Little Washington

So, the PoLo Wine Tasting Club of VA, according to its unofficial bylaws, cannot add to its count -- 135 and holding -- a visit to a winery unless all four members are present.  This past weekend, Diane and I made a trip to Loudon County, primarily to listen to our friends Christal and Pete, AKA "Chatham Street" perform at Fox Meadow.  (If you ever have a chance to hear them, you won't regret it.)  We spent the night in Front Royal and then headed to Old House, outside of Culpeper, on our way home.

We also made stops at two of our favorites wineries.  Gray Ghost was our #100, chosen for its variety of wonderful wines, impressive upstairs sitting room, and convenient location.  On this visit it was all about the whites.  We left with one bottle of each: Vidal Blanc, Riesling, Victorian White, Victorian Red.  Diane and I have spent the last few months drinking mostly red blends, our new passion, but with the changing weather, I guess the proverbial "porch wines" were calling us.  We also like the Victorian Red, a light blend that goes with just about everything and is safe to serve to all except the "I only drink sweet wine" crowd.

We also made a second visit to Narmada (#99).  Our last visit was so much fun, with a live band and an attentive server.  This time, there was no band and they switched servers on us mid-tasting.  I don't like when that happens, but I'll assume they had their reasons. 

When we got back on the road, we saw a sign for Little Washington.  The last time we were in the area, we tried to make an official visit there, but they weren't open yet.  Even though we knew this would be an unofficial drop-in (or a recon, as Mike likes to call it), we just couldn't resist.

We were greeted by the owners, Donna and Carl.  At the time of our arrival, we were the only visitors, so we got the personal touch.  They were hospitable and engaging.  But here's what I thought was most interesting.  They're new and only have two wines (a white and a red, both of which we liked).  Many start-up wineries will offer tastings with very limited offerings.  What Donna and Carl are doing is to not only pour their own wines, but to also pour other wines from around the state, country, and world and let you compare these to their own.  They call this the "Dirt Road" tour because they only choose wines from small, off the beaten path, boutique wineries (i.e. ones that require taking a dirt road to get there.)  We enjoyed everything we tasted, but we left with a bottle of George, Little Washington's Cabernet Merlot blend.

Carl, who told us he was going to return to his office to work on the computer, ended up staying with us the entire time, sharing his journey from making wine in his basement to opening up his own winery.  By the time we left, the tasting room had filled up.  We are excited about bringing Mike and Deb there soon.

Seriously Fun

When we first heard about Well Hung Vineyard, like everyone else, we giggled.  And then, almost a year ago, in anticipation of Deb's birthday, we found a wine shop in VA Beach and bought a bottle as a gag gift.  Well a funny thing happened.  Last fall, Diane and I were at a festival near Kings Dominion, and lo and behold, we came face to face with the Well Hung guy.  Well, actually, he was the son of one of the owners.  We tasted.  We loved.  We especially fell in love with their Merlot-Verdot.  How sad we were when we finished the one and only bottle we bought.

We soon found out that Well Hung Vineyard doesn't have a tasting room, but they were more than willing to have us to their house for a tasting.  This weekend, that tasting finally came to pass.  I can't say enough about the Amy and Bill Steers.  Not only did they open their house to us, but they provided the most exquisite tasting experience.  We sat in their backyard with the vineyard in the distance, enjoying generous portions of each of their wines paired with local cheeses.  Their stories and the history of their vineyard were fascinating.  After more than an hour of sipping and conversing, we were given a tour of their wine cellar.  What icon can I use for ENVY!  We each left with an armful of bottles and the knowledge that winery #135 in our quest was a memorable one.

So, don't let the name fool you.  If it gets you to try their wines, great.  If you think that they're just a novelty, you're missing out . . . seriously.

Mountain Cove

Mt. Cove, the oldest winery in VA. One of 3 opened in 1973. Great stories. Great history.

Love Lovingston

We loved Lovingston! Stef was wonderful. She was so knowledgeable. Loved the rotunda red (even though we're VT fans).

Loving' Lazy Days

What a great surprise! Thanks, Heather for great wines (not a bad one in the bunch) and wonderful hospitality.

Double Take Tour

Trump used to be Kluge. Not many changes other than "T" and Trump all around. They were still using their flutes - test-tube like glasses - for tasting. We love them but were told they are discontinuing their use. Too bad. Unusual is fun.

One winery had no dump bucket. No matter how good you think your wine is, you need to respect the fact that not everyone will agree. Don't force people to drink.

At one place we were served by the owner who showed no interest in talking with us. We asked questions and showed an interest in his place, but he was not personable. Mingling with the customers may not be for everyone. That is fine. Hire someone to serve for you.

Glass House is very unusual. A greenhouse in which they grow fruit (which we got to sample) and have tables for enjoying wine and/or the live entertainment. Very nice.

#121-129 The Double Take Tour

#121 - Byrd Cellars
#122 - Virginia Wine Works
#123 - Blenheim Vineyards
#124 - Trump Winery
#125 - Keswick Vineyards
#126 - Castle Hill Cider
#127 - Glass House Winery
#128 - Stintson Vineyards
#129 - Weston Farms Vineyard and Winery