2007 Vintage Virginia Festival

On Saturday June 2nd, we attended the 2007 Vintage Virginia festival, which featured wines from over fifty wineries from throughout the state. We wanted to use this event to sample the latest vintages of Norton and find out which wineries were going to participate in the first annual National Norton Festival in September. This event also enabled us to sample wines from wineries we had not visited, particular those in central and southwestern Virginia.

But first, we said hello to several friends at northern Virginia wineries and for the first time we tasted wines from Fabbioli Cellars, a winery that before this summer was only open on a limited basis. Douglas Fabbioli took his 25 years experience working in the wine industry in California, New York, and Virginia and started his winery just north of Leesburg. He grows or sources several different varieties of grapes for his wines, including Chambourcin, Tannat, Petit Verdot, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. A central theme of the festival was the outstanding Cabernet javascript:void(0)
Save NowFranc that is being made in Virginia, and Fabbioli’s is no exception. Theirs is a medium bodied wine with cherry flavors and a smooth finish. We also enjoyed their Fratelli, a Chambourcin-Tannat blend and the Tre Sorelle – a blend of Merlot, Tannat and Petit Verdot. Luckily, starting this summer the winery will be open on Saturdays.

We spent time at two other Northern Virginia wineries, Village Winery and Chrysalis Vineyards. Village Winery is one of the smallest wineries in the state, but makes in outstanding array of wines. We were always big fans of their Cabernet Franc and Elderberry (one of the only dry Elderberry wines you will find in the country), but this year they also introduced a Viognier and Apple wine. Not surprisingly the Apple wine is their new best seller – it is dry, but very flavorful. Kent Marrs told us that red wine customers are purchasing the apple wine as much as the white wine drinkers. We are also big fans of Chrysalis and large Norton and Viognier offerings. Since the Viognier is sometimes too pricy for our budget, the festival is a good chance to try the wine – several times. Chrysalis has the largest planting of Norton in the country and the quality continues to rise. Their latest Norton estate won a double gold (unanimous selection) at this year’s Riverside International. Ms. McCloud is very enthusiastic about Norton as well as her winery’s chances in the National Norton Competition. And for good reason, their Norton’s are full bodied and smooth – with little signs of acidity that are often present in Norton wine.

From Chrysalis, we went out to taste the Norton offerings of
Horton Vineyards, Burnley Vineyards, Cooper Vineyards, Keswick Vineyards, Peaks of Otter Winery, and Valhalla Vineyards. Of these are favorites were Keswick’s and Valhalla’s. The Keswick Norton was the best; theirs is aged 5 months in French Oak that produces a full-bodied wine with the normal grapey flavor, but a slight spicy finish. This wine will fare well against the Missouri Nortons. Valhalla’s Norton is also full-bodied but made as more an every day dinner wine. The finish is smooth and tasty. Valhalla also makes an interesting Alicante Bouschet. This grape is a sibling of Grenache and is usually used to add color to blends. Valhalla has managed to create a wine with incredibly dark color, “the darkest red wine you are likely to enjoy”, but that also has a flavorful taste and a long spicy finish. This is the type of wine to have on hand when you get bored with the everyday varietals.

We also tasted good wines from a couple neighbors of Valhalla, Fincastle Vineyard & Winery and Rockbridge Vineyard. Fincastle was pouring two very good red wines, a Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. The Cab Franc was worth buying. It is a medium bodied wine with a great cherry aroma and flavor. The finish is slightly spicy – but smooth – very smooth. Fincastle also operated a bed and breakfast, so if your travels take you to Lexington or Roanoke – Fincastle is a great option. Traveling north, past Lexington would bring you to Rockbridge Vineyard and one of our favorite everyday summer wines, St. Mary’s Blanc. This off-dry Vidal based wine is fermented in oak, and for $10 is perfect for summer afternoons, dinner, you name it. Rockbridge also makes a good Riesling and this year’s vintage won a Silver medal in the Finger Lakes, not too shabby – entering the Lion’s den and coming home a winner. Two other Rockbridge wines deserve attention. Their Cabernet Franc is a good representation of the vinifera wine being produced in Virginia and it won a Gold medal at the 2006 Governor’s Cup Competition. Another Gold medal winner at this event was Rockbridge’s Vd’Or, an ice-wine styled wine made from late harvest Vidal. The grapes are frozen, and then pressed; the result is a Sauterne type wine with orange-honey flavors.

It is well apparent that Virginia wineries can produce excellent wines from vinifera grapes. The days of using solely hybrids are gone. One of the first pioneers in growing vinifera grapes in modern day Virginia was Gabriele Rausse, who first worked at Jefferson Vineyards, but now owns and operates his winery that bears his name. We never pass an opportunity to try his wines and today we sampled 14 of them, all made from vinifera grapes grown in Virginia. For whites Rausse offers your standard Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay, but it was the Viognier that stood out. This wine is aged 1 year in French oak, which provides a slight buttery taste that you don’t expect – or would expect with a Chardonnay. However, this process works for Viognier and this wine would be perfect with a meal. Rausse makes two rose styled wines, the Rosso from Cabernet Franc and the Dry Rose, made from juice bled from several red varietals. This is a great wine and perfect for those who are looking for something new. For reds, Gabriele Rausse offers something for everyone. They have a full-boded Merlot, an excellent Cabernet Franc, a Cabernet Sauvignon aged in stainless steel, a spicy Shiraz made from Orange County grapes, and two excellent reserve wines, Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2005 and the Nebbiole Reserve 2005. Both of these reserves wines are pricy ($35) so the festival provided a great opportunity to taste wines that we normal would not have purchased. Of the two, the Nebbiole was awesome, full bodied with light tannins. Gabriele Rausse wines are only available in retail outlets in Charlottesville, so if you are in the area…..

There are several more Virginia wine festivals scheduled for this summer and fall. Check the Virginia Wine Compass page to find one close to you.

Tasters Guild International Wine Judging - Double Gold Winners

I’ve been slow drafting a few articles, so here is another in the competition results series; this time from the Tasters Guild International Wine Judging. Several wineries were awarded multiple Double Gold medals including three for Rosenblum Cellars (CA), Viansa Winery (CA) and Missouri’s St. James Winery. I can’t wait to try their 2003 Norton Reserve.

7 Deadly Zins 05 - Zinfandel Lodi CA $13.01 - $17.00
Ackerman Winery 06 - Raspberry IA $7.01 - $10.00
Alpen Cellars 06 - Chardonnay Estate CA $7.01 - $10.00
Barboursville Vineyards 04 - Octagon VA $38.01 - $50.00
Barefoot Cellars NV - Sauvignon Blanc Calif. CA $0.00 - $7.00
Barefoot Cellars NV - Chardonnay Calif. CA $0.00 - $7.00
Bianchi 04 - Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles CA $17.01 - $22.00
Blumenhof 05 - Goldblumen MO $13.01 - $17.00
Brassfield Estate Winery 04 - Pinot Noir High Serenity Ranch CA $22.01 - $30.00
Brassfield Estate Winery 04 - Zinfandel Monte Sereno CA $22.01 - $30.00
Captains Walk Winery 04 - Merlot WI $22.01 - $30.00
Casa Larga NV - Cabernet Franc I.W. NY $50.01+
Chateau Grand Traverse 05 - Riesling-I.W. Old Mission Pen. MI $50.01+
Chateau Thomas Winery 06 - Riesling-Dry Yakima, WA IN $13.01 - $17.00
Cline Cellars 06 - Viognier CA $7.01 - $10.00
Dom de Bertrol NV - Prosecco Semi Sparkling Italy $13.01 - $17.00
E&J Distillers NV - Caramel Temptation CA $10.01 - $13.00
East Valley Vineyard 04 - Sangiovese Santa Barbara CA $22.01 - $30.00
Erath Vineyards 05 - Pinot Noir Prince Hill Vineyard OR $38.01 - $50.00
Ferrante Wine Farm 05 - Chardonnay Signature Series OH $13.01 - $17.00
Ferrante Wine Farm 06 - Vidal Blanc OH $7.01 - $10.00
Fiore 04 - Chambourcin Reserve MD $17.01 - $22.00
Flora Spring Winery 04 - Trilogy CA $50.01+
Forestville Vineyards 00 - Cabernet Sauvignon CA $10.01 - $13.00
Henry Estate Winery 99 - Pinot Noir Winemaker Reserve OR $38.01 - $50.00
Heron Hill Winery 04 - Riesling L.H. NY $30.01 - $38.00
Hopper Creek Ranch 02 - Cabernet Sauvignon Napa CA $22.01 - $30.00
Husch Vineyards 05 - Postre CA $17.01 - $22.00
Hyatt Vineyards 04 - Cabernet Sauvignon Yakima Valley WA $7.01 - $10.00
Jacob's Creek 05 - Shiraz SE Australia $7.01 - $10.00
Jacuzzi Family Vineyards 05 - Primitivo CA $17.01 - $22.00
Jost Vineyards 06 - Vidal Blanc I.W. NS-CAN $17.01 - $22.00
Kendall-Jackson 04 - Merlot Grand Reserve CA $22.01 - $30.00
Livingston Cellars NV - Burgundy CA $0.00 - $7.00
Lynfred Winery 05 - Petite Verdot American IL $17.01 - $22.00
Marlena 06 - Malbec Argentina $0.00 - $7.00
Merriam Vineyards 04 - Cabernet Franc Jones MA $38.01 - $50.00
Mount Pleasant Winery 05 - Claret MO $13.01 - $17.00
Norman Vineyards 04 - Zinfandel Old Vine CA $17.01 - $22.00
Northstar Winery 03 - Stella Man's Red WA $22.01 - $30.00
Oliver Winery 05 - Vidal Blanc I.W. IN $38.01 - $50.00
Oliver Winery 05 - Vignoles L.H. Late Harvest IN $22.01 - $30.00
Pelee Island Winery 05 - Cabernet Franc ONT-CAN $7.01 - $10.00
Pepi 05 - Pinot Grigio CA $7.01 - $10.00
Pepi 03 - Sangiovese CA $7.01 - $10.00
Pine Ridge 03 - Charm Stone CA $22.01 - $30.00
Prairie Berry Winery 06 - Frontenac SD $13.01 - $17.00
Quady Winery NV - Deviation CA $22.01 - $30.00
Rideau Vineyard 06 - Viognier Estate CA $50.01+
Rideau Vineyard 06 - Grenache Blanc Santa Ynez CA $30.01 - $38.00
Robert Hall 05 - Rhone de Robles CA $17.01 - $22.00
Rosenblum Cellars 05 - Zinfandel H. Kratka Vineyard CA $30.01 - $38.00
Rosenblum Cellars 05 - Petite Sirah Pickett Road CA $30.01 - $38.00
Rosenblum Cellars 04 - Port - Syrah CA $17.01 - $22.00
Rosenthal 04 - Cabernet Sauvignon Malibu Estate CA $30.01 - $38.00
Rosenthal 04 - Merlot Malibu Estate CA $22.01 - $30.00
Simmons Winery 06 - Nortonburg White IN $7.01 - $10.00
Simon Creek Vineyard 04 - Cabernet Sauvignon WI $13.01 - $17.00
St. James Winery 03 - Norton Reserve MO $22.01 - $30.00
St. James Winery 05 - Seyval Vintner's Select MO $7.01 - $10.00
St. James Winery 06 - Vignoles Vintner's Select MO $10.01 - $13.00
St. Julian Wine Co NV - Passionate Peach Spumante MI $10.01 - $13.00
St. Supery Vineyards 03 - Elu CA $50.01+
St. Supery Vineyards 06 - Moscato CA $17.01 - $22.00
Sunce Winery 04 - Nebbiolo St. Olof Vineyard CA $38.01 - $50.00
The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey 05 - Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve CO $22.01 - $30.00
Torrey Ridge Winery NV - Catawba NY $7.01 - $10.00
Trecini Cellars 04 - Zinfandel Signature CA $30.01 - $38.00
Trecini Cellars 06 - Merlot Rose' CA $13.01 - $17.00
Unionville Vineyards 04 - Hunter's Red NJ $22.01 - $30.00
V. Sattui Winery 06 - Sauvignon Blanc Vittorio's Vineyard CA $17.01 - $22.00
V. Sattui Winery 06 - Gewurztraminer Mendocino CA $17.01 - $22.00
Viansa Winery 04 - Merlot Lorenzo CA $38.01 - $50.00
Viansa Winery 03 - Ossidiana CA $50.01+
Viansa Winery 03 - Cabernet Franc Sonoma CA $50.01+
Victor Hugo Winery 04 - Petite Sirah Paso Robles CA $17.01 - $22.00
Wolf Blass 05 - Shiraz Yellow Label Australia $10.01 - $13.00
Wyndham Estate 03 - Shiraz Black Cluster Australia $30.01 - $38.00
ZD Wines 05 - Pinot Noir Reserve CA $50.01+

Fiore Winery - Chambourcin Proprietor's Reserve

A couple years ago, Paul Lukacs published a book "The Great Wines of America: The Top Forty Vintners, Vineyards, and Vintages" in which he selected 40 wineries that have been producing the same quality wine for the past decade. One winery that did not make the list, but has been extremely consistent in producing quality chambourcin wine is Fiore Winery and their Chambourcin Proprietor's Reserve. Last week we opened our last bottle of their 2001 vintage which won a Gold Medal at the 2005 LA County Fair. This is a medium bodied wine with a slight grapey nose with cherry flavors and a smooth finish. Their 2004 vintage will soon be available and it was recently awarded a Gold at the 2007 San Diego International Wine Competition and Double Gold at the 2006 Tasters Guild Competition. This makes 6 Gold Medals this wine has been awarded this year. When released, this wine will retail for $17.99. Not a bad price.

2007 Pacific Rim & Riverside International Competition Results

We were recently asked why we publish competition results which would seem to contradict our policy of urging consumers to drink what they like, not what others recommend. The short answer: I enjoy reading how east coast and midwestern wineries fare against West Coast wines. I hope you do too. Thus, here are results from the 2007 Pacific Rim Wine Competition and the 2007 Riverside International Wine Competition.

2007 Pacific Rim Wine Competition

Gold/Best of Class
Gloria Ferrer Champagne Caves (CA): Blanc de Blancs 2003
Gloria Ferrer Champagne Caves (CA): Blanc de Noir NV
Gloria Ferrer Champagne Caves (CA): Sonoma Brut NV
Wyndham Estate (AU): Sparkling Chardonnay NV
Drytown Cellars (CA): Red -On-Red
Red Zeppelin Winery (CA): 2005 Black Zeppelin
Montevina (CA): 2005 Barbera
Biltmore Estate Winery (NC): Cabernet Franc NV
Monte Xanic (MX): 2002 Gran Ricardo
Little Boomey (AU): 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon
J. Lohr Estates (CA): 2005 Seven Oaks, Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon
Gordon Brothers Cellars (WA): 2005 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Jekel Vineyards (CA): 2004 Monterey Cabernet Sauvignon
J. Lohr Estates (CA): 2004 Hilltop Vineyard, Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon
ZD Wines (CA): 2004 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Forest Glen Reserve (CA): 2003 Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon
Eaton Hill Winery (WA): 2003 Yakima Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Askerne Estate (NZ): 2004 Hawke's Bay Merlot/Malbec/Cab Sauvignon/Cab Franc
Windsor Vineyards (CA): 2004 North Coast Meritage
Peter Vella (CA): NV Merlot
Hahn Estates (CA): 2005 Monterey Merlot
Hook & Ladder Winery (CA): 2005 Russian River Valley Merlot
Raymond Vineyard (CA): 2004 R Collection California Merlot
V. Sattui Winery (CA): 2004 Napa Valley Merlot
Camelot Winery (CA): 2003 California
Bianchi Vineyards (CA): 2004 Paso Robles Syrah
Church & State Wines (BC): 2005 Okanagan Valley Pinot Noir
Baileyana Winery (CA): Pinot Noir 2005 Grand Firepeak Cuvee, Edna Valley
Willowbrook Cellars (CA): 2004 Russian River Valley Estate Grown Pinot Noir
V. Sattui Winery (CA): 2006 California White Zinfandel
Handley Cellars (CA): 2006 Mendocino County Pinot Rose
Chateau Reynella (AU): 2004 McLaren Vale Grenache
Little Boomey (AU): Shiraz 2006 South Australia
Kendall-Jackson Vineyards (CA): 2005 Vintner's Reserve Syrah
Michael Pozzan Winery (CA): 2005 Napa Valley Syrah
Wyndham Estate (AU): 2004 Bin 555 Shiraz
Eberle Winery (CA): 2004 Paso Robles, Steinbeck Vineyard Syrah
Bridge Pa Vineyards (NZ): 2004 Louis Syrah
Eberle Winery (CA): 2005 Cotes-du-Robles
Fetzer Vineyards (CA): 2005 Valley Oaks Zinfandel
Victor Hugo (CA): 2005 Paso Robles, Estate Zinfandel
Rancho Zabaco Winery (CA): 2004 Heritage Vines Zinfandel
Rodney Strong Vineyards (CA): 2004 Knotty Vines Zinfandel
Trecini (CA): 2004 Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel
Vina Robles Winery (CA): 2004 Paso Robles Red 4
Breitenbach Winey (OH): NV Frost Fire
Stone Hill Winery (MO): 2006 Steinberg White
Jacob's Creek Wines (AU): 2005 Chardonnay Reserve
Glen Carlou (South Africa): Chardonnay 2005 Paarl, South Africa
ZD Wines (CA): 2005 Reserve Chardonnay, Napa Valley
Covey Run (WA): 2005 Columbia Valley Chardonnay
Willowbrook Cellars (CA): 2004 Russian River Valley Chardonnay
Devil's Lair (AU): 2005 Fifth Leg White
Windsor Vineyards (CA): 2006 Chenin Blanc
Navarro Vineyards (CA): 2005 Gewurztraminer 2005 California, Cuvee Traditional
Sumac Ridge Estate Winery (BC): 2006 Private Reserve Gewurztraminer
Anthony Road Wine Company (NY) 2006 Finger Lakes Riesling
Ferrante Winery (OH): 2005 Grand River Valley Riesling
Brassfield Estate (CA): 2005 Late Harvest Johannisberg Riesling
Duck Walk Vineyard (NY): 2004 Sauvignon Blanc
Miramonte Winery (CA): 2004 Sauvignon Blanc
Peter Lehmann Wines (AU): 2005 Barossa Valley Semillon
Navarro Vineyards (CA): 2005 Anderson Valley Muscat Blanc
Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi (CA): 2005 California Muscat
Hester Creek Estate Winery (BC): 2006 Okanagan Valley Pinot Blanc
Norman Vineyards (CA): 2006 Santa Barbara County Pinot Grigio
Breitenbach Winey (OH): NV America Viognier
Rabbit Ridge (CA): 2005 Paso Robles Viognier
Callaway Winery (CA): 2005 Temecula Roussanne
Oak Knoll Winery (OR): NV Niagara
Montelle Winery (MO): 2006 Seyval Blanc
Dr. Konstantin Frank (NY): 2006 Rkatsiteli
Andeluna Cellars (Argentina): 2006 Winemakers Selection Torrante's
Ackerman Winery (IA): 2006 Red Raspberry
Navarro Vineyards (CA): 2005 Anderson Valley White Riesling
Leelanau Cellars (MI): Cherry
Leonesse Cellars (CA): 2003 Tucalota Vineyard Cinsault Port
Rancho de Philo NV Triple Cream Sherry

2007 Riverside International Wine Competition
Value Winery of the Year - Concannon Vineyard (CA)

Sweepstakes Awards
Sweepstakes Sparkling Wine: Mumm Napa (CA) - NV Methode Champenoise Brut
Sweepstakes Rose Wine: Barnard Griffin Winery (WA) - 2006 Sangiovese Rose
Sweepstakes White Wine: Chateau Lafayette Reneau (NY) - 2006 Johannisberg Riesling
Sweepstakes Red Wine: Victor Hugo (CA) - 2005 Estate Zinfandel
Sweepstakes Dessert Wine: Navarro Vineyards (CA) - 2005 Navarro Vineyards Muscat, Late-Harvest Cluster Select (Blanc)

Chairman's Award (Unanimous Gold)
Michael~David Winery (CA): 2004 Earthquake Syrah
Sebastiani Vineyards & Winery (CA): 2003 Merlot
Rutherford Wine Company (CA): 2005 Grand Pacific Starliner Red
Breitenbach Wine Cellars (OH): NV Vidal Blanc Ice Wine
Navarro Vineyards (CA): 2005 Late-Harvest Riesling
Foster's Wine Estates (AU): 2006 Lindemans Shiraz
Foster's Wine Estates (NZ): 2006 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
Kendall-Jackson Wine Estates (CA): 2004 Mt Veeder Highland Estates Cabernet Sauvignon
Concannon Vineyards (CA): 2004 Sauvignon Blanc
Weibel Family Wine Group (CA): 2005 Mendocino Chardonnay
Pilot Peak Vineyard & Winery (CA): 2005 Paramour
Spangler Vineyards (OR): 2005 Sundown Vineyard Cabernet Franc
Mumm Napa (CA): Brut Prestige NV
Maurice Carrie Winery (CA): 2006 Muscat
Windsor Vineyards (CA): 2004 Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon
Windsor Vineyards (CA): 2006 Mendocino County Semillon
Carneros Creek Winery (CA): 2005 Reserve Pinot Noir
Chalet Debonne (OH): 2006 Riesling
Red Newt Cellars (NY): 2005 Cabernet Franc
Astrale E Terra (CA): 2002 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Peninsula Cellars (MI): 2005 Gewurztraminer
Pedroncelli Winery (CA): 2006 Dry Creek Valley Vintage Selection
Yangarra Estate Vineyard (AU): 2005 Shiraz
Swedish Hill Winery (NY): NV Concord
Swedish Hill Winery (NY): 2005 Late Harvest Vignoles
Vinum Cellars (CA): 2006 Chenin Blanc
Quail Creek Cellars: 2002 North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon
Baldwin Vineyards (NY): Raspberry
V. Sattui Winery (CA): 2005 Napa Valley Sattui Family
Silver Mountain Vineyards (CA): 2004 Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir
WineSmith (CA): 2004 Cabernet Franc
Madrona Vineyards (CA): 2004 El Dorado Reserve, Estate
Baileyana Winery (CA): 2005 Edna Valley Chardonnay
Trinchero Family Estates (CA): 2004 Napa Valley Main Street Cabernet Sauvignon
Trinchero Family Estates (CA): 2004 Napa Valley Stagecoach Cabernet Sauvignon
Trinchero Family Estates (CA): 2006 Montevina Pinot Gris
Carol Shelton Wines (CA): 2006 Rendezvous Rose
Black Star Farms (MI): 2006 Riesling
Renteria (CA): 2005 Carneros Pinto Noir
Cline Cellars (CA): 2005 Contra Costa Mourvedre
Cosentino Winery (CA): 2005 Lodi Tempranillo
Cosentino Winery (CA): 2005 California Chardonnay
Sunset Cellars (CA): 2003 Twin Creeks Vineyard Barbera
Cosentino Winery (CA): 2005 California White Meritage
Geyser Peak Winery (CA): 2005 Alexander Valley Chardonnay
Granite Springs Winery (CA): 2004 Estate Zinfandel
Granite Springs Winery (CA): 2004 Petite Syrah
Wattle Creek Winery (CA): 2003 Alexander Valley Syrah
Barboursville Vineyards (VA): 2006 Pinot Gris
Fess Parker Winery (CA): 2005 Santa Barbara Pinot Noir
Jackson Family Farms (CA): 2004 Mendocino Zinfandel
Jackson Family Farms (CA): 2003 Sonoma Merlot
Fox Run Vineyards (NY) 2005 Dry Riesling
Chateau Lafayette Reneau (NY): 2005 Finger Lakes Chardonnay
Galleano Winery (CA): 2000 Zinfandel Port
Ste. Chapelle Winery (ID): 2005 Merlot
St. James Winery (MO): Niagara (Country White)
St. James Winery (MO): 2005 Late Harvest Chardonel
Brandt Family Winery (CA): 2005 Santa Barbara Syrah
Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards (NY): 2006 Off-Dry Riesling
Chrysalis Vineyards (VA): 2005 Barrel Select Norton
Mount Palomar Winery (CA): 2003 Temecula Valley Meritage

June Wine Festivals

The Wine-Compass.com event database contains over 2,200 upcoming events (as of Memorial Weekend) in the United States and Canada. For those looking for wine festivals in June, here is a short list of events in a few states:

California
Carneros Heritage Fest – Sonoma: June 1st & 2nd
Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival – Temecula: June 1st-2nd
Taste of the Valley - Alexander Valley Winegrowers: June 2nd-3rd
Monterey Wine Festival – Monterey: June 7th-9th
Atascadero Wine Festival – Atascadero: June 22nd-23rd
Grape Escape – Sacramento: June 23rd
Taste of Howell Mountain - Howell Mountain Vintners & Growers Association: June 23rd

Colorado
Food & Wine Classic – Aspen: June 15th-17th
26th Annual Telluride Wine Festival – Telluride: June 28th – July 1st

Idaho
Sun Valley Food & Wine Festival - Sun Valley: June 8th-10th
An Odyssey of Fine Art, Wine and music at Silver Mountain Resort - June 16th

Indiana
Vintage Indiana - Military Park, Indianapolis: June 2nd

Louisiana
Southern Breeze Coastal Wine Tour – Baton Rouge: June 15th-17th

Maryland
Great Grapes - Oregon Ridge Park, Cockeysville, Maryland: June 9th-10th
Swingin' Blues Wine Festival - Linganore Wine Cellars: June 23rd-24th

Michigan
Rattlesnake's Summer Wine Festival - The Rattlesnake, Detroit: June 6th
Lake Michigan Shore Wine Festival - Weko Beach, Bridgman: June 23rd

New Mexico
4th Annual Fine Art & Wine Festival - Brandenburg Park, Red River: June 16th-17th

New York
Barbecue at the Wineries I - Keuka Lake Wine Trail: June 9th-10th
Barbecue at the Wineries II - Keuka Lake Wine Trail: June 23rd-24th

North Carolina
NC Wine Tour- Haw River – Morrisville – June 2nd
7th annual North Carolina Wine Festival - Tanglewood Park, Clemmons: June 9th
Salute! The North Carolina Wine Celebration - Winston Salem: June 24th

Ohio
Holidays-in-the-Round Wine Trail - Wing Watch and Wine Trail: June 2nd-3rd; June 9th-10th Salute to America - Appalacian Trail: June 16th-17th; June 23rd-24th
Second Annual Cleveland Wine Festival - Voinovich Park, Cleveland: June 29th-30th

Ontario
Niagara New Vintage Festival Winery Touring Passport - Niagara-on-the-Lake: June 9th – 17th
Oregon
4th Annual Summer Barrel Tour - Wineries of Lane County: June 17th & 24th
Wine, Chocolate & More - Polk County Fairgrounds, Rickreall: June 30th

Pennsylvania
Great Grapes – Philadelphia: June 2nd
Great Tastes of Pennsylvania Wine and Food Festival - Split Rock Resort: June 23rd-24th

Virginia
Vintage Virginia - Bull Run park, Centreville: June 2nd-3rd
Wintergreen Festival of Wines - Wintergreen Resort: June 16th
Manassas Wine & Jazz Festival - Old Town Manassas: June 17th
2007 Wine Festival at the Pines – Danville: June 24th

Washington
Leavenworth Wine Walk – Leavenworth: June 2nd-June 4th
First Annual Northwest Corks & Crush - Washington State Fairgrounds: June 23rd
Sunshine & Wine - State Fair Park, Yakima: June 23rd
5th Annual Lemberger/Lamburger BBQ - Chateau Champoux: June 23rd

West Virginia
West Virginia Wine and Regional Cuisine Festival - Stonewall Resort, Weston: June 9th
West Virginia Spring Wine Festival - Daniel Vineyards: June 16th-17th
Wine & All That Jazz Festival - University Of Charleston, Charleston: June 23rd

Forks of Cheat Winery

From Deep Creek Cellars, I headed west into Morgantown West Virginia, to visit one of our favorite wineries, Forks of Cheat Winery. We first tasted their wine at last year’s Berkeley Springs wine festival and fell in love with their fruit wines and the Foch based -Black Jewel Port. Today the winery was hosting Red Wine Tasting and Sales event which included entertainment from the bluegrass group, Weedhawks. Forks of Cheat is owned and operated by Jerry and Susan Deal, and their son Eric. The family is extremely hospitable and friendly, ready to engage in conversation and discuss their “hobby”. The winery opened in 1990, and it is best to quote why: “Who would have thought that getting caught stealing grapes would lead Jerry Deal to ownership of one of West Virginia’s foremost wineries? Well, that’s just what happened! When a neighbor chastised Jerry for eating grapes from her vines (on his side of the fence), he planted his own. In no time at all, the grape vines were so prolific that eating them all was out of the question. Wine making was the next choice. After several years of home wine making, recognition in amateur competitions, and the support of his friends, Jerry Deal decided to turn his hobby into a business. And so, Forks of Cheat Winery was established in July of 1990.”

The hobby struggled initially since selling wine in a small state, where 98% of the population doesn’t drink, was extremely difficult. And of the 2% that did drink, they preferred beer and liquor. But eventually advice from a UWV professor changed this situation. This professor told the Deal’s that their business model was flawed, instead of selling wine, Forks of Cheat sells gifts. Even if someone doesn’t drink, they know someone who does, so buy the wine as a gift. To facilitate this model, Eric has design award winning labels and custom labels for special occasions. The result, the winery now sells 2 dozen types of wine, and they just became the state’s third bonded distillery.

After hearing Mr. Deal explain the tax situation, I wonder why they started the distillery. The Federal government taxes the whiskey based on bulk product and proof. Thus, if the liquor is 150%, then the feds tax it 1.5 times. Then the state taxes the wholesale product at 28%, and the retail tax is 11%. How will they make a profit? We will see because the liquor will finally be available by the end of this month. The brandy (Peach, Pear, Blackberry, Cherry and Apple) will have low alcohol levels, since they want to market the wine to older women, who prefer a less alcoholic brandy. And eventually Forks of Cheat will produce Grappa, made from the second fermentation of skins, stems, seeds, etc from the wine grapes.

Even though Forks of Cheat is located just on the outskirts of Morgantown, it seems as if it is situated far into the countryside. The winery overlooks a small valley, with the vines planted on the sloped below. There are two decks; the larger surrounded by beautiful landscaping and Koi ponds. Even without today’s music, this is a great environment to share a glass of wine, relaxing in the sun or shade.

Since it was a red wine tasting event, that’s all I drank. These wines included the viniferia Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon and the hybrid DeChaunac, Chambourcin, Baco Noir, and Leon Millot based Burgundy as well as the sweet Van Buren. The Van Buren is similar to Concord and is one of the winery’s best sellers. I really enjoyed the hybrids; all are medium bodied wines with low tannins which provide a smooth finish. The Chambourcin is slightly spicier than the Baco Noir and Burgundy, but each had a unique, drinkable flavor.

When visiting a winery, look for products that you normally do not have access to. Forks of Cheat produces plenty of these, such as their Niagara - Watson’s White Port, Bad Cat Catawba blush wine, the Baco Noir, DeChaunac, Leon Millot, and my favorite, the Foch – Black Jewel Port. And soon, you will have access to fruit liquor and Grappa. Quite a range of “gifts”.

Before leaving Morgantown Jerry recommended I purchase a bottle of Mountain Moonshine, distilled by his friend and West Virginia’s first distillery, the West Virginia Distilling Company. The whiskey is a clear corn whiskey made from 20% corn and 80% neutral grains. The whiskey is very clean tasting, with a slight sweetness; but be prepared, this whisky is strong.

Deep Creek Cellars

On Saturday, May 19th, I decided to avoid the crowds congregating in Front Royal and Columbia and venture out to Maryland’s most western winery, Deep Creek Cellars. Located on the extreme panhandle, the winery is minutes from West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Deep Creek Lake, the later which drives most traffic to the winery from its spring through autumn visitors. Deep Creek Cellars is owned and operated by Paul Roberts, who started the first vineyard in Garrett County in 1997, by planting Cabernet Franc and Vidal grapes. He also helps manage a second Garrett County vineyard grow Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay and Vidal. Mr. Roberts first started making home wine in the early 1990s after planting Cynthiana grapes in a leased plot in western Pennsylvania. He started from scratch, researching not only how to grow grapes, but how to operate a tractor, post a trellis, etc. After a few years making home wine, he searched for land to purchase to establish his own vineyard\winery. The result - Deep Creek Cellars. Over years, the winery has slowly gained a strong following and reputation and recently Baltimore Magazine selected it as the best Maryland winery. And now several Baltimore retail outlets carry large quantities of their wines.

Mr. Roberts is not only a self-taught expert on wine-making and grape growing, but he is also a self taught expert on grape varietals. This is evident from reading his blog and his book, From This Hill, My Hand, Cynthiana's Wine. Published in 1999, the book describes his early experiences growing wine – up to - the creation of Deep Creek Cellars.

Deep Creek Cellars offers two white wines, the Seyval-Chardonnay based Yellow Jacket White and the White Linen Reserve. Of the two, I preferred the later, which is a blend of estate & northern Virginia Vidal Blanc, southeastern Pennsylvania Seyval, and estate & California Chardonnay: three grapes from four appellations. The wine is dry, with a slight earthy flavor, the body and texture of a chardonnay and the slightly sweet-spiciness of a Vidal. This is a great blend, each grape complimenting the wine but not dominating it. On the other hand, while finishing the tasting, a patron entered specifically to purchase the Yellow Jacket White, describing it as her favorite wine.

For reds, Deep Creek Cellars offers three very good, dry wines. The Artisan Red is your everyday value wine. It is predominately Grenache and Carignan, lightly oaked, and unfiltered. It is very fruit forward with berry flavors with a smooth finish. Priced at less than 10 dollars, this is a bargain. The next wine is the winery’s best seller and my favorite, the Watershed Red Reserve. Made from Cabernet France and small amounts of Zinfandel and Petit Verdot, this wine is a home run. The aromas are amazing, often I didn’t bother sipping, and I just wanted to smell the wine. Once I did try the wine, it was great; full-bodied and dry, yet soft and smooth. It has a fruit forward cherry flavor and a smooth, slightly vanilla-ish finish. Excellent. The next red was the Ursa Major, and equal blend of Virginia Cynthiana, California Zinfandel, and California Grenache. Mr. Roberts prefers blending Cynthiana instead of making a vintage Cynthiana wine, so he chose to use two American classic grapes with the Grenache. This blend is very interesting; bold cherry flavors with a spicy finish. As much as I love each of these grape varieties, I somehow think it’s overshadowed by the Watershed Red Reserve. Finally, Mr. Roberts offered me a glass of his upcoming Cabernet Franc Rose, which he plans to bottle this summer. The wine is an excellent dry rose; dry, but soft and refreshing. This wine will be versatile, drinkable alone or with a meal. Look for it this summer.

The only downside to visiting Deep Creek Cellars is the distance, 2-3 hours from the Washington metro area. Once you reach western Maryland, there are plenty of other attractions from historic Cumberland, to Deep Creek Lake and the Youghiogheny River. Or, you could continue into West Virginia….

Today’s Bordeaux

On Thursday, May 10th, we participated in the Bordeaux Wine Bureau’s second annual Today’s Bordeaux tasting of 100 “classic, contemporary, affordable wines”. This was a trade-only tasting designed to introduce distributors, retailers, and wine writers to 100 of the best Bordeaux wines that retail for less than $25. An independent jury selected the wines from over 300 wines entered. In addition, several of the winemakers were present to represent their wines and the region on behalf of the Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux (CIVB).

Before attending this event, we were familiar with the high priced Bordeaux red wines that are often featured in Wine Spectator and other sources. We were a little skeptical that there were even Bordeaux wines available for less then $25. Were we ever wrong. In fact 80% of the wines produced in Bordeaux fall within this price range. Not only were the wines fantastic, but the majority were less than $15. Complete bargains - particularly when locally produced wines now cost more than $20. It was also fascinating listening to the winemakers discuss Bordeaux – the terrior: from the appellations to how elevation and location affects not only which grapes to grow, but what percentages to use in the blend. Fascinating stuff.

The white wines were blends of Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, and sometimes Muscadelle. This grape has a similar aroma as the Muscat family of grapes, but is unrelated. And this aroma led us to prefer the blends with higher percentages of Muscadelle. Our favorite was the Chateau Lamothe De Haux 2006 – a blend of 40% Sémillon, 40% Sauvignon Blanc, and 20% Muscadelle from the Bordeaux appellation. The winemaker, Damien Chombart, explained that the Muscadelle is used for its excellent aroma, but it is a very fragile grape – prone to noble rot. The finished wine has flavors of kiwi and grapefruit. This wine retails between $12 and $14. Another white that we enjoyed was the Chateau Villa Bel-Air Blanc 2004 ($20), a blend of 45% Sémillon, 40% Sauvignon Blanc, and 5% Muscadelle. The best non-Muscadelle blends were the Saint Savin 2005 (60% Sémillon - 40% Sauvignon Blanc); the La Vigne D’Argent 2005 (75% Sauvignon Blanc - 25% Sémillon); and the Vieux Chateaux Gaubert 2005 (50% Sauvignon Blanc - 50% Sémillon). Fortunately, there was also dessert wine, an incredible Sauternes – the Castelnau de Suduiraut 2003 (90% Sémillon -10% Sauvignon Blanc). This wine just melted in your mouth and at $20 it is more affordable than ice wines or many late harvest wines.

The red wines were either vintage Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, or a blend of the three. In a few cases, a small percent of Petit Verdot or Malbec were added to the blend. Our favorite was the Chateau Taffard 2005, a 50-50 blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon from the Médoc appellation. Chateau Tafford has been operating for 163 years and ages this wine in stainless steel. The result: a full-bodied, dry wine, but the low tannins provide a long soft finish – very smooth. And at $12-$14, this is a bargain. Another excellent wine that is aged in stainless steel was the Roc de Jean Lys 2005 and blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc. Aging in steel allows the grapes to speak for themselves; this wine is full of berry flavors and a balanced smooth finish. And its only $15. Another great wine was the Chateau Robin 2003 a blend of 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Cabernet Franc from the Cotes de Castillon appellation. This wine is aged one year in oak and is a balanced full-bodied wine. Jerome Caille, the wine maker, informed us that his goal is to produce a drinkable wine with low sulfates. If the wine is made carefully with quality fruit, sulfites are unnecessary.

Although I’d like to discuss all the wines, the last I must mention was the 2005 FreeRange Red Bordeaux another 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Cabernet Franc blend. Produced by the JuiceBox Wine Company, the Red Bordeaux is one of seven Bordeaux wines available, by; yes; a 3-liter box. First, the wine is excellent; otherwise it would not have been selected to participate in the tasting. Second, it is incredibly affordable – priced at $27 a box – this converts to $6.75 a bottle. Finally, the process is simple. Eric Delong, a fifth generation Bordeaux winemaker searches the area for outstanding wines from small producers. The wines are blended and packaged in France, then shipped to the states. We will have several available at our next family cookout.

We left the Today’s Bordeaux tasting completely infatuated with the wines and winemakers. Bordeaux is not the home of stuffy, high priced wines; but friendly and affordable ones. We strongly recommend visiting the Bordeaux Wine Bureau and trying one of the 100.

Wine 101 - Blanc Du Bois

Traditionally, grapes are cultivated in each region based on geographic conditions, and not necessarily on which wine is is most popular in the market. In this regard, American winemakers in the southeast and Gulf states have been limited in the grapes that they can cultivate because the humid conditions of their terrior promote the development of Pierce's disease. Vitis Viniferia grapes are particularly susceptible to this disease, in which bacteria attacks the "water conducting" elements of the vines (xylem). Thus wine growers in this region were primarily dependent on growing native Muscadine grapes, which were mostly resistant to the disease. Researchers at the University of Florida’s Leesburg Research Station, began a program to create a new grape that was fully resistant to Pierce's disease. Led by Dr. John Mortenson, in 1968, the team was able to develop a complex hybrid grape from crossing a Florida-developed muscadine hybrid with the Cardinal (a Vinifera hybrid) table grape. They called this new white grape Blanc Du Bois, and claimed that is was completely resistant to the destructive disease. For the past two decades, southern winemakers have validated this claim by producing dry, fruity Blanc Du Bois wines, many which have won medals in international competitions. Although Florida was it's original birthplace, this grape has flourished in other humid regions in the United States, particularly in Texas.

One Texas winery, Haak Vineyards & Winery, was one of the first wineries in the country to cultivate Blanc du Bois. In the early 1970’s Raymand Haak contacted the University in Florida after reading about their efforts to create a grape resistant to Pierce's Disease. He ordered a few Blanc du Bois vines and began experimenting with the grapes he grew. He believed that it had great potential to produce premium wines and encouraged other local vineyards to plant the variety. His foresight has proven correct since his winery has produced numerous medal winning dry and off-dry Blanc du Bois wines. The winery’s best wine comes from the two acres of 24 year old vines growing in his vineyard. In addition, the winery is able to purchase tons of quality Blanc du Bois grapes from commercial growers in his region. From these grapes, Haak Winery produces two distinct styles of wine. The first style is finished off-dry with 3% residual sugar. If exhibits a flavor profile similar to a nice clean crisp Riesling with flavors of peach, pear, pineapple and other tropical fruit. The second style is finished dry. It exhibits citrus flavors with grapefruit being predominant and finishing with slight hints of lemon, banana, and honey – similar to a clean crisp New Zealand style Sauvignon Blanc. However, Mr. Haak explains, “make no mistake about it, Blanc du Bois is its own grape variety and is winning loyal consumers every day”. These “loyal consumers” purchase the entire stock of each year’s vintage and even includes wine judges, who have awarded Haak Winery medals for its Blanc du Bois, since the first vintage. Among the many medals awarded in 2005, were Silver at the Indiana International Wine Competition, Bronze at the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition, and Silver and Bronze at the Texas Best Wine Competition. In addition, the dry Blanc du Bois was awarded Best of Show at the Texas Best Wine Competition. The primary hindrance that Mr. Haak experiences is the lack of name recognition that encumbers several of the varieties reported in this Vitis Labrusca section. Blanc du Bois is sold primarily through the tasting room, where the general public overwhelmingly enjoys the unique characteristics of this grape. However, he does not expect the wine buyer to purchase this wine at a retail outlet, when they probably have never heard of the fruit. He has even had name recognition problems with wine judges, where one was reported to ask “What grape is this wine made from?”

Two other Texas wineries, Los Pinos Ranch Vineyards and Tehuacana Creek Vineyards and Winery, started cultivating Blanc Du Bois after looking for a vine that is resistant to Pierce disease and as a bonus, found that this grape makes world class wine. Los Pinos Ranch is a small family-owned winery located in east Texas almost half way between Dallas and Shreveport. The winery’s philosophy is to encourage people to be adventurous in your wine tasting, and to meet this goal, they are producing three versions of Blanc Du Bois. The first is a dry white wine - similar to Viognier; the second is a semi-sweet wine in a Riesling style; and the third will be a malolactic barrel fermented dry wine that will taste like peaches. As with many non-vinifera grapes, many “wine critics/experts” have preconceived notions about what grapes and regions will produce good wine and thus give Blanc Du Bois scant notice. Jeff Sneed, the winery’s winemaker, is firmly convinced that given a blind taste test, Blanc Du Bois can compete with any “French” grape. We completely agree with Mr. Sneed when he advises, “Don’t listen to wine ‘experts’. Most people know what tastes good when they put it in their mouth.”

Tehuacana Creek Vineyards and Winery is a family owned and operated vineyard located in Waco, Texas. They are pleased to be able to produce a unique and premium white wine such as Blanc du Bois without having to produce “yet another Chardonnay”. Their Blanc du Bois is aged in stainless steel which gives the wine a crisper and livelier fruit taste which further distinguishes it from classic American whites. According to the winery, their Blanc du Bois combines the crisp fruit of a Riesling with the aromatic flavors of a Muscato and a touch of spiciness reminiscent of a Gewürtztraminer. It has also received a welcome reception from the Texan wine public by earning accolades at this year's Annual Heart of Texas Wine and Food Festival. Ulf Westblom, the winery’s Winemaker, also recommends aging the wine for several years – unlike other white wines, Blanc du Bois will further develop in the bottle.

Traveling east into Louisiana, Landry Vineyards has been cultivating Blanc Du Bois since the vineyards were first planted in 1999. Located in the town of Folsom, in St. Tammany Parish, the winery seeks to produce quality Louisiana wines that are distinctive to the region and Blanc Du Bois meets this criteria based on its resistance to Pierce disease, its tolerance to heat and its ability to produce quality wine. Landry Vineyards produces three versions of the wine: Blanc Du Bois Dry, Blanc Du Bois Oak Aged, and Blanc Du Bois Semi-Sweet. According to the winery’s tasting notes, “each version possesses clean crisp flavors of fruit including peach, pear, tropical fruit with hints of wood character and honey-suckle aromas”. Jeff Landry, the owner/winemaker, believes this grape produces a nice wine and is excited about their current success producing Blanc Du Bois.

Blanc du Bois will never receive the public exposure as Chardonnay or Riesling. But its worth a try.

Results of the 2006 Jefferson Cup Invitational

We are quite a bit behind schedule posting competition results, one of which was the 2006 Jefferson Cup. "The Jefferson Cup Invitational, a seven-year-old wine competition, is the only competition that honors the best of the best among US wineries from all of America’s wine regions. Each year we select great wines from across America. This year, at the end of the second day of tasting, December 1 st, 2006, wines from seven different states had captured top honors. Just as the event’s namesake would have it, democracy reigned at this year’s Jefferson Cup Wine Competition. The Jefferson Cup Invitational does not award golds, silvers and the like. Rather, the invited wines have all proven their excellence in competitions and tastings throughout the last year. We believe and try to publicize our belief that these are wines that are extremely deserving of the nation’s attention.

This year, out of four hundred ninety-nine chosen wines, the judges chose just over two hundred thirty-six wines to receive the “Certificate of American Merit”, which respects wines exemplary of their regions and varieties. Next the judges chose ninety wines (there was no pre-ordained number or percentage) that they believed were truly great examples. Those will receive certificates announcing them as “American Examples of Greatness”.

This year, sixty-seven wines were selected as Jefferson Cup honorees; these wines were nominated by the four judging committees to receive Jefferson Cups. Out of those sixty-seven honored wines, the judges picked nineteen wines to be awarded the Jefferson Cups. By selecting both vinifera and non-vinifera wines for the Jefferson Cup each year, the hope is to respect the diversity of American viticulture and Jefferson's own acceptance of native varieties and hybrids. For the first time, the judges chose to honor three of the Jefferson Cup nominees with a new, top award called THE JEFFERSON TROPHY." Courtesy of the 2006 Jefferson Cup.
The 2006 JEFFERSON TROPHY winners were:
White Hall Vineyards Petit Manseng 2005 Monticello
Jade Mountain La Provencale 2004 California
Stone Hill Winery Late Harvest Vignoles 2005 Missouri

The 2006 JEFFERSON CUP winners were:

For Non-Vinifera White Wine:
Augusta Winery Seyval Blanc 2005 Missouri
Chalet Debonne’ Vidal Blanc 2005 Ohio
Montelle Winery Vignoles Dry 2005 Missouri

For Vinifera Red Wine:
Trespass Vineyards Cabernet Franc 2003 St. Helena
Snoqualmie Vineyards Merlot Reserve 2003 Columbia Valley
Andrew Will Winery Syrah Annie Camarda 2002 Red Mountain/Horse Heaven Hills
Michael David Earthquake Syrah 2004 Lodi
Ridge Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Montebello 2003
Columbia Crest Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2004 Columbia Valley
Clos du Bois Marlstone 2003 Sonoma
Cosentino Winery The Poet 2003
Concannon Vineyards Petite Sirah Limited Release 2004 Central Coast
Rancho Zabaco Zinfandel Heritage Vines 2004 Sonoma County

For Non-Vinifera Red Wine:
St. Julian Vineyards Red Heron nv Michigan

For Dessert Wine:
Flat Creek Estate Moscato Blanco 2005 Texas Hill Country
St. James Winery Late Harvest Chardonel 2004 Missouri
Stone Hill Winery Cream Sherry nv Missouri
Rotta Winery Black Monukka 2003 California

Wine in the Woods Preview

The first Maryland wine festival of the year will take place May 19th and 20th in Columbia's Symphony Woods, adjacent to Merriweather Post Pavilion. Last year's festival was attended by record crowds whcih lead to long lines at the tasting tents. We recommend arriving early and once the lines form, select a few wineries that you haven't experienced before.

The following wineries will be participating at the event:
Basignani Winery, Boordy Vineyards, Cove Point Winery, Cygnus Wine Cellars, Deep Creek Cellars, Elk Run Vineyards, Fiore Winery, Frederick Cellars, Fridays Creek Winery, Linganore Wine Cellars, Little Ashby Vineyards, Loew Vineyards, Penn Oaks Winery, Solomons Island Winery, Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard, St. Michaels Winery, Tilmon's Island Winery, Woodhall Wine Cellars.

The first winery we plan to visit is Fridays Creek Winery, a new winery located in southern Maryland. We look forward to trying this winery's wide array of wines from Gewürztraminer and Riesling to Syrah and old Vine Zinfandel. Sugar Loaf Mountain is also a relatively new winery that you shouldn't miss. We will then stop by Deep Creek Cellars, the farthest winery from the Washington DC area. This is usually our only chance to taste their wines and we hope their Ursa Major (5% Cynthiana, 35% Zinfandel, 30% Grenache blend) will be available. After that, we will see which tent has the shortest lines. In the last two years Linganore Cellars and Frederick Cellars have won the Governors Cup for their Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon - so they are both worth visits. Fiore Winery makes excellent Chambourcin, Loew Vineyards Chardonnay, Basignani Winery's Marisa (Foch, Chambourcin and Chancelor), Solomons Island Winery's Marytage, and Woodhall Wine Cellars' Cabernet. Plus, Penn Oaks Winery makes several excellent whites from German grapes and all the wines from Elk Run Vineyards are worth trying. You make the call.

As for entertainment, your best bet Saturday is to see the boogie blues of the Daryl Davis Band. He learned the piano from the great Pinetop Perkins and always performs a great show. On Sunday, don't miss Charles 'Big Daddy' Stallings. Stalling's most recent hit "4x4 Woman" reached #1 @ XM Radio (Bluesville).

Besides a wide variety of craft vendors, the festival will provide wine demonstrations each day. At 1:00 pm - Yogi Barrett, Wayne Peppers and Paul Bresson of the Tasters Guild International, will guide you through the wine tasting experience. At 2:00 pm - Maryland’s White Wines will be introduced by Yogi Barrett, Wayne Peppers and Paul Bresson. At 3:00 pm - Maryland’s Red Wines will be introduced by Yogi Barrett, Wayne Peppers and Paul Bresson. And at 4:00 pm - Maryland’s Sweet and Dessert Wines will be introduced by Yogi Barrett, Wayne Peppers and Paul Bresson.

See you there.

Linden Vineyards

Over the past three years we had heard several Virginia wine enthusiasts recommend a visit to Linden Vineyards. We were told that the winery provided excellent views of the surrounding hillsides and that the wine was some of the best produced in the state. We had previously tasted their Hardscrabble Chardonnay – and were instant fans - and were eager to try their other offerings. Linden is located just off Route 66 close to Front Royal – about 40 minutes from the Beltway. Once you exit Route 66 and reach Linden the trip is an enjoyable, twisting ride among cattle and horse farms. The winery, itself, sits on a hill with awesome views of the surrounding hills. The rumors were apparently true.

Over 25 years ago, Jim Law accepted his first job as a Virginian winemaker and eventually purchased the abandoned Hardscrabble Farm on the Blue Ridge Mountains. Through the years he increased his land holding so that currently all grapes used in Linden wines are grown in the mountains surrounding the winery. These vineyards now include the original Hardscrabble Vineyard, plus the Avenius and Boisseau vineyards.

Linden Vineyards provides a free tasting of several wines and a $12 reserve tasting on the weekends. Today we skipped the reserve tasting because of time constraints and participated in tasting their 2005 Seyval, 2006 Rosé, 2005 Cabernet Franc, 2003 Claret, and 2006 Vidal-Riesling. The 2005 Seyval is a dry wine with a strong grapefruit flavor and a slightly acidic finish. The 2006 Rosé is a blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot, made with minimal skin contact. This wine is also made dry which is a welcome change from the many sweeter Rosé styled wines on the market. The wine also has a nice berry flavor and a slightly grapefruit flavor finish. Interesting. Moving to their reds, the 2005 Cabernet Franc is outstanding. It is a full-bodied, dry wine with a cherry flavor and spicy finish. This is another example of the excellent Cabernet Franc made in Virginia. Their other red is the softer 2003 Claret, a blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot. The wine is medium bodied with berry flavors and a completely smooth finish. Finally, the 2006 Vidal-Riesling was a bomb – that is – a mouthful of acidity and citrus that moved throughout your mouth. Here is your summer wine; slightly sweet with spicy flavors. This is the one we took home.

It was satisfying to validate the many claims we had received regarding Linden’s wines. And we enjoyed “hanging out” on their deck, talking with other patrons about Linden and the Virginia wine industry. We are looking forward to our return visit and a trip into the reserve cellar.