Wine-d Down: News and Events for the Grape-Loving Lush

Posted by Sally Traynham / Friday, April 20th, 2012

While California’s marijuana-laced wine gets smokin’ reviews (Happy 4/20 dudes!), here are some local events for everyone from the beginner to the lush:

Bitch and Whine every last Thursday of the month at Jackson 20‘s special local wine tasting. Next week (4/26) features wines from Breaux Vineyards. [Jackson 20]

Take a trip around the world while adventuring through international wines at Olde Dominion Wine Shoppe this weekend. [Olde Dominion Wine Shoppe]

Get away for the weekend. The Winery at La Grange is hosting a weekend of live music and sangria. Bring a picnic or choose from its own menu. [Winery at La Grange]

Want to get a bit further away? Check out the Blue Ridge Oyster Festival featuring two new wine releases with proceeds from the event and silent auction benefiting the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Blue Ridge. [Blue Ridge Oyster Festival]

Winemaker Wednesday starts next week to get you through the mid-week hump. [The Frenchman's Cellar]

Need a perfect at wine pairing at home so you don’t have to pay the big bucks? Popcorn shrimp is the perfect partner. [VWL Magazine Newsletter]

Have some family fun at Barrel Oak Winery this weekend with live music on the patio, gourmet pizzas and great wine. [Barrel Oak Winery]

Photo: Lichtmeister/Shutterstock

[tips for the food desk]

Breaux Threepeats in VA Wine Poll

Posted by The Editorial Desk / Tuesday, August 31st, 2010

(Image: Visit Loudoun)

Breaux Vineyards claimed the favorite winery mantle for the third straight year in the Farm Winery Council‘s annual public poll.

The Cajun-themed vintner clinched statewide bragging rights with just 2,018 votes–a roughly 105 percent dip in support from their 2009 sweep.

Barrel Oak Winery (1,979 votes) and Philip Carter Winery (1,464 votes) settled into second and third place, respectively, in the 2010 contest.

This marks the first time Barrel Oak has cracked the top three, and includes the second upper echelon finish for Philip Carter. Other favorite winery alumni include: Pearmund Cellars, Miracle Valley Vineyard and Veritas Vineyard & Winery.

Though many wineries made a concerted effort to put the web to work for them–”The social marketing through Twitter this year by winery fans, wineries and bloggers was amazing to watch,” one FMC aide informed us–voting, as a whole, diminished by about 10 percent since last year.

Doukenie Winery experienced perhaps the most precipitous drop, falling just nine spots in terms of general rankings while watching 616 percent of their voting base evaporate within the last 12 months. Fairfax County upstart Paradise Springs Winery, on the other hand, reaped a 4,800 percent uptick in votes–a virtual groundswell which helped propel them into the number five slot this year.

And while the poll monitors have no illusions about this being anything other than a glorified popularity contest–”The wineries that are a little more savvy in their marketing really rock the vote by telling their large base of loyal fans and offering goodies,” an FMC aide openly acknowledged–the public awareness and overall excitement it generates are very real.

“Every year the game builds a larger base of supporters for Virginia’s farm wine industry,” an FMC aide said.

All three 2010 winners will be feted September 12 during the Wine Festival at The Plains.

–Warren

Spring Wine Week Cometh

Posted by The Editorial Desk / Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

Not to be outdone by the now near-constant flood of event dining opportunities, local vintners hope to take center stage during Virginia Wine Week (3/22 – 3/28).

Participating restaurants/retailers are obliged to feature at least three Virginia wines by the glass.

But many hospitality purveyors we’ve spoken to are taking the opportunity to trot out a bevy of regional pours, including:

* Capital Ale House: plan to offer Afton Mountain Vineyards Gewurztraminer (bottle only), Autumn Hill Vineyard Chardonnay ($6.95), Autumn Hill Cabernet Franc Vineyard ($7.95), 2005 Blenheim Vineyards Meritage ($8.95), Blenheim Star Chardonnay ($10.95), Burnley Vineyards Riesling ($8.95) and Green Springs Winery Sweet Rose ($6.95).

* The Dock at Lansdowne: plan to offer 2008 Horton Vineyard Viognier ($8), 2006 Barboursville Vineyards Cabernet Franc ($8), 2007 Breaux Vineyards Chere Marie ($8), Breaux Equation Merlot ($8) and 2006 Prince Michel Chardonnay ($8).

* The Majestic: plan to offer Thibaut-Janisson Blanc de Chardonnay ($18), Pollak Vineyards Cabernet Franc ($13.50), Pollak Chardonnay ($11), Boxwood Winery Boxwood blend ($14) and a wine flight ($18) featuring Thibaut-Janisson, Boxwood and White Hall Vineyards Viognier. “We have featured the wine flight before and it has been quite popular,” Majestic manager Maria Chicas said.

* Vinifera: plan to offer 2006 Horton Vineyards Viognier ($9), 2006 Gabriele Rausse Cabernet Franc ($9), 2008 Loudoun Valley Vineyard Vinifera Red and Vinifera White ($28 each per half bottle).

* Vintage 50/Vintage 51: chef Aaron McCloud assured me they’ll be pouring something from Fabbioli Cellars and said they were still vetting other potential wine partners.

* The Wine Kitchen: plan to offer Kluge Estate New World Red ($3.50 – taste, $9 – glass, $31 – bottle) , 2007 Michael Shaps Chardonnay ($3 – taste, $11 – glass, $42 – bottle) and Tarara Winery Long Bomb Edition Two ($4 – taste, $7 – glass, $28 – bottle), as well as a discounted flight ($7) featuring all three.

A Virginia Wine Marketing aide said they’ve recruited over 160 participants to date and hope to cross into the 200s before registration closes on Monday, March 15.

Meanwhile, we’d like to know: does your favorite restaurant serve Virginia wine? And if not,  might this promotion entice you to sample something local?

–Warren

Virginia Wine Hounds

Posted by The Editorial Desk / Thursday, September 24th, 2009

Canines and Wine: The Perfect Pairing Photo: Erin Trompeter

We are exactly one week away from kicking off Virginia Wine Month, and if you are planning on loading up the car for a leisurely tour of Virginia’s viniferous offerings, don’t forget the fur-kid.

Many of the area’s wineries are pet-friendly and allow pets as long as they are leashed and well mannered (this is wine country after all, where civility reigns supreme). Breaux Vineyards in Purcellville is one estate where Fido can enjoy a good snort of the outdoors while you put your sniffer to work analyzing the scents of a floral glass of Virginia’s renowned Viognier.

“We love animals. Just about every single day we have at least one dog in here to visit.  It [being pet-friendly] just sort of fits into the mission and view we have,” says Breaux Vineyard’s Lawrence Camp.

The winery also hosts events throughout the year such as fundraisers to benefit local rescue organizations, and “yappy hour” every Friday until the end of September (one more remains and it’s tomorrow if you’re inclined to head out for a last hoorah).

Before we get accused of being dog-centric at Gut Check, however, Lawrence says they see all kinds of pets (including cats) pass through the doors of the winery. During the vineyard’s Key West Fest visitors even take their parrots out for a stroll.

“We’re very pet-friendly in general.  People don’t seem to shy away from bringing whatever members of their extended family out here.”

–Amy Loeffler