NOVA in the Fall

There are some places that just get it right.  Bluemont Vineyard in Bluemont, Virginia has a good thing going.  We arrived just after noon and when we walked in, they smiled and said take a seat on the patio, we are getting ready to start a tasting.  You have to ask yourself, ok, is this going to be a mass tasting where no one actually gets anything out of it?  Not in this case.  We grabbed the last table on the patio and spent the next hour and a half delighted!  When our server, Erin, came over and poured for us, explaining the wine and how she would be taking care of us that afternoon with great care and no rush, we knew it was not going to be one of those quick 10 minute tastings so we ordered a cheese tray, sat back and relaxed and enjoyed the visit.  The glasses used for the tastings are etched with “951” which is the elevation of the winery and from the patio you feel that you can see forever.  The good thing is we had a lovely afternoon sipping wine, eating cheese and crispy baguette overlooking a beautiful fall day.  The down side is that as we sat and enjoyed the place got really crowded with people jumping onto tables as soon as they emptied.  The trick, I guess, is to get there early.    Cool factor – well that view is incredible!

Then there are places that just don’t quite have it.  Twin Oaks Tavern Winery in Bluemont, VA had a beautiful view from the tiny parking space behind the building.  That same space that was a big challenge to get out of when the stretch limo showed up taking up most of the room needed to get out.  Wineries with really small parking areas should restrict limos.  That’s all I am saying.    While tasting, your back was to the windows so there was no chance of seeing any view that might have been out there, it was busy and there was only a single person behind the bar taking care of those at the bar and tables, people coming in from the patio for wine and cheese, etc. etc.   Maybe someone called in at the last minute leaving just one person,  but another person would have made a great deal of difference in the enjoyment of the visit.  There were some Irish musicians that started playing near the end of our visit that were quite enjoyable.  Oh, and the view from the patio was not that much.  Oh well.  Any cool factor was found in the fun music – thanks musicians!

Later afternoon found us at Veramar Vineyard in Berryville.  The view was beautiful.  A little pond with red Adirondack chairs, lots of seating outside, a beautiful October afternoon, the fall leaves in the back ground.  Nice.  Well, not as nice as I would have liked.  We went in the tasting room and it was busy, but there was someone greeting who told us, just relax and hang around, there will be some openings soon.  No worries, we were happy to sit and relax.  But then more people kept coming in, so they put us all together and took our money for the tasting fee UP FRONT.  I don’t like that.  Then after we thought we were settled in, they moved us all because a big group was coming in.  Finally the tasting started and it was fine, but there were no windows in the tasting room to take advantage of that outstanding view and did I mention the music – an accordion player – yes I said accordion in side playing really loud!  It was enough when we arrived and he was playing outside, but someone had the great idea to bring him into an already crowded tasting room.  Oh well.  It was Italian Day!  The best part was after the tasting sitting outside and looking at those beautiful trees and the music inside sounded much better when we were outside!!

Sunday morning was another beautiful day so we headed to Fox Meadow Winery in Linden.  After the crowds of yesterday it was nice to not have that.  The location was beautiful and you could see outside from the tasting room.  Our server was delightful – he gave us a great tasting.  At Fox Meadow they provide tidbits of food to enhance different wines – nice!   He explained to us why they served the different food and how it complemented out tasting.  He was very informative about the wine.   He also showed us pictures from their night camera of deer, a black bear and a bald eagle.   After our tasting we sat on the patio and relaxed before on to the next big adventure!  Very enjoyable way to start the day.  

Final stop before home BOW – Barrel Oak Winery in Dalaplane.   This is a fun place.  I had heard about it for the last several years as a place I had to go.  This is a party just off Route 66 in Delaplane, VA.  The BOW is very family friendly – all members of the family.  There were so many cute dogs there that day, inside and out  - such fun.  The BOW is, well as you might guess, very K9 themed from the 2 tasting lists, the Bow and the Wow to the Doghaus Rules!  This is a fun place and even though it was crowded when we arrived, we were well taken care of during our tasting as everyone is who cares to taste.  There is plenty of room to picnic outside and though there are lots of dogs, the Doghaus rules require they be kept on leashes – sill a good time was had by all!  Visit, take a picnic, your family and your dog!  Just don’t tell the Beagles – we did not take them this trip!

 

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!

Just a Saturday's drive

Heading north on Interstate 95 the Saturday after Independence Day is probably not the smartest idea, but we did it anyway!  Our first destination was Windy River Winery in Beaverdam.  We never found it.  We never saw a sign and when I tried to call, the message was that the number was not in service.  To bad.

Then on to Morais Vineyards in Bealton.  Looking at the pictures of the place on line, I was thinking large and stuff, but what a surprise - it was a hopping, fun place!  What made it fun was our server and we thank her for that!  The tasting room is quite large with a big oval bar, but when we walked in, it was pretty crowded.  Our server gave us some crackers and cheeses (yum) and our first tasting, then seemed to disappear into the crowd.  When she came back, she did give us as much attention as others to explain the wine and how the cheeses went with each one.  Sometimes in cases where there is a crowd and only a couple of servers, they can neglect you and that is not good.  There needs to be a nice balance between hovering and throwing something in your glass for you to figure out for  yourself!  It wound up being a nice leisurely tasting and for the amount of time it took us to get up there, that was okay by me. 

You know for me it is not about the wines, but they only had 2 whites, a rose’ and 4 reds and 2 port style.  Well, C is not a red or port drinking person and today particularly.  It was over 100 degrees outside, inside the tasting room is was not cool and someone pours him a glass of warm wine.  Not so much!  But he does try them before giving them back to mother earth (ok, pouring in the dump bucket). Well, our server took it to heart that she had to find something he would like.  It got really comical and made it fun as she finally gave up and handed him a passion fruit soda so that he would have tasted something he could enjoy!  The soda was good – and cold and the afternoon was good and fun!

Sometimes you just have to change the plan!

Finally we found a Saturday to visit some Virginia wineries.  With C as our DD, JP, SEG and I made our plans and headed out.  We headed out about 9:30, met JP for coffee and headed west on Route 60 to Route 29, destination Lovingston Winery, Lovingston, VA.  Now I know that we were just there and no, I don’t do many repeats, but we thought the gang would enjoy it.  But when you make plans there are those elements that we cannot control.  In this case, it was the weather – the severe thunderstorms that felled trees and power lines across our great Commonwealth and particularly what we will call the Greater Charlottesville area, which, yes, includes Lovingston.   We were aware that a storm came through on Friday night, but never thought about massive power outages.  When we got to Lovingston, sadly for what appeared to be lack of power, it was closed and sadly, it had been awhile since we had those cups of coffee! 

With Lovingston closed, we headed to a bit further west thinking we could grab lunch at Devils Backbone and then hit a few of the wineries in that immediate area.  With the restaurant closed, we headed the ¼ mile to Wintergreen Winery.  They were open, but without power - meaning no air conditioning and no running water – i.e. restrooms (see cups of coffee above!) so we decided to move on.  This would be a good point to add that the temperature was over 100 that day even in the beautiful mountains. 

At that point we all got on our phones searching for an open winery – one with air conditioning AND running water.  Finally one winery answered the phone and they assured us they had power, air conditioning, wine, running water and food.  Thank you Early Mountain Vineyard which is in Madison County, just about an hour away from where we were at the time.  It wound up being worth the trip!  Even if we were not desperate for food, wine and a restroom (see coffee above!) Early Mountain would be a very nice place.  After they pointed us to the restrooms, they took very good care of us.  They brought the wine flights we requested to our table and the tastings were generous enough that we could enjoy them as we ate our lunch.  For those days when it is not over 100 in the mountains, they have a beautiful patio with a fire place and furniture sitting round fire pits spread around the property (fire pits not necessary on this trip).  The indoor space was beautiful with a large central fireplace and seating areas set up all around. 

I enjoyed the time spent at Early Mountain; the wine flight was nice with lunch and our visit was relaxing, but if I were going for just a tasting, I do not think I would have been as happy.  The tasting was expensive, $12 for 4 wines, red or white.  At that cost you really want to take time and enjoy, not just stop by for a quick tasting. 

Leaving Early Mountain and heading home, we thought we could fit in one more winery so we stopped at Keswick Vineyards.  C and I had been there a few years ago and enjoyed it.  It was about 4:25 when we arrived and felt okay because they did not close until 5.  I guess our server did not feel that way.  Our server was neglectful, bordering on rude.  It was sad since we had other options but chose Keswick and got such bad service.  People - service is huge in this industry.  Do not act like we are imposing on you.  

These pictures are Early Mountain.  So beautiful!