Barrel Oak Winery

 

I have been to Barrel Oak twice now actually and I have had a delightful time on each visit. Barrel Oak Winery is in Delaplane, Virginia. The wine is okay and overpriced but that isn’t really why you go to a place like Barrel Oak. In the busy months, they are open until 9pm on the weekends. They are not trying to provide a premium winery experience. What they are trying to do is create an atmosphere that says “bring your kids, bring your pets, bring your grandma, bring anyone you know, grab a bottle or two or three and stay awhile.” It’s essentially a family and pet friendly bar.

 

VA Wine Chat – Mark your Calendars!

Virginia Wine Chat — A monthly virtual gathering to discuss the wines, winemakers, wineries and regions of Virginia. (For reference — original article announcing Virginia Wine Chat.)

Our current Virginia Wine Chat schedule:

• NEXT ——> 7:30pm ——> April 24, 2014 — Barboursville Vineyards.  One of Virginia’s most accomplished and popular winemaker’s, Luca Paschina will be our guest for the April 2014 edition of Virginia Wine Chat!  Please join us as we learn about Luca’s background, why he came to Virginia’s fledgling wine industry from Italy nearly 25 years ago, and talk about the history of the winery and land at Barboursville.  We’ll also taste three delicious Barboursville wines: 2013 Viognier Reserve, 2011 Nebbiolo Reserve, and the 2010Octagon!    Follow the #VAWineChat hashtag to join the discussion via Twitter and/or see our live interview on the Virginia Wine Chat UStream Channel(http://www.ustream.tv/channel/virginia-wine-chat).  Wine fans can taste along with us too.  Barboursville has made available a specially discounted ‘Virginia Wine Chat 3-Pack‘ available that includes each of the wines Luca and I will taste during the broadcast.   Please call the Barboursville Winery tasting room directly (540-832-3824) to order the 3-pack to join in the tasting.

• May 22, 2014 — Rosemont Vineyards.  Discovering one of southern Virginia’s gems.  Winemaker Justin Rose will be our guest for the May 2014 edition of Virginia Wine Chat.
• Upcoming chats include winemakers Jake Busching at Grace Estate Winery, Nate Walsh atSunset Hills Vineyard …

Please log in to Twitter and join us!

Veritas Vineyard

Since the Trump Winery table was right next to Veritas Vineyards at the Monticello Wine Trail Festival and the owner came over to congratulate our win, I decided it was the logical next stop on my wine travels.

When you drive up to Veritas Vineyards, you are greeted by modern art and acres of vine. I absolutely loved the large wrap-around deck, and I’d actually rather sit there than in the tasting room. It reminds me of being at my friend’s beach house in Corolla, which is absolutely my favorite place on the planet.

LWW’s Wine Immersion Boot Camp

Wine Immersion Boot Camp is held every Saturday and Sunday morning and afternoon at Little Washington Winery. My mom, my roommate, and I attended the boot camp on a frigid and snowy March Sunday morning. This was my second trip out to LWW, so I knew what to expect at the foot of the Blue Ridge mountains. In case you’re worried, Wine Boot Camp only consists of 3oz arm curls, rather than drinking then running.

The sign that meets you at the door is a rather intense gentleman holding a sign that says spit. Fortunately, there was no spitting required, because the wines were all good. Although we drank a manageable amount for how long we were there, the order of the class made for an experience that was wine heavy at the very end. This was good in the sense that after the class you had new knowledge about wine and could put it to use.  The problem of a end-heavy experience is it could leave you feeling a bit tipsy.

Green VA Wineries

Agriculture and tourism are two of Virginia’s largest industries. Wineries are a very important part of both of these industries. With over 250 wineries and multiple wine trails, Virginia has established itself as a wine lover’s destination vacation. Luckily for the planet, wineries haven’t been entirely excluded from the green movement.

VA wineries can be certified as Virginia Green Wineries by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality when they prove that they are practicing at least three of the following  “core activities”:

• Recycling and reduction of waste: Must place highly visible and well-marked recycling containers in all visitor areas

• Minimization of the use of disposable foodservice products: Must use products that are made from bio-based or renewable resources and provide for recycling or composting of items

• Minimization of the use of pesticides / herbicides / fungicides and fertilizers: Must have a plan to minimize the use of chemical treatments associated with grape production

• Efficient water use: Must have a plan for water conservation

• Energy efficiency: Must have a plan in place to reduce overall energy consumption

VA Wine Chat

“Virginia Wine Chat — A monthly virtual gathering to discuss the wines, winemakers, wineries and regions of Virginia. (For reference — original article announcing Virginia Wine Chat.)

The current Virginia Wine Chat schedule:

• NEXT ——> 7:30pm ——> March 20, 2014 — Williamsburg Winery.  Williamsburg Winery Winemaker Matthew Meyer (on Twitter: @WilliamsburgTWW) will be our guest for the March 2014 edition of Virginia Wine Chat!  Join us for a tasting and discussion of the history of the winery, Matthew’s background, winemaking philosophy, and of course we’ll talk about winning the 2014 Virginia Governor’s Cup.    Follow the #VAWineChat hashtag to join the discussion via Twitter and/or see our live interview on the Virginia Wine Chat UStream Channel (http://www.ustream.tv/channel/virginia-wine-chat).

How about wine and Girl Scout Cookies?

Girl Scout cookies always remind me of walking up and down my neighbor’s driveways with a wagon.  There are many things that transfer well from childhood to adulthood. In case this is something you’d like to try, I have compiled some recommendations for pairing wine with girl scout cookies.

Trefoil: Trefoils (Shortbread): Traditional shortbread cookies.

Wine Club Reviews Recommends: Light and refreshing, a Trefoil shortbread should be paired with Pinot Noir or even Sparkling wine if the mood is right.

Wine Spectator Suggests: 2007 Schramsberg Blanc de Noirs Sparkling Wine. The creamy richness of the shortbread is balanced by the fresh lively notes of the Sparkling Wine.

Foodie Blog: Pair with Veramonte Sauvignon Blanc. Beautiful aromas of peach, grapefruit and honeysuckle. In the mouth, a hint of melon with more citrus and a nice smooth honey feeling.

Virginia Version: Trump Winery Blanc de Noir or Sparkling Rose

Pearmund Cellars

Pearmund Cellars is another great example of a stellar winery experience. Wine Lovers Magazine named Pearmund Cellars the #1 winery overall in Virginia for 2013, and I can see why. The staff was friendly and inclusive. In their restroom, they have hung the bust head the pesky jackrabbit that they will jokingly tell you eats their vine.

Jackalope

I went with two girls I grew up with, who are pretty much my sisters, and our moms. We came in right near closing and had just missed a special Valentine’s Weekend tasting, but the staff was kind enough to share their leftover chocolate covered strawberries with us. Pairing the strawberries, one of my favorite desserts, with the Petit Verdot was to die for.

Trump Winery

I might be a little biased, but I love Trump Winery.  The tasting room is gorgeous and spacious. There obviously built it to cater to any sized group.  In warm weather, you can have your tasting inside or out on the patio. From the patio, you can see the vine. Though it isn’t close to you, the view is worthy of a post card. 

 Trump has both sparkling and still wine.The tasting glass you get to take home is the size and shape of a normal wine glass which means it’s actually usable and you’re not taking home an odd shaped glass for your collection. This is a blessing that anyone who visits a lot wineries or attends wine festivals will understand.  I can’t even tell you the number of useless tiny awkward shaped glasses I’ve acquired. My roommate said she was going to disown me if I bought home anymore glassware. (However, this was 3 wine glasses and 6 pint glasses ago.)

Artisanal Cheese Plate to go along with our tasting.

Trump Winery has a full menu including artisan pizzas, crab cakes, and more. The last time I went, I had a pizza. The menu changes but I have never been less than extremely well fed. I had the cheese plate when I went with my mom and again when I went with some friends.

Save the Sweet for Last: Why tastings are ordered the way they are

Tastings are often delivered in a particular order to help the taster have the best tasting possible. This is why when you attend a festival or visit a winery, the pourer is often hesitant to let you join in the middle of a tasting.  Having wines out-of-order can ruin the flavor of wine. I’m now going to try to answer the two main questions about why the order is the way it is.