Northern Neck

 Sometimes a visit to one winery, if it is the right one, makes for a great day.  We headed east to the Northern Neck and The Dog and Oyster Vineyard.  We visited the location a few years ago when it was White Fences Vineyard and that was an okay visit so I am glad that we decided to go back and check out the new ownership.   Owner Dudley Patteson was on site and welcomed us as if he were welcoming guests into his home.  The tasting room is a wonderful screened in porch with ceiling fans spinning overhead.  On a hot Virginia day that might not be enough, but Saturday was cool and it was perfect comfort on that porch.  The winery has been under the new ownership for only a short time, so along with their own Chardonnay and Merlot, they served several Ingleside Plantation wines.  We did not like our visit to Ingleside so it was okay to taste their wine without having to go there!  Just after we arrived a dad and his 2 daughters rode up on their bikes.  They were staying at the Tides Inn on a break before the daughters went back to their grad schools then a couple drove up for a tasting before their headed back to New York after a visit at the Hope and Glory Inn, the Inn that also owns the Dog and Oyster.  So the 7 of us sat at this long table in these cute, vintage looking mismatched chairs on this cool summer afternoon sharing a tasting and our host, Dudley, did it well.  It was a fun group dynamic and personal tasting as well.  Good job Dog and Oyster!

Little background on the Dog and Oyster – the name is after the rescue dogs they have to patrol the grapes and keep out the deer and other critters.  We met one of the rescue dogs - a lovely hound.  And the oysters, well sitting there you are not that far from the bay!