Note that there are also interesting wineries in Maryland, which the Washingtonian however did not consider. I have written about 3 of them here:
Touring Wine Country Maryland, USA
Maryland Crabs and Wine
Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard in Maryland - A Profile, USA
Boordy Vineyards in Maryland - A Profile, USA
Black Ankle Vineyards in Maryland - A Profile, USA
Wine Producer Virginia
Virginia is the 5th largest wine industry in the US, with nearly 200 wineries and 2,500 acres of vineyards.
In the original charter of the thirteen colonies was a royal commission to pursue three luxury items that England was unable to provide for itself: wine, silk, and olive oil. Every colony made attempts to satisfy the requirements of its charter. Despite many years of failure, the early Americans persisted in their efforts. A big step forward was made in 1740 when a natural cross pollination occurred between a native American grape and a European vitis vinifera. Other successful crossings followed.
In 1762, John Carter, who had 1,800 vines growing at Cleve Plantation, sent 12 bottles to the Royal Society of Encouragement of the Arts, Manufacture and Commerce in London for their evaluation. Minutes of their meeting on the 20th of October 1762 declared Carter’s wines to be “excellent” and a decision was taken to reward Carter’s efforts with a gold medal for his wines. These were the first internationally recognized fine wines produced in America.
Over the past 30 years or so, Virginia wines have experienced a tremendous development - to elegant and balanced, mostly European vinifera-based wines. Recently, Donald Trump as well as AOL founder Steve Case bought a Virginia winery.
Today, the vitis vinifera grapes Chardonnay and Viognier are the leading white varieties. Increasingly they are made without any or with neutral oak, to retain natural acidity and freshness. It appears Viognier is on its way to becoming Virginia’s official “signature grape”.
For French-American hybrid varieties, Seyval Blanc is still popular, but resembles now the fresh and crisp wines from France’s South West. Vidal has become the backbone of the artificially frozen (cryoextraction), ice wine which I am not a great fan of. Cryoextraction is an approach, developed by the French, which kind of simulates the frost in the vineyard in the wine cellar.
As far as red wines are concerned, there has been a shift from straight varietal wines to blends, with the blends now being dominated by Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Mirroring the Virginia white wines, there is an increasing focus on neutral oak and clean, vibrant fruit.
Tannat, Uruguay’ signature grape from the South West of France, is showing up in more Virginia wines, usually as a blend. The only red French American hybrid which has performed consistently well in Virginia is Chambourcin, which resembles the Gamay grape of Beaujolais.
Finally, Claude Thibault, a native from France, has taken Virginia sparkling wines to a new level. His NV Thibault-Janisson Brut, made from 100 percent Chardonnay, which President Obama offered his guests at his first state dinner, is as close as you can get to Champagne outside of France.
The Washingtonian List
Barboursville Vineyards, 17655 Winery Rd., Barboursville; 540-832-3824. Monday to Saturday 10 to 5, Sunday 11 to 5. Tasting: $5 for at least 16 wines.
Barrel Oak Winery, 3623 Grove La., Delaplane; 540-364-6402. Sunday to Thursday 11 to 6, Friday and Saturday 11 to 9. Tasting: $6 for six wines, $11 for 12.
Boxwood Winery, 2042 Burrland Rd., Middleburg; 540-687-8778. Friday to Sunday 11 to 6. Tasting: $10 for five wines.
See:
Boxwood Winery in Virginia: Lunch with Wine Makers Rachel Martin and Adam McTaggert in the Chai between the Tanks – TasteCamp 2012 East Kick-Off, USA
Bordeaux Meets Virginia: Tasting Through Recent Vintages at Boxwood Winery in Virginia: With Anne Cuvelier from Chateau Leoville - Poyferre, Annette Schiller from Wine Tours by Ombiasy and Boxwood Winery General Manager Rachel Martin, USA
Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards La., Purcellville; 800-492-9961. Daily 11 to 6. Tasting: $10 for eight wines.
See:
Visiting Jennifer Breaux Blosser and Breaux Vineyards in Virginia, USA
Touring Virginia Wineries - Fabbioli Cellars, 8 Chains North and Breaux Vineyards - with Virginia Wine Expert Allan Liska
Chrysalis Vineyards, 23876 Champe Ford Rd., Middleburg; 540-687-8222. Monday to Thursday 10 to 6, Friday to Sunday 10 to 7. Tasting: $10 for 12 wines.
See:
Norton and Other Wines of Chrysalis Vineyards in Viriginia
Delaplane Cellars, 2187 Winchester Rd., Delaplane; 540-592-7210. Sunday, Monday, and Thursday 11 to 5, Friday and Saturday 11 to 6. Tasting: $5 to $8 for four to six wines.
DelFosse Vineyards & Winery, 500 DelFosse Winery La., Faber; 434-263-6100. Wednesday to Sunday 11 to 5. Tasting: $10 for 12 wines.
Glen Manor Vineyards, 2244 Browntown Rd., Front Royal; 540-635-6324. Wednesday to Saturday 11 to 5, Sunday noon to 5. Tasting: Price and number of wines vary.
Horton Vineyards, 6399 Spotswood Trail, Gordonsville; 800-829-4633. Daily 10 to 5. Tasting: Free for ten wines.
Jefferson Vineyards, 1353 Thomas Jefferson Pkwy., Charlottesville; 434-977-3042. Daily 10 to 6. Tasting: $10 for 11 wines.
Keswick Vineyards, 1575 Keswick Winery Dr., Keswick; 434-244-3341. Daily 9 to 5. Tasting: $5 for eight wines.
King Family Vineyards, 6550 Roseland Farm, Crozet; 434-823-7800. Daily 10 to 5. Tasting: $7 for five wines.
Linden Vineyards, 3708 Harrels Corner, Linden; 540-364-1997. Wednesday to Sunday 11 to 5. Tasting: $5 for five wines.
See:
Bordeaux Meets Virginia: Visiting Jim Law and his Linden Vineyards with Anne Cuvelier from Chateau Leoville Poyferre in St. Julien, Bordeaux, USA
Jim Law and Linden Vineyards in Virginia – A Profile, USA
Naked Mountain Winery & Vineyards, 2747 Leeds Manor Rd., Markham; 540-364-1609. Monday to Thursday 11 to 5, Friday to Sunday 11 to 6. Tasting: $10 for eight wines.
Philip Carter, 4366 Stillhouse Rd., Hume; 540-364-1203. Sunday to Friday 11 to 6, Saturday 11 to 8. Tasting: $6 for eight wines.
Rappahannock Cellars, 14437 Hume Rd., Huntly; 540-635-9398. Sunday to Friday 11:30 to 5, Saturday 11:30 to 6. Tasting: $8 for eight wines.
RdV Vineyards, 2550 Dela-plane Grade Rd., Delaplane; 540-364-0221. Tuesday to Saturday by appointment. Tasting: $40 for grand tasting (four wines plus food).
See:
Bordeaux Meets Virginia: Visiting Rutger de Vink and his RdV Vineyards with Anne Cuvelier from Chateau Leoville Poyferre in St. Julien, Bordeaux
Trump Winery, 3550 Blenheim Rd., Charlottesville; 434-984-4855. Sunday to Friday 11 to 6, Saturday 11 to 7. Tasting: $8 for eight wines.
Veritas Vineyard & Winery, 145 Saddleback Farm, Afton; 540-456-8000. Monday to Friday 9:30 to 5:30, Saturday and Sunday 9:30 to 5. Tasting: $7 for eight wines.
Vintage Ridge Vineyard, 8517 Maidstone Rd., Delaplane; 540-364-3371. Friday to Sunday 11 to 5. Tasting: $7 for seven wines.
Here is the link to the article, which was published on October 11, 2013.
http://www.washingtonian.com/articles/food-dining/20-winning-wineries/
schiller-wine: Related Posting
Northern Virginia Magazine October 2012: Wine Recs from Local Winos
Virginia Wines Shine in San Francisco - 2012 San Francisco International Wine Competition, USA
Judging Virginia Wines in Suffolk, Virginia - Virginia Wine Lover Magazine Wine Classic 2012
As Close as You Can Get to (French) Champagne at the US East Coast – Claude Thibaut and His Virginia Thibaut Janisson Sparklers at screwtop Wine Bar
Jim Law and Linden Vineyards in Virginia – A Profile, USA
Boxwood Winery in Virginia: Lunch with Wine Makers Rachel Martin and Adam McTaggert in the Chai between the Tanks – TasteCamp 2012 East Kick-Off, USA
Book Review: "Beyond Jefferson's Vines - The Evolution of Quality Wine in Virginia" by Richard Leahy, USA
An Afternoon with Jordan Harris, Winemaker of Tarara, Virginia, USA
Vineyard Walk, Wine Tasting in the Vineyard and Lunch in the Tarara Tank Cellar with Wine Maker Jordan Harris, Tarara Winery, USA
Visiting Jennifer Breaux Blosser and Breaux Vineyards in Virginia, USA
Bordeaux Meets Virginia: Visiting Rutger de Vink and his RdV Vineyards with Anne Cuvelier from Chateau Leoville Poyferre in St. Julien, Bordeaux
Bordeaux Meets Virginia: Visiting Jim Law and his Linden Vineyards with Anne Cuvelier from Chateau Leoville Poyferre in St. Julien, Bordeaux, USA