Miracle Valley Vineyard

Today we traveled out to the beautiful rolling hills of Virginia horse country to visit another of the state's newest wineries: Miracle Valley Vineyard and Winery. The winery and vineyard are located on a former cattle pasture and the tasting room is situated in a hundred and twenty five year old restored farm house. Its always enjoyable driving through country roads in Fauquier County and driving to Miracle Valley is no exception - even though it is located only a few miles from Route 66. The Cunningham family have created a warm environment by providing both a front patio and back deck - which overlooks the catfish stocked pond. Plus, the grounds and farm house were still decorated for Halloween which provided an additional cosy atmosphere. To learn about the inspiration for Miracle Valley Vineyard, you can read this excellent article at the Fauquier Times-Democrat.

Miracle Valley produces wines from traditional vinifera grapes and their red wines are classic Bordeaux. The 2005 Cabernet Franc is medium bodied - very fruit forward and a smooth finish. This wine joins the crowded competition among quality Virginia Cabernet Franc. The 2006 Merlot is full bodied with a strong berry flavor and a long spicy finish. This was our favorite red, but the wine maker's favorite is the 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine is aged 11 months in American oak that produces a strong fruity bouquet and a very spicy finish.

Miracle Valley currently offers three Chardonnay wines. The 2006 Chardonnay is fermented and aged in stainless steel, which produces a fresh crisp wine with nice acidity and citrus flavors. There are two 2006 Reserve Chardonnay wines, one fermented and aged in Hungarian oak and the other fermented in stainless steel, then aged in American oak. The later is spicier and more complex - which made it our favorite of their chardonnay. The final white wine is their Sweet Michelle - but don't let the name fool you. This is more of a semi-dry wine at 2% residual sugar and made from one of our favorite grapes: Rkatsiteli. It has the familiar spicy flavor and a somewhat dry finish. For those looking for something different, this is it.

This next Sunday on November 11th, Miracle Valley is hosting a children's fishing tournament from 1:00-3:00. We will have to wait until the Spring for our next visit - perhaps when their Viognier will be ready for sale.

Merlot Murders: A Wine Country Mystery

Recently a family member inquired if I had read Ellen Crosby's Merlot Murders: A Wine Country Mystery. She had enjoyed reading about the various places in Virginia that Ms. Crosby had incorporated in her book. I had first learned of the Merlot Murders while visiting Swedenburg Estate Vineyard, where Ms. Crosby was a frequent visitor researching winemaking and the Virginia wine industry. A few months ago, Swedenburg hosted a book signing for her next book: Chardonnay Charade: A Wine Country Mystery. As you may recall, Juanita Swedenburg was the lead litigant in the Supreme Court's decision to force states to treat out of state wineries the same as in state wineries. Look for the December issue of the Virginia Wine Lover Magazine where Ms. Crosby will post a tribute to Mrs. Swedenburg as she "writes about her memories of Juanita Swedenburg and her contributions to the novel."

November Wine Festivals

The Wine-Compass.com event database contains over 566 upcoming events in the United States and Canada. For those looking for wine festivals in November, here is a short list of events in several states:

Arkansas
Eureka Springs Food and Wine Weekend - Carefree: November 7^th-11^th

Arizona
Carefree Fine Art and Wine Festival - Carefree: November 2^nd-4^th

British Columbia
Wine and Food Celebration – Whistler: November 8^th-11^th

California
17th Annual Harvest Celebration - San Luis Obispo Vintners Association: November 2^nd-4^th
The Art of Food & Wine – Desert Springs JW Marriott Resort & Spa, Palm Desert: November 8^th-11^th
11th Annual Great Wine Escape Weekend -Monterey: November 9^th-11^th
San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival - San Diego: November 14^th-18^th

Colorado
Denver International Wine Festival - Denver: November 1st-4^th

Delaware
Dover Downs Wine and Jazz Festival - Dover: November 9^th-11^th

Florida
Epcot Int'l Food & Wine Festival - Lake Buena Vista: September 28^th-November 11^th
17th Annual Holiday Open House - Lakeridge Winery: November 9^th-11^th
Suncoast Winefestival - Lakewood Ranch: November 10^th

Georgia
Our First Anniversary Celebration - Sharp Mountain Vineyards: November 30^th

Iowa
Holiday Food & Wine Weekend- Upper Mississippi Valley Wine Trail: November 3^rd-4^th

Kentucky
Holiday Open House - Smith-Berry Winery: November -24^th

Maryland
Waterfowl Festival - Easton: November 9^th-11^th

Massachusetts
New Wine Festival - Chester Hill Winery: November 3^rd-4^th
Wine and Apples Festival - Russell Orchards Winery: November 10^th-11^th

Michigan
Holiday Cheer - Southwest Michigan Wine Trail: November 10^th-11^th
The Big Grape Tour - Southeast Michigan Pioneer Wine Trail: November 10^th-11^th
Toast the Season - Leelanau Peninsula Vintners: November 10^th-11^th
Toast the Season - Leelanau Peninsula Vintners: November 17^th-18^th
Mac and Cheese Bakeoff - Old Mission Peninsula: November 24^th

Missouri
Holiday Fare Wine Trail - Hermann Wine Trail: November 17^th-18^th

New Jersey
Holiday Wine Trail Weekend - Garden State Wine Growers Association: November 23^th-25^th

New York
Holiday Wine Weekends – Chautauqua Lake Erie Wine Trail: November 3rd-4^th
Holiday Wine Weekends – Chautauqua Lake Erie Wine Trail: November 10^th-11^th
Keuka Holidays I – Keuka Lake Wine Trail: November 10^th-11th
Keuka Holidays II – Keuka Lake Wine Trail: November 17^th-18th
Deck the Halls – Seneca Lake Wine Trail: November 17^th-18th

Ontario
Ottawa Wine & Food Show- Ottawa: November 2^nd-7^th
"Taste the Season" – Niagara on the Lake Wineries: November 10^th-11^th
Gourmet Food & Wine Expo- Toronto: November 15^th-18^th
"Taste the Season" – Niagara on the Lake Wineries: November 17^th-18^th
"Taste the Season" – Niagara on the Lake Wineries: November 24^th-25^th

Oregon
Northwest Food and Wine Festival – Portland: November 10^th-11^th
2007 Wine Country Thanksgiving - Willamette Valley Wineries Association: November 23^rd-25^th

Pennsylvania
Holiday Wine Weekends – Chautauqua Lake Erie Wine Trail: November 3rd-4^th
Holiday Wine Weekends – Chautauqua Lake Erie Wine Trail: November 10^th-11^th
The Pennsylvania Food and Beverage Show - York: November 17^th-18^th
Nouveau Weekend - Go "NuVo" – Lehigh Valley Wine Trail: November 17^th-18^th

South Carolina
Blessing of the Vines - Irvin-House Vineyards: November 10^th
Island Fever Music Fest - La Belle Amie Vineyard: November 10^th
Holiday Spirits Fest - La Belle Amie Vineyard: November 24^th

Tennessee
Wine Down Main Street – Franklin: November 2^nd

Texas
Art & Wine Trail - Texas Hill Country Lake Region: November 17^th-18^th

Virginia
Harvest Passport Weekend - Heart of Virginia Wine Trail: November 3^rd-4^th
Deck the Halls Weekends & Wine Tasting - Shenandoah Valley Wine Growers Association: November 17^th-18^th
Grand Opening - Bluemont Vineyards: November 17^th-18^th
Deck the Halls Weekends & Wine Tasting - Shenandoah Valley Wine Growers Association: November 24^th-25^th

Washington
Thanksgiving in the Wine Country - Yakima Valley: November 23^rd-25^th
Autum Barrel Tasting - Columbia Cascade Winery Association: November 30^th-December 2^nd

Fincastle Vineyard & Winery: Cabernet Franc 2004

Virginia is becoming well known for producing two very good vinifera wines: Viognier and Cabernet Franc. Recently we opened a bottle of perhaps our favorite Virginia-made Cabernet Franc from this season, Fincastle Vineyard & Winery's Cabernet Franc 2004. Since Fincastle is located at the southwestern part of the state, it is difficult for us in the northern part to sample their wines. However we were able to get our hands on this bottle at a state wine festival earlier this year. Their Cabernet Franc us a full bodied red wine that has been aged 12 months in American oak. It has a very fruit forward nose and flavor - with a long dry finish as the cherry flavors flow from start to finish. We hope to visit the winery soon to see what other gems they produce.

Christensen Ridge; Madison, Virginia

On a recent trip to the Graves Mountain Lodge Apple Festival we snuck into nearby Christensen Ridge, located a few miles south on Route 231. While driving to the winery, you pass through rolling hills of cattle pasture and even drive through a working farmyard – before reaching the secluded winery and guest houses. Yes, guest houses – each rentable for weekends, weddings, business retreats, etc. During our visit, there was a steady stream of people who had navigated their way up the driveway, many returning home from the Apple Festival or from sightseeing in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Christensen Ridge offered four wines during our tasting; but they plan to offer a larger selection as the winery expands. Their vineyard includes some of the oldest vinifera vines in Virginia as well as newer plantings of Viognier, Petite Verdot, Petite Manseng, and Norton. The first wine was the 2002 Viognier, the Virginia specialty. This wine is very good with an apricot flavor and a refreshing, slightly acidic finish. Next we tried their 2002 Chardonnay, which we liked more than the Viognier. Normally, we pass on the Chardonnay, but this wine is good. It was even better drinking on their patio. The reds did not have an effect on us as much as the whites. Their medium bodied 2002 Merlot has a nice cherry flavor and a smooth finish; whereas their 2002 Proprietors’ Tuscan Blend is stronger with a spicier finish. This wine is a blend of Sangiovese, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon – primarily because a few years back a vineyard owner visited Christensen Ridge trying to sell these grapes. Feeling sorry for the man, the winemaker purchased the fruit and a wine was born. A few years in the cellar should really bring out the cherry flavors.

Christensen Ridge is not far from Route 29, so we plan on making the winery a stop on our trips to Charlottesville, particularly if they continue to serve their homemade barbecue on the weekends. The winery closes from late November to early February – so you don’t have much time to visit this year.

MyJoog.com

Wine-Compass.com is pleased to be a contributer to a new music site: MyJoog.com. The site allows any user to add an artist, venue, or music event to the site as well as review artists and share events with friends. We will be responsible for loading winery music events such as the summer concert series at Tarara Winery Linganore Wine Cellars, and Grande River Vineyards. If you know of any music events that are not loading into MyJoog.com or Wine-compass.com; please let us know - or you can add the event yourself on each site. Thanks.

Anton Bauer

If you are looking for something a little different we recommend the Austrian wines from Anton Bauer. A 4th generation winemaker, Mr. Bauer produces wines from several grapes acclimated to central Europe such as Riesling, Welschriesling, Blaufränkisch and Zweigelt. Our favorite is the Reserve Wagram 2005, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Blaufränkisch, Syrah, and Merlot. This wine has a strong cherry flavor balanced with a long smoky finish. This is your steak wine. We were recently able to purchase their medium bodied Wagram Cuvée No 10 Wagram 2004 - a blend of Blaufränkisch, Zweigelt, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. This wine had a similar cherry flavor, but a much mellower finish - even after aging 15 months in French oak. Here's your pasta wine. You can also read more about Blaufränkisch and Zweigelt at the WineCompass Wine 101 page.

Boxwood Winery

While driving through the small village of Middleburg, I noticed that Boxwood Winery's long anticipated satellite tasting room had finally opened. Boxwood's winery complex is only open by appointment only so they opened a tasting room in the middle of Middleburg, convenient for local residence and tourists. Boxwood produces Bordeaux style wines with the consultation of famed wine maker Stephane Derononcourt. Currently they have released two wines; a dry Rosé and a Bordeaux blend Topiary. So that you can compare their offerings with other Bordeaux wines, Boxwood has installed an Enomatic machine loaded with several famous Bordeaux wines and their Topiary.

And their wines are excellent. I missed including the dry Rosé in our blog posting of local rosé wines by a day. This rosé has a great fruit aroma with a strawberry flavor and a smooth, refreshing, dry finish. The Topiary is a full bodied blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. The nose is amazing - the exact same as many of the Bordeaux wines we recently tasted at the Bordeaux 100 event. The rest of the wine is smooth - from the black cherry flavor to the long finish.

Visiting Middleburg has also been a worthwhile en devour. Now you have one more reason to visit: a chance to sample extraordinary Bordeaux style wines.

Rosé Wines

Lately we have been able to taste four very good dry rosé wines from Maryland and Virginia that are welcome alternatives to the sweet blush style wines. Maryland's Deep Creek Cellars offers a dry Rosé made from Cabernet Franc that is fruity and has a nice acidic finish. On the other side of the state, Solomons Island Winery offers a White (Rosé) Merlot. This Maryland Governors Cup Competition-Gold Medal wine is made in the style of the dry Rosés from Provence. This mat be my favorite. And in Virginia Chrysalis Vineyards and Bluemont Vineyards produce similar style rosé made from several grapes. The Chrysalis Mariposa is a Spanish style Clarete made from seven European varieties and a little Norton for color. The Bluemont Rosé - "The Donkey" is a blend of five varieties - Tannat, Tinta Cao, Nebbiolo, Viognier, and also a splash of Norton for color. Its nice to see dry rosé wines back vogue.

Beyerskloof Pinotage

This week I tried my first Pinotage wine, the 2005 from Beyerskloof Winery. The wine was recommended by one of our local wine stores, Out of Site Wines. I'm not sure if all Pinotage wines taste similar, but this was very interested. The wine is dry and full bodied with an initial plum flavor. However that flavor quickly turns spicy into a long smoky finish. And I mean smoky - reminiscent of some single malt scotches. After the first startling sip, I gradually became accustomed to the smokiness and found that the wine mellowed after decanting. It also went down well with sausage pizza. If you want to find out more about Pinotage check out The Pinotage Club and wait for a future Wine 101 article.

Bluemont Vineyard

Today we visited the newest winery to open in Virginia, Bluemont Vineyard. Located in Loudoun County the winery is located between Berryville and Leesburg off Route 7. For those who are familiar with Great Country Farms, the winery is directly across from the farm, half way up the slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains. This is no coincidence, since Bluemont Vineyard is owned and operated by members of the same family. Besides visiting the Farm, the drive up the mountain is worth the amazing views of the Loudoun Valley below. This may be the best views provided by any Northern Virginia winery. Let's not forget the wines.

Currently the winery sources its grapes from other local vineyards, including Chrysalis Vineyards award winning Viognier and Norton. They hope to start producing wines from the Bluemont Vineyard in a couple years. There were four offerings today - two whites, a rosé styled wine, and a dry red: Norton - "The Pig". This is a solid wine for a first time Norton. The grapes are from the 2005 and 2006 vintages and aged in oak. The fruity nose is followed by a fruit forward flavor and slightly spicy finish. The beauty is the Bluemont was able to remove the acidity from the wine and showcase the grape itself. On the other side, their 2006 Viognier - "The Goat" is the winery's dry white wine. It has a nice citrus flavor with a mild acidic finish. Another great alternative to your standard Chardonnay. The 2006 Vidal Blanc - "The Cow" is semi-dry even at 3% residual sugar. It has a citrus nose and flavor like the Viognier, but more acidity at the finish. This wine should find a balance between dry wine drinkers and those who prefer a sweeter wine. Finally, our favorite was the "wine stew", their 2006 Rosé- "The Donkey". This wine is a blend of five varieties - Tannat, Tinta Cao, Nebbiolo, Viognier, and a splash of Norton for color. It is a full, dry wine at 1/2 percent sugar, and has a balanced structure. This is just a good wine to sip slowly on their deck - enjoying the amazing views of Loudoun County.

October Wine Festivals

The Wine-Compass.com event database contains over 1,029 upcoming events in the United States and Canada. For those looking for wine festivals in October, here is a short list of events in several states:

Arizona
Scottsdale 5th Avenue Fine Art & Wine Festival - Scottsdale: October 26^th-28^th

British Columbia
Okanagan Fall Wine Festival – Okanagan: September 29^th-October 7^th

California
23rd Annual Food, Wine, and Micro-Brew Fest – Costa Mesa: October 4^th
Loose Goose Wine Festival – Valencia: October 4^th-7^th
Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival - Half Moon Bay: October 13^th-14^th
Paso Robles Harvest Wine Tour - Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance: October 19^th-21^st

Florida
Epcot Int'l Food & Wine Festival - Lake Buena Vista: September 28^th-November 11^th
The Biltmore Great South Florida Wine Festival – Coral Gables: October 12^th-14^th
18th Annual Stone Crab, Seafood & Wine Festival – Longboat Key: October 25^th-28^th

Georgia
4th Annual Smyrna Hops & Barley Beer Tasting - Smyrna: October 6^th
All-American Wine Celebration - Three Sisters Vineyards: October 6^th-7^th
Annual Harvest Festival - Crane Creek Vineyards: October 20^th

Maryland
Riverside Winefest at Sotterley - Hollywood: October 6^th-7^th
Vintage Jazz Wine Festival – Linganore Wine Cellars: October 20^th-21^st
St. Mary's County Oyster Festival – St. Mary's: October 20^th-21^st
Autumn Wine Festival – Salisbury: October 20^th-21^st

Michigan
Food, Wine and All That Jazz - Mackinaw City: October 26^th

New Jersey
Agora Greek Food and Wine Festival – Cherry Hill: October 4^th-7^th
Cape May Wine Festival – Cape May: October 6^th-7^th
Atlantic City Food & Wine Festival – Atlantic City: October 12^th-14^th
Grand Harvest Festival – Alba Vineyard: October 13^th-14^th
Blues & Pumpkin Festival - Alba Vineyard: October 27^th-28^th

New York
BeerFest 2006 "Beer on the Pier 3" – New York: October 6^th
Sanborn Winetique Festival – Sanborn: October 14^th

North Carolina
Great Grapes – Charlotte: October 6^th
World Beer Festival – Durham: October 6^th
Lighthouse Beer & Wine Festival – Wilmington: October 20^th

Oklahoma
Guthrie Art & Wine Festival - Guthrie: October 6^th-7^th
Grand Wine Country Fall Festival – Grand Wine Country: October 13^th

Oregon
Wine by the River 2007 – Bend: October 5^th-7^th

Pennsylvania
Vintnerís Post-Harvest Celebration – Brandywine Valley Wine Trail: October 27^th
1st Annual Food & Wine Festival – Groundhog Wine Trail: October 6^th

South Carolina
Big Band Sounds & Tastes of the Strand - La Belle Amie Vineyard: October 13^th
Rock Back The Clock Music & Wine Fest - La Belle Amie Vineyard: October 27^th

Tennessee
Tennessee Wine Festival – Nashville: October 10^th-14^th
11th Knoxville Brewers Jam – Knoxville: October 13^th
Manchester-Coffee County Wine Festival – Manchester: October 20^th

Texas
The Heart of Texas Wine & Food Festival - Waco: October 13^th
South Shore Dockside Food & Wine Festival - South Shore: October 20^th
Katy Stomp & Wine Fest - Houston: October 27^th
Fredericksburg Food and Wine Fest - Fredericksburg: October 27^th

Virginia
Mount Vernon Fall Wine Festival & Sunset Tour – Mount Vernon: October 5^th-7^th
Fredericksburg Area Wine Festival – Fredericksburg: October 6^th-7^th
The 2007 Monticello Wine Trail Festival – Monticello Wine Trail: October 7^th
Oktober Brewfest – Virginia Beach: October 13^th-14^th
Mount Jackson Annual Apple and Grape Harvest – Mount Jackson: October 13^th-14^th
17th Annual Virginia Wine & Garlic Festival - Rebec Vineyards: October 13^th-14^th
Black Dog Wine and Beach Music Festival - Chateau Morrisette: October 13^th
Taste of Culpeper – Culpeper: October 14^th
Shenandoah Valley Hot Air Balloon & Wine Festival – Millwood: October 19^th-21^st
Cingular Wireless Town Point Virginia Wine Festival – Norfolk: October 20^th-22^nd8th Annual Wine Festival - Unicorn Winery: October 20^th-21^st

Washington
Lake Chelan Crush Festival - Tsillan Cellars: October 5^th-12^th
West Coast Oyster Shucking Championship – Shelton: October 6^th-7^th
Hallowine in Rattlesnake Hills - Rattlesnake Hills: October 27^th-29^th

Wine Fest at the Beach - Ocean City Maryland

On September 28th-29th several mid-Atlantic wineries will participate in the Thirteenth Annual Wine Fest at the Beach. This event will take place at the Inlet Park - right on the boardwalk and will include a couple micro-breweries and local food\craft vendors. As for the wineries, this is a great opportunity to sample various vinifera, labrusca, and hybrid wines from some of the best wineries from New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia.

The New York contingent includes America's oldest continually operating winery, Brotherhood Winery. Make sure you sample their Catawba and Pinot Noir. There will also be excellent Riesling from the three Finger Lake wineries: Goosewatch Vineyards, Swedish Hill Winery, and Hazlitt Vineyards. Hopefully these wineries will bring samples of their labrusca wines made from the Diamond, Delaware, and Isabella grapes.

There will be one winery representing Pennsyvania: Chaddsford Winery. Red wine drinkers should enjoy their Chambourcin and Due Rossi - made from Sangiovese and Barbera - while white wine drinkers will enjoy their Chardonnay.

Maryland will be represented by the 2005 and 2006 Governors Cup winners, Linganore Winecellars and Frederick Cellars. These wineries will probably not bring their award winning Maryland Merlot and Frederick Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, but will provide excellent alternatives. Linganore also makes a great Chambourcin wine as well as their Terrapin White and several great fruit wines. Frederick Cellars should be pouring their Riesling and Eye of the Oriole, which are great summer wines - perfect for those trying to hang on to a few more weeks of warm weather.

Two of Virginia's better known wineries will be attending, Williamsburg Winery and Horton Vineyards. Not too long ago Horton was listed as one of America's top 40 wineries and is one of the best vinifera wine-makers in the state. Hopefully they will provide samples of their Viognier, Malbec, Tannat, Nebbiolo or Marsanne. Plus they may have on hand their excellent Norton and fruit wines. Williamsburg Winery is best know for their Chardonnay and hopefully the will bring their Blackberry Merlot.

Finally, two little known, but excellent wineries from West Virginia will make the trip to the shore. West-Whitehill Winery makes excellent wines from the hybrid grapes: Aurore, Chambourcin, and Seyval Blanc. Make sure you don't leave the festival without trying their Aurore wines. Then there's Forks of Cheat Winery, from picturesque Morgantown. The Deal family has won us over with their colorful labels, charming personalities, and of course - good wine. They make wine from many interesting varietals including Van Buren, Villard Blanc, Villard Noir, Leon Millot, DeChaunac, Marechal Foch, Catawba, Chambourcin, and Niagara. This list doesn't include their vinifera and fruit wine offerings. From this large selection there is a gift waiting for anyone.

We are looking forward to this year's Wine Fest at the Beach. The weather may even be warm and with the excellent wine and beer - so what if it's a little chilly. Plus, this may be you last opportunity for summer crabs.

Wine and Dine Radio

This month we stumbled upon an interesting source for wine news: Wine and Dine Radio. Hosted by Lynn Krielow Chamberlain, the show is "the first internet radio broadcast devoted to wine and food... facts, news and newsmakers, trends, and lifestyle issues in one-on-one interviews and group discussions." Past guests include Dave Eckert (PBS television Host and Producer of Culinary Travels with Dave Eckert) and Fred Plotkin (author of Italy for the Gourmet Traveler). This week Ms. Chamberlain interviews Nicolo' Mascheroni Stianti of Castello Di Volpaia, producers of organic Chianti Classico and Super Tuscan wines. And next week, Karen Ross, President, California Association of Winegrape Growers, will discuss the differences between Sustainable, Organic and Biodynamic wine and updates on the continued growth and success of the organization's signature concept, California's Sustainable Winegrowing Program. We recommend bookmarking this site.

Fox Meadow Winery Cabernet Franc

We try many different wines and sometimes we open one that makes us say, "Wow, that's really good." That happened this week when we opened Fox Meadow Winery's 2002 Cabernet Franc. The wine is medium->full bodied with a nice cherry flavor. But its the finish that does it. The wine moves slowly from the cherry fruit to a spicy - peppery finish - that is not overpowering - it just balances the fruit. This is another example of quality Virginia Cabernet Franc. I'm not sure if the 2002 is still available - but their 2005 is available at the winery - in addition you can take home amazing views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

National Norton Festival

On Saturday September, we were fortunate to attend the First Annual National Norton Festival in St. Louis Missouri. Organized by the Missouri Wine Country The event provided the general public a chance to sample a wide array of Norton wines from 25 wineries from Missouri, Illinois, Georgia, Texas, and Virginia. This event was the culmination of activities that began in August, at the 2007 National Norton Wine Competition.

We made it a point to visit the Gold medal winners first, and after tasting, agreed with the judges decisions; these were excellent wines. Best in Show Sugar Creek Vineyards & Winery's 2006 Cynthiana was smooth and fruity and somewhat similar to Westphalia Vineyards' 2006 Norton Reserve. Mary Michelle Winery's 2006 Norton was fruity with a little more spiciness at the finish. Bethlehem Valley Vineyards' 2004 Norton and Chrysalis Vineyards' 2005 Barrel Select 100% Virginia Norton and 2004 Locksley Reserve Norton where fruity, but possessed a little more character at the finish. Finally, we tasted the best dessert wine this side of Tokaji, Bommarito Estate Almond Tree Winery's 2002 Missouri Red Port. This may have been our favorite wine of the day.

Besides tasting these wines, we enjoyed tasting wines we normally would not be able to try such as Stone House Vineyards' (TX) 2005 Claros Norton, Tiger Mountain Vineyards' (GA) 2002 Mountain Cynthiana, Mary Michelle Winery's 2006 Illinois Cellars Norton, and Stone Hill Winery's (MO) 2005 Norton, Cross J Vineyards. The last was made from grapes from one of the winery's oldest vineyards. Plus, there were excellent wines from some of our favorite Missouri producers: Crown Valley Winery, Montelle Winery, St. James Winery, Les Bourgeois Winery, Baltimore Bend Winery, Cave Vineyard, Augusta Winery, Hermannhof Winery, Chaumette Vineyards & Winery, and the previously mentioned Stone Hill Winery. We will definitely be planning a trip Herman and Saint Genevieve next year.

We will post pictures and a longer description of this event at Compass Tours and a review of Chrysalis Vineyards and other Virginia Norton producers in the October edition of Virginia Wine Lover.

For those who are familiar with Norton or Cynthiana we strongly recommend this event. For those who have never tasted a Norton, try to find one in your area. You will soon learn why it is referred to as the Cabernet of the Ozarks.

Wine 101 - Chokecherry Wine

Chokeberry was an essential ingredient in the native American diet, either dried for winter use or mixed with fat and buffalo meat in pemmican - a staple of the native Indian’s of the prairie. Wild chokecherries were not only abundant; they are also loaded with nutrition. Chokecherries are a better dietary source of potassium (269mg/100g) than blueberries and strawberries, and contain 4.7g of fiber, 1.5g of protein, and 0.3g of fat per 100g of fruit. Today chokecherries are used to make syrups, jellies, jams, and wine - although winemaking is difficult because the berries are highly acidic and quite tart. Plus the seed accounts for over 50% of the berry’s volume. Despite this trouble and from its winter hardiness it is the fruit of choice for many vintners in the northern United States and Manitoba, Canada.

The first winery to vinify chokecherry commercially and perhaps privately was Prairie Berry Winery in South Dakota. The Vojta family had been creating wine from chokecherry ever since the first family members immigrated to South Dakota from Moravia in the late 1880’s. The recipe was passed to succeeding family members up to the present, where current winemaker Sandi Vojta (the 5th generation) decided to share the family wine. And why not, she grew up knowing how chokecherry wine should taste and was certain the public would accept this unique product. She first, though, had to convince the Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms Agency to allow production of commercial wines from the fruit. Once this was accomplished, other wineries were able to follow suit. Prairie Berry Winery’s “bread and butter” chokeberry wine is their Great Grandma’s Chokecherry, a wine made almost exactly from the original family recipe. This wine is made semi-dry and has a strong fruity flavor. The winery also creates a port-style chokeberry wine in their Great Grandma’s Chokecherry Bliss. In this wine, the chokecherry wine is fortified with cherry Kirsch which produces a great dessert wine. The chokeberries are also blended with grapes to create the Pheasant Reserve and with honey to make Chokecherry Honeywine. The Vojta family deserves our recognition for paving the path for the general public to enjoy this fruit wine.

In neighboring North Dakota, Chokecherry wine is one of Maple River Winery’s top sellers. According to Greg Kempel, Chokecherry wine is popular in North Dakota because “Everyone that grew up in the Midwest on a farm either made or knew someone that made chokecherry wine”. And since traditional vinifera grapes do not fare well in the Dakota’s harsh climate, fruit wines, such as chokecherry, must truly stand out to grab the public’s attention. Maple River Winery’s version is semi-sweet and they recommend serving with red meat dishes. Even though the wine is popular locally, the winery is seeking to alleviate the national "Grape" obstacle, i.e. the belief that all quality wine is produced from grapes. Mr. Kempel sees that, “with education, our chokecherry wine is gaining tremendous popularity...even in wine country”.

Further west, in Mt. Pleasant Utah, Native Wines specializes in creating wines from wild fruit. Chokecherry is one of their products, not only from its flavor, but also from its healthy side effects. Each year the winery sends samples of their red wines to a laboratory for antioxidant testing and chokecherry wine always tests near the top in its antioxidant scores. Chokecherry also has a long tradition in Utah, from the Native Americans and early pioneers to the present. Mr. Bob Sorenson, Native Wines owner\winemaker, says that many middle-aged and elderly customers are pleasantly surprised to find Chokecherry wine available. Mr. Sorenson’s Chokecherry wine is rather unique in that he adds a few pits of the fruit, which creates a “warm spicy/nutty” aspect to the flavor. He admits that since the pits contain a certain amount of cyanide some people may be worried about drinking the wine. However, Mr. Sorenson reply’s that “many old recipes include the nuts of the stone fruits and as long as the products are consumed in reasonable quantities there will be no adverse effect”. We for one will take him at his word and look forward to trying his version of Chokecherry wine.

Traveling north into Manitoba Canada, D.D. Leobard Winery started making Chokecherry wine in 2005 after three years of trials. The winery is located in Winnipeg and specializes in producing wines from locally grown or wild fruit. Their Chokecherry wine is made from wild berries and made off dry, with a strong cherry flavor. Although the wine has been well received by critics (it was awarded a bronze medal at the 2006 All Canadian Wine Championships) it has been demanding to produce commercially. First, the winery has found it troublesome to find someone to pick their supply of wild berries. Second, Chokecherry wine is difficult to produce. The berries are small and initially highly acidic and quite tart. The winemaker must reduce these properties while simultaneously extract the natural cherry flavor of the fruit. Finally, although Chokecherry wine is very popular in Manitoba, it is difficult to sell because of this popularity. Many people either make their own Chokecherry wine or know some family member or friend who makes it; thus, according to Denis d'Eschambault, one of the winery’s co-owners, “why pay for it!”

Chokecherry wine is produced by a little over a dozen wineries in North America, most likely from wild berries and family recipes. The styles range from the semi-dry version offered by Colorado Cellars Winery to the sweet, port-style Chokecherry wine offered by the Lil' Ole Winemaker Shoppe in Wisconsin. We are certain, regardless of the style, that the majority of wine consumers will appreciate this wine, once the opportunity to taste one, presents itself.

September Wine Festivals

The Wine-Compass.com event database contains over 1,441 upcoming events in the United States and Canada. For those looking for wine festivals in September, here is a short list of events in several states:

Arkansas
Weinfest - Chateux Aux Arc :September 28^th-30^th
Wiederkehr Village Weinfest - Wiederk Wine Cellars: September 29^th

British Columbia
Okanagan Fall Wine Festival – Okanagan: September 29^th-October 7^th

California
Millbrae Art and Wine Festival – Millbrae: September 1^st-2^nd
26th Annual Harvest Wine Celebration - Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association: September 2^nd-3^rd
L.A. County Fair – Los Angeles: September 7^th-30^th
Mountain View Art and Wine Festival - Mountain View: September 8^th-9^th
West Fest 2007 - Hwy 46 West Wineries: September 8^th
Lodi Grape Festival and Harvest Festival - Lodi-Woodbridge Winegrape
Commission: September 13^th-16^th
Santa Clara Art and Wine Festival - Santa Clara: September 15^th-16^th
Lafayette Art & Wine Festival - Lafayette: September 15^th-16^th
Paso Robles Taste of Downtown - Paso Robles: September 15^th
Art Bark Fest - Animal Art, Wine & Music Festival - Olympic Valley: September 15^th-16^th
5th Annual Montclair Jazz & Wine Festival – Montclair Village: September 16^th
American Wine & Food Festival – Los Angeles: September 29^th

Colorado
16th Annual Colorado Mountain Winefest - Palisade: September 13^th-16^th
Great American Beer Festival – Denver: September 28^th-30^th

Florida
6th Annual Miami Intl Wine Fair – Miami: September 8^th-10^th
Epcot Int'l Food & Wine Festival - Lake Buena Vista: September 28^th-November 11^th

Georgia
Wine South Atlanta - Atlanta: September 28^th-30^th

Illinois
Windy City Wine Festival – Chicago: September 7^th-8^th
Naperville Wine Festival – Naperville: September 14^th-15^th
Festival of the Vine – Geneva: September 14^th-16^th
Illinois Wine Festival – North – Chicago: September 29^th-30^th

Maine
4th Annual Lakes Brew Fest - Casco: September 29^th

Maryland
Deep Creek Lake Art & Wine Festival - McHenry: September 8^th
The Maryland Wine Festival – Westminster: September 15^th-16^th
2007 Wine Fest at the Beach – Ocean City: September 28^th-29^th

Michigan
Hopps of Fun Beer & Wine Festival - Mackinaw City: September 7^th-8^th
Annual Wine At The Harbor - Pentwater: September 8^th

Minnesota
Minnesota Wine & Food Festival - Carlos Creek Winery: September 7^th-9^th

Missouri
The National Norton Wine Festival – St. Louis: September 8^th
St. Louis Wine Festival – St. Louis: September 28^th-29^th

New Jersey
"Jazz it Up" - Allaire: September 1^st-2^nd
Annual Cape May Food and Wine Festival – Cape May: September 18^th-23^rd
Great Grapes – Princeton: September 22^nd-23^rd

New Mexico
Wine and Lifestyle Expo - Balloon Fiesta Park, Albuquerque: August 31^st-Sept 2^nd
Santa Fe Wine and Chile Festival – Santa Fe: September 26^th-30^th

New York
Saratoga Wine & Food Festival – Saratoga: September 6^th-8^th
Hudson Valley Wine & Food Festival – Red Hook: September 8^th-9h

North Carolina
Third Annual North Carolina Muscadine Harvest Festival – Kenansville: September 28^th-29^th

Nova Scotia
Third Annual Autumn Food and Wine Festival - Gaspereau Vineyards : September 22^nd-23^rd

Oklahoma
Grape & Wine Festival - Slaughterville: September 28^th

Ontario
Shores of Erie International Wine Festival – Amherstburg: September target="new"7^th-9^th
Niagara Wine Festival – Niagara: September 21^st-30^th

Pennsylvania
Gettysburg Wine & Music Festival – Gettysburg: September 8^th-9^th
Wine Country Harvest Festival – North East: September 28^th-30^th
2007 Harvest Festival – Brandywine Valley Wine Trail: September 29^th-30^th

Rhode Island
Newport Mansions Wine and Food Festival – Newport: September 27^th-29^th

South Carolina
Groovin' in the Grapes Harvest Fest - La Belle Amie Vineyard: September 8^th
Autumn Magic Blues & Jazz Fest - La Belle Amie Vineyard: September 22^nd

Texas
21st Annual GrapeFest - Grapevine: September 13^th-16^th

Virginia
Discover Virginia Food and Wine Festival – Ruckersville: September 1^st
Herndon Jazz and Wine Festival – Herndon: September 3^rd
13th Annual Rockbridge Wine Festival – Lexington: September 8^th-11^th
Annual Neptune Festival Wine Tasting – Virginia Beach: September 15^th-16^th
19th Annual Smith Mountain Lake Wine Festival – Moneta: September 29^th-30^th

Washington
Lake Chelan Wine Festival - Lake Chelan: September 15^th
Kiwanis Wine Country Trek – Yakima: September 29^th-30^th

Wisconsin
Lake Geneva Wine Festival - Lake Geneva: September 6^th-9^th

Cove Point Winery

Frequent readers of the Wine Compass Blog, Compass Tours, and Wine 101 are familiar with our fascination with different grape varieties. They would also appreciate our yearning to visit a winery that makes wine from over twenty different grapes - in this case, Cove Point Winery. The winery started like most small family owned wineries – as a hobby – that gradually progressed to a commercial venture. This winery is still so small that the tasting occurs in the proprietor’s kitchen – just like hanging at a friend’s house. However, small does not describe the amount of wines or their quality.

Cove Point Winery produces over twenty wines from viniferia, native labrusca, and hybrid grapes. We were able to taste some of our favorite lesser known varieties are included, such as Blaufrankisch (Lemberger), Symphony, Isabella, Landot Noir, De Chaunac, and Chancellor, to name a few. At this tasting, I concentrated on their semi-dry white and dry red wines. Plus their port. I started with perhaps their best wine, the semi-dry Symphony, a cross between Muscat of Alexandria and Grenache Gris. The wine has the fragrance of a Muscat and the fruitiness of the Grenache. Throw in a refreshing acidity and you have a great drinking wine. Next was the Isabella, or sipping wine, as it is marketed. This wine doesn’t have the heavy foxiness normally associated with labrusca grapes – but possesses the grapiness of the fruit. This wine may not be for everyone – but for those who like labrusca made wine – this is an excellent version. I next tried their Riesling and Gewürztraminer, both contained the aromas and flavors you would expect from these grapes. Their Cayuga White was also very typical of that variety – although they do an excellent job extracting the flavors of the Riesling parent. I ended the semi-dry tasting as I started, with one of my favorite choices – the Peach Chardonnay. This is a blend of Peach wine and Chardonnay wine, where the chardonnay provides a fruit forward grape flavor and the peaches provide a lasting finish. Of all the fruit wines, I usually avoid the peach, but this wine is a perfect blend.

We moved on the reds, where I tried one of my favorite red viniferia grapes, Blaufrankisch. This wine is full-bodied with string black berry flavors. The finish is only slightly spicy – unlike the heavily-oaked Austrian styles. This is a great wine, both for dinner and sipping. I then tried their Pinot Noir, a medium bodied wine that had cherry flavors and a finish as smooth as the Blaufrankisch. I still preferred the Blaufrankisch. They were pouring two vintages of their Cabernet Sauvignon, a 2004 and 2005. The 2004 was a little spicier, whereas the 2005 was more fruit forward. I still preferred the Blaufrankisch. The final red was the Very-Berry Port - a Port blend of Chancellor and Landot Noir fermented with Blackberries and Raspberries and aged in French oak. These were obtained in nearby St. Mary’s County, which is fast becoming a valuable resource in the Maryland wine industry. The port has an amazing nose – where the aromas move generously into the cherry flavors and last into the tail. Besides having the opportunity to purchase a wine with Chancellor and Landot Noir, the wine is well worth the price.

Not only does Cove Point Winery make excellent wine from dozens of grapes, but they are minutes away from several of southern Maryland’s best tourist attractions. I’m referring to Calvert Cliffs, Cove Point Lighthouse -Maryland's oldest operational lighthouse – and Solomons Island. Each is worth a visit, singularly, and as a group along with Cove Point Winery.

Mountain Cove Vineyards

While travelling home from North Carolina, I stopped at Virginia’s oldest winery, Mountain Cove Vineyards. Located half way between Lynchburg and Charlottesville, the winery is situated within the Blue Ridge Mountains and adjacent to the Fortunes Cove Preserve, a large Nature Conservancy property. In 1973, Al and Emily Weed planted several varieties of hybrid grapes on their property and began selling wine commercially a few years later. In 1997 they re-planted most of the vineyard with viniferia Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Muscat; Norton; and the hybrids, Chambourcin, Villard Blanc and Traminette.

I started with the Tinto, a blend of Norton and Cabernet Franc. The wine is dry, medium-bodied and extremely smooth. The Cabernet Franc introduces a cherry flavor that moderates the grapey flavor of the Norton. This is an excellent blend. Next was the Mountain Cove Chardonnay, a dry wine made from grapes grown from the eastern slopes of the Blue Ridge in Bedford County. The wine was aged partly in stainless steel and partly in oak - which produced a refreshing wine with a silky finish. Mountain Cove offers two semi-dry wines – the Skyline White and the Skyline Rose. The Skyline White is a blend of Villard Blanc, Chardonnay, Vidal Blanc, and Muscat made in the Vouvray style (think of Loire Chenin Blanc). The Skyline Rose is basically the Skyline White blend with Norton added for color and CO2 added in the bottle. This provides a nice acidic feeling on the tongue. Both these wines are refreshing, great sellers, and perfect for an afternoon in Mountain Cove. Finally, I tried their two fruit wines, Blackberry and Apple. The Apple wine is made from Winesap apples harvested from neighboring Mountain Cove Orchard. The apples are prevalent from the aroma to the finish. CO2 is also added in the bottle, giving the wine a bit of a sparkling-wine feel. The Blackberry wine is slightly sweeter, but not gritty. It has a full blackberry flavor – just like shoving the fruit into your mouth when picking directly from the vine. But this time, no worries about staining your fingers or clothes.

Mountain Cove is a great attraction – from the views of the surrounding mountains to the excellent wines – made from local fruit. The winery is only a short drive from Charlottesville and only a few couple of hours from Washington D.C. and Richmond. I hope to visit again in the fall, maybe during their October Blues Festival, to hike the Fortunes Cove Preserve.

You can view pictures of the winery at the Compass Tours section of wine-compass.com.