VineDication Supports Virginia Small Business Event
On Monday December 2, VineDication was thrilled to support a Virginia Women’s Department of Small Business event at TJ Stones in Old Town Alexandria. Our host was Trusst Residential. The restaurant staff was very accommodating and helped us set up a pouring table. The women entrepreneurs were offered a tasting of 5 wines, or a glass of their favorite choice.
For this event, we poured 5 wines:
Hiddencroft Vineyards - Traminette: With this wine you will find a hint of roses and honeysuckle like aroma, combined with a tart green apple palate. The Traminette was blended in a French/American hybrid method, Gewurztraminer and American hybrid Seyve 23.416. This wine was the driest of our offerings so we served it first.
Hiddencroft Vineyards is a family-operated Virginia Farm Winery, owned by Clyde & Terry Housel of Lovettsville, VA. Clyde began making wine in his basement as a hobby in 1993. The owners began planting their vineyard in 2001 and were solely grape-growers for other Virginia wineries for the first six years They decided from the beginning that they would focus on producing grapes, and then wines, of superior quality. Clyde, who is the winemaker and largely self-taught, is doing just that. Hiddencroft is an authentic Virginia Farm Winery; all of their wines are produced from vines on the estate.
Barrel Oak Winery (Bow) - Haus White: The second wine we served was Bow Haus White from Barrel Oak Winery (BOW). The BOW Haus White is a blended white wine which has a nice mix of Vidal Blanc and Seyval Blanc with a little Petit Manseng and Chardonnay. The wine has been fermented in stainless steel giving it a crisp finish. It has a sunny gold color and has aromas of tropical fruit such as papaya, banana, and lime. This wine was sweeter than the Traminette and was a favorite with our white wine drinkers.
Barrell Oak Winery (BOW) is in Delaplane, Virginia; the first vine was planted in 2006 and the doors opened in 2008. Owners Brian and Sharon Roeder carefully designinged the winery themselves. Onsite you will find varietals such as Seyval Blanc, Vidal Blanc, Petit Manseng, Viognier, Chardonnay, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Traminette, Chambourcin, as well as, newly planted Norton, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Brian’s goal was not only to create wine but to create a place of community, and that community has grown immensely since opening.
If you couldn’t tell by the name (BOW) the winery is extremely dog friendly; they even have a doggy snack area and their own four-legged friend on staff.
Cave Ridge Vineyard - Sparking Rose: It would not be a proper wine tasting without some bubbly for the ladies. This Sparkling Rose is light and fresh with hints of strawberry and tart cherry. It was made with the Cabernet Franc grape and produced using the Charmat method. This is a very versatile friendly wine – great for sipping on a warm day or with food. I like it for New Years as it is lighter than champagne.
Cave Ridge Vineyard is a family-owned and operated vineyard/winery. It is located in the foothills overlooking the Shenandoah Valley, which is world-renowned for its scenic beauty and history. Low rainfall and deep rocky soils make this an ideal location for growing the highest quality grapes used to make Cave Ridge wines.
Tarrara Winery- Long Bomb: This is the perfect football wine and Nicole’s go to for tailgating, as all the wines are football themed. The Long Bottom h is blended with 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Cabernet Franc, 17% Merlot, 12% Tannat, 12% Viognier, 2% Syrah. It was aged for 16 months in French oak, resulting in some notes of raspberry, baking spice, and vanilla extract. It was a big hit with the ladies.
Whitie Hubert retired in Loudon County, Virginia on 475 acres of land in 1985, and discovered his land was the perfect place to grow grapes and create unique wines. Knowing that he could be part of something big in the Virginia Wine Industry, he devoted himself to his new passion of wine making. Currently, Tarara ‘s owner, Margaret Hubert, lives in the house above the cave-like tasting room. They are known for their single vineyard blends but have a great selection of variety blends; they love to showcase anything local. Their motto is “Wine is not about what we do - It's about our passion for vineyards, fine wines, and our local community.”
Knight’s Gambit Vineyard - Alexandra’s Cuvee: Our last wine of the evening was from the Monticello Wine Trail area of Virginia. This wine is 75% Petit Verdot and 25% Cabernet Franc and makes for a well balance of savory fruit flavors with lavender and cedar notes. It was a tad dryer than the Long Bomb.
Knight’s Gambit is in the Monticello AVA. Located on the rolling hillside that faces the Blue Ridge Mountains, they were established in 2003. Their five plus acres estate grown vineyards consist of Petit Verdot, Pinot Grigio, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. Wine is a big part of Summers family’s culture and traditions; you will often hear the them say “wine was likely present” when they reflect on past events or memories. This vineyard’s backbone is focused on family; from the holiday of their father sneaking down to uncover a dusty bottle of that perfect age and vintage wine, to seeing a bottle of their late daughter’s artwork on the bottle being sold at local restaurants and in their tasting room. Additionally, they have an Airbnb onsite that you can rent ahead of time to make your trip extra relaxing.
We were so happy to meet so many interesting women and share our wines and story. Thanks so much to the Virginia Department of Small Business Association and Trusst Residential for allowing us to participate in this event! The pouring was a hit. We can create a special tasting for your private event as well.
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