoy the view. At $4 a glass you can’t go wrong with that.

After our glasses were empty, we have just enough time to visit one more stop.

Four miles to the south was our final stop, Lovingston Vineyard. Nelson county vineyards are on some serious country roads. By this point, the girls were feeling kind of righteous!

A very small tasting room located in the tank room. As for the wines:

’14 Seyval Blanc, a very luscious wine with earthy citrus aromatics. Tropical fruits on the palate with a crisp clean finish. Shellfish would go well with this wine.

’07 Estate Reserve, a red blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, this had an oak presence on the nose. Leather on the palate, this red has big bold and nice tannins. A black pepper finish this a steak wine!

’13 Rotunda Red, a blend of Merlot, Pinotage and Cabernet Franc. Earthy notes on the aroma, fruit forward on the front of the mouth. This turns to jammy with some oak notes on the finish with a slight spice. Definitely a pizza and burger wine.

I made up for the previous week! 5 under my belt which brings my total to 77 for the years and 23 to go.

Where will next week take me?

Just One

Looking for work is a bit tedious but it has to be done. I flip through the pages of jobs and select a few to apply and toss the dice. No sooner than the one email was sent, I got a call wanting to schedule an interview. Wow…that was quick.
I made my way to Capital Hill for my interview and I have to say all things went well. There was just one thing I wasn’t looking forward too, my commute home. I would get back to my car right at evening rush hour and I began to think of things to do. Sure I could have met some friends for an adult beverage or 12. Even go walk around the Galleria in Tysons. Instead, I got on Rt. 29 and made my way back to the valley when I remembered that there is a vineyard open 7 days a week not too far from my location
Clifton is a quaint little town that has some really cool shops and eateries. Just on the outskirts is one of Virginia’s newer vineyards and closest winery to the nations capital – Paradise Springs Winery.
Located on a narrow road with McMansions, this is a very unique stop. Beautiful tasting room is filled to the gills on the weekend which means, if you really want to visit I would recommend Thursday or Friday afternoon as a good time to sit relax and enjoy wine.
My first visit was last August and I really enjoyed the reds they were pouring. Especially the Petit Verdot!

Very nice tasting room

On this day, I enjoyed 2 whites along with 2 reds.

’13 Viognier, aged in stainless steel, this wines aromas were of citrus especially kiwi & pineapple. Apples dominated the palate and finish that was very fruity. All these tropical flavors have me craving shrimp macerating in Sriracha and a side of Kimchi.
’14 Sommet Blanc, another stainless aged wine with tropical fruits of mango and pineapple aromas filling the glass. Soft and delicate in the mouth that has a finish of melon. This is a delicate wine that should be paired with spinach, ricotta ravioli in a creamy Alfredo sauce. This dish will soften the fruitiness of this wine.
’13 Cab Franc, aged in French & American oak, the wine has a dark red fruit nose. Fruit forward with cherry on the palate that ends with a peppery subtle spicy finish. These flavors would pair well with wild game like venison.
’12 Meritage, a blend of five Bordeaux varietals in French and American oak, this full-bodied red has a nose of white pepper. A complex, balance of tannins and raspberry and cherry on the palate. A surprise of vanilla with a soft smoky finish makes this wine my favorite of the day. This is a carnivores wine. I would like to try pasta with it but, I feel this wine would overpower the dish. Burger or even pub food. If I didn’t need to get back to the hills, I would have enjoyed a glass on their deck.
I can see why No. Virginian’s flock to this stop.

With only one this week, my total didn’t climb very high. 72 down with 28 to go.
A trip planned this week to Nelson County has me planning on visiting a few that will be new to me.
Bottom’s up Y’all!

Sent from my iPad

Return to the scene…

For my first week of not having to commute to an office, I was able to get a few things accomplished that I have been meaning to do.

By the time Friday rolled around, I had narrowed my trips down to two; Little Washington or Staunton/Harrisonburg. I decided the Little Washington area just because it was gorgeous day and I knew where I wanted to finish my day of wine tasting. Plus, this was my first visit back to the area since my birthday dinner at The Inn at Little Washington.

On my way  through Chester Gap, I called my sister to see if she wanted to have lunch. She didn’t hesitate to say “Yes!”, and I told her I would see her around noon.

Great view from the deck at this stop.

I had time and decided to visit my first winery, Little Washington Winery. This boutique winery has an amazing view of Old Rag from it’s deck. Not only do they have their wines, but a few from around the world to pour for you. Now on to the wines;

Meet Virginia, their Viognier, is a refreshing wine for the deck. Aromas of citrus fill the glass with a just a touch of melon. Crisp flavors in your mouth with honeysuckle before giving off a tart finish. I would pair this a salmon plate with roasted vegetables.

Pink, a Rose of salmon color, it coats your palate with soft flavors of strawberries and  has a nice citrus finish. A plate of smoked meats & cheese would go well or just a nice evening with friends. This wine can stand alone without a food pairing.

George, the wineries signature red blend of Cab Sauv., Merlot & Cab. Franc. Aromas of minerals, dark chocolate and dried herbs. This rich full-bodied wine gives way to  a wonderful spicy finish. Red meat or Bar-B-Que, this wine would hold up to both dishes.

Artesana, a Tannat from Uruguay, a bold rich wine with aromas of dark chocolate and smoke, bold flavors fill your mouth with intense tannins that round out the finish. Again, this wine could hold up on its own. I’m thinking hearty pork dishes.

A unique stop with an amazing view to go along with a few nice wines.

Lunch was at Tula’s Off Main, a cute little restaurant with a quaint pub. We sat at the bar and chatted for a while. The French Dip with a horseradish cream sauce was wonderful and it came with a side salad with a citrus dressing.

After parting ways, I headed south to visit Gadino Cellars. I had visited within the year, so I knew what was going to be poured.

’14 Vidal Blanc, this dry white is 100% stainless steel fermented. Lemon zest and minerals on the nose and a palate with crisp citrus fruit. A well rounded wine with nice legs that finishes with a touch of vanilla. Pan seared scallops would go well with this wine.

’13 Sunset, this is relaxing deck sipping wine. Made from Traminette, the florals of orange blossoms are intoxicating. Tropical fruits dominate the palate which transcends to a subtle citrus finish. Spicy Asian dishes would be a good balanced meal to compliment the wine.

’13 Moonrise, a dry Rose made from Nebbiolo. A wonderful nose of melon and strawberry that gives balance on the palate. This is your cheese wine. A warm Brie and a baguette would be a good choice.

’12 Cab Franc Riserva, bold rich colored red that has currants and raspberries exhaust from the glass. A full palate of dark cherry and smoke with a spicy finish. A bit much for a pasta dish, but I would opted for a plate of sausage and peppers in a nice rich red gravy.

This is a good stop if your traveling through of staying at the Inn.

Number 3 on the day took me east on 211 to Narmada Winery. It has been 2 years since our last visit and this stop didn’t disappoint.

Dream Reserve, a Traminette/Viognier blended white. Petrachor and lemongrass on the floral end. A very fruit forward crisp flavors with a slight sweet finish.

Melange, a medium bodied Cabernet Sauvignon with a rich ruby color.  Dark red fruit aromas fill the glass with soft smoky flavors that finish with spices. Pizza would go well with this bottle as well as a stogie!

Yash-Vir, this rich dark red is an Awesome wine! Dark chocolate is dominate on the nose with a of oak. Dried herbs fill your mouth and big bold tannins end with a hot spicy finish. This is your meat and potatoes wine or it can shine on its own.

Tannat, a rich bold wine with dark fruit on the nose. Silky on the palate with plums, cherry nuances. Spicy on the finish. Steak! That’s all that needs to said.

Be sure to stop if you’re driving through this area.

As I headed back toward home, I knew of one place I’ve been wanting to visit, Chester Gap Cellars. I enjoy the wines here but the view is an added bonus.

One of Virginia’s best views from a vineyard.

Viognier Bouisseau, creamy, buttery nose. Soft melon flavors and honey and white pepper finish. This is wine to sit and eat blue crabs. I know most prefer
beer when eating crabs but this wine is a great alternative.

Merlot, with a touch of Viognier. Raspberry and dark chocolate aromas fill the glass. Nice concentration of black fruits on the palate with soft tannins with a little pepper on the finish. Spicy enchiladas would go well with this wine.

I opted for a glass of Merlot to enjoy on the deck and ended up spending several hours there as I met new friends of wine.

My new friends were enjoying the Cabernet Franc.

A total of 4 day and I would add to it on Sunday.

Tish and I were delivering kittens to one of my former coworkers. After the drop off, we headed to a few vineyards. I took her to a few she had never been too and our last stop was Corcoran Vineyards & Cidery.

Even though we had been there in March, I didn’t get to taste wine and this time I was going to make sure I did so.

’11 Seyval Blanc, apricot and lemon grass aromas. This wine was crisp and fruity on the palate with a sweetness on the finish.

’12 Pinot Noir, a medium bodied wine with an earthy funk. Dark fruits on the palate with essences of soft tannins and white pepper.

’11 Tannat, this was a deep burgundy colored wine. Earthy nose with nice fruit on the palate that gave way to a hot spicy finish. My favorite of the day.

It was a good week! I enjoyed my first week of unemployment but I’m ready to return to the work force so I can finance my wine tour.

The barn at Cocoran Vineyards/Cidery

71 down and 29 to go!

I’m getting close!