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April 17, 2010
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“Celebration of the Vine” Wine Festival
Page 3
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Celebration of the vine’s harvest ERIC MILLIRONS special correspondent
No matter if it’s a special occasion or just time to spend with friends; it’s time to pour the wine. Swirling a small amount in the glass, one can catch the aroma and taste. Declaring it perfect for the palate, one pours a glass or two for a toast. The small wine glass contains about five ounces of liquid, but really about a half pound of grapes. Yes, it takes about 2½ - 3 pounds of grapes from the vine in order to produce one 750 ml bottle of wine. As you know, there is more to wine than merely pressed grapes. According to Chuck Peple, one of the owners of Grayhaven Winery, it takes about three years from the planting of the vine to train it on a trellis and finally “in the fourth year there may be a partial crop to harvest.” Basically then, four years go by without a return of any sort on the initial agricultural investment. But vineyards like any agricultural crop cannot be planted without additional labors, especially in the field. Starting early in the year, pruning of the vines begins. This will last until or about the middle of April. Also, there is the spraying to prevent various fungi from destroying the plants. While doing this, there is also weeding and canopy management, not to mention hungry wildlife. A great deal of the time is spent worrying.
PHOTO BY BOB BROWN/MEDIA GENERAL NEWS SERVICE
Eric Gretenhart, co-owner of Woodland Vineyards in Chesterfield County, VA, laughs Friday, Sept. 19, 2008 when asked about the amount of work that goes into running the smallest commercial vineyard in the state.
The worrying, which is actually a year-round activity, reaches a peak in the early spring after a few warm sunny days and a forecast of a hard freeze. With the vines filled with water and buds ready to come out, a hard freeze, often so evident at this time in central Virginia, can ruin the entire crop. But if the weather holds, then hopefully a bounteous crop is to be had during the harvest that occurs from the last week in August to the first week of October. With the grapes on hand, the winemaking process actually begins. There is crushing or pressing of the grapes, stem removal, because, as Chuck noted,
“stems don’t taste very good.” Then, the process of fermentation takes place. Next is the racking of the wine which will take months or years depending on the type of wine. Finally, it is bottled and ready for sale. Last in the process is the distribution of the wine, which is essential to get it to you for your enjoyment. So, as your glasses “clink” in a toast to each other, the reason for the occasion, or just for the simple delight of tasting some of Virginia’s finest wines, remember that it’s also a celebration of the vine’s harvest. Eric Millirons is a special travel correspondent for Midlothian Exchange.
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“Celebration of the Vine” Wine Festival
April 17, 2010
Visit www.chesterfieldchamber.com for ticket information
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Stonehenge Golf and Country Club Richmond Times-Dispatch Franklin Federal Savings Bank Banc Marc Dominion Service Co. Heating & Air Conditioning Costco Wholesale Horton Vineyards Horton Vineyards Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial - Robert E. French, Jr. Grayhaven Winery River Forest Apartments Liberty Mutual
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71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84
Christopher Mize Art Let's Wine Let's Wine Chesterfield Historical Society/ Henricus Historical Park Betty Jane's Sweet Delights AmRhein Wine Cellars Chesapeake Secrets Barboursville Vineyards Barboursville Vineyards S.E.S. Leather Duke and Pat Brown Photography James River Cellars, Inc. James River Cellars, Inc. O! So Chick
85 86 87
Census Bureau Bella Butterfly The Pampered Chef-Wine Accessories 88 UNOS 89 Chateau Morrisette 90 Chateau Morrisette 91 Classics by Patrice 92 Temptation Corner 93 Spirited Lights 97 Bali Art Woodcarvings 98 Time to Wine, Inc. 99 Wild Heaven Farms 100 RockbridgeVineyard 101 RockbridgeVineyard
102 Wood N Works 103 Art2Die4 104 Women on Wine 105 The Weekend Brewer 106 Kluge Estates 107 Uniquely Janice 108 It's Not Tile窶的t's Wood 109 Linda's Line C-T's Chamber T-Shirts M-1 Chesterfield County Museum Strawberry Street Event Concessions Q Barbeque Catering King's Korner Catering BB&T Bus
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“Celebration of the Vine” Wine Festival
April 17, 2010
Visit www.chesterfieldchamber.com for ticket information
Make a day of it ERIC MILLIRONS special correspondent
A wine festival is a superb way of enjoying the harvest from a number of Virginia wineries in one location. Besides the sampling of a particular vintage, most will be able to briefly meet those involved in the day-to-day operations involved in wine making. Of course, there is another way to enjoy the Commonwealth’s variety of wineries while taking in its natural beauty – plan a visit to your favorite wineries. Over 150 wineries are spread from the Eastern Shore to the mountains of Virginia. Where to start your traveling plans? The Virginia Wine Marketing Board’s web site virginiawine.org is a good start. Multiple links to wineries provide the locations and visiting the particular Web site of the winery will give further information as to the services available at its location. Some Virginia wineries are also found on social media sites such as Facebook or Twitter. Become fans or followers to keep connected with events and any of the wine festivals the wineries attend. Several wineries have food service that range from small snacks of cheese and bread to full-service restaurants. Many provide picnic areas on their grounds in order for it to be a family affair of sharing a meal at these beautiful estates. Some even have hiking trails for the more adventurous traveler. Some wine tastings are free of charge, frequently there is a minimal charge for it. The minimal charge may allow you to retain a souvenir wine glass from that particular winery. If in doubt as to whether your glass is included in the tasting charge, simply ask. Take a tour of the winery while you are there. The tours are usually fairly short in duration but give you a better feel for the amount of time, energy, and expense associated with the wine industry. Finally, don’t be afraid to ask questions. In all likelihood, the servers or tour guides have already responded to similar queries. It may be that you would even want to know the strangest question they were ever asked. It is all in fun and for the enjoyment of the day, the wine and the beauty of Virginia.
“Who loves not wine, woman and song remains a fool his whole life long.” – attributed to Martin Luther
Eric Millirons is a special travel correspondent for Midlothian Exchange.
PHOTOS BY ELIZABETH FARINA
Celebration of the Vine 2009.
April 17, 2010
“Celebration of the Vine” Wine Festival
Page 9
Visit www.chesterfieldchamber.com for ticket information
Reaping the rewards of Virginia wine ERIC MILLIRONS special correspondent
Should one question the owner of a winery or vineyard as to the reasoning behind getting into the vintner business, there may be a brief pause, followed by a statement such as, “it was a hobby that just got out of hand.” Of course, there are many reasons, but with the multiple benefits that have flowed to the state after four tumultuous centuries in establishing the wine-making industry, glasses filled with Virginia wine should be lifted in a toast to those who took the plunge into the world of vineyards and wineries.
Virginia Wine Today The wine industry in Virginia is a vibrant economic force that is fast becoming a significant challenger to the historically great wine producing states in North America. In considering that the after effects of Prohibition lingered for many years beyond its repeal in 1933, the magnitude and rapid advancement of Virginia’s commercial wine grapes, borders upon the miraculous. According to Virginia Wine Board, there were a mere 15 acres of commercial wine grapes within the confines of the Commonwealth in 1950. Given such a small quantity of land, the number of actual wineries was even less. Fortunately, for the wine lovers of not only Virginia, but also of the world, that changed. By 1995, Virginia was home to a total of 46 wineries. In less than ten years, that number had more than doubled to 107. Now, there are over 150 wineries located in the state. The most recent estimates of the economic impact of this branch of the agricultural industry on the Commonwealth is about $347 million, creating approximately 2,750 jobs and returning to the coffers of the state about $35 million in taxes every year.
PHOTO BY MEGAN LOVETT/MEDIA GENERAL NEWS SERVICE
Barboursville Vineyard unveiled its newest Octagon blend during a tasting for restaurant managers and wine shop owners at the vineyard in June 2009.
History of Wine in Virginia
our hopes of wine, notwithstanding the severity of the last winter than which a longer and colder was never known here, there is at present a prospect of a pretty plentiful vintage for the number of vines planted out, chiefly of the burgundy and frontiniac grape. But as it is the moisture of drought in the season of July and August that will determine their fate, I must wait till then to inform you of this year’s success.” It was not until the end of the 19th century that the concept of grafting would bring this bountiful piece of agriculture into a prominent role in Virginia. By grafting the European grape vines to the native grape rootstock, the damage done previously by disease was controlled. Finally, after hundreds of years, the hopes of early colonists and even Thomas Jefferson, the “Sage of Monticello,” were near fruition. Then the industry was struck by a new terror which would shutter its buildings and close its vineyards for decades – Prohibition. Isn’t it great that times have changed?
The history of wine in Virginia begins like most all histories of our state – in Jamestown. When the first colonists arrived in 1607, they were greeted by among other things, bounteous grape vines. In fact, Captain John Smith noted in his “Generall Historie of Virginia,” that the grape vines were in “great abundance …” As a result of the evident native grape, and its ability to flourish with the soil and climate, the colonists pursued the importation of European grape vines. In 1619, a law was passed that required every male colonist to plant and tend a minimum of ten grape vines. However, the grape industry deteriorated. The imported vines of the time were not resistant to the various diseases to which the native fox grape had developed immunities. Yet, even a century later, during the time of Lieutenant-Governor William Gooch, the effort to have a wine-making industry in Virginia continued. In 1737, Gooch wrote in a letter to the British Eric Millirons is a special travel corCouncil of Trade and Plantations, “as to respondent for Midlothian Exchange.
“I cook with wine, sometimes I even add it to the food.” – W. C. Fields
Page 10
“Celebration of the Vine” Wine Festival
April 17, 2010
Visit www.chesterfieldchamber.com for ticket information
FILE PHOTO BY ANDREW SHURTLEFF/ MEDIA GENERAL NEWS SERVICE
Rain is a major factor in the producing hearty grapes at the end of the growing season for vineyards in Central Virginia.
Tips for your enjoyment ERIC MILLIRONS special correspondent
Advice regarding wine and wine tasting runs the gamut from serious to frivolous. While some would seem based on common sense, these too must be imparted so that none can say they were not informed. The first advice to wine festival goers is one of those common sense suggestions – don’t wear white or your best spring suit or dress. The reason for the visit is not to show off the finest fashion but to display the grand variety of the wines available for personal selection. An accidentally spilled glass of Cabernet Sauvignon may ruin not only the clothes, but also the event for the attendee. There appears to be a difference of opinion when it comes to the “smell-
ing of the cork” when it is presented to the purchaser at a restaurant. Some deem it appropriate and others indicate that only novices attempting to impress someone would actually sniff a cork. Several years ago, after hearing a presentation by a wine steward, I humorously asked the proper method of sniffing a screw-off cap. If looks could kill, I would have been dead. However, today, even the screw-off cap does not have the same stigma attached to it as it once had. There is also the question of the temperature at which a wine should be served. Especially with the red wines, the suggestion is that it should be served at room temperature. Even this is subject to interpretation as most aficionados would note that we keep our rooms warmer than what was the cus-
tom of earlier days. To be certain, temperature does play an important role in the enjoyment of wine. There are various guidelines and the best guideline is to serve the wine at the temperature you find most pleasing. The most important tip for any consumer of wine, be they expert or novice, is simply to drink what you like. If a $100 bottle of wine is not pleasing to your palate, then you have paid for something you didn’t enjoy. Take the tasting tests at the booths of the various wineries and jot down notes about your favorites. It’s a good place to try different varieties and brands of wine by the glass. After all, wine is about the enjoyment of the experience. Eric Millirons is a special travel correspondent for Midlothian Exchange.
April 17, 2010
“Celebration of the Vine” Wine Festival
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Stonehenge Golf and Country Club Richmond Times-Dispatch Franklin Federal Savings Bank Banc Marc Dominion Service Co. Heating & Air Conditioning Costco Wholesale Horton Vineyards Horton Vineyards Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial - Robert E. French, Jr. Grayhaven Winery River Forest Apartments Liberty Mutual
26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 41
James Limousine Service James Limousine Service Robert Thomas Photography Beautifully Beaded Virginia Mountain Vineyards Blue Ridge Vineyard 1000 Oaks Barrell Company 1000 Oaks Barrell Company First Colony Winery Crystal Creations Shady Nook Alpacas Shady Nook Alpacas Lake Anna Winery Lake Anna Winery
40 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 55 56
Crystalworks Woodland Vineyard Farm Winery, LLC Quick and Easy and Glitz and Glamour Quick and Easy and Glitz and Glamour Natural Accents Glaze Country Acre Peaks of Otter Winery Peaks of Otter Winery Virginia Wine of the Month Fun of a Kind Chester Artists Association Chester Artists Association
57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70
Posh Paint Red Fox Peanut Company New Kent Winery New Kent Winery Round Up Bags Sabrosa Foods Soy Candles by Nonna Do the Jerk-ey! LLC Do the Jerk-ey! LLC Down Under Hats Artistic Attic Cooper Vineyards Cooper Vineyards Christopher Mize Art
71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84
Christopher Mize Art Let's Wine Let's Wine Chesterfield Historical Society/ Henricus Historical Park Betty Jane's Sweet Delights AmRhein Wine Cellars Chesapeake Secrets Barboursville Vineyards Barboursville Vineyards S.E.S. Leather Duke and Pat Brown Photography James River Cellars, Inc. James River Cellars, Inc. O! So Chick
85 86 87
Census Bureau Bella Butterfly The Pampered Chef-Wine Accessories 88 UNOS 89 Chateau Morrisette 90 Chateau Morrisette 91 Classics by Patrice 92 Temptation Corner 93 Spirited Lights 97 Bali Art Woodcarvings 98 Time to Wine, Inc. 99 Wild Heaven Farms 100 RockbridgeVineyard 101 RockbridgeVineyard
102 Wood N Works 103 Art2Die4 104 Women on Wine 105 The Weekend Brewer 106 Kluge Estates 107 Uniquely Janice 108 It's Not Tile窶的t's Wood 109 Linda's Line C-T's Chamber T-Shirts M-1 Chesterfield County Museum Strawberry Street Event Concessions Q Barbeque Catering King's Korner Catering BB&T Bus