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Contents
Features 23 Salut!
We honor the best of the best in our annual Virginia Wine Lover magazine Wine Classic Awards. By Patrick Evans-Hylton
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DEPARTMENTS 8 Editor’s Note Popping the Cork 10 Cuvee—VWL mixes it up with top Virginia
tastemakers; PLUS: 13 Cork Report— Shenandoah Beerwerks Trail makes enjoying a brew easy; A Virginia whiskey pioneer expands to Williamsburg; Fete the fruit during Cider Week; V is for Virginia and viognier—and outstanding vintages to come; 16 Bloggers Imbibe—Virginia wine bloggers weigh in on their latest and greatest sips.
Coming Right Up 20 Oompah—An Oktoberfest feast with wine—and beer—pairings.
GrapevinE 31 Exploring Virginia’s five regions with
plenty of options for dining, imbibing, playing and staying—plus the commonwealth’s must-attend winery, brewery and distillery events. 32 Western—Floyd is just like Mayberry—but with added vibrancy, fun and funk; 35 Shenandoah Valley—Harrisonburg is known for its distinguished university and its storied past— and now a revitalized downtown marks new places to discover and reasons to
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visit; 38 Northern—Find colonial charm, Civil War history, art, specialty shopping and plenty of places to eat and imbibe in the historic city of Fredericksburg; 41 Central/Southern—Smith Mountain Lake is an ideal destination for exploring the outdoors, discovering local treasures—or kicking back and relaxing; 44 Eastern— Norfolk offers the perfect mix of eclectic culture and urban charm.
48 Map of Virginia’s wineries, breweries and distilleries.
Cheers: MORE VIRGINIA IMBIBES 51 W elcome to Cheers, a department
that examines the state’s wonderful craft beers, cider and spirits. We’re still focused on wine—but now just a little more. 52 Five To Try—Stout beers are awesome for autumn; 54 Quart Report—A full pour of information on some of Virginia’s best breweries and distilleries; 56 Shake, Rattle and Pour— Behind the bar with Whitney Sacdalan; 58 Last Call—Two great flavors marry for one fabulous ice cream float.
2016/2017 | Virginia Wine Lover
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www.bbvwine.com
1976 ~ 2016 NOW, CELEBRATING OUR 40TH ANNIVERSARY. AS ONE OF THE DEFINING VINEYARDS IN VIRGINIA WINE, WE ARE POURING HISTORIC OCTAGON VINTAGES IN OUR LIBRARY 1821 FOR TASTING AND COLLECTING, EVERY WEEKEND OF THE YEAR. COME DISCOVER WHY THIS ESTATE OF WINE IS THE OCTAGON OF A GREAT GROWING REGION.
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2016/2017 | Virginia Wine Lover
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VOLUME 9
Issue 2
VirginiaWineLoverMag.com 1264 Perimeter Pkwy. Virginia Beach, Virginia 23454 757-422-8979
Publisher Randy Thompson Editor-in-Chief Angela Blue Executive Editor and Culinary Events Manager Patrick Evans-Hylton Senior Editor, Special Sections Melissa M. Stewart Assistant Editor, Web Anne Leonard Contributing Editor Frank Morgan Contributing Writers Lisa Hamaker, Rex Hamaker, Patti Hinson, Frank Morgan, Pamela Riley Vice President of Production Holly Watters Creative Director David Uhrin Associate Art Director Matt Haddaway Client Relations Manager Stacy Graef Lead Designer Matt Haddaway Contributing Designers Josh Haralson, Chris Meligonis, Christina Sinclair Kaye Ellen Trautman, Brian Woelfel Photo Editor Corey Watson Web Design and Development Web Creative Director Chris Murphy Senior Web Developer Brandon Litchfield Web Developer Caleb Whitehead IT Marketing Specialists Michael Saks, William Warford Director of Photography Jim Pile Contributing Photographers Frank Morgan, Pamela Riley, David Uhrin Vice President of Sales & Distribution Paul Brannock Account Executives Samuel Wilson Contributing Account Executives Christie Berry, Lori Conti, Tony Conti, Eileen Dalby, Brenda Whitlow, Gardner Winstead Associate Account Executive Kendall Burns Customer Service Representative Kiara Davis Circulation Manager George Carter Marketing Director Lisa Davenport Web Marketing & Promotions Manager Kathryn Kelly Content Editor Rebekah Mulford Special Events Coordinator Pamela Hopkins Virginia Wine Lover is published by
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EDITOR’S NOTE
Best Of
Readers’Choice
AWARDS 2017Awards
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om, o r ing travel t s a ry, t kfast, e! e n i w brea mor e t i r o nd much v a a f d our ine, be y, and y r Fo e of w rewer l bott ervice, b s We are pleased to recognize all “Best Of” winners in Virginia Wine Lover Magazine
as determined by the readers of Virginia Wine Lover Magazine
www.VirginiaWineLoverMag.com
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SECOND EDITION
More Pours VIRGINIA WINE LOVER LOVES OTHER DRINKS, TOO
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ometimes, everything old is new again. Four hundred-plus years ago, when Virginians relaxed with a drink or two, it was often crafted close to home. And while traditional wine making remained elusive for a good part of our history, our founding parents partied like it was 1799 with locally crafted beer, cider and spirits. Fast forward a few centuries, and again we are learning that homegrown tastes great. In a blink of an eye, it seems, a new craft brewery or distillery opens somewhere in Virginia, offering quality quaffs with unique qualities that you don’t find when purchasing from the big boys. For us, it sates not only our desire to drink but brings a sense of pride. And even if you aren’t a Virginian by birth, remember the words of William Byrd II in 1732: “In the Beginning, All America was Virginia.” No doubt we love Virginia wine—it’s part of our name, after all—but we also love other drinks, too. About a year ago, we started covering other tipples, and we continue to expand with this issue. So raise a glass—wine, beer, cider, spirits—it’s your choice—to our winemakers, brewers, cidermakers and distillers. All of America may not still be part of Virginia, but something tells us they wish they were. Cheers!
Patrick Patrick Evans-Hylton Executive Editor
2016/2017 | Virginia Wine Lover
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What’s in your glass? Tell me your favorite Virginia imbibe—and why—at Patrick@VirginiaWineLover.com
A SHO UT CRISP FOR ST AIR O CRISP USHERS IN UTS QU AFFS
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On The Cover Authentic Bavarian dishes from The Bier Garden, Portsmouth. Photograph by David Uhrin.
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POPPINGTHECORK VWL Mixes It Up With Top Virginia Tastemakers
HORTON VINEYARDS Michael Heny has been making wine since 1990. He studied
mechanical engineering and comparative literature at University of Virginia in Charlottesville. Following graduation, he learned the craft of winemaking while working for Archie Smith at Meredyth Vineyards, Shep Rouse at Montdomaine and Alan Kinne at Horton. “Equally important was my time spent immersed in the world of wine selling wine at Calvert Woodley,” he says. “I tried some wines in those years that continue to haunt me to the day.” His first harvest at Horton was in 1997. This year will mark his 20th harvest.
HORTON VINEYARDS 6399 Spotswood Trail, Gordonsville 540-832-7440 • HVWine.com Open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
THE WINEMAKER Philosophy: “Respect the fruit, and allow the wine to take you where it wants to go rather than trying to force it into a preconceived notion of what you want it to be. When your rkatsiteli wants to be a light, low alcohol white, let it be that. If your tannat is telling you that it really needs another 10 months in the barrel before it comes around, then maybe you should listen and give it the extra 10 months.” A Word of Wisdom: “Lieb was rar ist, trinkt was klar ist” Love what is rare; drink what is clear. The rest will fall into place.
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Accolades and Awards: • 2014 Petit Manseng, Gold Medal, 2016 Governor’s Cup Case. • 2010 Tannat, Gold Medal, 2014 Governor’s Cup Case. • 2014 Côtes d’Orange, selected for 2016 American Wine Society’s National Tasting Project (the only non-California wine to be selected). • 2015 Albariño, 88 points, eRobertParker. com #224, reviewed by Mark Squires. • 2015 Viognier included as 1 of 6 wines in “How to build a 6-bottle wine collection that impresses” —Dave McIntyre, Washington Post. (June 2016)
THE WINERY Overview: Horton Vineyards is a pioneer in Virginia wine. Introducing varietals that thrive in our climate has played a key role in creating today’s vibrant industry. It is unlikely that viognier, petit manseng, albariño, tannat, nebbiolo or pinotage would have made it here had Dennis Horton not followed his instincts. Highlighted events: • July 16: Annual Pig Roast • Nov. 5: Fall Barrel Tasting • Nov. 25–26: Holiday Open House
Offerings: Horton has a tasting room on site, as well as a conference area available for meetings and get-togethers. Picnic areas are enhanced with pristine views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. In addition to their focus on fascinating varietal wines, they offer sparkling, port, dessert and fruit wines. Recommendations: 2015 Viognier: “Whereas the wines were once curiosities on account of their origin in Virginia, they’ve now come to stand as such a string of Viognier exemplars that one wonders if Horton hasn’t become the USA’s premier producer of the variety.” —Michael Franz, WineReviewOnline.com (Feb. 2014)
2015 Albariño: Finely chiseled wine with aromas of lime blossoms, ripe melon and tangerine skin. 2015 Petit Manseng: An engaging piña colada nose, this wine is rich with creamy flavors followed by a cleansing wash of bold acidity. 2015 Côtes d’Orange: 55 percent syrah, 29 percent pinotage, 16 percent mourvedre, this wine is our take on new world GSM blends. The “G” didn’t work out for us, so we put in a “P” for pinotage, which does great here. —Angela Blue
2016/2017 | Virginia Wine Lover
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Cuvee
Cuvee
In each we talk with winemakers or cidermakers to find out more about their winery/cidery, their winemaking/cidermaking philosophy, and to get some useful tips on the enjoyment of their juice.
868 ESTATE VINEYARDS Carl O. DiManno started making wine in 2001 while attending the University of California at Davis. He’s been making wine for 868 Estate Vineyards since before it opened, starting in 2011. After receiving a Master of Science in Enology from UC Davis, DiManno interned at Artesa Winery & Vineyards and was a founding member of Winesecrets, a technology-based wine improvement service. “I returned to the East Coast to establish Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard in Maryland, wearing many hats including vineyard manager, winery designer and winemaker.”
868 ESTATE VINEYARDS 14001 Harpers Ferry Rd., Purcellville 540-668-7008 • 868EstateVineyards.com Contact winery for days and hours of operation.
THE WINEMAKER Philosophy: “Do whatever is necessary for a wine to show its best possible self. If a wine can be improved by blending, aging or additions, we will make those changes to bring the best wine to the consumer. Just as a chef might simply grill one piece of beef where another might need seasoning, slow roasting or sauce.” A Word of Wisdom: “Occasionally, just enjoy a glass of wine. Don’t analyze it or use descriptive terms or try to find flaws. Most people don’t want to hear your analysis. Just drink it; enjoy the people around you and your surroundings. That’s what it’s for.”
Accolades and Awards: • 2014 868 Estate Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc, Loudoun County—Best in Class, “Classic White Varietal,” 2015 Loudoun Wine Awards. • 2013 868 Estate Vineyards Cabernet Franc, Maryland— Gold, 2014 Atlantic Seaboard Wine Competition. • 2013 868 Estate Vineyards Nebbiolo— Gold, 2015 Finger Lakes International.
THE WINERY Overview: 868 Estate Vineyards is situated on 120 acres in Loudoun County. The vineyard has 18 acres under vine with plans to expand to 23 in 2017. The tasting room offers a number of pairings and food offerings. There is a picnic area, pet-friendly space and covered pavilion with music. Grandale Vintner’s Table offers farm-to-table food service and tasting flights. Highlighted events: • The Vine: Women’s Wine Dinner. Fourth Thursday of every month. Different wine region/theme each dinner. • Greys and Grapes: Greyhound rescue event. Third Saturday/Sunday in May. • Artist Reception: Local artists display at 868 Estate. Art changes every six weeks.
An artist reception is held once per quarter. Second Saturdays in January, April, July, October. • Out of the Woods: Event for “Zero Day,” the day hikers come off the Appalachian Trail for real food and a shower. First Saturday in July. • Super Bowl Wine Pairing: Weekend of and weekend before the Super Bowl, wines paired with “bar foods” you might eat watching football. Offerings: Six whites: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonel, Viognier, Riesling, Canvas White (sweet chardonel/vidal blanc blend). Three reds: Petit Verdot, Altezza (nebbiolo/merlot blend), Meritage. (Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon Monarch (blend) available in autumn.) One rosé: Saignée of cabernet franc, merlot and cabernet sauvignon.
Recommendations: 2014 Chardonel: Great balance with crisp, refreshing acidity. Citrus and tropical fruits. First crop at 868 Estate. 2014 Sauvignon Blanc: New world style sauvignon blanc. Elderberry, lemongrass and lots of tropical fruit. Lively, refreshing finish. 2014 Cabernet Franc: Loudoun County wine with all of the franc grown at 868 Estate. Jammy raspberry along with violets and green tea. —Frank Morgan
VirginiaWineLoverMag.com
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Casanel Vineyards & Winery Katie DeSouza has been producing wine for Casanel for four years; she and her family have been operating the vineyards and winery since its inception in October 2008. In addition to winemaking, DeSouza is the vineyard manager and assistant manager of the tasting room. “I’ve gained my wine knowledge the best way possible, via on-the-job training, as well as (fortunately) being guided by Viticulturist Lucie Morton and Bordeaux winemaking consultant Katell Griaud,” she says. “Encouraged by my family, I completed WSET Level 2 with distinction in 2015 and hope to further my studies.”
Casanel Vineyards & Winery 17956 Canby Rd., Leesburg 540-751-1776 • CasanelVineyards.com Contact winery for days and hours of operation.
The Vineyards & Winery At Lost Creek Aimee and Todd Henkle, owners of The Vineyards & Winery at Lost Creek, have had a passion for wine for 18 years. Through various educational forums, training at the Culinary Institute of America in Napa and hands-on training with their consultant winemaker after the purchase of Lost Creek, they have developed an in-depth experience in both winemaking and viticulture. The Vineyards & Winery at Lost Creek 43277 Spinks Ferry Rd., Leesburg 703-443-9836 LostCreekWinery.com Contact winery for days and hours of operation. 12
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THE WINEMAKER Philosophy: “There’s only one way Virginia will be internationally recognized as a legitimate grape-growing and wine-making region: we must grow our own grapes. Great wine starts in the vineyard, and my goal is to prove the beauty and individuality that is the Virginia landscape, via elegant, balanced, expressive terroirdriven wines.” A Word of Wisdom: “Wine is just as alive as you are and is only as great as the passion and effort you put forth into your vineyard and cellar.” Accolades and Awards: • Best Tasting Room, Virginia Wine Lover magazine. • 2014 Carménère: Gold, 89 points, 2016 San Francisco International Wine Competition. • 2014 Carménère: Gold, 2016 Virginia State Fair. • 2014 Chardonnay: 86 points, Wine Enthusiast. • 2014 Chardonnay: Silver, 2015 Virginia Governor’s Cup.
THE WINEMAKER Philosophy: “Our winemaking philosophy starts in the vineyard to help build depth and bring structure to our wines. Once our fruit is in the cellar, we take a minimalistic approach in the winemaking process. We age our wines in French oak barrels and/or stainless steel to produce elegant, yet complex-style wines.” A Word of Wisdom: “Be thoughtful in the wines that you pair with your meal. Pairings can exemplify wines that you would not normally “sip” on. Some tips: Match rich foods (like red meat) with bolder, high-alcohol wines; Sweet wines will be “flabby” when paired with high-acid foods, so go dry; Like it sweet? Pair sweet wines with spicy food like Thai.” Accolades and Awards: • 2012 Merlot, Platinum, Virginia Wine Lover magazine Wine Classic. • 2013 Genesis, Gold Virginia Wine Classic, Silver San Francisco International. • 2013 Provenance, Silver, Virginia Governor’s Cup. • 2015 Best Agricultural Small Business in Loudoun County Finalist. • Aimee was recognized in 2014 by Leesburg Today as one of the Top 40 under 40 leaders in Loudoun County.
THE WINERY Overview: Established October 2008, Casanel Vineyards and Winery’s main focus centers on passion for cultivating our estate vineyards, as well as an emphasis to produce small lot, craft wines. Located in the Middleburg AVA, the surrounding terroir provides the perfect setting to achieve a signature winemaking style and flavors. “We pride ourselves on providing a truly beautiful experience in our tasting room, one that is reflected in our quiet, adult ambiance, tranquil setting amidst the Catoctin ridge and educational approach to tastings,” DeSouza says. “Being familyowned and -operated allows us to maintain our boutiquestyle approach not only in our production but also in our tasting room setting.” Highlighted events: • Spring Winemaker Dinner in April • Patio Party with the Casanel Family in July • “The Sip” Chardonnay Vertical tasting for wine club members in August • Birthday Anniversary Celebration Oct. 22–23 THE WINERY Overview: The Vineyards & Winery at Lost Creek is a 50-acre boutique winery nestled on the rolling hills of Northern Virginia, 10 minutes outside of historic Leesburg and an hour outside of Washington, D.C. Tucked away between Route 15 and the Potomac River, Lost Creek Winery is a scenic destination that offers high-quality Virginia wines in a casual, elegant atmosphere. “Our winery features large, outdoor patios, as well as a tasting room for visitors and a 21-andolder club lounge for our Harvest Club members,” Aimee Henkle says. “We have a full bistro menu and offer several food and wine pairing experiences. We have multiple event spaces at our private event venue, The Harvest House.” Highlighted events: • TasteMaker monthly food and wine pairing series pairs Lost Creek wines with local restaurants and/or farms/ producers to create a great pairing experience; third Saturday of every month. • Annual Winery & Vineyard Tour with the owners. An opportunity to join the owners for an extensive tour of the
Offerings: Casanel produces two distinct styles of pinot gris, one chardonnay, one dry rosé, four dry reds (a Bordeauxstyle blend, cabernet sauvignon, carménère and petit verdot), one sweet white wine and one port-style dessert red wine. This fall, the sparkling norton, Red Spark 2014 Carménère will be released for wine club members. Recommendations: 2015 José Rosé: A blend of merlot, cabernet sauvignon, carménère and cabernet franc, our dry rosé captures the essence of refreshing summer flavors. 2014 K2 Red Blend: cabernet franc, merlot, cabernet sauvignon, carménère and petit verdot: blended for balance and restraint to deliver exquisite notes of fruit, chocolate and toast. NV The Full Nelson PortStyle Norton: Named for my father; The Full Nelson exudes weighty expressions of dark red fruits, baking spice and chocolatey undertones. —Frank Morgan
property, along with a tasting of wines from the library. Accompanies Fall Farm Tour weekend in Loudoun County; third weekend in October. • Annual Harvest Dinner. Celebrating Harvest and Virginia Wine month, we host a great farm-to-table dinner in the vineyard. Late September/early October. Offerings: White/rosé: five wines, including two different styles of chardonnay (stainless steel as well as barrel aged), two styles of vidal blanc (one dry and an off-dry) and a rosé. Red: five wines, including three Bordeaux-style blends and cabernet sauvignon. Recommendations: 2015 Chardonnay: Vibrant, crisp, 100 percent estategrown chardonnay aged in stainless steel; a perfect summer sipping wine. 2014 Trinity: A blend for cabernet franc lovers with 42 percent cabernet franc, 43 percent cabernet sauvignon and 15 percent merlot aged in French oak for 18 months. A great, approachable red wine. —Frank Morgan
2016/2017 | Virginia Wine Lover
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Cork Report
You Better Werk It
Shenandoah Beerwerks Trail Makes Enjoying a Brew Easy
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ne of the nation’s newest beer trails has forged a path in the Shenandoah Valley. The Shenandoah Beerwerks Trail opened in spring 2016, creating the area’s first official beer trail and linking folks with more than a dozen breweries all located within an hour’s drive from one another. But it’s more than just beer: the trail pairs the craft beer experience with a combination of activities and attractions that uniquely reflect the region’s recreational and cultural activities, organizers say. Sheryl Wagner, director of tourism for the city of Staunton, says the Shenandoah Valley’s many offerings all pair perfectly, noting that craft beer drinkers love the outdoors, and after a day of hiking, biking and exploring the region, they can now sit down and raise a frosty mug. We love this area of Virginia; in addition to the outdoor adventures, there is history and culture to explore, tons of festivals and a great farm-tofork food scene. And speaking of down on the farm: four of the breweries on the trail use locally-grown hops. For more information, visit BeerWerksTrail.com.
Sly As A (Copper) Fox A Virginia Whiskey Pioneer Expands to Williamsburg
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e still remember the first time we tried a bracing sip of Rick Wasmund’s heady whiskey not long after he opened his distillery in Sperryville; it was love at first sip. Wasmund offers a single malt whisky, rye whisky and gin (that he cleverly calls Vir Gin) now not just at the Central Virginia location but at a new distillery that opened in Williamsburg in July. Located in the former Lord Paget motel in the colonial capital, the facility houses a tasting room, distillery, bottling operation and barrel room. There’s more to come, including expanded space that will eventually provide more storage than the original location. Want to try your hand at home? Copper Fox also offers a barrel kit that features a two-liter charred American white oak mini-barrel and two bottles of spirts ready to age in the privacy of your own abode. Copper Fox is located at 901 Capitol Landing Rd., Williamsburg, in addition to their first distillery, 9 River Lane, Sperryville. For more information, visit CopperFox.biz.
Cider Houses Rule Fete the Fruit During Cider Week
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ho knows who first figured out that fermenting fruit produced a delicious beverage with a kick, but fast forward a few millennia and we are enjoying in large numbers the drink now known as cider. Long wildly popular in the Mother England, the taste for it in the colonies has been here for centuries, but the past few years, it’s come into its own. Although other fruits can be made into cider, it’s apples we mostly think of. In Virginia, the drink is lauded each November during Cider Week Virginia. This year the fete runs Nov. 11–20 with events across the state. A website lists activities, state cidermakers and places to grab a pint—or two. Currently there are a baker’s dozen cideries in Virginia, including the nationally-known Foggy Ridge Cider, the widely available Bold Rock Hard Cider and the urban-situated Blue Bee Cider. On Nov. 12 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., stop by the 17th Street Farmer’s Market in Richmond for an assorted tasting of ciders. Founding parent John Adams said his health and long life was a direct result of downing a tankard of cider each morning before breakfast. That may or may not be true, but it still doesn’t sound like a bad way to start the day. For more information, visit CiderWeekVA.com. —PEH
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V IS FOR VOLUPTUOUS It’s Also For Virginia And Viognier—And Outstanding Vintages To Come
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emand for Virginia viognier has grown considerably since Dennis Horton, founder of Horton Winery in Gordonsville, planted the first vines in the commonwealth in 1989. Grown throughout the world, viognier is best known as the grape of the Condrieu region of the Northern Rhone in France. Viognier has found a home here in the Old Dominion and is the fifth most planted grape variety in the state with 259 bearing acres under vine (and 82 non-bearing acres). About 80 Virginia wineries offer a viognier. Given the rising popularity of wines made from viognier, the Virginia Wine Board designated it the state’s official grape for national branding purposes in May 2011. Though viognier is popular with consumers, it can be a headache for growers because it’s prone to diseases like powdery mildew and yield fluctuations. Beginning with the rain-soaked 2011 vintage, recent vintages have been challenging for viognier, resulting in a considerable drop in production in some regions across the state. Virginia viognier fans will be glad to know that 2015 was a great year for the state’s official grape. Winemakers are reporting a fantastic 2015 crop in terms of yield and quality. Here are a few favorite Virginia Viogniers from a recent tasting:
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Veritas Vineyards 2015 Viognier, Monticello AVA. Made from grapes grown on the Veritas estate in Afton, the 2015 is 100 percent viognier. Winemaker Emily Pelton consistently makes one of the top viogniers in the state; the 2015 may be her best yet, showcasing the potential of this grape in Virginia. Bright, gold color in the glass, this viognier is fresh and vibrant, offering notes of peach, honeysuckle and white flowers with a lovely waxy-peach texture in the mouth. Rich without being cloying. Excellent balance. Delicious! This wine will be even better in five years. Would be great paired with Thai food. General’s Ridge 2015 Viognier, Northern Neck. With each new vintage, this growing winery is becoming the gem of Virginia’s Northern Neck. This viognier was made by noted Virginia and Burgundy winemaker Michael Shaps with fruit grown in the General’s Ridge estate vineyard planted in 2001. Darker gold in color, this viognier offers notes of peach, apricot crème brûlée with hints of herbs on the edges. Well balanced with a long stone fruit finish. This wine pairs beautifully with Grayson cheese. King Family Vineyards 2015 Viognier, Monticello AVA. King Family winemaker Matthieu Finot may be best known for his award-winning meritage red blends, but the 2015 viognier is deserving of high praise. A blend of 85 percent viognier with 15 percent petit manseng for acidity, this viognier is rich and unctuous with notes of peach syrup and zippy citrus fruits. Seventy percent of the juice was fermented and aged
in stainless steel tanks while the rest was aged in neutral oak, acacia barrels and concrete egg. Finot also made a limited production orange viognier (meaning the juice was fermented on its skin like a red wine) as part of the Small Batch Series that is available only to club members. Keswick Vineyards 2015 Les Vents d’Anges Viognier, Monticello AVA. Named for owner Al Schornberg’s youngest sister, Genevieve, Les Vents d’Anges means ‘the wind of angels.’ This is one of three viogniers produced from Keswick estate fruit by winemaker Stephen Barnard, who won the Virginia Governor’s Cup this year for his 2014 Cabernet Franc Estate Reserve. Rich with loads of stone fruits, this wine would make a great aperitif and would pair well with fish topped with mango salsa. Tarara Winery 2015 Viognier, Loudoun County. Made from 100 percent viognier; fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks, it is fresh and clean. This viognier is light-yellow color in the glass. Notes of peach and white flower dominate with zippy stone fruit acidity. It is perfect served as an aperitif or paired with salads. Of note: Look for 2015 viogniers from these other notable producers: Horton Vineyards and Barboursville Vineyards in the Monticello AVA; Breaux Vineyards and North Gate Vineyard in Loudoun County. —Frank Morgan
2016/2017 | Virginia Wine Lover
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BLOGGERSIMBIBE
BloggersImbibe VIRGINIA WINE BLOGGERS WEIGH IN ON THEIR LATEST AND GREATEST SIPS
Fall And Winter Sips? Yes Way, Rosé!
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Fiano: Something new
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oted winemaker Luca Paschina and the team at Barboursville Vineyards wrote an interesting new chapter of the Virginia wine story recently with the release of the state’s first wine made from the fiano grape, the Barboursville Vineyards 2015 Fiano Reserve. Fiano is an ancient Italian white grape variety grown primarily in the Southern Italy region of Campania, located east of Naples. Also cultivated on the island of Sicily and in parts of Australia and Argentina, fiano is a low-yielding, early-ripening grape that tends to thrive in warm climates. Called fiano today, some 2,000 years ago the Romans knew this grape as vitis apiana, Latin for ‘vine of the bees,’ a reference to bees’ attraction to the sweet pulp of the grape. Following the success of Vermentino, another warmclimate-friendly Italian white variety thriving at Barboursville, Paschina, decided to plant 3.5 acres of fiano in 2013. This 2015 Barboursville Fiano Reserve is golden straw in color, offering aromas of peach, lemon and honeycomb. Hints of white flowers and almonds linger on the —Frank Morgan edges. Fresh and vibrant; flavors is associate editor of waxy peach and honeycomb of VWL and the dominate the palate. Fermented author of the awardin stainless steel tanks and aged winning wine blog, in neutral oak barrels with lots of DrinkWhatYouLike. lees stirring, this wine is dry with com. Follow Morgan wonderful texture. on Twitter @ Given the limited production, DrinkWhatULike. this wine is only available at the Barboursville tasting room. Learn more at BBVWine.com. VWL 16
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osés reign in popularity as seasonal temperatures approach 70 degrees, but as the climate cools, so does the rosé rush. The temptation to move on to the heavier, oak-aged wines when the air become brisk is the norm for most. However, for me, it’s a perfect opportunity to enjoy the versatility of dry rosé with my favorite heartier winter dishes, especially during the holidays. Virginia rosés are often influenced by the Old World French style with beautiful flavors, weight and structure that offer multiseasonal appeal. Heavier varietals that yield a bit more body and acidity made from mourvedre, grenache and cabernet sauvignon are certainly more appropriate for winter’s comfort foods. Here are some of my favorite Virginia rosés. Recently featured in Bloomberg’s “The 25 Best Rosés Under $25,” 2015 Stinson Vineyards’ Rosé is 100 percent mourvedre and made in the Bandol style. Ripe, muted berry notes and citrus flavors accented by gentle florals with a nice spice and dried herb finish come through on the back end. StinsonVineyards.com Crosé from King Family Vineyards is a bit lighter but still a great option for both summer and fall. Made from merlot and named after the small town of Crozet, Kings Family Vineyards’ Crosé offers crisp citrus, strawberry and currant notes with hints of herbs and ripe grapefruit on the finish. I love this one for the holiday table. KingFamilyVineyards.com An exciting winter rosé is Boxwood Estates’ Rosé 2015—a dry rosé blend of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot, petit verdot and malbec grapes, made in the saignée method in the traditional Bordeaux —Pamela Riley style. This is the author of rosé feathe wine blog tures a VinesOfVirginia. refreshing com/Blog. Follow tartness Riley on Twitter @ with notes Vines0fVirginia of pears, (note: 0 (zero) ripe berries not O) and a bit of melon, finishing with a vibrant tingly spice. BoxwoodWinery.com With a few months of aging past summer, some rosés will evolve into even better winter sips. VWL
2016/2017 | Virginia Wine Lover
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Sat. & Sun., Oct. 1–2, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Shenandoah Co. Fairgrounds, Woodstock, VA Exciting Harness Races • Great Wineries 2 Fantastic Days • $16 in advance, $20 at gate
540-459-3867 • www.shencofair.com A Celebration of Craft Beers, Chili and Horse Racing at Virginia’s Premier Harness Horse Track Gates open at 11 a.m. Races begin at 1 p.m. Sept. 10: Food Truck Festival. Free Race Admission. Sept. 11: Food Truck Festival Continues. Free Race Admission. Sept. 17: Free Race Admission. Sept. 18: Free Race Admission. Sept. 24: Hops & Hooves. Beer And Chili Festival. Gate Admission. Sept. 25: Free Race Admission. Oct. 1: Wine & Trotter Festival. Gate Admission. Oct. 2: Wine & Trotter Festival. Gate Admission. Oct. 8: Seafood Festival. $5 admission. Oct. 9: Free Race Admission.
Beer & Chili Festival
Sat., Sept. 24th 11 a.m.–5 p.m. $16 in advance $20 at the gate
www.shenandoahdowns.com
Shenandoah County Fairgrounds, Woodstock, VA
September 24-25 29 Virginia Wineries 85+ Craft & Food Vendors
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Crazy Horse Marina 400 Crazy Horse Drive • Moneta, VA 24121 540-721-1203 • VisitSmithMountainLake.com STAUNTON Enjoy attractions and wineries by day, sleep in luxurious comfort by night. Minutes to Barren Ridge and Rockbridge vineyards. Free Hot Breakfast • Outdoor Pool • Fitness Room • Cable/HBO • Wireless • Kids Stay Free • Near Wilson Birthplace • Frontier Culture Museum • Glass Blowing • Walking Distance to Shopping & Dining. I-81 Exit 220, 40 Payne Lane, Staunton, VA 24401 540-886-7000 www.hamptoninn.com/hi/staunton 18
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WAYNESBORO Closest hotel to Barren Ridge Vineyards! Also near Afton Mountain, Veritas, King Family, Pollack, Cardinal Point, and Flying Fox Vineyards, Blue Ridge Parkway, Skyline Drive and attractions. Relax in comfort with high speed internet & fridge/microwave in every room, free hot breakfast, heated indoor pool, fitness center, and business center. I-64 exit 91, 15 Four Square Lane, Fishersville, VA 540-213-9500 www.waynesborostuartsdraft.hamptoninn.com
2016/2017 | Virginia Wine Lover
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comingRightup
Oompah! An Oktoberfest Feast With Wine—And Beer—Pairings
By Patrick Evans-Hylton
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ew Orleans has its Mardi Gras. Rio has its Carnival. But in Munich, they have Oktoberfest—a celebration of good food, good drink and the good life as only Germans can do it. We don’t have plans on jumping across the pond this autumn, but celebrating rich, delicious Bavarian fare paired with some great beer and wine is definitely on our agenda. Although traditionally held in September, you can celebrate your Oktoberfest just about any time now, once Labor Day bids farewell to summer and the first hint of crispness is in the air. Here is a German eats and drinks primer. It is in no means an extensive list, but these are some edibles and imbibes you may encounter, along with some thoughts on Virginia beer and wine:
Altbier: A copper-colored, strongly hopped ale. Apfelstrudel: Known as apple strudel, it’s a pastry made of dough topped with chopped apples, cinnamon, raisins and sometimes nuts, rolled, baked until crisp and sliced. Bockbier: A smooth, sweet, rich and malty lager with a higher alcohol content with muted hop aroma and flavor. Gewurztraminer: A golden-hued, highly aromatic white wine with notes of citrus, flowers, honey and marzipan, giving slight sweetness and a bit of spice on the palate. Hefeweizen: Slightly cloudy, malted wheat (and also, usually, barley) ale with sometimes fruity components like banana and mild hop notes. Helles: A mildly malty straw-blonde lager. Kartoffelpuffer: Known as potato pancakes. Germans love potato dishes, and this is a classic, along with potato dumplings, potato salad and pan-fried potatoes. Potato pancakes are made with shredded or mashed potatoes mixed with egg, flour and seasonings and dried golden in an oil-lined skillet. They are typically served with sour cream and apple sauce. Koelsch: A delicate, slightly fruity light ale with muted maltiness named for the city of origin Cologne/Koln. Oktoberfestbier: An aged, amber-hued, malty, strong lager brewed for Oktoberfest. Other German wines: Grape varietals largely found in Germany but often identified with other countries of origin include chardonnay, pinot grigio/pinot bris (labeled grauburgunder in Germany) and pinot noir (labeled spatburgunder in Germany). 20
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Pilsner: A clear, golden lager with heavy hops on the nose and clean and refreshing on the palate. Pretzels: These are often large, bready pretzels topped classically with coarse salt but sometimes seeds like sesame, sunflower or poppy. Pretzels are often presented in the traditional twisted shape but sometimes in rolls or bread sticks. Riesling: A versatile, light, yellow-hued white wine with hints of apple and stone fruit, sometimes sweet but classically dry with muted tartness. Rotkraut: A side dish in which red cabbage is shredded, seasoned and braised. It is slightly sweet and typically served warm, often with roasts. Sauerbraten: A meat dish, usually beef but sometimes pork, lamb or venison. The literal translation is “sour roast” (sauer for sour/pickled and braten for roast). Meat is marinated for several days in a seasoned mixture that includes vinegar or wine, which not only tenderizes it but imparts a pleasant sourness that is prevalent even after roasting. Suggested wine pairing: Ankida Ridge Vineyards (Amherst) 2013 Pinot Noir Suggested beer pairing: Center of the Universe Brewing Company (Ashland) Slingshot Kolsch Sauerkraut: A side dish of finely sliced, seasoned and fermented green cabbage. It can be served hot or cold. Sausages/Wursts: Perhaps one of the bestknown German foods are sausages, with dozens of variations. Among the most common: • Bratwurst: A short, plump seasoned pork sausage in natural casing that is grilled or fried.
The Origin Of Oktoberfest The first Oktoberfest was held in Munich in October 1810 during a large horse race in celebration of the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig (later King Ludwig I) and Princess Therese of Hildburghausen. The sporting event grew into a carnival-like atmosphere with entertainment and games and, of course, a lot of food and beer.
continued on page 22 >
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COMINGRIGHTUP
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A special thanks to Kevin Osfolk and his staff at one of our favorite German eateries, The Bier Garden, located in Olde Towne Portsmouth for almost two decades, for preparing the authentic Bavarian dishes (from family recipes) featured in this article.
• Currywurst: A sliced bratwurst covered in a tomato-based sauce with curry and paprika. • Frankfurter: A long, thin seasoned and smoked pork sausage classically boiled, named after Frankfurt, the city of origin. • Knackwurst: A short, plump seasoned and smoked veal and pork sausage in natural casing that is grilled or fried. The name refers to the crisp skin cracking or popping when bitten into. • Vienna sausage: A long, thin, seasoned sausage often made from chicken, beef or pork and sometimes called wiener, which means Viennese in German. (These are not those little canned meat products that your grandparents ate on saltine crackers.) Bratwurst suggested wine pairing: Pollak Vineyards (Greenwood) 2015 Pinot Gris Bratwurst suggested beer pairing: Lost Rhino Brewing Company (Ashland) Rhin O’Fest Märzen Amber Lager Schnitzel: A meat cutlet that is breaded in flour, egg and bread crumbs and fried in butter or oil until golden brown. The classic is wiener
schnitzel, which is a veal cutlet, served with lemon wedges. Sometimes a schnitzel is filled, as the case with cordon-bleu, where the meat (chicken, turkey, pork or veal) is stuffed with ham and cheese before being breaded and fried. Wiener Schnitzel suggested wine pairing: Rapidan River/Prince Michel (Leon) Dry Riesling
Produced in only the Finest Vintages…
In addition to a warm and inviting atmosphere as well as great food and service, The Bier Garden features 23 taps and more than 400 beers. We raise a glass to that! The Bier Garden is at 438 High St., Portsmouth. Call 757-393-6022 or visit BierGarden.com. Wiener Schnitzel suggested beer pairing: Belly Love Brewing Company (Purcellville) Narcissist Munich Helles Cordon Bleu suggested wine pairing: Chatham Vineyards (Eastern Shore) 2015 Church Creek Chardonnay—Steel Fermented
Cordon Bleu suggested beer pairing: Port City Brewing Company (Alexandria) Oktoberfest Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte: Also known as Black Forest Cake or Black Forest Torte, it’s a classic layer cake with chocolate sponge cake, whipped cream and cherries.
NEW PRIVATE RESERVE WINES
Come Taste Today
Inaugural release: 100 cases, available only through winery
Suggested wine pairing: Rockbridge Vineyard (Raphine) 2012 Vd’Or dessert wine Suggested beer pairing: Starr Hill Brewery (Crozet) Imperial Chocolate Cherry Stout Schwarzbier: A dark, rich, malty lager with notes of chocolate and coffee.
Spatzle: A type of pasta made from flour, eggs, water (or beer) and salt that is pushed through a press to create short, oblong pieces and boiled. It is served as a main or side dish, often topped with items like braised mushrooms, grated cheese or beef and vegetable stew. VWL
Home Of The Horse & Hound Wine Festival, Second Sat. in July
Winery & Orchards
1218 Elmos Rd, Bedford, Va. 24523 540-586-3707 We are minutes away from the Blue Ridge Parkway and the D-day Memorial More Than Just Fine Fruit Wines. We offer a Country Store with Fresh Fruits in Season, Cider, Gifts, Canned Goods, T-Shirts and More!
Horton Vineyards Innovators in Virginia Wine, Since 1989
All with that old fashioned homemade quality and taste that you love. Open Noon to 5pm: April - December Daily or January - March Weekends. Tastings: Free up to 3, $5 for 20 or more and keep the glass.
“Old World feel with aggressive acidity and serious tannins in support” —The Wine Advocate “Ripe and spicy black fruits on the nose, opening to lovely scented bramble fruits with hints of oak, then firm acid on the finish.” —Richard Leahy, Virginia-based Wine Consultant and Author
ducardvineyards.com 540-923-4206 22
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Open daily 10 am to 5 pm www.hvwine.com • 540-832-7440 Fall Barrel Tasting, November 5th Come join the fun!
www.PeaksOfOtterWinery.com
2016/2017 | Virginia Wine Lover
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Salut!
We Honor the Best of the Best in Our Annual Virginia Wine Lover magazine Wine Classic Awards | By Patrick Evans-Hylton
VirginiaWineLoverMag.com
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heers! It’s reason to celebrate. Across the commonwealth, Virginia has hundreds of quality wineries, producing some amazing quaffs. From false starts more than 400 years ago to slow beginnings some 40 years ago, the wine industry here is making a name for itself on a global market. For nine years, we’ve shared the good news in each issue of this publication, and part of that has been through results of our own Virginia Wine Lover magazine Wine Classic. Each spring, a panel of wine experts converges at River Stone Chophouse in Suffolk—noted for their remarkable wine list, and the extensive wine list at their sister eatery, Vintage Tavern, also in Suffolk—and examine the offerings from many of Virginia’s finest wineries. The judges evaluate dozens of the best wines produced across the state, each based on its own individual merit. Evaluation was done double-blind in flights, each recording their findings on sheets printed with a grid of the UC Davis (University of California at Davis) 20 Point System. The Davis system assigns a certain number of points to each of its 10 categories ranging from bouquet to color to taste to aftertaste. We present our findings to you here:
Red Wine Barboursville Vineyards 2013 Reserve Cabernet Franc Gold Barboursville Vineyards 2013 Octagon Gold Barboursville Vineyards 2012 Reserve Petit Verdot Silver Bluemont Vineyards 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Platinum Bluemont Vineyards 2014 Cabernet Franc, “The Horse” Platinum Bluemont Vineyards 2014 Meritage Silver Casanel Vineyards 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Gold Casanel Vineyards 2013 Middleburg Petit Verdot Gold 24
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Chateau MerrillAnne 2014 Palace Red Platinum
The Dog & Oyster Vineyard 2013 Merlot Gold
Chateau MerrillAnne 2014 Governor Spotswood Silver
The Dog & Oyster Vineyard 2013 Shelter Dog Red Silver
Chateau MerrillAnne 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Platinum
Good Luck Cellars 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Gold
Chateau Morrisette 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Silver
Good Luck Cellars 2013 Chambourcin Gold
Chateau Morrisette 2013 Petit Verdot Silver
Good Luck Cellars 2013 Inheritage Silver
Democracy Vineyards 2014 Campaign Silver
Gray Ghost Vineyards 2015 Cabernet Franc Gold
Democracy Vineyards 2014 Suffrage Gold
Gray Ghost Vineyards 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Gold
Democracy Vineyards 2014 Velvet Revolution Silver
Gray Ghost Vineyards 2013 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Gold
2016/2017 | Virginia Wine Lover
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Gray Ghost Vineyards 2014 Petit Verdot Platinum Gray Ghost Vineyards 2014 Ranger Reserve Gold The Hague Winery 2013 Cabernet Franc Gold The Hague Winery 2013 Meritage Gold The Hague Winery 2013 Merlot Gold Hickory Hill Vineyards & Winery 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Gold
Morais Vineyards 2014 Touriga Platinum Naked Mountain 2014 Catamount Run Red Gold Naked Mountain 2014 Raptor Red Gold
The Critics
Lindsay Bennett— sommelier, owner of Press 626 Café & Wine Bar, Norfolk Mike Capito— sommelier, Byrd & Baldwin Bros. Steakhouse, Norfolk Matt Fitzgerald— wine consultant at The Country Vintner, Ashland
Hickory Hill Vineyards & Winery Smith Mountain Lake Sixty-Six Gold
New Kent Winery NV Meritage Gold
Deon Foster— chef, food and wine authority; proprietor of Kitchen Koop, Portsmouth.
Ingleside Vineyards NV Chesapeake Series Cabernet Merlot Silver
New Kent Winery 2013 Merlot Gold
Lisa Hamaker— owner, Taste Tidewater Tours, which conducts culinary tours, including winery and brewery tours
Ingleside Vineyards 2013 Left Bank Silver
New Kent Winery NV Norton Gold
Marisa Marsey— food and wine writer
Ingleside Vineyards 2013 Right Bank Silver
North Gate Vineyard 2014 Chambourcin Platinum
Lexington Valley Vineyard 2015 Cabernet Franc Silver Lexington Valley Vineyard 2014 Marechal Foch Gold Lexington Valley Vineyard 2014 Norton Silver Mermaid Winery 2014 Cabernet Franc Silver Morais Vineyards 2014 Merlot Silver
North Gate Vineyard 2013 Merlot Platinum North Gate Vineyard 2013 Petit Verdot Platinum Philip Carter Winery 2013 1762 port-style Silver Philip Carter Winery 2013 Corotoman Gold Philip Carter Winery 2014 Nomini Hall Cabernet Franc Gold
Frank Morgan— blogger at Drink What You Like; associate editor, Virginia Wine Lover magazine David Parkerson— sales representative at Latitude Beverage Co. Charlie Rizzo— sommelier, River Stone Chophouse, Suffolk Crystal Cameron Schaad— sommelier, owner of Crystal Palate, a wine consulting and education business Adam Steely— sommelier, co-owner Blue Talon Bistro, Williamsburg Emily Ann Wagener— sommelier, 626 Café & Wine Bar in Norfolk Patrick Evans-Hylton— Virginia Wine Lover magazine executive editor; food and wine educator VirginiaWineLoverMag.com
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Vint Hill Craft Winery 2014 Covert Winework’s Enigma Gold Vint Hill Craft Winery 2013 Merlot Platinum Weston Farm Vineyard & Winery 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Bronze
Rosemont of Virginia 2013 Cabernet Franc Platinum Rosemont of Virginia 2013 Merlot Gold Stanburn Winery 2014 Big Ass Red Silver Stanburn Winery 2014 Chambourcin Platinum Three Fox Vineyards 2014 Alouette Cabernet Franc Gold Three Fox Vineyards 2014 Il Volpe Sangiovese Silver Three Fox Vineyards 2014 La Trovatella Merlot Bronze Twin Oaks Tavern Winery 2014 Norton Silver
Whitebarrel Winery 2014 Bin 214 Gold Whitebarrel Winery 2014 Chambourcin Gold White Hall Vineyards 2014 Cabernet Franc Gold White Hall Vineyards 2014 Petit Verdot Platinum Willowcroft Farm Vineyards 2013 Assemblage Platinum Willowcroft Farm Vineyards 2014 Cabernet Franc Platinum Willowcroft Farm Vineyards 2014 Petit Verdot Gold
Chateau MerrillAnne 2015 Chambourcin Rosé Bronze Chateau MerrillAnne 2015 Viognier Gold Chateau Morrisette 2015 Petit Manseng Platinum
Rosé, Sparkling and White Wine
Chateau Morrisette 2015 Vidal Blanc Gold
Bluemont Vineyard 2015 Albariño Platinum
Chateau Morrisette 2015 Vin Gris rosé Bronze
Bluemont Vineyard 2015 Petit Manseng Platinum
Creek’s Edge Winery 2014 Chardonnay Platinum
Vincent’s Vineyard 2011 Shepherd’s Red Chambourcin Silver
Casanel Vineyards & Winery 2014 Ellianna Gold
Creek’s Edge Winery 2015 Vidal Blanc Gold
Vint Hill Craft Winery 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Platinum
Casanel Vineyards & Winery 2014 Chardonnay Platinum
Creek’s Edge Winery 2015 Water’s Edge White Gold
Veramar Vineyard 2013 Estate Club Merlot Silver Vincent’s Vineyard 2015 Ambrosia Platinum
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Democracy Vineyards 2015 Constitution Gold
Hickory Hill Vineyards & Winery Smith Mountain Lake Redbud rosé Bronze
Democracy Vineyards 2015 Dawn’s Light Rosé Bronze
Ingleside Vineyards Chesapeake Series Chardonnay Platinum
Democracy Vineyards 2015 Republic Platinum
Ingleside Vineyards Colonial White Gold
Democracy Vineyards 2015 Unum Gold
Ingleside Vineyards 2014 Dry Rosé Bronze
The Dog & Oyster Vineyard 2014 Oyster White Chardonel Gold The Dog & Oyster Vineyard 2014 Pearl Vidal Blanc Silver Good Luck Cellars 2014 Chardonnay Platinum Good Luck Cellars 2015 Viognier Platinum
Ingleside Vineyards 2014 Premium Series Chardonnay Platinum Ingleside Vineyards October Harvest Platinum Ingleside Vineyards 2015 Pinot Grigio Gold Ingleside Vineyards Virginia Brut—NV sparkling Platinum
The Criteria
The UC Davis 20 Point System evaluates wine on its own merits, looking at the following criteria and assigning the following points value: Clarity – 2 points Color – 2 points Bouquet – 4 points Total Acidity – 1 point Sweetness – 1 point Body/Texture – 2 points Flavor/Taste – 2 points Bitterness – 1 point Finish – 1 point Quality – 4 points We tallied each judge’s evaluation sheet, came up with an average and placed each in one of four categories: Platinum 90 percent or higher Gold 70–89 percent Silver 50–69 percent Bronze 49 percent or lower —PEH
Gray Ghost Vineyards 2014 Reserve Chardonnay Gold Gray Ghost Vineyards 2015 Gewurztraminer Platinum Gray Ghost Vineyards 2015 Seyval Blanc Platinum Gray Ghost Vineyards 2015 Vidal Blanc Gold The Hague Winery 2014 Chardonel Gold Hickory Hill Vineyards & Winery Smith Mountain Lake Full Pond Silver Hickory Hill Vineyards & Winery Smith Mountain Lake Sunset Platinum VirginiaWineLoverMag.com
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Lexington Valley Vineyard 2014 Catawba Gold
Naked Mountain Winery 2014 Barrel Fermented Chardonnay Gold
Lexington Valley Vineyard 2014 Gruner Veltliner Gold
Naked Mountain Winery 2014 Make Me Blush rosĂŠ Bronze
Mermaid Winery 2015 Chardonnay Silver
New Kent Winery 2015 White Norton rosĂŠ Silver
Morais Vineyards 2014 Verdelho Platinum
New Kent Winery 2015 Vidal Blanc Gold
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North Gate Vineyard NV Rkatsiteli Platinum
Veramar Vineyard 2015 Bogati Seyval Blanc Platinum
Creek’s Edge Winery 2014 Hunting Hill Bronze
Philip Carter Winery 2014 Shirley Chardonnay Platinum
Vincent’s Vineyard 2011 Angler’s Choice Gold
Gray Ghost Vineyards 2015 Adieu Bronze
Philip Carter Winery 2014 Sabine Hall Viognier Platinum
Vincent’s Vineyard 2015 Make Me Blush rosé blend Bronze
Morais Vineyards 2014 Moscatel Bronze
Vincent’s Vineyard 2010 Traminette Gold
Morais Vineyards 2014 MV Tawny Bronze
Vint Hill Craft Winery 2015 Covert Wineworks blend Platinum
Naked Mountain Winery 2014 Old Vine Riesling Bronze
Vint Hill Craft Winery 2014 Phillips Falk Chardonnay Gold
Stanburn Winery 2014 Meadow Breeze Bronze
Rosemont of Virginia 2015 Chambourcin rosé Bronze Rosemont of Virginia 2015 Pinot Grigio Platinum Rosemont of Virginia Virginia White Gold Stanburn Winery 2014 Chardonnay Gold Stanburn Winery 2014 Highfly Platinum Three Fox Vineyards 2015 Calabrese Pinot Grigio Bronze Three Fox Vineyards 2014 Cano Pazzo rosé Bronze Three Fox Vineyards 2015 La Boheme Viognier Gold Three Fox Vineyards 2015 La Giacosa Springlot Reserve Chardonnay Platinum
Weston Farm Vineyard & Winery 2014 Petit Manseng Silver
Weston Farm Vineyard & Winery Peach Silver
Whitebarrel Winery 2013 Chardonnay Gold
Whitebarrel Winery 2014 Bin 127 Bronze
Whitebarrel Winery 2014 Vidal Blanc Platinum
Veramar Vineyard James Charles Cincinnatus Bronze
White Hall Vineyards 2014 Chardonnay Platinum White Hall Vineyards 2015 Vigonier Platinum Willowcroft Farm Vineyard 2014 Vidal Blanc Platinum
Fruit and Dessert Wine
Twin Oaks Tavern Winery 2014 Chardonnay Gold
Barboursville Vineyards 2012 Paxxito Bronze
Twin Oaks Tavern Winery 2014 Vidal Blanc Gold
Barboursville Vineyards Phileo Bronze
Veramar Vineyard 2013 Bogati Black Label Chardonnay Platinum
Casanel Vineyards & Winery The Full Nelson Bronze
For winery contact information, including city, region and phone number, visit the Grapevine section in this issue of Virginia Wine Lover magazine.
VirginiaWineLoverMag.com
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SPECIAL THANKS
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special thank you to owners Brian and Teresa Mullins and their staff at River Stone Chophouse in northern Suffolk for their hospitality in hosting the ninth annual Virginia Wine Lover magazine Wine Classic judging. Their stunningly beautiful arts-and-crafts style restaurant was the perfect venue for the judging. We encourage you to stop by and sample the award-winning cuisine and outstanding wine list.
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River Stone Chophouse 8032 Harbour View Blvd., Suffolk 757-638-7990 VWL RiverStoneChophouse.com
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Grapevine
Exploring Virginia’s Most Intriguing Destinations And Wine-Related Events, One Region At A Time
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hen we take a moment to consider life in Virginia, we realize how incredibly fortunate we are. In less than a day’s drive, we can slurp raw oysters fresh from the coast and take a breath of fresh air as the sun sets beneath the Blue Ridge Mountains, all in the same day. There’s much to appreciate in Virginia’s regions, each one different from the next but all encompassing the things we love most about our land—the beautiful, natural scenery, the friendly folks and the incredible wine. New in our Grapevine section, we’ll explore each of Virginia’s regions, spending a little more time in a specific city or county within that region, and recommending where to dine, where to wine, where to stay, where to play and some of our favorite places to enjoy Virginia brews and spirits. Then we’ll highlight some exciting events happening in each region to consider when planning a wine weekender. Cheers, and happy travels. —The Editors
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grapevine courtesy of the Floyd Country Store photo by roger gupta
western By Patrick Evans-Hylton
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olks do things a little differently out west—and we like it that way. From Virginia’s gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains come a wealth of wonderful sights, sounds and sips. The hazy, blue mountain peaks in the distance; the soft twang of a fiddle; the award-winning vintages—what’s not to love? While you’re here, take a leisurely drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway; go slow, and see all that you can see. Explore the restaurants and shops within tiny towns that make this region quite a gem. And take some time to get to know the locals—they’re right neighborly.
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Floyd Is Just Like Mayberry—But With Added Vibrancy, Fun And Funk Floyd is Virginia’s version of Mayberry, the fictional southern town in The Andy Griffin Show. That is, Mayberry after drinking a lot of coffee. Floyd is vibrant and fun. On first glance this little place, located in the shadows of the Blue Ridge Mountains just off the Blue Ridge Parkway, seems like any other little mountain village. But look again; an underlying funkiness makes Floyd a great place to take a little trip. There are cool shops. Cool restaurants. Cool people. And a cool festival: FloydFest is a summertime, world-renowned, multi-day music and arts fete where people of all stripes come together. Also, Floyd is an integral part of The Crooked Road, Virginia’s 300-mile-long heritage music trail. The folks at Floyd’s tourism office probably say it best: Floyd is as much a state of mind as it is a destination.
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For lunch, home-style cooking seasoned with nostalgia is served at Blue Ridge Restaurant. The diner is located in the former Floyd County Bank Building, which became a restaurant in the late 1920s but retained the bank vault, which, to this day, is used as a walk-in cooler. Look for their daily specials. Monday brings hamburger steak with gravy, while pork barbecue is served on Wednesday, chicken pan pie on Thursday, and on Friday dig into a hot meatloaf sandwich served with mashed potatoes and gravy. FloydBlueRidge.com
Camping. Glamping. Bed and breakfasts. They are all here. But we like the centrally-located Hotel Floyd, an inn with 16 uniquely decorated rooms. Capturing on the creative vibe in Floyd—which stretches beyond music to include visual arts, and ranges bluegrass to progressive—each of the spaces are designed after local events, artists, places and attractions. The hotel has a green design with bamboo flooring, eco-friendly paints and sustainable fabrics. HotelFloyd.com
Situated in the Blue Ridge, outdoor adventures abound. But music is always present in Floyd. Wander into County Records, an amazing offering of old-time, traditional country, gospel, bluegrass music and more. Row after row of CDs and records—reportedly more than 4,500—are in this store, established in 1965. Live music plays at The Floyd Country Store, known for its Friday Night Jamboree. The store is a great gathering of folks enjoying music, flatfoot dancing and clogging, and treating themselves with barbecue, hot dogs, penny candy and ice cream. Then of course there is FloydFest and exploring The Crooked Road. Learn more at VisitFloydVA.com.
WESTERN LIVE AT THE RIVER: MARTINI NIGHT Aug. 4: Thursday night is martini night! Listen to soothing jazz while indulging in weekly martini specials or a pint of draft beer! 6 p.m. The River Company Brewery, Radford. GALAX RHYTHM BREWS & VINE FEST Aug. 6: Great local beer, wine, food and music! An event looked forward to every year by locals and tourists alike. 1 p.m. Grayson Street, Galax. CBBrews.com NATIONAL MEAD DAY Aug. 6: Enjoy learning about and sampling a variety of meads. $. 11 a.m. Blacksnake Meadery, Dugspur. BlacksnakeMead.com PAWS FOR PINTS Aug. 7: Join the crew at Studio Brew to support the Happy Trails Rescue Shelter. Participation and donations spread joy and wag a lot of tails indeed. 2 p.m. Studio Brew, Bristol. StudioBrew.beer
WINE
Short distances from Floyd are several great wineries. Chateau Morrisette offers premium wines and a restaurant with stunning views and remarkable flavors, sourcing fresh and local ingredients when possible. There are many wine varieties that we favor; one is the newly-released petit manseng. It recently became available this past spring, but this crisp, refreshing drink with honeysuckle and tropical fruit notes has already won us over. TheDogs.com
Don’t be afraid to get a little fruity with your ’shine. The distillers at Dry Fork Fruit Distillery produce a number of sweet spirits—some spiked with fruits like blackberries, strawberries, blueberries and plums. They even offer a mixed fruit concoction with pineapple, mango, strawberry and peach. Want to keep things simple? Their classic moonshine— “legal with a touch of renegade thrown in”—is always a favorite. DryForkDistillery.com
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Enjoy a drink down on the farm at Rising Silo, a farm brewery in nearby Blacksburg. The brewery is perched on Glade Road Growing, a small farm that produces vegetables, chickens, ducks, eggs and more. Here, you can pick up fresh veggies, dairy and meat, fill your growler or enjoy a pint on draft, then stroll along the farm to take in the unprecedented views of the New River Valley. Now that’s an experience you don’t hear about every day. Another cool thing about Rising Silo? They utilize green energy through the power of the sun through solar panels and a solar hot water system. RisingSiloBrewery.com
BLACK DOG BEACH MUSIC FESTIVAL Aug. 13: Annual festival features wine from area wineries, arts and crafts, food and live beach music from The Embers. $. Noon. Chateau Morrisette Winery, Floyd. TheDogs.com WINE & FOOD PAIRING Aug. 13: Sample seven wines paired with seven tapas-style plates of food. Reservations required. $. 2 p.m. Mt. Vale Vineyard, Galax. MtValeVineyard.com SIP N’ PAINT Aug. 13: Guided art class at the vineyard; art supplies, refreshments and a glass of wine included. Reservations required. $. 10 a.m. MountainRose Vineyard, Wise. MountainRoseVineyard.com DOG DAYS OF SUMMER FESTIVAL Aug. 14: Bring your dog to the vineyard for the day. Noon. Beliveau Estate Winery, Blacksburg. BeliveauEstate.com MOONLIGHT STOMP Aug. 27: An evening of grape stomping,
music and wine. $. 5 p.m. AmRhein’s Wine Cellars, Bent Mountain. AmRheinShop.us WOLF HILLS BREWING CO’S 7TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION Aug. 27: Celebrate Wolf Hills Brewing Co’s 7th anniversary with live performances, a special anniversary beer, food and lots of fun. $. 1 p.m. Wolf Hills Brewing Co., Abingdon. WolfHillsBrewing.com LABOR DAY AT FOGGY RIDGE CIDER Sept. 5: Foggy Ridge will extend its hours in celebration of Labor Day. Join in with yard games and cider tastings. 11 a.m. Foggy Ridge Cider, Dugspur. FoggyRidgeCider.com END OF SUMMER CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT Sept. 10: It is Creek Bottom Brews’ last cornhole tournament of the summer, so be sure not to miss out! They will be joined by Blacksnake Meadery and Foggy Ridge Cider. 1:30 p.m. Creek Bottom Brews, Galax. CBBrews.com
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GRAPEVINE FALL ORCHARD WALK AT FOGGY RIDGE CIDER Sept. 10: Enjoy a walk among the fruit laden trees in the orchard during the season change. Then step inside the tasting room to learn how orchardbased cider is made and of course sample the fruit of their labor. $. 1 p.m. Foggy Ridge Cider, Dugspur. FoggyRidgeCider.com GRAPE STOMPING Sept. 18: Wine tasting, grape stomping and live music from Sundays with Desi. $. Noon. Beliveau Estate Winery, Blacksburg. BeliveauEstate.com THE DOWNTOWN CHRISTIANSBURG INC. FOOD TRUCK RODEO Sept. 23: This year’s event will have more great regional street food vendors, live music, craft beer, wine and fun for the whole family. 5 p.m. West Main Street, Downtown Christiansburg. DowntownChristiansburg.org/Events/ FoodTruckRodeo 3RD ANNUAL FALL...DOWN IN DAMASCUS FESTIVAL Sept. 24: Come out for the 3rd Annual Fall Down Fest—a celebration of the changing of the seasons, craft beer, live music and of course the 3rd Annual Keg Toss Competition. $. 4 p.m. The Damascus Brewery, Damascus. TheDamascusBrewery.com 28TH ANNUAL SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE WINE FESTIVAL Sept. 24–25: Enjoy a day of finecatered dining and a great selection of quality wines & beverages, all in fun-filled surroundings. $. 11 a.m. Crazy Horse Marina, Moneta. VisitSmithMountainLake.com OKTOBREWFEST Oct. 1: First annual festival on Main Street in Tazewell featuring craft beer and regional wine, music and entertainment. 4 p.m. TazewellChamber.com APPLE HARVEST CELEBRATION Oct. 8: Foggy Ridge celebrates the apple with this special all-day harvest event at their cider house overlooking the orchard. Sample a variety of unique American Heritage and English cider apples. $. 1 p.m. Foggy Ridge Cider, Dugspur. FoggyRidgeCider.com OKTOBERFEST/PICKIN’ FOR PAWS Oct. 8: A day of wine tasting, live music, barrel rolling contests and food vendors, plus a silent auction to benefit Barn Cat Buddies. $. Noon. AmRhein’s Wine Cellars, Bent Mountain. AmRheinShop.us 34
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END OF OKTOBERFEST BEER FESTIVAL Oct. 31: Sperryville’s two breweries are getting together at Pen Druid’s place to host the 1st Sperryville Beer Festival. Bratwurst from the Corner Store, along with other fare, will be available! 11 a.m. Pen Druid Brewing, Sperryville. PRIME TIME WINE—FALL EDITION Nov. 5: Two Virginia guest wineries will visit to share their wines. Beliveau Estate Winery, Blacksburg. BeliveauEstate.com GLEANING TOURS Nov: 19: Enjoy cider tastings, and collect the last of the apples for the year in the orchard. $. 11 a.m. Foggy Ridge Cider, Dugspur. FoggyRidgeCider.com THANKSGIVING OPEN HOUSE Nov. 25–26. Drive out to the orchards for seasonal homemade soup, live music and artisan cider. $. 11 a.m. Foggy Ridge Cider, Dugspur. FoggyRidgeCider.com BLACK FRIDAY RECOVERY/HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE Nov. 26: Mead tasting on The Sippin’ Porch. $. 11 a.m. Blacksnake Meadery, Dugspur. BlacksnakeMead.com HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING Nov. 26: Kick off the season with wine tasting, mulled cider and cookies; a handbell choir and the Floyd County Madrigal Choir will perform before the tree is lit. 3:30 p.m. Chateau Morrisette Winery, Floyd. TheDogs.com HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE Dec. 1: Annual event featuring wine tastings, refreshments, mulled wine, gifts and vendors. Noon. Vincent’s Vineyard, Lebanon. VincentsVineyard.com ANNUAL HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING Dec. 3: Whitebarrel Winery is hosting its second annual Holiday Tree Lighting. Come for local wine, special hot cocoa treats, delicious tapas food and great company. 5 p.m. Whitebarrel Winery, Christiansburg. WhiteBarrel.com HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE Dec. 17–18: Celebrate the holiday on the last open weekend of the season with cider, holiday snacks and festive music. $. 11 a.m. Foggy Ridge Cider, Dugspur. FoggyRidgeCider.com
REFER TO OUR DOUBLE PAGE MAP ON PAGES 48 AND 49
NORTHERN SHENANDOAH EASTERN CENTRAL
WESTERN
WESTERN REGION WINERIES B-7 Abingdon Vineyard & Winery Abingdon – 276-623-1255 E-6 Beliveau Estate Winery Blacksburg – 540-961-0505 D-7 Blacksnake Meadery Dugspur – 540-834-6172 E-6 Brooks Mill Winery Wirtz – 540-721-5215 D-7 Chateau Morrisette Winery Floyd – 24091 287 Winery Rd Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 171.5 540-593-2865 thedogs.com Mon-Thurs 10am-5pm, Fri-Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 11am-5pm See our ad on pg. 7 B-7 Coltsfoot Winery Abingdon – 888-685-8750 C-7 Davis Valley Winery & Vineyard Rural Retreat – 276-686-8855 E-6 Firefly Hill Vineyards Elliston – 540-529-5814 D-7 Foggy Ridge Cider Dugspur – 276-398-2337 D-6 JBR Vineyards & Winery Radford 540-250-7291 A-6 Mountain Rose Vineyards Wise – 276-328-2013 C-7 Mt. Vale Vineyards Galax – 276-238-9946 B-6 Plum Creek Winery Tazwell – 276-988-9792 C-7 Rural Retreat Winery & Dye’s Vineyards Rural Retreat – 276-686-8300 E-7 Stanburn Winery Stuart – 276-694-7074 D-7 Villa Appalaccia Winery Floyd – 540-358-0357 B-7 Vincent’s Vineyard Lebanon – 276-889-2505 E-6 Webster C Hall Vineyards Callaway – 540-761-9545
C-7 West Wind Farm Vineyard & Winery Max Meadows – 276-699-2020 D-6 Whitebarrel Winery Christiansburg – 540-382-7619 WESTERN REGION DISTILLERIES Dry Fork Fruit Distillery Meadows of Dan – dryforkdistillery.com Davis Valley Distillery Rural Retreat – 276-686-8855 davisvalleywinery.com E. Wright & C. Wallace Distilleries (Boar Creek Whiskey) Hillsville – 276-398-2257 Boarcreekwhiskey.com MurLarkey Distilled Spirits Bristow – 571-284-7961 murlarkey.com Stone Mountain Distilling Lebanon – Virginia Sweetwater Distillery (Appalachian Mountain Spirits) Marion – 276-378-0867 virginianwhiskeys.com WESTERN REGION BREWERIES Bristol Brewery Downtown Bristol – 276-608-1220 Bull & Bones Brewhaus & Grill Blacksburg – 540-953-2855 Busted Still Brewery Gate City – 423-360-2947 Creek Bottom Brewing Co Galax – 276-236-2337 Damascus Brewery Damascus – 540-314-2782 Hopkins Ordinary Ale Works Sperryville – 540-987-3383 Old Glade Brewery Glade Spring – www.oldgladebrewery.com Pen Druid Brewing Co Sperryville – 540-987-5064 River Company Restaruant & Brewery Radford – 540-633-3940 Studio Brew Bristol – 423-360-3258 Wolf Hills Brewing Co Abingdon – 276-356-3630
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shenandoah valley By Patrick Evans-Hylton
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n between the Blue Ridge Mountains to the east and the Allegheny Mountains to the west, the Shenandoah Valley stretches along 200 miles of magnificent scenery. And though the region is sprawling among some of the prettiest mountains, overlooks, caverns, rivers and falls in Virginia, there’s also plenty of cultural venues to visit. Explore Staunton’s artful downtown area, featuring eclectic shops, galleries and phenomenal restaurants—and be sure to catch an exceptional performance at American Shakespeare Center’s Blackfriars Playhouse. Spend a day hiking Crabtree Falls, a series of alluring waterfalls flowing from Crabtree Meadows toward the Tye River. And before you leave, hit up a local farmers’ market to get your fill of fall apples and other delicious goodies to enjoy on the way home.
Harrisonburg Is Known For Its Distinguished University And Its Storied Past—And Now A Revitalized Downtown Marks New Places To Discover And Reasons To Visit Toward the northern end of the Shenandoah Valley, embraced by the Blue Ridge Mountains to the east and the Allegheny Mountains to the west, is Harrisonburg. And while many folks know the town (founded in 1779 originally as Rocktown and later named after settler Thomas Harrison) as home to James Madison University, there is a lot more going on here than reading, writing and arithmetic. A revitalized downtown makes strolling through the area, lined with boutiques and eateries, a pleasure to do. Just outside town are venues that provide outdoor adventures, wine and beer tasting and places to unwind.
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Harrisonburg is quite the hip restaurant town. A number of eateries to explore exists, from greasy spoons to fine dining and from classic southern to ethnic offerings. We like the local-centric Local Chop and Grill House in the historically renovated City Produce Exchange, with their fresh, seasonal menu. If you are a carnivore, pick any steak from Chef Jakob Napotnik’s menu; the 12-ounce New York strip is a winner. Also good options: chicken breast from renowned Polyface Farms and the cauliflower “steak” for folks eating vegan, even if just for the night. LocalChops.com
The Joshua Wilton House is a stunning Victorian structure downtown with beautiful architectural features, including an impressive turret with spire reaching skyward. A large porch with rocking chairs welcomes guests. Located in the historic Old Town district, many venues in town are within easy walking distance. Rooms are well-appointed and intimate; breakfast greets guests the next morning. Even if you are not a guest, enjoy a remarkable, localcentric, chef-driven menu during dinner at the house. JoshuaWilton.com
Get your foodie on with a tasty, terrific walk through town with Rocktown Bites, which offers an assortment of specialty culinary tours. Other edible adventures: stroll through the Harrisonburg Farmers Market (look for outstanding offerings from local Mennonite families like baked and canned/jarred goods), or visit the specialty snack producer Route 11 Potato Chips’ factory in Mount Jackson, which is up the road. Also in the region: visit Shenandoah Caverns to explore the namesake caverns and other items including antique vehicles on property. Learn more at VisitHarrisonburgVA.com.
WINE
Up and down the Shenandoah Valley there are many wineries and wine trails to explore. Put Bluestone Vineyard on your agenda; the Hartman family crafts small-batch wines from fruit grown locally and on the estate. Their merlot is a beautiful, medium-bodied wine with flavors and aromas of black cherry, plum and a bit of chocolate. The Crooked and Weedy, named for a local train line, is a fun, sweet expression of Chambourcin. BluestoneVineyard.com
Here’s a sip you can be proud of; Silverback Distillery in Afton not only produces fine quality bourbon, whiskey, gin and vodka—but they do so using practices that minimize energy usage and environmental impact, making it their mission to become industry leaders in “green” distilling and production methodologies. Their sips are outstanding, too, from their Beringei vodka crafted from pure mountain water to their Strange Monkey Gin, capturing the essence of quality botanicals (juniper berries, coriander, anise, orange peel, lemon and almond) in every sip. And recently available is their Blackback Rye Whiskey, made from hand-selected milled grains, pristine well water and perfectly charred barrels. SBDistillery.com
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It’s a family affair at Brothers Craft Brewing, founded by three siblings who aim to craft exciting, unique beers that emphasize and support the community of Harrisonburg. The brewery is housed in a renovated soda bottling plant, and they offer public tours of the grain room and 15-barrel brew house each Saturday from noon–2 p.m. If you’re big on IPAs, you’ll adore their Hoptimization, which incorporates big, bold hops, resulting in a clean, citrusy flavor—with that signature bitter bite. BrothersCraftBrewing.com
SHENANDOAH CARIBBEAN NIGHT Aug. 13: An annual event featuring wine and live music from Sam’O and JFC. 6 p.m. Cave Ridge Vineyard, Mt. Jackson. CaveRidge.com ANNIVERSARY PARTY Aug. 20: A seventh anniversary celebration with wine, refreshments and music from Greg Ward. 3 p.m. Wisteria Farm & Vineyard, Stanley. WisteriaVineyard.com
Shenandoah Downs Harness Horse Races with Wine and Trotter Festival Oct. 1–2: Virginia wineries from the Shenandoah Valley Wine Trail and exciting harness races pair beautifully in this annual event. There will be plenty of food and crafts, and now you can bet on the races! 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Shenandoah County Fairgrounds, 300 Fairground Rd., Woodstock. Call 540-459-3867 or visit www.ShenCoFair.com or www.shenandoahdowns.com
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Wisteria Farm & Vineyard, Stanley. WisteriaVineyard.com LABOR DAY CELEBRATION Sept. 3: Toast the end of summer with a relaxing day of wine, music and barbecue. 1 p.m. James Charles Winery, Winchester. JamesCharlesWine.com PICNICS IN THE VINEYARD Sept. 16–17: Enjoy a glass of wine paired with a gourmet lunch on the patio at the vineyard. Reservations required. $. Noon. Veramar Vineyard, Berryville. Veramar.com
BLANC ON BLANC DINNER PARTY Aug. 27: Take part in an elegant evening with wine, music and dinner; everyone wears white. $. 7 p.m. James Charles Winery, Winchester. JamesCharlesWine.com
ANNUAL HARVEST FESTIVAL Oct. 1: A 24th annual festival with wine tasting, hayrides, grape stomping and live music. $. Noon. Rockbridge Vineyard, Raphine. RockbridgeVineyard.com
PAINT NIGHT Sept. 2: Painting and wine tasting with snacks and desserts. Reservations required. $. 6 p.m. Blue Ridge Vineyard, Eagle Rock. BlueRidgeVineyard.com
WINE, MOON, & STARS Oct. 7: Take in the stars while enjoying wine, live music and food at the vineyards. $. 5:30 p.m. Virginia Mountain Vineyards, Fincastle. VMVines.com
PICK ‘EM & STOMP ‘EM Sept. 3: A day of grape picking and stomping, lunch and wine tasting.
ROCK THE GRAPES FESTIVAL Oct. 8: Celebrate autumn with wine tasting, live music and entertainment,
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NORTHERN SHENANDOAH EASTERN CENTRAL
SHENANDOAH UNCORKED WINE FESTIVAL Nov. 12. Explore Virginia wine, food and crafts at the seventh annual Shenandoah Uncorked Festival on November 12th at the Yellow Barn at Shenandoah Caverns. With over 10 Virginia wineries, great food, unique crafts and a variety of kid’s activities, there’s something for everyone at Shenandoah Uncorked. The festival begins at 10 a.m. and wine stops pouring at 4:30 p.m. Admission is free. Wine tasting is only $15 and includes a souvenir glass. Also explore Shenandoah Caverns right next door--you’ll get a special discount with your festival wristband!
grape stomping and local food vendors. Noon. Veramar Vineyard, Berryville. Veramar.com SALSA UNDER THE STARS Oct. 8: Enjoy a night of wine and dancing. Reservations required. $. 6:30 p.m. Valhalla Vineyards, Roanoke. ValhallaWines.com SHENANDOAH UNCORKED WINE FESTIVAL Nov. 12: A family-friendly wine festival now in its seventh year; tastings from more than 10 area wineries, food, crafts, entertainment for the kids. $. 10 a.m. The Yellow Barn at Shenandoah Caverns, Quicksburg. ShenandoahCaverns.com HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE Dec. 3–4: Enjoy wine tastings with savory and sweet nibbles as you shop for gifts. 10 a.m. Rockbridge Vineyard, Raphine. RockbridgeVineyard.com HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE Dec. 3–4: Shop for gifts, and toast the season with mulled wine. 10 a.m. Shenandoah Vineyards, Edinburg. ShenandoahVineyardsVa.com HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE Dec. 11: Enjoy wine tasting, hors d’oeuvres, grapevine wreath making and Christmas music. 1 p.m. Virginia Mountain Vineyards, Fincastle. VMVines.com CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE Dec. 17–22: Celebrate the holiday season with light refreshments and wine by the fire. Wisteria Farm & Vineyard, Stanley. WisteriaVineyard.com NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY Dec. 31: Toast the New Year at the vineyard. $. Bluestone Vineyard, Bridgewater. BluestoneVineyard.com
WESTERN
SHENANDOAH REGION WINERIES I-2 612 Vineyard Berryville – 540-535-6689 E-6 AmRhein Wine Cellars Bent Mountain – 24059 9243 Patterson Drive 540-929-4632 amrheins.com Thurs-Mon 11am-5pm See our ad on pg. 18 G-4 Barren Ridge Vineyards Fishersville – 540-248-3300 E-5 Blue Ridge Vineyard Eagle Rock – 540-798-7642 G-3 Bluestone Vineyard Bridgewater – 540-828-0099 G-3 Cave Ridge Vineyard Mt. Jackson – 540-477-2585 H-2 Cedar Creek Winery Star Tannery – 540-436-8394 G-3 Cross Keys Vineyards Mt. Crawford – 540-234-0505
H-2 James Charles Winery Winchester 540-931-4386 F-4 Jump Mountain Vineyard Rockbridge Baths – 540-348-6730 F-5 Lexington Valley Vineyards Rockbridge Baths – 540-462-2974 H-3 Luray Caverns Vineyard Luray – 540-743-6551
E-5 Virginia Mountain Vineyards Fincastle, 24060 540-473-2979 H-2 Wicked Oak Farms & Vineyard Star Tannery – 571-201-2963 G-3 The Winery at Kindred Point Mount Jackson – 540-477-3570
H-2 Miller Winery Front Royal – 540-692-1411
H-3 Wisteria Farm & Vineyard Stanley – 540-742-1489
H-1 Misty Mountain Meadworks Winchester – 540-888-4420
G-2 Wolf Gap Vineyard & Winery Edinburgh – 540-984-3306
H-2 Mountain View Vineyard Stratsburg – 540-635-5369 H-2 Muse Vineyards Woodstock – 540-459-7033 H-2 North Mountain Mauertown – 540-436-9463 G-3 Old Hill Cider Timberville – 540-896-7582 G-4 Ox Eye Vineyards Staunton – 540-849-7926
E-5 Fincastle Vineyard & Winery Fincastle – 540-591-9000
F-4 Rockbridge Vineyard Raphine – 540-377-6204
H-2 Fox Meadow Winery Linden – 540-636-6777
G-3 Shenandoah Vineyard Edinburgh – 540-984-8699
H-2 Glen Manor Vineyard Front Royal – 540-635-6324
I-2 Twin Oaks Tavern Winery Bluemont – 540-554-4547
H-3 Guilford Ridge Vineyard Luray – 540-778-3853
H-2 Valerie Hill Vineyard & Winery Stephens City – 540-869-9567
G-4 Hunt’s Vineyard Stuarts Draft – 540-942-8689
I-2 Veramar Winery Berryville – 540-955-5510
E-6 Valhalla Vineyards Roanoke – 540-725-9463
SHENANDOAH REGION DISTILLERIES River Hill Wine & Spirits Luray – 540-843-0401 riverhillstables.com SHENANDOAH REGION BREWERIES
Flying Mouse Brewing Co Troutville – 540-992-1288 Pale Fire Brewing Co Harrisonburg – 540-217-5452 Parkway Brewing Co Salem – 540-314-8234 Queen City Brewing Staunton – 540-213-8014 Redbeard Brewing Co Staunton – 804-641-9340 Right Turn, Clyde Brewing Co Narrows – 540-921-7283 Rising Silo Brewery Blacksburg – 410-596-1200 Seven Arrows Brewing Co Waynesboro – 540-221-6968 Shenandoah Valley Brewing Co Staunton – 540-887-2337 Soaring Ridge Craft Brewers Roanoke – 540-529-2140
Backroom Brewery Middletown – 540-869-8482
Sunken City Brewing Co Hardy – 540-420-0476
Big Lick Brewing Co Roanoke – 540-562-8383
Swover Creek Farm Brewery Edinburg – 540-984-8973
Blue Lab Brewing Co Lexington – 540-458-0146 Brothers Craft Brewing Harrisonburg – 540-421-6599 Coors Brewing Co Elkton – 540-289-8000 Devils Backbone Brewing Co (The Outpost) Lexington – 540-462-6200
Three Notch’d Brewing Co Harrisonburg – 434-293-0610 White Rock Vineyards & Winery Goodview – 540-890-3359 Wolfe Street Brewing Co Harrisonburg – 540-217-0366
Escutcheon Brewing Co Winchester – 540-773-3042
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By Patrick Evans-Hylton
rying to find that perfect balance between big city life and quaint, country charm isn’t easy—well, unless you’re in Northern Virginia. Conveniently close to Washington, D.C., yet with a personality all its own, Northern Virginia offers a delightful mix of history, culture and charm. Spend a day exploring some of the treasured museums, with focuses on air and space, performing and fine arts or military service. Discover the enchantment of Old Town Alexandria, dotted with exceptional restaurants, superb shopping and fascinating architecture, all near the Potomac River waterfront. Horse around a little in the region’s well-known “horse country,” popularized by steeplechase races, ranches and polo matches. And while you’re in the area, you might as well sample the local sips. Wineries, distilleries and breweries—including the recently named “Best Small Brewery in America”—all abound here.
Find Colonial Charm, Civil War History, Art, Specialty Shopping And Plenty Of Places To Eat And Imbibe In The Historic City Of Fredericksburg When folks think of Virginia colonial charm, thoughts of Williamsburg and Alexandria come to mind but not always Fredericksburg. That needs to change; this city, located about halfway between Richmond and Washington, has been hustling and bustling since the 18th century. But it’s not just fans of the colonial era who will feel at home here; Civil War buffs find plenty to see and do, as well as folks who are into good eats and drinks in this day and age. In town there are walking and trolley tours in the historic district and places to venture in the rolling, bucolic countryside. And across the region there are wineries, breweries, distilleries, chef-driven restaurants, art galleries, specialty shops and year-round events to enjoy.
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Fredericksburg offers an assortment of restaurants, from quick serve to casual to fine dining. There is also a restaurant week each summer to give folks a chance to explore a number of venues with nicely-priced, prix-fixe menus. Extraordinary food and wine abound at Kybecca, offering contemporary American cuisine with a global twist. Their New South Paella is creative and delicious enough to make your taste buds rise again: sherry-mushroom Carolina gold rice with saffron, sautéed summer squash, sautéed okra, roasted red pepper, tomatoes and parmesan. Kybecca.com
There are plenty of places to stay in and around Fredericksburg, from bed and breakfasts to campgrounds/campsites to hotels and motels. If it is you and your sweetie, consider the 1890 Caroline House, a charming bed and breakfast just a block from Amtrak and rail and located in the heart of the historic district near many in-town destinations. Featured in Romantic Homes Magazine, the house is in all its Victorian grandeur throughout. The Richard Johnston Inn is a sister property. TheCarolineHouse.com
There are battlefields and boutiques, eateries and galleries, and outdoor events from festivals to sports. We recommend: visiting a Civil War site like the Fredericksburg Battlefield, shopping the quaint boutiques in Old Town, taking George Washington’s Fredericksburg Tour, paddling Lake Anna with Lake Anna Outfitters, getting artsy at The University of Mary Washington Galleries and enjoying the annual Fredericksburg Area Wine Festival, held Oct. 8–9. Learn more at VisitFred.com
WINE
We adore Lake Anna Winery for its personable atmosphere—the winery itself is housed in an elegantly renovated barn that was originally built for dairy cows. We also love them for their diverse wines, especially their newly-released Totally White, a beautiful, smooth, drinkable blend of seyval, viognier and rkatsitelli grapes; it’s balanced and refreshing. LAWinery.net One of the best ways to visit area wineries is the Trolley Tours of Fredericksburg, which offer a leisurely ride across the countryside to some of the area’s top wineries. FredericksburgTrolley.com
SPIRITS
BREW
Take a sip of a premium spirit at A. Smith Bowman Distillery, and you’ll quickly understand what makes this distillery stand out. In each and every batch, they use the finest ingredients and time-honored traditions—combined with innovation and creativity to keep today’s palate’s excited. P.S. There’s no rule that says you have to stick to one type of beverage. Hop on the Grapes and Grains Trail, presented by Stafford County Virginia Tourism, to make your way to five wineries, four breweries and a distillery. Buy a ticket (just $15) for VIP tours at all trail stops, a commemorative tasting glass and discounts in gift shops and trail stops. Tickets are valid for a full year, so you can visit them as you choose. TourStaffordVa Life presents us with many roads to travel on, and it’s not always easy determining the right road to choose. Take, for instance, the North or South locations for Adventure Brewing. Which one should you visit? It’s a tough decision to make, but rest assured that either path will put you in the right place for quality brews in fun-loving atmospheres. Adventure Brewing North is their original Stafford location, home to their pilot brewing system and their tasting room with nine beers on tap. Their new location is Adventure Brewing South, formerly known as Blue & Bray Brewing. So whether you go North or South—or give both a try—you’ll have made the right choice. AdventureBrewing.com
2016/2017 | Virginia Wine Lover
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LABOR DAY CELEBRATION Sept. 3–4: Toast the end of summer with a wine flight and live music. $. Gadino Cellars, Washington. GadinoCellars.com
DOG DAYS OF AUGUST Aug. 6: Bring your dog to the vineyards; prizes for the best dressed, owner/ dog look-alike and best vino dog. Three Fox Vineyards, Delaplane. ThreeFoxVineyards.com
LABOR DAY WEEKEND Sept. 3–5: Enjoy the long weekend relaxing with wine and live music. Narmada Winery, Amissville. NarmadaWinery.com
BLESSING OF THE GRAPES Aug. 6: A traditional interfaith blessing for the coming harvest with bagpipes followed by a seated tasting in Cleve Hall and a simple communal meal. $. Philip Carter Winery of Virginia, Hume. PCWinery.com CARIBBEAN BEACH PARTY Aug. 6: Festival featuring wines from Cooper, Grayhaven, James River Cellars, Lake Anna, Weston Farm and Mattaponi wineries; live Caribbean music, craft and food vendors. $. 5 p.m. Lake Anna Winery, Spotsylvania Courthouse. LAWinery.net
Fredericksburg Confederate Cemetery
HERNDON LABOR DAY FESTIVAL Sept. 5: Street festival featuring unlimited samples from Virginia wineries, local craft brews, a craft show, culinary demonstrations, food vendors and live music. $. 11 a.m. Herndon Town Green, Herndon. Herndon-Va.gov DINNER AND WHISKEY TASTING Sept. 9: Learn about George Washington’s distillery; whiskey tasting with Mount Vernon’s resident distiller and dinner to follow. $. George Washington’s Mount Vernon. MountVernon.org HARVEST PARTY & GRAPE STOMP Sept. 17: Fifth annual event featuring grape stomping, live music, wine and vendors. $. Miracle Valley Vineyard, Delaplane. MiracleValleyVineyard.com WINE BY THE LAKE Sept. 17: A day of wine tasting on the shores of Lake Anna. Virginia wineries, local food and vendors and live music will be featured. $. 11 a.m. Lake Anna State Park, Spotsylvania Courthouse. DCR.Virginia.gov/state-parks/lakeanna#general_information
ANNIVERSARY PARTY Aug. 13: Celebrate the winery’s ninth anniversary with wine and live music from Wait ‘N See. 11 a.m. Miracle Valley Vineyard, Delaplane. MiracleValleyVineyard.com
VIRGINIA WINE FESTIVAL Sept. 17–18: Unlimited wine tasting from over 40 regional wineries, gourmet food vendors and live music. $. Bull Run Regional Park, Centreville. VirginiaWineFest.com
WORKHOUSE BREWFEST Aug. 13: Inaugural event featuring local and regional craft brewers, live music and entertainment and food trucks. Artist galleries will be open. $. 10 a.m. Workhouse Arts Center, Lorton. WorkhouseArts.org/workhouse-brewfest
YOGA AT THE VINEYARD Sept. 18: A relaxing yoga workshop in the meadow; enjoy a picnic lunch and wine specials afterward. $. Three Fox Vineyards, Delaplane. ThreeFoxVineyards.com
BBQ & BLUEGRASS Aug. 13: An annual event featuring wine tastings, barbecue, craft vendors and live bluegrass music. 11 a.m. Breaux Vineyards, Purcellville. BreauxVineyards.com BLACK GLASS WINE TASTING Aug. 13–14: Learn what it takes to pull off a blind tasting. $. 11 a.m. Fox Meadow Winery, Linden. FoxMeadowWinery.com
FALL WINE FESTIVAL & SUNSET TOUR AT MOUNT VERNON Oct. 7–9: A weekend festival featuring live blues music, tours and wines from 16 area wineries. $. George Washington’s Mount Vernon. Mountvernon.org VINES TO WINES TOUR Oct. 8: This guided tour moves from the vineyards to the wine cellar and ends with barrel tastings of vintages in progress. $. 11 a.m. Doukénie Winery, Purcellville. DoukenieWinery.com HARVEST FESTIVAL Oct. 22: Celebrate the harvest with barrel tasting, live music and barbecue. $. 10 a.m. Doukénie Winery, Purcellville. DoukenieWinery.com HALLOWEEN MADNESS Oct. 29: An evening of live music, food, wine and costume contests to benefit the Louisa Humane Society. $. 6 p.m. Lake Anna Winery, Spotsylvania Courthouse. LAWinery.net WINE & OYSTER ROAST Nov. 5: Ninth annual event featuring Chesapeake Bay oysters from Blue Ridge Seafood, live music and wines from Virginia wineries. $. Philip Carter Winery of Virginia, Hume. PCWinery.com WINE LIBRARY TASTING Nov. 6: Enjoy tasting past vintages in the wine library with owners and winemakers, Al and Cheryl Kellert. $. Gray Ghost Vineyards, Amissville. GrayGhostVineyards.com CHRISTMAS CORK & CHEESE CELEBRATION Dec. 3–4: A festive holiday weekend of live music, wine, artisan cheeses and the world’s largest cork Christmas display containing decorations crafted out of over 100,000 corks. 11 a.m. Gray Ghost Vineyards, Amissville. GrayGhostVineyards.com
MURDER MYSTERY EVENT Sept. 24: Solve a murder mystery at the winery; light appetizers and wine available. $. 7 p.m. Narmada Winery, Amissville. NarmadaWinery.com HARVEST FESTIVAL Sept. 24: Tenth annual festival featuring grape stomping, guest wineries, live music, food vendors and entertainment for all ages. $. Potomac Point Winery, Stafford. PotomacPointWinery.com
Fredericksburg Civil War Headquarters
www.VirginiaWineLoverMag.com
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GRAPEVINE I-2
NORTHERN SHENANDOAH EASTERN CENTRAL
WESTERN
NORTHERN REGION WINERIES I-2
50 West Vineyards Middleburg 540-882 4560
I-1
868 Estate Vineyards Purcellville – 540-668-7008
I-2
8 Chains North Winery Waterford – 571-439-2255
H-2 Chester Gap Cellars Front Royal – 540-636-8086 I-2
Chrysalis Vineyards Middleburg – 540-687-8222
I-2
Quattro Gombas Winery Aldie – 703-327-6052
H-2 Linden Vineyards Linden 540-364-1997
H-3 Quievremont Wine Washington – 540-987-3192
H-3 Little Washington Winery Washington – 540-987-8330
H-2 Rappahannock Cellars Huntly – 540-635-9398
I-2
I-2
RdV Vineyards Delaplane – 540-364-0221
I-3
Rogers Ford Farm Winery Sumerduck – 540-439-3707
I-3
Loudoun Valley Vineyards Waterford – 540-882-3375 Maggie Malick Wine Caves Purcellville – 540-668-6042
I-4
Sassafras Shade Vineyard Ruther Glen – 804-596-0179
H-2 Cobbler Mountain Cellars Delaplane – 540-364-2802
I-1
I-1
Corcoran Vineyards Waterford – 540-882-9073
H-2 Arterra Wines Delaplane – 540-422-3443
H-3 Maidstone Meadery Stevensburg – 703-303-2090
I-1
Creek’s Edge Winery Lovettsville – 540-822-3825
I-3
I-2
H-2 Aspen Dale Winery Delaplane – 540-364-6178
I-2
Crushed Cellars Purcellville – 571-374-WINE (9463)
Marterella Wineries Warrenton – 540-347-1119
I-4
I-2
Delaplane Cellars Delaplane – 540-592-7210
Stone Tower Winery Leesburg – 703-777-2797
I-2
I-2
Mattaponi Winery Spotsylvania – 540-582-2897
I-3
Mediterranean Cellars Warrenton – 540-428-1984
I-2
Sunset Hills Vineyard Purcellville – 540-882-4560
I-2
Miracle Valley Vineyards Delaplane – 540-364-0228
I-1
I-2
I-2
Above Ground Winery Purcellville – 540-579-4467
The Barns at Hamilton Station Vineyards Hamilton – 540-338-5309 Barrel Oak Winery Delaplane – 540-364-6402
H-3 Berry Hill Vineyard Flint Hill – 540-675-2205 I-2
Blue Valley Vineyard & Winery Delaplane – 540-364-2347
I-2
Bluemont Vineyard Bluemont – 540-554-8439
I-2
Bogati Bodega & Vineyard Round Hill – 540-338-1144
I-2
Boxwood Estate Winery Middleburg – 540-687-8778
I-1
Breaux Vineyards Hillsboro – 540-668-6299
I-2
Cana Vineyards & Winery of Middleburg Middleburg – 703-348-2458
H-2 Capitol Vineyards Delplane – 540-364-6249 I-2
I-2 I-2
Cardamon Family Vineyards Purcellville – 540-668-9018
I-1
H-2 Desert Rose Ranch & Winery Hume – 540-635-3200 Doukenie Winery Purcellville – 540-668-6464
I-3
I-2
Dry Mill Vineyards Winery Leesburg – 703-737-3930
Molon Lave Vineyards Warrenton – 540-439-5460
I-3
Morais Vineyards Bealeton – 703-369-2241
I-4
Eden Try Estate Winery 6818 River Road – 540-786-0037
H-2 Naked Mountain Vineyard Markham – 540-364-1609
I-2
Fabbioli Cellars Leesburg – 703-771-1197
H-3 Gadino Cellars Washington – 540-987-9292 I-2
I-3
Granite Heights Orchard & Winery Warrenton – 540-349-5185 Gray Ghost Vineyards Amissville – 540-937-4869
H-3 Greenhill Winery & Vineyards Middleburg 540-687-6968 I-3
Grey Horse Vineyards Midland – 540-788-4620 Hartwood Winery Fredericksburg – 540-752-4893
Carroll Vineyards Leesburg – 703-777-3322
I-1
Hidden Brook Winery Leesburg – 703-737-3935
Casanel Vineyards Leesburg – 540-751-1776
I-1
Hiddencroft Vineyards Lovettsville – 540-535-5367
I-1
Hillsborough Vineyards Purcellville – 540-668-6216
I-2
Hunter’s Run Winery Hamilton – 703-926-4183
Catoctin Creek Winery Purcellville – 540-668-7707
SECOND EDITION
Magnolia Vineyards & Winery Amissville – 703-785-8180
I-2
I-3
H-3 Castle Gruen Vineyards & Winery Locust Dale – 540-229-2498
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H-2 Chateau O’Brien at Northpoint Markham – 540-364-6441
Leaves of Grass Vineyards Middleburg – 540-364-1997
I-4
Lake Anna Winery Spotsylvania – 540-895-5085
H-3 Sharp Rock Vineyards Sperryville – 540-987-8020 Stone House Meadery Purcellville – 540-338-5283
Tarara Winery Leesburg – 703-771-7100
H-2 Three Fox Vineyards Delaplane – 540-364-6073 I-2
Two Twisted Posts Winery Purcellville – 540-668-6540
I-3
Unicorn Winery Amissville – 540-349-5885
H-3 Narmada Winery Amissville – 540-937-8215
I-2
Village Winery Waterford – 540-882-3780
I-2
North Gate Vineyard Purcelleville – 540-668-6248
I-3
Vint Hill Craft Winery Vint Hill – 703-991-0191
I-1
Notaviva Vineyards Purcellville – 540-668-6756
I-2
I-1
Nova Ridge Vineyards Waterford – 571-437-5686
The Vineyards & Winery at Lost Creek Leesburg 703-443-9836
I-3
Wilderness Run Vineyards Spotsylvania – 540-841-2598
I-2
Willowcroft Farm Vineyards Leesburg – 703-777-8161
I-3
Old House Vineyards Culpeper – 540-423-1032
I-2
Otium Cellars Purcellville – 540-338-2027
I-3
Paradise Springs Winery Clifton – 703-830-9463
I-2
Pearmund Cellars Broad Run – 20137 6190 Georgetown Rd 540-347-3475 pearmundcellars.com Daily 10am-6pm. All other times by appointment.
H-2 Winding Road Cellars Fauquier – 540-364-1025 I-2
I-2
The Winery at Bull Run Centreville – 703-815-2233
I-2
The Winery at La Grange Haymarket – 703-753-9360
H-2 Philip Carter Winery Hume – 540-964-1203 J-3 Potomac Point Vineyard & Winery Stafford – 540-446-2266
Winery 32 Leesburg – 301-943-9995
I-2
Zephaniah Farm Vineyard Leesburg – 703-431-2016
NORTHERN REGION DISTILLERIES Catoctin Creek Distillery Purcellville – 540-751-8404 catoctincreekdistilling.com Copper Fox Distillery Sperryville – 540-987-8554 copperfox.biz George Washington Distillery Mount Vernon – 703-780-2000 mountvernon.org ironcladdistillery.com Ko Distilling Manassas – 571-292-1115 kodistilling.com NORTHERN REGION BREWERIES
Growling Bear Brewing Co Woodbridge – 571-535-1965 Heritage Brewing Co Manassas – 571-358-8463 Hops Grill & Brewery Alexandria – 703-837-9107 Little BadWolf Brewing Co Manassas – 571-358-9774 Lost Rhino Brewing Co Ashburn – 20147 571-291-2083 Loudoun Brewing Co Leesburg – 703-350-8553 MacDowell Brew Kitchen Leesburg – 703-777-2739
1781 Brewing Co (Wilderness Run Vineyards) Spotsylvania – 540-841-2598
Mad Fox Brewing Co Falls Church – 703-942-6840
Adroit Theory Brewing Co Purcellville – 703-722-3139 Adventure Brewing Co Fredericksburg – 540-242-8876
Mad Horse Brewpub Lovettsville – 570-436-0669
Aslin Beer Co Herndon – 703-999-2192
New District Brewing Co Arlington – 703-888-5820
BadWolf Brewing Co Manassas – 703-479-2305 Battlefield Brewing Co at The Pub Fredericksburg – 540-785-2164
Ocelot Brewing Co Sterling – 703-474-3050 Old 690 Brewing Co Purcellville – 703-622-1122 Old Bust Head Brewing Co Warrenton – 540-347-4777
Beer Hound Brewery Culpeper – 540-317-5327 Belly Love Brewing Co Purcellville – 540-441-3159
Maltese Brewing Co Fredericksburg – www.maltesebrewing.com
Old Ox Brewery Ashburn – 703-729-8375
Beltway Brewing Co Sterling – 571-989-2739
Ornery Beer Co & Public House Woodbridge – 703-490-6400
Blue & Gray Brewing Co Fredericksburg – 540-538-2379
Port City Brewing Co Alexandria – 703-797-2739
Caboose Brewing Co Vienna – 703-865-8580
Quattro Goomba Brewery Aldie – 703-327-6052 Rock Bottom Restaurant Brewery (CraftWorks) Arlington – 703-516-7688
Capitol City Brewing Co Arlington – 703-578-3888 Corcoran Brewing Co Purcellville – 540-441-3102 Crooked Run Brewing Co Leesburg – 703-609-9241 Dirt Farm Brewing Co Bluemont – 540-554-2337 Fair Winds Brewing Co Lorton – 703-372-2001 Far Gohn Brewing Co Culpeper – 540-555-1234 Forge Brew Works Lorton – 703-372-2979 Gordon Biersch Restaurant Brewery (CraftWorks) McLean – 703-388-5454
Spencer Devon Brewing Co Fredericksburg – 540-999-6253 Sweetwater Tavern Centreville – 703-449-1100 Sweetwater Tavern Falls Church – 703-645-8100 Sweetwater Tavern Sterling – 571-434-6500 Tin Cannon Brewing Co Gainesville – 571-210-5671 Vanish Brewing Co Leesburg – 301-471-6015 Wild Run Brewing Co Stafford – 540-659-3447
2016/2017 | Virginia Wine Lover
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V
By Patrick Evans-Hylton
irginia’s Piedmont is rich in history, diverse culture and plenty of places to imbibe—while enjoying impeccable views. Fall is an especially popular time to visit, as the leaves nearly seem to be showing off their incredible, vibrant hues. When winter comes, so do the skiers, snowboarders and tubers seeking magnificent thrills upon the hills. Spend some time in the great outdoors by hiking one of the many scenic trails along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Load up your two wheels to bike along the Tobacco Heritage Trail, running along Southside Virginia, or the James River Heritage Trail in Lynchburg. Take in Richmond’s one-of-a-kind culture. Soak up Virginia’s history—and soak up the local sips, too—in Charlottesville. Whether you immerse yourself fully in the unmatched beauty of Central and Southern Virginia’s nature or you admire the fabulous views from afar as you drink in some culture, you’ll soon discover why this region is beloved by many.
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Around Smith Mountain Lake, folks can find many family-owned and family-centric restaurants, with even the finer dining having an approachable, casual slant. We like The Landing Restaurant, which offers great lake views. Lake County cuisine is personified with the Duck Duet; the dish includes five-spice crispy duck breast with duck confit kimchi rice and a poached farm egg atop and served with fresh greens. TheLandingSML.com
An assortment of lodging opportunities are available around Smith Mountain Lake, including camping/ campgrounds, cabin rentals, bed and breakfasts, hotels and lodges. Gills Creek Marina & Lodge in Wirtz provides boaters with needed docking, and for folks staying overnight, four rooms provide rustic charm and modern amenities, as well as large covered decks with expansive views of Gills Creek opening up to the Blackwater River on Smith Mountain Lake. GillsCreekMarina.com
Across the region there are wineries and breweries, year-round festivals and shopping. But it’s sports and recreation (followed by rest and relaxation) that is first and foremost for visits to Smith Mountain Lake. In addition to boating, camping and hiking, consider casting a reel with PointRunner’s Striper Guide Service, putting around at Harbortown Miniature Golf at Bridgewater Plaza, learning about regional history at the Virginia Museum of Natural History in Martinsville or about American history at the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford. Also of note: the 28th Annual Smith Mountain Lake Wine Festival takes place this year Sept. 24–25 and features 29 wineries, 85 craft vendors, live music and more. The event is presented by the Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce. Learn more at VisitSmithMountainLake.com
explore the outdoors—or kick back and relax at Smith Mountain Lake Smith Mountain Lake is breathtakingly beautiful: a crystal blue lake surrounded by woods leading up to the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains. There are some 50 miles of shoreline with scores of recreational opportunities, from water sports like boating and fishing—especially for striped bass—to camping and golf. The lake was created in 1963. In addition to the community of Smith Mountain Lake, other nearby towns include Huddleston, Moneta, Union Hall and Wirtz. Adjacent is Smith Mountain Lake State Park. Most of the shoreline falls in Franklin County, with the region also comprising of Pittsylvania and Bedford counties. These venues offer visitors plenty to see or do—or the chance to kick back and do little of nothing at all.
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BREW
There are a number of wineries in and around the Smith Mountain Lake area. We love Hickory Hill Vineyards, producing 100 percent local vintages for more than three decades. They offer a consistently award-winning vintage, estate-grown chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon. Try the Smith Mountain Lake Country Red, an easy-drinking, unoaked, dry, red wine blend of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc and merlot. SMLWine.com
If you want something a tad stronger, you’ll enjoy a sip of Franklin County’s Finest, produced by Twin Creeks Distillery, located in what’s long been known as “the moonshine capitol of the world.” Get a taste of their Sweet Mash Rye or their First Sugar Rye, or go sweeter with their dandy Peach Brandy. FCFMoonshine.com
Have a drink and an experience to remember at Sunken City Brewing Company, giving a nod to the once-incorporated town of Monroe, which was flooded in the mid-1960s when Smith Mountain Lake was filled. Try the Dam Lager, an American-style amber lager with a subtle herbal hop aroma and a slightly sweet and clean finish. And when it gets a wee bit cooler, indulge in the Tartan Tent Scottish Ale, boasting a sweet and smooth caramel character and robustness to keep you warm on any long winter night. SunkenCityBeer.com
www.VirginiaWineLoverMag.com
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GRAPEVINE CENTRAL/SOUTHERN CLOVER HILL VILLAGE WINE FESTIVAL Aug 20: Features tastings from 10 wineries, craft and food vendors and live music. $. 2 p.m. Clover Hill Village, Appomattox. AppomattoxHistoricalSociety.org WINE & WATER ADVENTURE Aug. 24: Float or kayak down the Smith River; return to the vineyards for wine by the glass and pizza. $. Hamlet Vineyards, Bassett. HamletVineyards.com WONDER CITY WINE & CIGAR FESTIVAL Sept. 3: Wineries and cigar companies, food trucks, vendors and live music. $. Noon. Festival Park, Hopewell. LightBulbNPO. org/#!wine-and-cigar-festival/g3n3k SHRIMP & WINE FEST Sept. 10: Live music, shrimp, wine and Staunton River Brewing Co. beer. $. Noon. Sans Soucy Vineyards, Brookneal. SansSoucyVineyards.com LAKE ANNA GRAPES & GRAINS FESTIVAL Sept. 10: Virginia craft breweries and wineries, live music and food vendors. $. Noon. Christopher Run Campground Event Park, Lake Anna. LakeAnnaGrapesAndGrainsFestival.com YAPPY HOUR Sept. 11: Meet dogs from the James River Greyhounds shelter; proceeds from wine purchases to benefit the shelter. $. Noon. Keswick Vineyards, Keswick. KeswickVineyards.com TINS FOR TUNES Sept. 17: Music, picnic fare and wine. Reduced admission with canned food donation. $. 5 p.m. Cardinal Point Winery, Afton. CardinalPointWinery.com OYSTER FESTIVAL Sept. 24: Enjoy wine-paired oysters
and crab cakes from Rappahannock River Oyster Company and live music. $. Noon. DuCard Vineyards, Etlan. DuCardVineyards.com SHINE & WINE FESTIVAL Sept. 24: Wineries, distilleries, food, crafts and live entertainment. Mecklenburg Electric Pavilion, Chase City. $. ChaseCityEvents.org/shine--wine-festival VIRGINIA WINE & GARLIC FESTIVAL Oct. 8–9: An annual festival highlighting garlic and featuring wine from local wineries. $. Rebec Vineyards, Amherst. RebecWinery.com 8TH ANNUAL END OF HARVEST CELEBRATION Oct. 15: A grape stomp competition. Live music by The Taters. 11 a.m.– 6 p.m. Rosemont of Virginia, LaCrosse. RosemontOfVirginia.com FALL HARVEST & LEAF PEEP FESTIVAL Oct. 22: A party to celebrate the season; features live music, vineyard tours, local food and wine. 12 p.m. DuCard Vineyards, Etlan. DuCardVineyards.com AN EVENING WITH GHOSTS Oct. 29: An evening of haunting Civil War tales. $. 5:30 p.m. Grayhaven Winery, Gum Spring. GrayHavenWinery.com OYSTER ROAST Nov. 12–13: Featuring Rappahannock River Oyster Co. oysters, crab cakes and wine. $. Noon. Cardinal Point Winery, Afton. CardinalPointWinery.com BOUNTY OF THE HARVEST Nov. 18–24: Enjoy wine tasting, cider, apples and preserves. Peaks of Otter Winery, Bedford. PeaksOfOtterWinery.com THOMAS JEFFERSON WINE FESTIVAL Nov. 19: Celebrate Virginia wine with tastings from area vineyards. $. 11 a.m. Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest, Forest. PoplarForest.org THANKSGIVING OPEN HOUSE Nov. 25–26: Enjoy hot soup, chili and wine; special discounts on wine purchases. $. Horton Vineyards, Gordonsville. HortonWine.com
SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE WINE FESTIVAL Sept. 24–25. 29 Virginia wineries are on hand with 85-plus craft and food vendors. Live bands Saturday and Sunday. New location by the lake at Crazy Horse Marina. 400 Crazy Horse Drive, Moneta, VA 24121. Starts at 11 a.m. both days. www.visitsmithmountainlake.com 540-721-1203. 42
SECOND EDITION
MASKED BALL Dec. 31: Five-course, wine-paired dinner, dancing and champagne. $. 7 p.m. Veritas Vineyard & Winery, Afton. VeritasWines.com NEW YEAR’S EVE CELEBRATION Dec. 31: Enjoy a five-course, wine-paired holiday feast. Reservations required. $. 7:30 p.m. Barboursville Vineyards, Barboursville. BBVWine.com
NORTHERN SHENANDOAH EASTERN CENTRAL/SOUTHERN
WESTERN
CENTRAL / SOUTHERN REGION WINERIES H-4 Adventure Farm Earlysville – 434-971-8796 G-4 Afton Mountain Vineyards Afton – 540-456-8667 G-4 Albemarle CiderWorks North Garden – 434-297-2326 H-7 American Way Country Wines Chase City 434-262-1250 F-5 Ankida Ridge Vineyards Amhearst – 434-922-7678 G-7 Annefield Vineyards Saxe – 434-454-6017 I-6
Ashton Creek Vineyard Chester – 804-896-1586
F-6 Altillo Vineyards Hurt 434-324-4160 H-4 Autumn Hill Vineyards Standardsville – 434-985-6100 H-4 Barboursville Vineyards Barboursville – 22923 1765 Winery Road 540-832-3824 barboursvillewine.com Mon-Sat 10am-5pm Sun 11am-5pm See our ad on pg. 6 H-4 Blenheim Vineyards Charlottesville – 434-293-5366 I-5
Blue Bee Cider Richmond – 804-231-0280
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Bodie Vineyards Powhatan – 804-598-2625
G-4 Bold Rock Cider Nellysford – 434-361-1030 G-5 Brent Manor Vineyards Faber 434-826-0722 G-7 Bright Meadows Farm Vineyard & Winery Nathalie – 434-FIX-WINE (349-9463) H-3 Brightwood Vineyard & Farm Brightwood – 540-717-2165 H-4 Burnley Vineyards & Daniel Cellars Barboursville – 540-832-2828
H-5 Byrd Cellars Goochland – 804-652-5663 G-4 Cardinal Point Vineyard & Winery Afton – 540-456-8400 H-4 Castle Hill Cider Keswick – 434-296-0047 I-1
Terra Nebulo Vineyards Waterford 540-882-3800
H-4 Chateau MerrillAnne Orange – 540-656-6177 G-6 Chateau Z Vineyard Lynchburg – 434-455-4485 H-4 Chestnut Oak Vineyard Barboursville – 434-964-1264 I-4
Cooper Vineyards Louisa – 23093 13372 Shannon Hill Rd 540-894-5474 coopervineyards.com Daily 11am-5pm
G-5 DelFosse Vineyard & Winery Faber – 434-263-6100 G-5 Democracy Vineyard Lovingston – 434-263-VINE(8463) G-6 DeVault Family Vineyards Concord – 434-993-0722 H-3 DuCard Vineyards 40 Gibson Hollow Ln 540-923-4206 www.ducardvineyards.com Friday-Sunday & Monday holidays, 11-6 See our ad on page 22 H-3 Early Mountain Vineyard Madison – 540-948-9005 H-5 Elk Island Winery Goochland – 804-627-3929 H-4 First Colony Winery Charlottesville – 434-979-7105 G-4 Flying Fox Vineyard Afton – 434-361-1692 H-4 Gabriele Rausse Winery Charlottesville – 434-296-5328 H-4 Glass House Winery Free Union – 434-975-0094 G-4 Grace Estate Winery Crozet – 434-823-1486 I-5
Grayhaven Winery Gum Springs – 804-556-3917
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G-5 Mountain Cove Vineyard & Wine Garden Lovingston – 434-263-5392 G-4 Mountfair Vineyards Crozet – 434-823-7605 F-6
G-4 Hill Top Berry Farm & Winery Nellysford – 434-361-1266 F-7 The Homeplace Vineyard Chatham – 434-432-9463 H-4 Honah Lee Vineyard Gordonsville – 434-989-2751 H-4 Horton Winery Gordonsville – 22942 6399 Spotswood Trail 540-832-7440 www.hvwine.com Year round, Mon-Sun, 10am-5pm See our ad on pg. 22 I-5
James River Cellars Glen Allen – 804-550-7516
H-4 Jefferson Vineyards Charlottesville – 434-977-3042 H-4 Keswick Vineyards Keswick 434-244-3341 H-4 Kilaurwen Winery Stanardsville – 434-985-2535
Peaks of Otter Winery Bedford – 24523 2122 Sheep Creek Rd 540-586-3707 peaksofotterwinery.com Apr - Dec, Mon Sun, 12pm-5pm See our ad on pg. 22
G-4 Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards North Garden – 434-202-8063
H-4 Trump Winery Charlottesville – 434-984-4855 G-4 Turk Mountain Vineyards Afton – 434-989-2182 G-4 Veritas Winery Afton – 540-456-8000
Answer Brewpub Richmond – 804-282-1248 Apocalypse Ale Works Forest – 434-258-8761 Ardent Craft Ales Richmond – 804-359-1605 Blue Mountain Barrel House and Organic Brewery Arrington – 434-263-4002 Blue Mountain Brewery Afton – 540-456-8020
G-4 Pollak Vineyards Greenwood – 540-456-8844 H-4 Potter’s Craft Cider Free Union – 850-528-6314
G-4 Well Hung Vineyard Charlottesville – 434-260-1501
Callaway Brewing Co Callaway – 540-267-6733
E-7 Preston Ridge Winery Martinsville 276-957-2100
H-4 Weston Farm Vineyard & Winery Louisa 540-967-4647
Center of the Universe Brewing Co Ashland – 804-368-0299
H-3 Prince Michel Vineyard & Winery Leon – 800-800-WINE(9463)
G-4 White Hall Vineyards White Hall – 434-823-8615
Champion Brewing Co Charlottesville – 434-295-2739
F-6 White Rock Vineyards & Winery Goodview – 540-890-3359
Champion Brewing Co Charlottesville – 434-295-2739 Chaos Mountain Brewing Co Callaway – 540-344-1600
F-6 Ramulose Ridge Vineyards Moneta – 540-309-6375 G-5 Rebec Vineyards Amherst – 434-946-5168 H-4 Reynard Florence Vineyard Barboursville – 540-832-3895
G-4 Knights Gambit Vineyard Charlottesville – 434-566-1168
H-3 Rose River Vineyards & Trout Farm Syria 540-923-4050
G-5 Lazy Days Winery Amherst 434-381-6088
H-7 Rosemont Vineyards & Winery LaCrosse – 23950 1050 Blackridge Rd 434-636-9463 RosemontofVirginia.com Mon - Sat, 11am 6pm. Sun, 1pm-6pm.
G-4 Loving Cup Vineyard & Winery North Garden – 434-984-0774
G-6 Sans Soucy Vineyards Brookneal – 434-376-9463
G-5 Lovingston Winery Lovingston – 434-263-8467
F-6 SavoyLee Winery Huddleston – 540-297-9275
G-4 Meriwether Springs Vineyard Ivy – 434-270-4299
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H-4 Michael Shaps Wineworks Charlottesville 434-296-3438
H-4 Spring Run Vineyards Chesterfield – 804-382-4529
G-7 Molliver Vineyards Nathalie – 434-349-1000
F-7 Tomahawk Mill Winery Chatham – 434-432-1063
7 Hills Brewing Co Richmond – 804-716-8307
G-4 Virginia Wineworks/ Michael Shaps Charlottesville – 434-296-3438
G-4 King Family Vineyards Crozet – 434-823-7800
F-6 Leo Grande Winery Goode – 540-586-4066
G-7 Three Sisters of Shiney Rock Clarksville – 804-497-9630
Skippers Creek Vineyard Powhatan – 804-598-7291
G-4 Stinson Vineyards Crozet – 434-823-7300
H-4 Montdomaine Charlottesville – 434-971-8142
H-4 Stone Mountain Vineyards Dyke – 434-990-9463
H-4 Moss Vineyards Dyke – 434-990-0111
H-5 Thistle Gate Vineyard Scottsville – 434-286-7781
G-4 Wintergreen Winery Nellysford – 434-361-2519
C’ville-ian Brewing Co Charlottesville – 800-867-5309
Devils Backbone Brewing Company Roseland – 434.361.1001 Extra Billy’s Smokehouse & Brewery Midlothian – 804-379-8727 Final Gravity Brewing Co Richmond – 804-264-4808 Garden Grove Brewing Co Richmond – 804-918-6158 Hardywood Park Craft Brewery Richmond – 804-420-2420 Isley Brewing Co Richmond – 804-499-0721 James River Brewery Scottsville – 434-390-7770 Jefferson Street Brewery Lynchburg – 434-455-1500 Legend Brewing Co Richmond – 804-232-8871 Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery Goochland – 804-314-4380 Loose Shoe Brewing Co Amherst – 434-946-2337
Pro Re Nata Brewery Crozet – 434-823-4878 Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery (CraftWorks) Richmond – 804-237-1684 Rusty Beaver Brewery Ladysmith – 540-220-8100 South Street Brewery Charlottesville – 804-293-6550 Starr Hill Brewing Co Crozet – 434-823-5671 Strangeways Brewing Co Richmond – 804-303-4336 Three Notch’d Brewing Co Charlottesville – 434-293-0610 Triple Crossing Brewing Co Richmond – 804-308-0475 Wild Wolf Brewing Co Nellysford – 434-361-0088 White Oak Mountain Meadery Chatham – 888-264-6323 Woodstock Brewhouse Woodstock – 540-459-2739
Midnight Brewery Rockville – 804-356-9379
G-4 Wisdom Oak Winery North Garden – 434-984-4272 I-5
Woodland Vineyard Midlothian 804-739-2774
CENTRAL / SOUTHERN REGION DISTILLERIES A. Smith Bowman (Buffalo Trace/Sazerac Co.) Fredericksburg – 540-373-4555 asmithbowman.com Belmont Farms Culpeper – 540-825-3207 belmontfarmdistillery.com Legacy Artisan Distillers Virgilina – 434-579-2460 Reservoir Distillery Richmond – 804-912-2621 reservoirdistillery.com Silverback Distillery Afton – 540-456-7070 sbdistillery.com Virginia Distillery Co. Lovingston – 434-285-2900 vadistillery.com CENTRAL / SOUTHERN BREWERIES 2 Witches Winery and Brewing Co Danville – 434-549-2739
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here’s much to explore on Virginia’s coast, long after the beachgoers have bid adieu to the rushing waves and the setting summer sun. Fall and winter are ideal times to traverse the scenic region, flowing with rivers and situated among the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean. Discover the fascinating history of our nation’s beginnings at Colonial Williamsburg and Historic Jamestown. Spend an afternoon on the Colonial Virginia Wine Trail, where you’ll encounter some impeccable sips from various vineyards, including New Kent Winery—offering eight handcrafted wines from their environmentally-sensitive winery set in a beautiful, historic countryside—or The Williamsburg Winery—presenting award-winning wines, excellent cuisine at two on-site restaurants and luxurious accommodations, should you choose to make a weekend of it. Complete the experience with a pairing of wine—or beer—and oysters on the Eastern Shore or the Northern Neck.
Norfolk Offers The Perfect Mix Of Eclectic Culture And Urban Charm Just around the bend from where explorers first sat foot at Cape Henry and established the New World’s first permanent English settlement in 1607, Norfolk itself is steeped in history going back more than 300 years. But Mermaid City—a nickname earned from the marine siren—isn’t stuck in the past. It’s a growing, progressive city with an international airport, light rail, professional sports and world-class entertainment venues. It’s also a great place for beer, wine and spirit lovers—a number of craft brewers, the state’s first urban winery and top notch restaurants with mixologists who really know how to shake things up are all here, located along a gorgeous stretch of waterway from the Chesapeake Bay to the Elizabeth River.
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The restaurants here are as diverse as the numerous neighborhoods that make up Norfolk. For fine dining, Byrd & Baldwin fits the bill. The center-cut, six-ounce filet mignon—tender and flavorful—always pleases, as does the pan seared ahi tuna served over a ragut of tomato with crab, lobster and grilled squash. ByrdBaldwin.com
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Of note: Norfolk hosts two restaurant weeks with great restaurants and great deals; one is in January, the other in July. DowntownNorfolk.org
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Stay downtown to take advantage of The Tide lightrail connections to the Ghent gateway and free electric cart rides through the district. We love the Norfolk Waterside Marriott for great rooms with views of the river, and quick walks to festivals and shopping at MacArthur Center.
Enjoy the fine collection of art—including an extensive glass display—at Chrysler Museum of Art or a performance nonpareil at the Virginia Stage Company, the Virginia Symphony Orchestra or Virginia Opera. Grab a glass, and head to the beautiful downtown Norfolk waterfront’s Town Point Park for Town Point Virginia Wine Festival, one of the commonwealth’s largest and longest-running wine festivals. Other fests take place here year-round from the organizers at Festevents. Learn more at VisitNorfolkToday.com.
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Mermaid City is home to Virginia’s first urban winery—Mermaid Winery in the Ghent neighborhood. In addition to a restaurant area, there is a beautiful tasting room to sit back and relax with a glass of wine—or two. Mermaid Winery’s 2013 Norfolk Express red blend is a smooth operator: merlot and cabernet sauvignon craft a delicious drink that is complex but approachable.
Since 2008 The Great Dismal Distillery in Norfolk has been producing Silverfox vodka, bourbon and white rum, giving special attention to detail that only a small batch distillery can provide. Their spirits offer a smooth, clean taste with a well-balanced finish, ideal for sipping on the rocks or mixing in cocktails. Silverfox vodka and rum are available at 100 ABC stores throughout Virginia, and Silverfox bourbon is a special order item featured at select ABC stores.
Sip beer in a small city setting at Smartmouth Brewery, located in Norfolk’s up-and-coming Chelsea District. Smartmouth churns out 250 barrels a month; one of their most popular brews is the Alter Ego Saison, brewed in the farmhouse style of a Belgian Saison with fruity notes, a hint of pepper and a dry finish. In fall, we favor the Outta Yer Grourd Pumpkin Ale, and when winter comes, we crave the Cowcatcher Milk Stout.
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grapevine EASTERN 757 BATTLE OF THE BEERS Aug. 6: Local breweries will compete on behalf of their chosen charities; enjoy live music, entertainment and local food trucks. Held at Hunt Club Farm, Virginia Beach. $. 1 p.m. BeachAmbassadors.com/ BattleOfTheBeers2016 DEAD ON THE VINE Aug. 13: An annual tribute to the Grateful Dead featuring wine, live music, dinner and entertainment for the kids. $. 5:30 p.m. Chatham Vineyards, Machipongo. ChathamVineyards.net ARTS ON THE VINE Aug. 13: Join the participating wineries of the Chesapeake Bay Wine Trail for art and wine; each participating winery will showcase one or more artisans from the Northern Neck Artisan Trail. $. 11 a.m. ChesapeakeBayWineTrail.com ROOTS MUSIC ON THE PATIO Aug. 14: An afternoon of food, wine and acoustic roots music, featuring the band Scattered, Smothered & Covered. 1 p.m. Upper Shirley Vineyards, Charles City. UpperShirley.com WINE BLENDING COURSE Aug. 18: Learn to blend your own wine; you will be able to bottle and take your creation home with you. Reservations required. $. 6:30 p.m. Mermaid Winery, Norfolk. MermaidWinery.com VIRGINIA CRAFT DISTILLER’S FESTIVAL Aug. 20: Enjoy a variety of Virginia’s finest spirits and signature mixed drinks; local food trucks, craft vendors, musicians and beer will also be featured. $. 4 p.m. The Watermen’s Museum, Yorktown. Watermens.org
WINE, WOMEN AND FISHING TOURNAMENT, DOCK PARTY AND AWARDS BANQUET Aug. 21: Cheer on decorated boats as they come into the weigh station while enjoying fabulous refreshments. The day on the water will be followed by a dock party featuring wine tastings, a silent auction, handcrafted goods by local artisans and a bourbon tasting. The evening concludes with an awards dinner and live music by Guava Jam. This ladiesonly fishing tournament raises funds for breast cancer research at EVMS and is one of the most colorful annual events held by the Chesapeake Bay Wine Classic Foundation. $. Southside Marina, Virginia Beach. CBWC.org NEPTUNE’S COASTAL VIRGINIA CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL Aug. 27: New this year, this festival highlights local Virginia beers and cask ales, as well as national and regional craft beers; live music and local food trucks will also be featured. Neptune’s Park, Virginia Beach. $. Noon. NeptuneFestival.com RIVERFEST & MICRO BREW TASTING AT DOWNTOWN HAMPTON BLOCK PARTY Sept. 10: Hosted by The Hampton Rotary Club, the Riverfest & Micro Brew Tasting will feature more than 25 beers from 10 local breweries and live entertainment by acoustic trio The River Gypsies and Captain and The Keels, playing North Carolina “Yacht Rock.” Craft beer vendors include Alewerks Brewing Company, Bold Rock, Devil’s Backbone, Commonwealth, Legend Brewing Co., O’Connor, Oozlefinch, Smartmouth, St. George Brewing Company, and Tradition Brewing Co. $. 5–10:30 p.m. Queens Way, Hampton. DowntownHampton.com
WINE & OYSTER FESTIVAL Sept. 17–18: An annual event featuring tastings from area wineries, Chesapeake Bay and Tidewater oysters, food and craft vendors and live entertainment. Stratford Hall, Stratford. $. 10 a.m. StratfordHall.org NEPTUNE FALL WINE FESTIVAL Sept. 17–18: A weekend event at the Oceanfront with area wines, food and craft vendors and live entertainment. Neptune’s Park, Virginia Beach. $. Noon. NeptuneFestival.com BACON, BOURBON & BEACH MUSIC FEST Oct. 1: Smithfield VA Events presents the festival, which includes tastings of small batch, rare and specialty bourbons, Virginia craft beer and lots of bacon. Enjoy live music, unique retail vendors, food, wine and beer for sale. 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Windsor Castle Park, Riverfront Festival Site, Jericho Rd., Smithfield. SmithfieldVaBaconFest.com YORKTOWN WINE FESTIVAL Oct. 1: Sample wines from Virginia wineries; art and food vendors and live entertainment will be featured. $. Noon. Riverwalk Landing, Yorktown. VillageEvents.org CHURCH CREEK WINE & OYSTER TOURS Oct. 1–Nov. 27: The tour includes an immersive, three-hour experience in wine and oyster tasting that begins with an oyster farming tour on Church Creek aboard the Oyster Queen with Shooting Point Oyster Company. The water tour is followed by a wine tasting at Chatham Vineyards with oysters on the half shell. $ Saturdays and Sundays 1 p.m. Chatham Vineyards, Machipongo. ChathamVineyards.net HARVEST CELEBRATION Oct. 15: Celebrate the 37th harvest at the vineyards; enjoy tours, live music, hayrides and wine tasting. $. 11 a.m. Ingleside Vineyards, Colonial Beach.
10th Annual Stratford Hall Wine & Oyster Festival Sept. 17–18. If you love the combination of great wines, delicious, local seafood and wine crafts and artisans, mark your calendar for this popular event, featuring Virginia wine paired with Chesapeake Bay and Tidewater oysters. The festival has something for everyone, including Treakle’s Train, Westmoreland County Miniature Farm Animals and free, self-guided house tours. The Gristmill will be running and music will be provided by a lineup of local bands and solo musicians. Don’t miss the Memory Lane Car Club Show on Sunday, Sept. 18. Advanced tickets: $20 for wine tasters; $10 for non-wine tasters; $5 for children ages 7–13; free for children under 6. Saturday 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Sunday 10 a.m.–5 p.m. StratfordHall.org/Events/10th-Annual-Wine-Oyster-Festival
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TOWN POINT VIRGINIA WINE FESTIVAL Oct. 15–16: This annual festival will showcase more than 200 Virginia wine varieties; live music and gourmet food will be featured. $. 11 a.m. Town Point Park, Norfolk. Festevents.org GLOUCESTER WINE FESTIVAL Oct. 22: Now in its seventh year, this event features wines from area wineries, food and craft vendors and live music. $. 11 a.m. Brent and Becky’s Bulbs, Gloucester. GloucesterWineFestival.com
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VIRGINIA BEACH CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL Oct. 22–23: Over 80 craft beers from over 50 breweries will be available for sampling at the Virginia Beach Craft Beer Festival. Tickets include unlimited samples, a commemorative cup and live entertainment. 1–6 p.m. 30th Street, Virginia Beach. BeachStreetUsa.com WILLIAMSBURG HARVEST CELEBRATION Nov. 4–13: More than 30 events hosted in Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown highlighting local chefs, brewers and winemakers; proceeds to benefit area charities. WilliamsburgHarvestCelebration.com CALEDON ART AND WINE FESTIVAL Nov. 5–6: Sample wines from area wineries at the park; enjoy art and craft vendors, food and hay rides. $. 10 a.m. Caledon State Park, King George. THE WILLIAMSBURG HARVEST CELEBRATION Nov. 5–12: The eight-day event includes The Cycling Shepherd and his Flock Group Cycle, a French wine-paired dinner at Café Provencal, Blend Like a Winemaker Challenge and Masters of Taste—Sommelier Challenge Wine Dinner. $ Times vary. The Williamsburg Winery, Williamsburg. WilliamsburgWinery.com MERROIR & TERROIR—OYSTER EXTRAVAGANZA Nov. 12: Raw bar tasting of Shore oysters, unlimited oysters, clam chowder, salad and dessert with a glass of wine and acoustic music. $ 4–8 p.m. Chatham Vineyards, Machipongo. ChathamVineyards.net FALL OYSTER CRAWL Nov. 12–13: An afternoon of wine and oyster pairings on the Chesapeake Bay Wine Trail. $. Noon. ChesapeakeBayWineTrail.com TASTE BY THE BAY Nov. 19: Enjoy samplings from local wineries and area breweries, tastings from local restaurants, live music and artisans. $. 11 a.m. The Tides Inn, Irvington. TasteByTheBay.com HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE Dec. 3–4, 10–11: Sample wines and enjoy holiday refreshments; special holiday discounts in the wine and gift shop. Noon. Ingleside Vineyards, Colonial Beach. InglesideVineyards.com
REFER TO OUR DOUBLE PAGE MAP ON PAGES 48 AND 49
GRAPEVINE NORTHERN
EASTERN REGION DISTILLERIES
SHENANDOAH EASTERN CENTRAL
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EASTERN REGION WINERIES K-5 Athena Vineyards & Winery Heathsville – 804-580-4944 K-4 Belle Mount Vineyards Warsaw – 804-333-4700
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J-5 New Kent Winery New Kent County – 804-932-8240 J-4 Oak Crest Winery King George – 540–663–2813
L-5 Bloxom Vineyard Bloxom – 757-665-5670
L-7 Pungo Ridge Winery Virginia Beach – 757-426-1665
J-5 Caret Cellars Caret 540-413-6454
J-5 Saudé Creek Vineyards New Kent– 804-966-5896
L-5 Chatham Vineyards Machipongo – 757-678-5588 K-5 The Dog & Oyster Vineyard Irvington – 804-438-WINE(9463) J-5 Gauthier Vineyard Barhamsville – 703-622-1107 K-4 General’s Ridge Vineyard Hague – 804-472-3172 K-5 Good Luck Cellars Kilmarnock 804-435-1416
K-4 Vault Field Vineyards Kinsale – 804-472-4430 K-6 Williamsburg Winery Williamsburg – 23185 5800 Wessex Hundred 757-229-0999 williamsburgwinery.com Wine tours daily 10:30am-5pm. Wine shop 10am-6pm. See our ad on pg. 5
Ironclad Distillery Newport News – 757-245–1996 Williamsburg Distillery Williamsburg – 757-378-2456 williamsburg-distillery.com EASTERN REGION BREWERIES Alewerks Brewing Co Williamsburg – 757-220-3670 Anheuser - Busch Inc (AB-InBev) Williamsburg – 804-253-3600 Back Bay Brewing Co Virginia Beach – 757-531-7750
Gordon Biersch Restaurant Brewery (CraftWorks) Virginia Beach – 757-490-2739 Home Republic Brewing Co Virginia Beach – 757-226-9593 O’Connor Brewing Co Norfolk – 757-965-5419 Pleasure House Brewing Co Virginia Beach – 757-647-8597 Reaver Beach Brewing Co Virginia Beach – 757-563-2337 Saint George Brewing Co Hampton – 757-865-BEER
Big Ugly Brewing Co Chesapeake – 757-609-2739 Bold Mariner Brewing Co Norfolk – www.boldmariner.com
Smartmouth Brewing Co Norfolk – 201-270-8360
Brass Cannon Brewing Co Toano – 757-566-0001
Wharf Hill Brewing Co Smithfield – 757-357-7100
Coelacanth Brewing Co Norfolk – 757-383-6438 Commonwealth Brewing Co Virginia Beach – 757-305-9652
Young Veterans Brewing Co Virginia Beach – 757-689-4021
Wasserhund Brewing Co Virginia Beach – 757-351-1326
K-4 The Hague Winery Hague – 804-472-5283 J-6 Hampton Roads Winery Elberon 757-899-0203 L-5 Holly Grove Vineyards Franktown 757-442-2844 J-4 Hummel Vineyards Montross 804-493-9998 J-4 Ingleside Vineyards Oak Grove – 22443 5872 Leedstown Rd 804-224-8687 inglesidevineyards.com Year round: Mon-Sat,10am5pm. Sun,12pm5pm. Summer hours: Mon-Sat, 10am-6pm. Sun,12pm-6pm. K-5 Jacey Vineyards Wicomico Church – 804-580-4053 K-7 Mermaid Winery Norfolk – 757-233-4155
HOLIDAY CELEBRATION Dec. 4: An afternoon of wine, food and live music. The Williamsburg Winery, Williamsburg. WilliamsburgWinery.com
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CHEERS Welcome to Cheers, a department that examines the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wonderful craft beers, cider and spirits. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re still focused on wine, but now just a little more. Glasses, pints and bottoms up!
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Cheers: Five to try
Something to Stout About Stout Beers Are Awesome For Autumn
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By Rex and Lisa Hamaker
touts, those dark brews so popular to some and scary to others, tend to be clouded with misconceptions. So here’s the 411. Originally (300 years ago), “stout” referred to a strong beer, regardless of color. It has evolved to be labeled as most dark brews with various styles and strengths, ranging from dry to sweet—or milk. Stouts get that dark color from roasting the grains longer, lending to those bold flavors, commonly coffee and/or chocolate. Its cousin, the porter, is historically brewed with the same recipes, but brewers drew off more water in making a stout, resulting in stouts being stronger. The term “porter,” generally accepted as dubbed by the hardworking London laborers of the same name, has been used interchangeably with “stout” even today. Here are five across Virginia we feel will be sure to please as autumn approaches with that nip in the air.
Mustang Sally Porter Mustang Sally Brewing Company, Chantilly 6% ABV, 15 IBU A traditional English porter with rich, roasted malt and bittersweet chocolate-caramel notes, it’s easy to enjoy for someone new to dark beers. Opened in April 2016 with a 30-barrel brew system, a 4000-square-foot tasting room and distributed in 100 restaurants, this filly is already getting a lot of attention. MSBrewing.com
BALTIC PORTER Parkway Brewing Company, Salem 7.10% ABV A robust and roasty aroma with notes of chocolate, caramel and toffee. Baltic porters are typically higher alcohol, sweet and robust porters that originated in the Baltic states. ParkwayBrewing.com
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Cheers: Five to try
“Oats McGoats” Oatmeal Stout Three Notch’d Brewing Company, Charlottesville 5.5% ABV, 30 IBU Proving oatmeal is not just for breakfast, this delicious stout took Bronze at the 2014 Virginia Craft Brewers Cup. A “rich and hearty oatmeal stout with a flavor of semi-sweet baking chocolate” describes it best. ThreeNotchdBrewing.com
DRY IRISH STOUT (ODIS) O’Connor Brewing Company, Norfolk 4.5% ABV, 55 IBU Rich, roasted malt aroma, smooth and velvety on the palate, with a lingering dry finish. It’s one of their flagship brews for a reason. It’s easy to drink year-round, not relegated to chilly evenings by a fire. Awards won: 2016 World Beer Cup Bronze, 2015 Virginia Craft Brewers Cup Silver, 2014 Dublin Craft Beer Cup Silver. OConnorBrewing.com
Virginia Black Bear Russian Imperial Stout Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery, Goochland 9.3% ABV, 78 IBU The 2016 Imperial Stout has aromas of toasted oats, subtle coffee/chocolate notes and medium-bodied, complex flavors that seduce the palate. Named for the shy black bear that routinely visits the farm, our tour of the working brewery/farm with co-owner Farris Loutfi included a tasting comparison of the 2016 and 2014 bottled beauties. This one delightfully improves with age, and if the 2016 is wonderful, the 2014 is incredible. Get it while you can, and age with anticipation. LickingholeCreek.com Rex and Lisa Hamaker are avid beer advocates and home brewers who operate Taste Tidewater Tours, which features guided coach tours of Virginia breweries, among other venues. They are working on their cicerone certification at press time. Turn to “Last Call” on page 58 for our Stout Ice Cream Float recipe. VWL
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Cheers: QUART REPORT
Kegs and Cocktails
A Full Pour Of Information On Some Of Virginia’s Best Breweries And Distilleries | By Patrick Evans-Hylton
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ine is fine, but we also love to raise a glass with beer and spirits, too. Fortunately, Virginia is known as a place for quality quaffs, and here is some information about some of our best breweries and distilleries that will having you saying “Cheers!” in no time.
Out On A Stem
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t’s an amazing world when beer and science collide. At STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Tavern, the two do just that. Each gathering at Soaring Ridge Craft Brewers in Roanoke features a science presentation plus a brew or two. And it’s a quaff with a cause: for each beer sold at STEM Tavern, Soaring Ridge Craft Brewers makes a donation to the Science Museum of Western Virginia. For added measure, a food truck joins the monthly party, held the second Wednesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. The next gatherings are: Aug. 10, Sept. 14, Oct. 12, Nov. 9 and Dec. 14. Soaring Ridge Craft Brewers is at 523 Shenandoah Ave., Roanoke. For more information about STEM Tavern, including a list of speakers, visit SMWV.org.
Celebrating Spirits
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he first Virginia Craft Distiller’s Festival gets under way Aug. 20 at the Watermen’s Museum in Yorktown. Hosted by Williamsburg Distillery, the event will showcase a number of Virginia spirits and signature mixed drinks. There will also be food, live entertainment and craft vendors. Admission includes a souvenir cup and unlimited tastings. At press time, participants include Vitae Spirits, Belle Isle Craft Spirits, KO Distilling, Virginia Distillery, Cirrus Vodka, MurLarkey Distilled Spirits and Williamsburg Distillery. For more information, visit Facebook.com/ VirginiaCraftDistillersFestival.
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Gather Ye Frosty Mugs While Ye May
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rab a mug and get ready to enjoy the Virginia craft beer industry on an unprecedented level at the annual Virginia Craft Brewers Fest. The event, which draws thousands, is held at the Devils Backbone Basecamp Brewpub & Meadows in Roseland on Aug. 20. It’s a great way to celebrate August being Virginia Craft Beer Month. This is the fifth year, and more than 70 breweries from across the commonwealth will be offering tastings. In addition, there is food and live entertainment. Tent and RV camping sites adjacent to the fest are available. Tickets are on sale now and often sell out. For more information, visit VACraftBrewersFest.com.
Cheers To An Old Country Tradition
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t’s appropriate that much of Busch Gardens in Williamsburg has that Old Country charm; it will come in handy in September when the theme park hosts Bier Fest, a take on the traditional Oktoberfest. Ride a ride, enjoy a pint, repeat. A number of craft brews are offered; there’s also classic German food (including homemade pretzels) and live music to boot. Dates of Bier Fest are Sept. 2–5, 10–11 and 17–18. For more information, visit BuschGardens.com.
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Cheers: QUART REPORT Photo courtesy of George Washington’s Mount Vernon
Sky High Imbibe
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Distiller-in-Chief
ard cider is hot, and we love the idea of enjoying this delicious drink at Skyland, a gorgeous mountaintop restaurant in Shenandoah National Park along Skyline Drive high above Luray. There are two events: one on Sept. 9 and one on Nov. 4. The evenings include cider paired with multi-course dinners where culinary offerings include bison filet, rack of venison, smoked sea trout and veal roulade. For more information, visit GoShenandoah.com.
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eorge Washington was many things, including a distiller. A dinner and whiskey tasting at his Mount Vernon estate explores this side of the nation’s first president on Sept. 9. The evening begins with a reception at the Distillery & Gristmill, where folks can see firsthand how whiskey was made in the late 18th century. The event continues on the estate with a brief talk by Mount Vernon’s resident distiller and a seated dinner and whiskey tasting at the Mount Vernon Inn. Also of note is a beer tasting and dinner on Oct. 21 that includes a special beer dinner, brewing demonstration and private tour of the mansion. For more information, visit MountVernon.org.
How About These Apples?
E Beers In The ’Burg
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ur founding imbibers knew a good brew when they tasted one. At Beers in the ’Burg you can sit back and recreate an 18th-century alehouse experience under the arbor behind Chowning’s Tavern and sample beers from local breweries. Light fare is also available, as well as live music. On tap: Commonwealth Brewery pours on Sept. 17. The Nov. 5 brewery has not been determined as of yet. For more information, visit ColonialWilliamsburg.com.
njoy the season’s favorite fruit at the Apple Harvest Celebration with Foggy Ridge Cider on Oct. 8. The all-day harvest event takes place at the cider house overlooking the orchard and offers a sample of unique American Heritage and English cider apples as well as cider. On Nov. 19, return to Food Ridge and stroll through the orchards, glass of cider in hand, and glean the leftover crops from the fields. For more information, visit FoggyRidge Cider.com. VWL
We’re always looking for information about Virginia’s breweries and distilleries. A new brewmaster or distiller? A new release? A milestone? A special event? Let us know! Email executive editor Patrick Evans-Hylton at Patrick@VirginiaWineLover.com VirginiaWineLoverMag.com
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Cheers: Shake, rattle and pour
Mix It Up I Behind The Bar With Whitney Sacdalan By Patrick Evans-Hylton
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t’s hard to describe Harper Bradshaw’s namesake Suffolk eatery, Harper’s Table, but the best way may be upscale down home. Charming, creative, comfortable, the trifecta not only includes what comes from the kitchen but also the bar. The bar is the domain of Whitney Sacdalan, who has been here for about a year-and-a-half and tending bar in all for about four years. She first shook and stirred at Still in Olde Towne Portsmouth. “I was just so in love with the artistry and craft behind each drink, all the way down to the chemistry of dripping water from the antique fountain Whitney Sacdalan behind the bar over a sugar cube into a shot of Assistant Manager Absinthe,” she says. and Barkeep She learned on the job through practice and Harper’s Table, Suffolk “lots of reading.” Among her recommended tomes: Robert Simonson’s The Old-Fashioned HarpersTable.com and Dave Arnold’s Liquid Intelligence.
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Cheers: Shake, rattle and pour What is your favorite thing about bartending? Honestly, my favorite thing is when I am able to craft a cocktail that a guest truly enjoys ... Whether it is something on our cocktail list or something made up just for them. What are a few of your signature cocktails? I would say the first would have to be the Manhattan that we entered in for Woodford’s Manhattan Experience. I decided to go super old school using more vermouth than modern recipes call for. This Manhattan is so balanced with hints of orange, spice and maple. The second would have to be the Nansemond Noon. It won first place in Coastal Virginia Magazine’s first annual CoVa Cocktail Content in partnership with Mount Gay Black Barrel Rum. The drink is a fun, tikistyle cocktail.
Old Time Memory
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his drink makes me think about when I was a child and would stay with my Nana Helen. She had so many wild blackberry bushes. We would spend the summer making muffins and cobblers or just eating them by the handful on the back porch listening to the crickets chirp.
Ingredients 2 ounces Four Roses Bourbon ½ ounce fresh lemon juice ½ ounce fresh lime juice 2 dashes Angostura Bitters Crushed ice 1½ ounces blackberry shrub* 1 basil leaf 1 lemon twist Method Combine the bourbon, lemon, lime and bitters into a shaker, and shake for
about five seconds. Then strain into a Collins glass filled with crushed ice. Next, pour the shrub over top of the drink. The weight from the shrub will start to pull it to the bottom of the drink, mixing it for you. Then garnish with a basil leaf and a lemon twist. *Note: For the shrub: I start this off by weight, so for every pound of fruit you will need a pound of sugar. For this shrub, I used seven pounds of sugar, about a half a cup of vinegar for every quart of sugar/ fruit mixture, the zest from six lemons and about four sprigs of fresh basil. After I stirred this all together in a large container, I let it sit for a few hours, letting
the oils from the lemon peels and basil get absorbed by the sugar. Then I added seven pounds of blackberries (crushing them before putting them in the sugar mixture). Once you add the fruit to the sugar, mix it well; otherwise, most of it will just settle to the bottom. Let this sit overnight, and then stir again the next day. Once the sugar has dissolved, you can strain out all of the seeds and pulp. Lastly, add the vinegar. The shrub should last you for about six months. The purpose of the vinegar is to keep the mixture from fermenting. Another thing that makes shrubs great is that they can be used with soda water to make homemade sodas or mocktails so that everyone can enjoy. VWL
Any tips for the amateur mixologist to make drinks at home? I like to start with a basic guideline of spirit, sweetener and acid. From there, you can add bitters or any other ingredient you fancy, but this just gives you a nice foundation to start with. That being said, don’t be afraid to get creative every once in a while. I think it is fun to walk in the kitchen and just make a drink with what is in the fridge. You may surprise yourself—I know that I have! A few must-haves for the home bar? Angostura bitters are a must for every home bar. They are just so classic and versatile, and a couple dashes in a ginger ale does wonders for an upset tummy. A good aperitif is a really cool must-have since you can use it in a cocktail or drink it on the rocks when you are feeling like you want a light nightcap. Some brands I would suggest would include Dolin Rouge, Cocchi Rosa (similar to Lillet Rouge), or the Cocchi Torino. The last thing a good home bar absolutely must have is at least one nice bottle of whiskey. There are few things better than a simple whiskey cocktail with sugar and bitters. Photos by jim pile
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Cheers: last call
You’ve Got Your Ice Cream in My Stout Two Great Flavors Marry For One Fabulous Ice Cream Float By Patrick Evans-Hylton
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n life there are many classic combinations: Romeo and Juliette, Rhett and Scarlett. And stout and ice cream. Yup, this dark beer, so wonderful from late summer throughout autumn and winter, has a bitter and sweet flavor profile from roasted malt or roasted barley and hops. Notes of chocolate and coffee— among others—are often present. And there are a number of styles, too, including milk stout, oatmeal stout and chocolate stout. In my book, they just beg to be married with a rich, velvety smooth ice cream to craft a uniquely delicious dessert. Here is my Stout Ice Cream Float with Bourbon Whipped Cream and Shaved Chocolate recipe: Ingredients 1 tablespoon chocolate syrup 2 scoops ice cream* 12 ounces stout Bourbon whipped cream Chocolate shavings or sprinkles Method In a tall mug, drizzle chocolate syrup, and add scoops of ice cream. Pour in stout, and top with a dollop of whipped cream and chocolate shavings/sprinkles. For the Whipped Cream Chill a medium metal bowl and metal whisk a few hours before making the whipped cream. In the bowl pour 1 cup heavy whipped cream along with 1/3 cup confectioners sugar and 2 teaspoons bourbon. Whisk vigorously until soft peaks form, about 5 minutes. Cover and refrigerate until ready for use; use soon.
*Note: the best ice cream flavors to consider are vanilla, chocolate, coffee or butter pecan.
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