Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Released

Some wines are big enough to support an architectural structure. As the photo portrays (jokingly) our 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon has the structure required to support a big wooden deck. More seriously, we taste carob, leather, cherries and berries at this early stage. American oak provides a recognizable but not overpowering wood component. Wine was bottled on 7/10/09, and consisted of 338 cases. The wine is photographed on our lower deck, on the entrance level to our tasting room.

Fiesta Released

Fiesta is our sweet blush table wine. Concord grapes give it a very familiar and popular aroma and taste. Concord grapes are familiar to most people as the grape making the jelly paired most frequently with peanut butter in a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Chilled, Fiesta makes a refreshing beverage that fits perfectly with a hot summer day. Wine was bottled on 5/21/09, and consisted of 420 cases. Photo shows a bottle of Fiesta on the railing of the upper deck, overlooking the front vineyard, Massanutten Mountain, and Edinburg Gap.

Country Cookout July 11, 2009

Here's a review of the 2009 Country Cookout event. The cookout was successful enough that a decision has already been made to continue it into the future. Although we did get a good storm early in the day, the evening weather was delightful with a comfortable warm breeze, and the grounds were dry.

Food was plentiful and fitting for a picnic in the country; Pork barbecue on bun, chicken kabobs, and various summertime side-dishes. Ice tea was a welcome refreshment. Dessert was ice cream on cherry cobbler. Sweet, cool watermelon wedges were a reminder that this was a summer meal.

The band kept the evening lively, and had guests mixing it up on the dance floor. Show consisted of popular '70s covers. The pace and excitement of the music continued to build as the evening progressed, reaching a fairly loud crescendo by the end of the event at 11 PM. We had a friendly visit from a county deputy sheriff. The band was packing their equipment when he arrived. He said there was a complaint about the noise. Seeing the show had ended, the deputy said he didn't see a problem, and told us to have a good evening.

Photo shows band and guests near the dance floor during early evening. Tables near the band, and on the two decks were the most popular. Although the winemaker was present for questioning in the wine cellar, only a few guests took advantage of the opportunity. Most guests remained outdoors enjoying the beautiful evening.

We welcome recommendations for making these events more popular and successful in the future. Please don't be shy. Let's get some back-and-forth happening on this blog.

Bridal shoot

The winery was the backdrop for a bridal photo shoot today. TC asked the bride and photographer if they minded me taking a picture. I felt a bit intrusive, but they were happy to allow me to snap a photograph. You see the bride and her mother sitting on the deck outside the tasting room

Warmth Returns

Spring is cradling the vineyard with warmth and sun. It is again comfortable to sit outside on the deck and share a sip with a friend or friends. This post marks no event except thankfulness that my hands no longer ache from the cold of winter. No picture accompanies this post since my home computer's hard drive crashed, and that's where all my pictures and photo editing software are kept, at home, on a dead computer. So, I guess I'll try to capture spring in my camera, where it will remain in stasis, 'til I get my computer fixed...

Tomorrow, Saturday, May 16, we'll be at the Virginia Wine and Crafts Festival in Front Royal, VA. The end of the month, Saturday and Sunday, May 30 and 31, we'll be at Vintage Virginia at Bull Run Park, in Centreville, VA.,

All That Spring Brings

Early spring. Nighttime temperatures still drop down to freezing. But, warmth comes earlier each successive morning. As alway, work in the vineyard is falling behind schedule. If the nights remain cool we may be able to catch up. The sun actually feels warm, and is no longer a cold white light low in the winter sky. Its color is warmer now. Colors in general are brighter, more vivid.

The picture with this post was taken Easter morning, before business opening (no cars). The tree is crabapple, in early bloom. The front of the winery is soaking up the morning sun. Not a cloud in the sky.

Easter Weekend

We offer a wine and cheese pairing over the Easter weekend, Saturday and Sunday, April 11 and 12, 2009. Delicious combinations of food and wine will be suggested. Tastings and a souvenir glass are available for $8 per individual. Here's hoping for a beautiful spring weekend, so you can sit on the deck and watch the valley and mountains rejoice in their verdant awakening. (These are not just words. You have to see it to believe it.)

Vintage Bottlings

A customer dropped by the winery today with some interesting memorabilia. He brought in several old bottles of our wine, all aged several decades. One bottle, a 1977 Shenandoah Blanc, was among some of the first wine bottled after the winery opened. Can't say the wine was drinkable (I didn't try it), but the bottles displayed an admirable age and grace. See the picture above. Click on the picture to see an enlargement.

Founder's Reserve Chardonnay Released

We have released our 2006 Founder's Reserve Chardonnay on 3/13/09. Bottling consisted of 182 cases. This wine was fermented and aged in French oak barrels. We thought this wine so deserving, we posted two pictures of it. The top picture shows a bottle and glass on the winery deck, overlooking the vineyard shrouded in late-winter morning fog. The bottom photo shows the bottle on our tasting counter.

Sauvignon Blanc Released

Our Sauvignon Blanc Lot07 was released on 3/6/09. This wine was barrel fermented in American oak. We noted butterscotch and kiwi in the newly bottled wine. Total cases 128.