Virginia Wine meets The Green Fairy

It was early December when I visited District Winery in Washington D.C. and posted an image from their tasting room. A comment had me a bit perplexed about a possible visit. Then I realized it was that time of year and Greg was coming home for the holidays.

He expressed interest in visiting the D.C. winery but I had other plans. To my “Rookie” mistake I had forgotten about the winter hours at most Virginia vineyards and had to make a late adjustment.

Linden Vineyards wasn’t open that Friday so I opted to take Greg to another vineyard not to far away, Arterra Wines.

Sandy and Jason are the owners and we were lucky enough to have Jason pour our wines. Here was the list and my notes along with Greg’s humorous feedback.

’16 Dry Riesling

Me: Herbaceous, light and bright with low acids. A touch of sweetness on the palette with a subtle dry finish.

Greg: D.U.I made easy (drink with great care).

’15 Chardonnay

Me: Soft golden colors, a touch of minerality on the front of the mouth with buttery textures to round out the finish.

Greg: Not Cali – But still has the fornication.

’15 Cabernet Franc

Me: Dark red fruit on the nose, black currants and stone fruits on the back of the palette with a touch of white pepper on the finish.

Greg: Relax campfire wine to talk to a bunch of woulda been coulda been.

’15 Petit Verdot

Me: My favorite varietal! Bright concentrated fruit with a hint of leather on the nose. Bold rich fruit flavors with a cigar smoke on the finish. This is the perfect deck/porch sitting wine.

Greg: Official seal of Virginia! Seriously run with this one! Thomas Dolby reading Edgar Allen Poe!

’14 Reserve

Me: A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Tannat, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. An intense nose with dark fruit flavors. Gorgeous tannins with a bright finish. Another true deck/porch sipping wine.

Greg: The Harold Baines, Coco Crisp and Johnnie Damon All-Star Team wine.

’15 Tannat (bonus pour)

Me: Robust dark fruit essence on the nose. A well rounded mouth flavors of stone fruits – great balance. Bright acid with nice tannins on the finish. Beautiful wine!

Greg: Mystery Wine – Ask Coop! Joan Jett, Rage Against The Machine and Beatles Mash-up.

Blueberry Apple Wine

Me: This wine reminds me of the old field party days drinking fruit wines of my childhood. Bright berry and fruity flavors with a soft acidic finish. Refreshing flavors.

Greg: Not cobbler, Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!!!

Apple Wine

Me: Refreshing fruit flavors from start to finish.

Greg: What really hit Sir Issac Newton on the head and made him giggle. Strong gravitational pull!

Overall wonderful wines and Greg truly enjoyed them.

Lunch at the Hunters Head Tavern followed. French Dip Sandwiches and craft beer were paired with the meals (Greg, Legends Brown Ale Me, Devils Backbone Black Lager). Then I mentioned that Absinthe was being made a few miles down the road and Greg was on board to visit with the Green Fairy.

Off to Mt. Defiance Cidery & Distillery we went.

To his surprise Virginia is making top notch Absinthe as well, or as he put it:

From the moment I entered this fine establishment I knew… I just knew… on the bar it was there. The fountain of the Green Fairy herself. My inner child of La Belle Époque knew I had a chance for a moment of real Steampunk Van Gogh in the Shenandoah Valley.

The slow drop of this magical fountain set the stage for the suspense and anticipation to build. Indeed… could this magic potion bring me somewhere near Aix-en-Provence?

With the first sip it was indeed the kiss of the Green Fairy… adding a new bit of surrealism to my expanding Absinthe Adventures.

Absinthe began as an all-purpose patent remedy created by Dr. Pierre Ordinaire, a French doctor living in Couvet, Switzerland… to this day I’m not sure what it really cures, but I can say this glass I found under this magic fountain made me quite happy to have the appropriate disease.

Thus far he has not been disappointed with any of the Virginia watering holes I have introduced to him.

His next visit I’ll try to get Greg to the Godfather of Virginia wine, Jim Law at
Linden Vineyards.

Until next time my friend…Cheers! Prost! Slainte! Cin Cin! And my favorite…Bottoms Up!

 

Ottmar & Employees Only

We jumped back on the subway and the next stop is the Staten Island Ferry. An hour round trip to get a view of the city. After this trip, we will have to make our way back to the same area as brunch and then part ways again.

The girls have tickets to see Joan Osborne and Susanna Vega at The City Winery. I made last minute plans to see Ottmar Leibert at the Highline Ballroom.

The view of the Statue of Liberty was awesome as well as the New York skyline!

Once we got back on the train, Jess told me where I needed to get off in order to make my concert. It was close to Bathtub Gin and once again Siri guided me to my destination. A very small venue and no room to move.

He was amazing but the crowd was a bit overbearing. If you moved from your spot too damn bad. So I stood my ground and waited until after the show to get some food and beverages.

My show ended at 8:15 and I sent Tish a text letting her know I was on my way to meet them at our last stop. Their show would be another hour or longer. So I made my way toward Employees Only and figured I would find something along to the way to eat and drink.

One steak house quit serving at 8:30…really?  So I was just 4 blocks from our meet up and I smelled that wonderful aroma, cigars.

Hudson Bar & Books was a happy accident  and I had time.

They had everything on the cocktail menu and cigar menu. The eats menu not so much. Very limited but was able to find a snack to munch while I burned one in NYC.

I ordered an Old Cuban and selected the Arturo Fuente Short Story to burn. Several cocktails later and the girls texted me they were leaving soon. Perfect timing and I left this nice nugget of a find.

Being as fat as I am, I took a nice stroll through the city of NYC. Then I rolled up on a small building with a “Psychic” sign in the window. Texted Tish and Jess, they said it would be 15 minutes until they arrived. Okay I can hang.

The crowd control, okay…the days of bouncer is long gone. He was a big ole boy and had an impressive presence. We chatted about things from days gone by. The ole ‘80s and how you dealt with the A-holes at that time period. Many stories were shared and some were quite funny. Within 10 minutes, Tish and Jess arrived. At this point of the night, we were going to be just standing at the bar enjoying craft cocktails.

Little did I know my new friend was about to hook us up with a good evening. He said: “Follow ME!” Okay the fat man was ready to see what could be an epic night.

“Sit them at a good table.” Okay, redneck is down with that!

Menu’s were dropped off and I new what I wanted for a drink. Employee’s Only signature drink…

Mata Hari!

Remy Martin 1738 Cognac shaken with Chai-infused Martini Rosso & Pomegranate Juice. Served straight up.

A wonderful blend of flavors and amazing presentation. And I was very impressed with their wine list. Although this joint is known for its craft cocktails, many of the folks around us were ordering bottles of wine.

I have to say, E.O. & P.D.T. are tied as my favorite speakeasy thus far. Although, the Booze & Boobs at Bathtub Gin was another highlight of my trip.

We head home tomorrow and I’m already planning another visit and tour of the other speakeasies on my list.

I made my last visit to Hot & Crusty for coffee and croissants. The lady who took my order really took control:

Me: “Coffee & Croissant”
Chick: “You take cream?”
Me: “No.”
Chick: “Oh, you take cream today!”

Obviously she mistaken me for a regular. So I got to enjoy coffee with cream. How the hell do people do that to perfectly good coffee.

After Tish had her coffee, we went for a walk at Riverside Park before we packed up the car. A young lady riding a bike looks and smiles and that’s when I stop and turned to Tish. Her expression confirmed what I thought…it was Amy Schumer.

So, I ended my first official trip to the Big Apple with my first celebrity sighting.

It was an amazing time and I can’t wait to return. Thank you Jess for your hospitality and we will see you soon with more speakeasies and watering holes to visit.

Brunch & Burlesque…Yes Please!

Yes, I know I skipped a day. I was working in at a vineyard…imagine that!

At any rate, here is the next to last entry of this series:

Once again, blurred vision and 11 o’clock seems to be the norm for this trip. Showers and then we were out the door heading to Bathtub Gin for…wait for it…

BRUNCH & BURLESQUE!

The subway trip seemed to take forever. This is because I have not had coffee and that’s not a good thing. We get off the train and took a stroll to the stop. This is the address for the place but we are outside of a tiny coffee shop, Stone Street Coffee.  Okay I’m ready to drink rot-gut coffee at this point.

Then a gentleman asks: “Are you here for brunch?”

We give him our name and the wall opens to yet another gorgeous bar with a large copper claw foot tub in the middle of the dining room. Okay, I’m all excited at this point.

The girls decided to have Mimosas and opted for an Irish Coffee. Oh this was going down really good. For my brunch, I went against the norm. Wagyu Burger with Wild Mushrooms and Gruyere, a side of Fries and then a few Allagash White’s were consumed.

Then it was time for the girls to perform. I felt it was necessary to have the girls on the outside so that they could enjoy the girls. Okay I wanted them to feel uncomfortable. I know, Jerk!

Did I mention, this was my first time enjoying Sunday brunch?

Breakfast & boobs, I can get use to this. Kind of like back in the days of closing strip clubs and then going to breakfast with the talent. You know you’ve done that before! Don’t judge!

Another New York watering hole that I’ll return to on my next visit!

Jess had a surprise for us and it involved water.

Stallion!

We made our way over to the East Village to visit and have a few drinks at Cooper’s Craft & Kitchen. We were able to get a table at 5:30 for snacks.  I enjoyed a Lager from Kansas City, sorry I failed to make a note of the brewery. I know…Rookie!

Then it was time to part ways until later in the evening. I had a nice stroll to meet Stallion and the girls were only a few blocks from the theater. I got on my high horse and headed down to Madam X to meet up with my old friend.

Using the GPS on my phone, I rolled up to my destination to discover this place was a basement bar. As I walked in, I first thought it was one of those places…

you know…N.Y. Ballet!

Strip Club folks, Strip Club.

The barmaid was very nice and began to laugh as soon as I spoke.

“You’re not from around here?”

“Yes Mama, I’m from Brooklyn!”

She wasn’t buying it!

I grabbed a brew and began to look at the décor. It was dark, big puffy vinyl seats in the back that just reeked of strip club without the brass pole. Then from the back I heard the voice:

“COOP!”

It was. Stallion! The last time I saw him it was 1997 at Camden Yards. He used to cover the Orioles.

He invited me to join him and a few others on the patio, I like a deck and patio as most of you know!

One beer lead to many, many more. He was wondering where I was heading too next. I told them about PDT and the city folk were impressed that this country boy knew so much about NYC’s night life. I mentioned to them that one friend told me to visit McSorley’s and another said not too. Stallion said; “If you’re this close you are going to visit.”

Once again we were walking, Stallion and I rolled into this vintage bar as the others had to grab a train for home. The beer selection was most interesting, dark or light. Which ever you choose, they brought you two mugs for $5.25. I believe we had 4 rounds of those. So much history that if you’re ever up there, you have to visit.

We settled up with the bartender and went over and met the girls. Stallion and I parted ways and it was so Awesome to see him after all these years. I assured him that I would be back and we would tear NYC up.

Now it was time for some craft cocktails, onward to PDT!

My First Time…

…to New York City! You have a Dirty Mind!

A few months ago, I visited NYC for the very first time. Oh, I’ve been on a bus trip a to see the Orioles vs. Yankees a few years ago but this was my first time being a tourist.

And tour I did!

Tish and I stayed with our friend Jess in Upper Manhattan for a few days. We drove up and our trip was to only take about 5 hours but… if you know us, we always stop somewhere to taste the local fare and beverages.

Using the Vinowine app, the closest vineyard to our route was Spring Gate Vineyard. After Siri took us on a 45 minute tour of the back roads of Pennsylvania, we pulled into the parking lot and we were more than ready to try wine.  And to our surprise, beer & cider too.

The Riesling, Vidal and Chardonnay was nice. Their Chambourcin was the highlight of their reds. Their biggest surprise was the brewery. The pale ale was extremely good and I could have sat there all day emptying pints. But Jess was waiting.

Once we got back on the road, our sights were set on the Big Apple!

Jess was texting wondering about our ETA, it was going to be late so all was good. I sent her a few links to some possible outings. One peaked her interest and she quickly responded:
“Sunday Brunch reservations have been made for 2:30.”
This will be entertaining to say the least.

As we rolled into Upper Manhattan, Jess was informing us to double park in the street outside of her apartment so we could unload the car. This was new to me – hell if we did this in Strasburg, Johnny Law would have us towed and in bracelets. After we carried all the crap to Jess’ place it was time to find a place to park. 30 minutes later, we found free parking for the duration of our visit.
We walked to get a late dinner at the French Roast located at the corner of Broadway and W85 St. I ordered the 8 oz. burger with bacon and Gruyere on a Brioche bun, washed it down with a Left Hand Nitro.

It was well past 2 a.m. and to my surprise the bars were still open so we had a night cap at Prohibition.  The Paulaner Hefeweizen was a good way to end my first night in NYC.

Tomorrow we will see what kind of mischief this country boy gets into.

No Buses, No Limos, No Groups…

A good friend was trying to give me some ideas a few months back to make some money during my unemployment. She came up with a stellar idea but it would require a lot of weekends and I would have to buy a large vehicle. Doing wine & beer tours in Northern Virginia.

I liked the idea but I would have to limit how many folks I could haul around. As I kicked this around in my head, I remembered that sign at an area vineyard and I knew I couldn’t go through with this.

“No Buses, No Limos, No Groups Larger Than Six!”

Large groups partying on decks at local vineyards isn’t uncommon but it is frown upon at certain facilities. I don’t have a problem with groups enjoying themselves but when they start getting to rambunctious hoopin’ and hollerin’ then I can understand an owner getting a little nervous.

Some winemakers encourage the practice of the party crowds. But a serious winemaker who makes quality wine doesn’t want their site turning into a happy hour vineyard.

We have had good times at many vineyards laughing and carrying on. But some of the old school vintners don’t see the the humor of those having a large time. The patrons are a liability on site and the last thing anyone wants is to be asked to leave the premises.

Then there are those who want to break all the rules. These are the ones who probably have had too much vino to begin with and pop a top on cold one in the vineyards parking lot. I’ve seen ‘em do it!

Some think that the glasses are included in the tasting and they add to their collections – some high dollar stemware. You might ask before you toss the glass in your wives pocketbook.

Then of course, you have those who would take anything they can get their grubby little paws on. A vase and dried flowers were reported missing at a vineyard in my next of the woods recently. Really, dried flowers?

I’m guessing most of those with the sticky fingers are the same ones who have been called down and were asked to keep the noise at a certain level. They also probably didn’t see the sign of the limit to 6 people. Rookies!

Now I understand why Jim Law started his Case Club and only limits his deck to those who are members. I’ve heard the stories of large crowds on his deck back in the day. You will not see that again. Good for him.

As for the buses & limos. When I visited the 164 last year, I only encountered 3 limos and they were all filled with drunk chicks. The 12 girls from Georgetown who were letting off steam after finals. Another group of girls who were just getting their drink on & getting bat crap crazy. And of course, there was the bachelorette party of 12 in the Charlottesville area. They were drunker than 10 monkeys at 11a.m. Really?

Not all groups are going to act the fool but the majority do and I can see why some ban the large vehicles.

Go and have a good time, just don’t act like it’s a frat party. Your college party days are over and the cheap kegs are empty. You have come to a vineyard to refine your palate and add a little class to your repertoire.

Now, I know some of you would say to me:

“Hey, you wear ripped jeans, a cowboy hat and old concert shirts to vineyard!”

Yeah, I do! But…

I’m a good ole country boy and can pull that look off, you can’t!

Cheers Y’all! The snow is coming so be sure you have all the essentials. Food, Water, Beer, Wine and more Wine!

And, 164 is…

End of The Trail…for 2015.

Throughout this year, I tried to finagle a way to visit this vineyard. I considered making it number 100, 150 but, it never worked out.

Tish and I decided to keep Christmas low-key and only do one big gift together. In the back of my mind, I had an idea and it didn’t take a lot to get her on board.

In early December, I made reservations for New Years Eve to taste wine. Yes, I said reservations to taste wine.

I was surprised they had openings for the time I wanted. When the confirmation email arrived, I was already getting excited about the visit to…RdV Vineyards.

I have toured this winery on two other occasions and it was during the summer months. A tour of the vines in a golf cart, then the facility and wine caves before sitting down to taste Rutger’s two Bordeaux red blends. I said then, that the wines were some of the best in the state. I can only hope for the same outcome on this visit.

We arrived at the vineyard and I was surprised by the crowded parking lot. This tasting wouldn’t be as intimate as my previous two visits. As we walk through the door, we are greeted with complimentary Champagne. I can’t think of a better way to get a tasting started!

As we waited for two more to arrive in our group, we walked around outside enjoying the warm December temperatures. The vines are in a dormant state this time of year. They look almost naked without their leaves or grapes.

After finishing our Champagne, it was time to tour the winery.

Jarad, would be our guide today. He is a Master Sommelier and had previously worked at CityZen in D.C.

There were about 10 in our group and we began the tour in the tank room.

Samples are sent to France over night to analyzed and RdV waits for instructions for the next stage.

And we are moving to the next area…

Tubes of rock are on display to show what kind of terrior the vines are planted on. Most of Virginia have limestone on the property. There are only a few that have Granite and RdV is one of them. The rocky soil is perfect from French varietals and all grapes grown in Virginia I believe.

The barrel room or cave. A narrow walkway lined with barrels of wine on both sides. These wines won’t be made available to the public for a few more years.

Keep on cruising…

Full bottles without labels are stored in the next room. As they the wines, they will label just enough to supply their need.

Adjacent to this room is a state of the art bottling system. Not many vineyards in the state have this device simply because of the price tag. A cool million I’m sure.

Our last stop is in the lab where they do their blending of the grapes to create the two wines.

Okay, I’m ready for a tasting!

We go back up into the main room and a table is set up with 3 oz. pours of the two wines that are available with a small plate of cheeses and meats.

’12 Lost Mountain, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. A magnificent bouquet of currants, rosemary, lavender and graphite on the nose. Soft, medium bodied wine with concentrated flavors of pomegranate, raspberry with a subtle touch of leather on the palate. Perfect tannins with a cherry notes on the finish. This wine will age well over the next few years. The perfect wine to pair with the big robust pasta dishes.

’12 Rendezvous, a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Robust dark red fruits with a smoky bacon essence on the nose. Supple flavors of cranberries with some cherry notes and a touch of smoke on the palate. Just the right tannins with a hint of spiciness on the finish make this one of the best wines of the year for me.

I will say this again, this vineyard is still one of the states best.

My final total from 2015 is…164!

Now, I have set the goal for you to match or beat. Don’t be scared, it is doable.

Now, it is time to recap and do a year in review or the best of. This will take a while so give me a little time to go through my notes and compile my final results.

This has been a fun year even though I am still looking for work. But who knows, the next vineyard is right around the corner as well as my next employer. Just remember…

Every Day IS A GOOD DAY!

Cheers Y’all!

One Vineyard & The Diesel

I picked up one the valley’s free newspapers, this publication usually has the latest openings and closings in the area.

As I go down the list, nothing stands out as breaking news. And then there it was…a new vineyard had opened in county. That will take care of this weeks visit.

Friday would be a good time to visit but I have a conflict.

In D.C. at the Verizon Center, The Green Turtle was doing a beer release party for Escutcheon Brewery’s John Riggins 4th & 1 Pilsner. With the release of the beer Riggo was going to be present for the unveiling.

Shorty contacted me about meeting him at the Turtle. So now, I have to plan accordingly but it can be done.

I traveled south to Quicksburg, to the newest winery, DeMello Vineyard, Third Hill Winery.  The tasting room is rustic with amazing views. The owners were extremely nice and so were the wines.

’14 Traminette, a soft lemon colored wine. Rose petals and honeysuckle on the nose. Crisp, refreshing lavender flavors on the palate. A sweet finish makes this wine a perfect pairing with goat cheese or a warm brie.

’12 Cabernet France, a rich red color. Sweet cherries on the nose. Earthy notes on the palate with a low tannin smoky finish. Perfect burger wine.

Shenandoah County now has 9 vineyards, 2 breweries and a cidery. We might catch up to Loudoun County some day.

I stopped by the house before heading into the city. Sent Shorty a text telling him about what time I was going to arrive. He was planning on being there about the same time. So we decided, the last one to arrive, buys the first round.

The drive to Vienna wasn’t bad, I hopped on the train and I had to rely on public transportation to get me there before Shorty.

It was going to be close and it was. He was literally 100 feet in front of me laughing and pointing. That Sucks!

We got caught up and decided to sample the 4th &1. This is a wonderful Pilsner with nice balance a flavor. And since it is made 20 miles from my house, I would be filling my growlers up with that goodness.

Riggo arrived. Shorty and I got our pics taken with the Super Bowl MVP and then we hit a few more stops before calling it a night.

My travels will take me back toward Richmond to visit a few stragglers then I will end the year in our area.

With the lone visit to the valley I have now visited 160 vineyards this year.

I’m Done in Loudoun

Tish was off to visit her mother over the Thanksgiving holiday (I told you I was behind). I was a good boy, I enjoyed a few plates of meat during this time. Since I knew Tish would be needing wine once she arrived home, I visited Glen Manor Vineyards to purchase a few bottles.

Shorty was coming back to the valley on Thanksgiving eve and we decided to meet and have a few adult beverages. We started at The Depot Lounge at The Hotel Strasburg. One of my classmates joined us (Dave) for a round or two. Dave called it a night and Shorty was ready to party!

The next stop was the Old Mill Grill for just a round. He wanted to head back to the Depot Lounge for a few more before we ended the night on my deck with Miller Lite’s and Ashton 898 stogies.

Joey came and picked Shorty up to take him to Momma’s house. I got my house in order then crawled into bed.

Thanksgiving fest at Momma’s and Pappy’s then I ended the day at Sandy & Mike’s for a night cap.

Tish came home on Friday and I decided to visit the newest watering hole in the Shenandoah Valley, Woodstock Brewery. Nice beer and wonderful Vanilla Porter.

Once Tish arrived home she dove into the Rose´ from GMV. On Saturday, she rested as I headed into Loudoun to visit my last two vineyards in that county.
I had to call Loudoun Valley Vineyards just to confirm they were open. There  were some rumors they had closed until Spring.

They responded that they would be open for the weekend. The vineyard has been purchased and the new owners won’t take over until the early spring. In the meantime, I would get to sample only 3 wines.

’09 Viognier, done in stainless steel. Grilled peaches and fresh apricots dominate the nose. Tropical fruits on the palate with a tart finish. This would go well with spicy Asian dishes.

’08 Legacy, a port-style made with Touriga Nacional. A bouquet of dark fruit. Dark chocolate flavors on the palate with a finish of sweet black cherries. A very nice port-style that will soon be gone.

My next vineyard is one I visited over a year ago. Sampling wines from a bag was a bit weird but they are worth a taste.

Raspberry Apple Wine, lush goodness from some nice fruit. This wine has a touch of dryness on the palate with a sweet shot on the finish. Anytime I taste one of these fruity wines, it makes think of field parties, ’80s hair bands and mullets. Not a bad memory. Basically I know most of my classmates would enjoy this wine.

Petit Verdot, rich black currants and leather on the nose. A very soft red fruit presence on the mouth. A smooth low tannin finish makes this a nice red wine.

Did I mention the wines are in three liter bags?

You get 4 bottles of wine in a bag for around $30, which isn’t bad.

I was in need of some food so I stopped and visited Jody & Jay at Quattro Goomba’s for some of their kick ass pizza and did a sampling of their beer. Quattro Goomba’s Brewery is open for business and is quite good.

Tish is on deadline this week which means I may visit a handful in the Richmond area or beyond.

With only 2 stops this week, It brings my total to 153 for the year.

A Lot of Meat & Wine

Tish was leaving for the OBX area for 5 days.

I was going to be left alone to deal with the felines and fend for myself while she enjoys some sun and sand with her old friend Granny Smith.

I helped her load her car and we said our good-byes. She left me at 1:15 and at 1:20 I was heading south to the local butcher shop to score a few steaks. I had been planning my menu for some time.

The boys behind the counter sold me two of the most gorgeous Delmonico steaks I have ever seen. No sooner than I arrived home, I got out the spices and began rubbing my meat – oops that was bit dirty, I’m sorry.

Sun-dried Tomato Powder and Dried Basil macerated for 6 hours. I visited the grocery store and got the ingredients for my side along with America’s finest Pilsner, Pabst Blue Ribbon. I sat on my deck enjoying the 70º weather and got updates on Tish’s travels. After plenty of dead soldiers were lined up  on the table, I began preparing this evening meal.

I cleaned the potatoes, minced the garlic and onion. grated some pepper jack and then it was time to grate the potatoes and turn them into…Cheesy, Old Bay Hash Browns.

After sautéing the onion and garlic, I added the spuds, Old Bay and a little heavy cream. Once golden brown, I flipped and placed the pan in the oven to finish the plate there.

That heavy cast iron skillet was smoking from the oil when I placed that slab of red meat inside the vessel. Just enough sear for a light crust. After flipping, I removed the spuds and placed the steak in the oven just for about 4 minutes.

I plated the hash browns then the steak and allowed the meat
to rest for a few minutes to let the juices redistribute throughout. Wonderful red flesh color…you can’t get any better. I retired to my deck to enjoy the evenings great weather.

Tomorrow’s weather was going to be even better, which means I need to visit one of my favorite spots…Glen Manor Vineyards.

Coffee was made, shower was taken and it was time for some grub. But first, I had to prep this evenings steak. Espresso Powder, Ancho Chili Powder and fresh Cracked White Pepper. I coated the meat and allowed to air dry for almost 7 hrs. In the meantime time, I headed toThe Queen St. Diner, and I had to have their signature burger named after the establishment. BBQ sauce, sharp cheddar cheese and a big ole fat onion ring with a side of fresh cut fries. I’ll have the meat sweats after this day.

Temps in the mid 70s and it is a perfect day for the ’14 Morales Rosé.This wine gets better each time I open a bottle. After a few hours of healthy Vitamin D, I headed to the homestead and relax on the deck before dinner.

Once the last of the Rosé was poured, I thought I should a bottle I received as a gift a few weeks ago.

One of my redneck friends gave me a bottle of homemade wine he wanted me to try. Based on the swill I drank back in the day, I wasn’t scared to try his concoction. Rich is a crafty, resourceful redneck. If you are in search of something, he seems to know an outlet. If he can’t find it for you, he will do his best to create it.

Now, he didn’t use traditional wine grapes, they either came from a grocery store, or he was able to obtain some from a friend down the road. He makes a sweet and a dry red, the latter  has been opened and I’m allowing to breath while I finish my Rose.

The color was a nice cherry red, this reminds me of being a kid and seeing the pitcher of Kool-Aid on Mamma’s kitchen counter. It was very fruity with a touch of sweetness on the nose. Definitely a young wine with a medium body structure. A mild finish of pomegranates and a surprise of the day.

A good ole boy can make wine even in this own kitchen. I gave him my feedback and I’m looking forward to seeing what next years vintages will taste like.

Dinner was wonderful and I decided to lay low on Friday. A former coworker contacted me about joining him and his wife at the beer festival in Ashburn at Lost Rhino Brewery on Saturday.

I rolled out of bed pretty early on Saturday. Took care of my flea-bag felines then headed into Loudoun to taste at two vineyards before meeting Carl & Jackie.

It was such a gorgeous day, I decided to try and avoid Rt. 7 as much as I can. Rt. 50 across Paris Mt. and then I took the Mt. Weather road that runs along the top of the mountain. After dropping out onto the opposite side of the mountain, I took the side road through Round Hill to get me on the North end of Rt. 9 near Hillsbourough. Once on the narrow road, I drove to my first stop of the day, Cardamon Family Vineyards.

This is one of four in Loudoun Co. I haven’t visited. After today though, that number will be cut in half.

Four wines were on the tasting list and each paired with a salsa made by the winemaker.

MACHA, a pale lemon color. The nose of fresh grilled peaches. Bold flavors of honey dew with a
burst of effervescence on the palate. A touch of sweet melon and low acid on the finish. A perfect wine for a plate of cheese and a baguette.

Peter Pie, a blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Rich red color with a hickory smoke and leather essence on the nose. A fruit forward with a medium bodied structure. Dark red fruits and jammy flavors on the palate. Refreshing light sweet finish. Pasta, Salmon or Steak, take your pick.

I asked about my next stop, the group said in unison; “Oh Bob!”

With that comment, I knew this was going to be entertaining.

About 7 miles away was the last stop for wine today, Crushed Cellars.

A tiny tasting room, that was filled with 4 young ladies out tasting wine and heading for a day at the spa.

Bob was a trip!

He doesn’t play by the wine rules. Six wines were made available for tasting and the pours were quite generous.

Chardonnay, butter and vanilla aromas on the nose. Smooth flavors of light oak on the palate. Well balanced acids make this a superb wine.

Meritage, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Merlot. Aged in French oak, ruby color. Dark red fruit with a touch of smoke on the nose. Jammy flavors of currants, pomegranates, and hints of leather on the palate. Nice tannins, with a spicy white pepper finish.This is your steak wine!

It was on to meet Carl & Jackie at the brew fest. By the time we arrived some of the breweries had kicked their kegs and they were packing up and heading for home. They invited me to join them for dinner at Ford’s Seafood House. They enjoyed Oysters on the half shell and savored the fish and chips.

Tish comes home tomorrow!

I did a rough clean of the house and planned to make her some baked tofu with an apple bar b que sauce for her dinner.

I have time and decided to visit a few wineries near Warrenton area.

Magnolia Vineyards is one of the newer vineyards to the area.

Located outside of Amissville, it was time to see what they had to offer.

’13 Black Walnut White, a blend of Vidal Blanc, Tramminette, Petit Manning,Chardonnay, Viognier and Riesling. Meyer lemons on the nose. Crisp flavors of tropical fruit like pineapple dominate the palate. Refreshing flavors of orange give this wine a succulent finish. This wine would be a good choice for a warm evening on the deck.

’12 Cabernet Franc Reserve, a rich colored wine. Nose of currants and some cloves. Fruity raspberry flavors fill the palate. Earthy notes and a touch of spice on the finish. A true meat lovers wine but I wouldn’t rule out a plate of roasted mushrooms for our vegetarian friends.

It was on to the next stop and it was a surprise!

Granite Heights located in Opal has been a point of interest for me but we never had the time to stop. I’m glad I did.

’13 Petit Manseng, done in stainless this was a big flavored white. Sweet apricots on the nose. A touch of effervescent with flavors of lavender and honey on the palate. The finish was super sweet on the finish but is only 2% residual sugar.

’11 Humility, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Deep ruby color, with a smoky white pepper nose. Jammy flavors of cherry with some leather on the palate. Big bold, crunchy tannins give this a spice finish. One of my favorites this year.

Bealeton was my next stop, Morais Vineyard and Winery. Huge facility and impressive tasting room.

Rose´, a light orange in color. A subtle nose of cherries and smoke on the nose make this a unique Rose´. Soft flavors of strawberries with a finish of rose petals. Another deck sitting wine.

Cabernet Franc, a light bodied red. A bold fruity nose. Sweet currants and black cherries on the palate. The finish was surprising with leather and spice. As light as this wine was it had incredible flavors. A good pizza and pasta wine.

After this weeks visits, this takes my total to 142 for the year.

Next week will have me visiting the Warrenton are one last time with a few other mixed in.

In the meantime, Tish arrived home and brought presents.

It was a good week y’all!