The Piedmont Virginian’s blog

What a wonderful time of the year as weekends are spent enjoying the almost limitless number of travel options and weekdays are focused on upcoming weekends! Seriously summer’s like that as it offers so many choices to please our lifestyle and, of course, our palates.

Now it’s time to think about helping the vintners do harvest. With the excessive temperature shifts, many wineries are experiencing early ripening and the need for extra help is a golden opportunity for everyone. If you’ve been thinking of learning more about wine and the stages from vine to bottle, here’s your chance to walk away with first-hand knowledge.

As with any good news story, call ahead and make certain that the winery still needs help and that you can participate. When the bottles come out, you’ll be extra proud of VA wines as you helped get them into production!

Here are a few volunteer options to whet your whistle, but if you have a favorite winery, contact them to learn their specific needs.

–Gadino Cellars.              

–Narmada Winery.

–Philip Carter Winery.

–Wintergreen Winery has Labor Day plans for you and an opportunity to do the wine stomp at its annual Romp, Stomp, and Chomp , Sept. 4-5.

You’ll have a whole new appreciation for Harvest after participating in this busy season at a winery. Another option for participation is to help out at festivals. Many wineries need additional staff “pourers,” especially during the busy fall festival season. Another great way to learn more about wine.

Of course, if you want more than just a single grape experience, there are opportunities at Vint Hill Craft Winery where you can learn to be a winemaker and make your own wine. For those who foresee less than a barrel in their future, the crafty folks can fine-tune the program to your needs.

Salud!

Posted under: Events, Fauquier County, Loudoun County, Nelson County, News, Rappahannock County, Wineries on August 23rd, 2010 | by Judy Liberson No Comments »

There’s exciting news in the Piedmont again and of course, it involves wine!

8 Chains North Winery will be having their Grand Opening Celebration on August 21 from 11am-6pm. 

Located in the “Waterford Cluster” of wineries, 8 Chains North showcases hand crafted wines made from Loudoun County grown grapes.  Their philosphy is that great wines are made in the vineyard and that diligence is evident in wines that are complex and well balanced.  

8 Chains North works year-round to ensure that every facet of their winemaking process is handled with the utmost care and attention to detail while they ensure that their wine fully captures the potential of the mountainside vineyards.  Enjoy their tasting room while being greeted with a friendly staff who is there to make your experience memorable.

Want a sneak peek before the grand opening?  This LoCo wine is currently available to taste at Fabbioli Cellars, various retail outlets, and as always, you can stop by the winery in Waterford.

So come enjoy LoCo’s new winery on August 21 from 11am-6pm!  Music by guitar virtuoso Steve DeVries will be provided and Local chef Nathan Thomas will prepare foods especially for 8 Chains North wines.  There will be free tastings all day, along with barrel samples from soon to be bottled 2009 reds. 

8 Chains North Winery is located at 38593 Daymont Lane Waterford, VA 20197.  For more info contact Ben or Connie @ 571-439-3374 or email info@8chainsnorth.com .

Posted under: Events, Local Products, Loudoun County, Wineries on August 16th, 2010 | by AmyFewell No Comments »

It’s an exciting month at Patowmack Farm.  From their new guest chef to their new menu, we’ve got the scoop on their August happenings.

Andrew Little from Sheppard Mansion in Hanover, PA will be Patowmack’s guest chef on Thursday August 12.  ”Chef Little’s dedication to cooking, not just by the seasons, but by the day, has garnered him, and the Sheppard Mansion, praise not only for the use of great ingredients, but also for the innovative way in which they are prepared” says Beverly Morton Billand from Patowmack Farm.  Chef Andrew also ensures that everything he serves is produced using a humane, sustainable process.  Enjoy his dishes at Patowmack Farm Thursday August 12 @ 7pm – $80 Five-Course Prix Fixe; Wine Pairing $50.

Enjoy the beauty of Patowmack Farm at their “Thursdays at the Farm” — offering a small plates menu, a selection of $25 bottles of wine and seasonal cocktails.  Whether sitting in their glass conservatory, gazebo or open-air tent, the view overlooking the Potomac River never disappoints.  Join them for this celebration of the connection between kitchen and earth.  Patowmack strives to excel at turning ordinary evenings into extrordinary ones.   

In addition to their regular dining, they also offer a jazz brunch schedule, cooking classes and Sunday suppers.  Enjoy Chef Christopher’s innovative and skillfully executed dishes full of flavor while celebrating local, organic, and seasonal ingredients.  For a full calendar of events visit the Patowmack Farm website.

And as usual, Patowmack Farm would like to tell everyone to “Eat organic, Certified Naturally Grown, ‘ecoganic’ and support your local farmers at the markets.”

Posted under: Events, Farms and Farmers, Gardening, Local Products, Loudoun County, Restaurants on August 9th, 2010 | by AmyFewell No Comments »

We’ve all heard of pet-friendly hotels and restaurants, but how about the farm? Often the farm is pet unfriendly and it’s not hard to figure out why. When was the last time you took your 120-lb Lab to the zoo? OK, you get it. Well, this weekend, you won’t have to leave Fluffy or Fido home or tied to a shaded park bench, he’s welcome to attend the Peach Festival!

You heard right. An often dangerous combination, fresh-picked fruit and your prized scampering pet, but this is the weekend to do the promenade. It’s the 8th Annual Dog Days Peach Festival at Great Country Farms, August 7-8. Indications are that this year’s peach crop survived the record winter weather quite well so there’ll be lots of juicy treats and a full-range of activities for humans and four-legged friends to enjoy. (How ’bout a pooch massage?) Plenty of food, music, and a tasty side trip over to Bluemont Vineyards. Admission gets you into both places for a full day of celebration.

BTW, Great Country Farms is always pet friendly so you may have a new destination that pleases every member of the family!

Posted under: Events, Farms and Farmers, Local Products, Loudoun County, News, Wineries on August 6th, 2010 | by Judy Liberson No Comments »

Instead of just serving a particular wine and hosting wine dinners from one of your favorite local wineries, why not have the winery create your own label? That’s the conclusion from the pairing of a private label wine by Tarara Winery for its County neighbor, Lansdowne Resort. Tarara’s two new private labels produced for Lansdowne demonstrate the viability of connecting the local origin dots.

The Lansdowne Reserve White is a blend of Vidal (65%), Seyval (34%), and Viognier (1%), and the Lansdowne Reserve Red is a blend of Chambourcin (65%), Vidal (8%), and Cabernet Sauvignon (7%). Sommelier Spenser McKenna describes the white as having a light essence of peaches, slightly acidic, and medium bodied with a short-to-medium finish. He pairs the wine with two totally different entrees (The Grilled Sea Scallops and the Duo of Fields of Athenry Pork) from the new summer menu at the resort’s main restaurant, On the Potomac.

McKenna finds the Reserve Red has mid-to-high tannins and a mild taste of dried cherries, light notes of dark spices, and calls it well-balanced overall. As for menu items, he pairs the new private label red with the duck breast and the Filet Mignon. Of course, the main courses have carefully selected sides that further enhance the flavor profile from their respective wines.

This combination of a restaurant focused on local foods and an award-winning winery further defines the region’s restaurants and wineries in their ongoing commitment to finding the best local options to support both the growers and the businesses.

Either way, the consumer wins!

Posted under: Gourmet Food, Local Products, Loudoun County, News, Restaurants, Wineries on August 5th, 2010 | by Judy Liberson No Comments »

There’s no better way to start your weekend than at the Grand Opening of Virginia’s newest winery, DuCard Vineyards.  This Saturday (Aug 7), DuCard Vineyards will celebrate the unveiling of their new tasting room.  There will be special events, music, as well as an official ribbon cutting at 4pm. 

A little history before you visit Virginia’s Newest Winery
Before DuCard Vineyards became a winery, they initially sold their grapes to a pre-established winery in the area.  They soon found out that wines including their grapes were of such high quality that they won a number of awards, including the Virginia Governor’s Cup as the best wine in the state as well as the Best Wine in the East (out of 1,400 entries) in another competition. It was then that they decided to start bottling small amounts of wine for family and friends — an immediate hit!  They have  sold out completely all 3 years that their wine has been available.

DuCard is a boutique winery nestled at the edge of Shenandoah National Park.  They offer extensive patios with views of the mountains, streams and vineyards.  Their solar panel systems make them the only winery in Virginia that is completely solar powered.  They also use local and reclaimed materials, and are happy to feature foods from local farmers and producers to accompany their wine.

Be sure to visit and support your new local winery this Saturday August 7th!

Posted under: Events, Local Products, Madison County, Wineries on August 3rd, 2010 | by AmyFewell 1 Comment »

The results are in from the Atlantic Seaboard Wine Competition and once again Virginia wines scored top results in all categories of judging. Let’s backtrack a moment and talk about the significance of this competition. To many in the world of wine, Virginia is still in its infancy on the East Coast as the Finger Lakes of New York have brought in many winners in this competition and other similar high-ranking events.

Maybe those days of step-child recognition are over. The Best of Show, the most coveted category, went to Rosemont of Virginia in LaCrosse for its 2007 Meritage. Don’t worry the Piedmont region was widely represented and recognized in all categories in this extensive judging of over 500 wines from 110 wineries.

Here’s a sampling: Veritas Winery alone had four winners in the Best of category including top honors for both red and white Vinifera varieties! They also won a gold for their 2008 Cabernet Franc Reserve and had multiple winning selections in the silver and bronze categories.

Virginia wineries claimed almost half of all Gold Medal winners and dominated in the silver and bronze categories as well! Select your favorite vineyard and most likely your favorite wine was recognized by the judges!

The new map of wine recognition has been drawn, and Virginia holds a prominent set of adornments. Congratulations to all.

Posted under: Events, Local Products, Nelson County, News, Piedmont Regions, Wineries on August 2nd, 2010 | by Judy Liberson No Comments »

Virginia’s newest and most unique wine trail is a collection of artisanal, family-run wineries who have joined together to offer a premium wine tasting experience that is rooted in small lot, handcrafted wines.  Artisanal Wineries of Rappahannock are all located in Rappahannock County, just a short scenic drive from one another, and only an hour from the DC beltway and close to the Blue Ridge Mountains.  This is a boutique, casual wine tasting trail, in sharp contrast to the hustle and bustle of Northern Virginia.

Posted under: Events, Rappahannock County, Wineries on July 29th, 2010 | by AmyFewell No Comments »

A concept that started small not that many years ago has blossomed into a full-fledged enterprise. Yes, I’m speaking about the growth and popularity of the Farm Market. Now there are more than 190 in the state and as we approach the month of August, there are ample opportunities to celebrate the freshness movement.

Governor McDonnell has declared the first week of the month, August 1-7 as Virginia Farm Market Week. Coinciding with this special week, you can submit a farm market photo or gather your purchases into an appetizing shot. There are four prize categories to help you decide what to submit.

If you have been meaning to try out a new farm market, here’s a golden opportunity. The state has over 47,000 farms with over 90% owned and operated by individuals or families. Helping the farmer by purchasing from a farm market helps all of us maintain the high quality of local products. If you needed an excuse, this designated week should simplify your decisions.

Celebrate the farmer and the many delicious foods you can purchase locally.

Posted under: Events, Farms and Farmers, Gardening, Local Products, News, Piedmont Regions on July 26th, 2010 | by Judy Liberson No Comments »

It’s that time of year again, as Magnolias at the Mill hosts our 3rd Annual Beer Festival. This Saturday, July 17th at 11 am the Magnolias will open for one of the best celebrations of the Summer. They will bring you over 25 breweries from around the country and will be pouring some of their favorites suds. This is a great time for you beer fans to come and try some of the best brews in the Nation. Please don’t forget that Chef Mark will of course prepare a gourmet feast that will compliment the lively brew. There will also be  live music, prizes and giveaways promises to make this our biggest and best festival yet.  I wonder if we will get to see Kevin and Shawn dance? Tickets for the event are only $35 Presale or $45 Day of event. The Beers of Summer are here, come and Celebrate them at Magnolias!

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Posted under: Events, Gourmet Food, Local Products, Loudoun County, News, Restaurants on July 15th, 2010 | by Margaret McCann No Comments »