Favorite visits with Family members

I must tell you about a few places we have gone with family members.  We always have fun when they travel with us.  These really showcase the diversity that makes up Virginia wineries.  They do all bring something different and special. 

First, Castle Gruen Vineyards and Winery in Locust Dale, VA with SAN.  As we drove up the gravel drive, we passed a man and his dog taking walk.  The man waved us on up the drive and soon joined us – he was the owner, server, wine maker, everything.  We spent a delightful time tasting and talking to Dean and his dachshund, Duchess, she was a cutie.  Even though Dean did not have any white wines available and none of us really drink red, we enjoyed our time spent at the Castle.  Dean was so knowledgeable and the reds were pretty good, especially for people who do not drink red.    The Castle tasting room looked to have once been the garage, but that did not make it any less special to us.  Thanks Dean and Duchess for a delightful and informative afternoon.

This is SAN in front of the Castle with Duchess.

Who can forget our trip to Ox Eye Vineyards whose tasting room is in downtown Staunton.  The vineyards are located outside of Staunton, but they created a wonderful tasting room in an old building in downtown.  We were there that day with SAN, JP and LP.  The owner was one of the server that day and when she found out that SAN lives in Newport, RI, and we had all visited, we just had the best time.  Turns out the owners had honeymooned in Newport and went back to visit often.   The building had beautiful floors and great architecture.  

My picture is not that great, but the tasting was!

 

That same day we visited Barren Ridge Vineyards.  Quite a contrast to Ox Eye with a tasting room located in town, Barren Ridge is just that, at the top of a very barren mountain.  The tasting room at Barren Ridge is cozy and lodge like with a fireplace, some love seats around and plenty of seating on the deck outside.  The first time C and I visited Barren Ridge, the sun was just setting and we stood out on that deck and watched the sun set behind the ridge.  It was breathtaking.  Barren Ridge also has the cutest wine dog, Rascal.