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Blog on Wine and Beer
The Red, White and Brew Tour of Nelson County
Today, I am going to start a review of Nelson County’s Red
While and Brew…that’s red wine, white wine and micro-brew. Wintergreen Resort
offers Nelson County wine tours, but you can easily plan your own tour. Nelson
County has been advertising with a Red, White and Brew theme for a year, so we
decided to take our own tour. We spread out our tour over several days and
always had a designated driver.
Here are a few tips for planning a winery tour in Virginia
(from the Virginia Wines web site)
It's always a good idea to call before visiting. Many of our wineries are
small, family-owned operations and may be closed for various family-related
activities during the time that you are planning to visit.
If you are planning to visit a winery in a group of eight or more, always
call ahead of time to help the winery prepare for your visit and to make sure
they can accept groups.
Most of the Nelson County wineries have grape cluster highway signs within a
ten-mile radius pointing the way to the winery. Many of these signs now also
will tell you how many miles you have to go before reaching the winery.
Below are some of the Vineyards and a Micro-Brewery that we
will be visiting over days in early April.
Afton Mountain Vineyards
234 Viney Lane
Afton, VA 540-456-8667
Blue Mountain Brewery & Hop Farm
9519 Critzer Shop Road
Afton, VA 540-456-8020
Cardinal Point Vineyard and Winery
9423 Batesville Road
Afton, VA 540-456-8400
DelFosse Vineyards and Winery
500 DelFosse Winery Lane
Faber, VA 434-263-6100
Flying Fox Vineyard
27 Chapel Hollow Road
Afton, VA 434-361-1692
Hill Top Berry Farm & Winery
2800 Berry Hill Road
Nellysford, VA 434-361-1266
Lovingston Winery
885 Freshwater Cove Lane
Lovingston, VA 434-263-8467
Mountain Cove Vineyards
1362 Fortunes Cove Lane
Lovingston, VA 434-263-5392
Veritas Vineyard and Winery
145 Saddleback Farm
Afton, VA 540-456-8000
Wintergreen Vineyard and Winery
462 Winery Lane
Nellysford, VA 434-361-2519
Tomorrow, we visit Blue Mountain Brewery and their
hand-crafted beers in Afton, VA.
Blue Mountain Brewery
We are going to begin our tour with the only micro-brewery
on the list, Blue Mountain Brewery. (check out their web site at
www.bluemountainbrewery.com) Open to the public, Blue Mountain Brewery
brings hand-crafted beer to Nelson County. This brewery is easy to find on Rt.
151 in Afton, Va. It is about 1.5 miles south of Rt 250. The phone number is
540-456-8020.
We visited on a Sunday afternoon and had dinner at Blue
Mountain. I am allergic to gluten and therefore beer. My husband did enjoy the
Full Nelson, which is their flagship Strong Pale Ale. They also had Blue
Mountain Lager, Rockfish Wheat and Dark Hollow—all named after Nelson County
landmarks. The best deal was the Blue Mountain sampler for $5 and included a
sample of each micro-brew.
They also serve wine by the glass and some lite fare. We
shared a meat and cheese plate that came with 4 types of cheese, three meats and
some crusty French bread. I followed that with a salad and Bill had the
Virginia ham sandwich. All the bread was local-made and Bill reports that is
was all very tasty.
We think that the interior of the brewery is a great place
to meet friends. There are several large tables as well as some comfortable
sofas and club chairs. Also a bar with several seats. So, we will be inviting
some friends to meet us at Blue Mountain Brewery soon. (looks like they could
have some outdoor seating in the warm months—all with great views of the Blue
Ridge Mountains)
They also have some beer to go and you can also find their
beer locally, wherever beer is sold.
Wintergreen Winery Visit
First, I want to dispel the rumor that Wintergreen Winery
is in Wintergreen Resort. If you are looking for Wintergreen Winery, it is near
the intersection of Rt. 151 and Rt. 644 (Beech Grove Road and the Ski Barn with
the bright blue roof) Until October, Wintergreen Winery is open from 10AM-6PM,
seven days a week.
Before you go to Wintergreen Winery, I suggest that you
stop by Basic Necessities, Ambrosia or the Blue Ridge Pig in Nellysford to pick
up supplies for a picnic lunch. Wintergreen Winery has a great outdoor area,
right next to the Rockfish River. It is a great location for an afternoon
picnic.
The winery not only has a tasting room but also a great
gift shop including gourmet snacks, chilled wine plus kitchen and wine items.
It is a great place to put together a wine gift basket. (A hint for a great
Mother’s Day gift) If you want to take a gift to someone with the name
Wintergreen, this winery makes a great stop on your way home from Wintergreen
Resort. I often stop by to pick up a quick gift.
One of my favorites at Wintergreen Winery is the Raspberry
wine ($15). This is a great dessert wine when served with a chocolate
cheesecake. For a great Truffle Torte recipe, go to the Wintergreen Winery web
site,
www.WintergreenWinery.com and click on Food and Wine. It is also a
great web site for their blog
Other wines range in price from $15-$20. There is a
Chardonnay, A Viognier, Three Ridges White, Thomas Nelson White, Three Ridges
Red, Merlot, and some apple wines.
Veritas Winery & Vineyard in Afton, VA
Veritas Winery and Vineyard is open Monday through Friday
from 9:30-5:30PM and Saturday and Sunday from 11AM-5PM. To learn more about
their wines, I suggest their web site at
www.VeritasWines.com. They have a newsletter and a Wine Club. If you are
planning a Nelson County wine tour and will be visiting Veritas with a group
larger than eight people, call in advance for special assistance.
Not only does Veritas have some wonderful wines, they throw
some beautiful events. A few of the events coming soon include:
May 2nd: Look for Bill and I at The Magic of
Music Ball, a Black Tie Optional event to support Wintergreen Performing Arts.
It’s an auction, a three-course wine-paired meal and then dance. $100 per
person before April 20th. Call 434-325-8292 for reservations.
May 11th: Mother’s Day Winemakers Brunch at 12
PM. It’s a four-course, wine-paired Mother’s Day Brunch. $60 per person
inclusive of the meal, tax and gratuity. Make reservations by calling
540-456-8000 X 108.
Starry Nights The Starry Nights events are some of
our favorite summer events. Join us for wine and live music under the stars
from 7PM-11PM. Admission is $10 at the door and includes a Veritas wine glass.
We always bring a picnic to these events but you can purchase dinner on-site
with a reservation. (call 540-456-8000 X108) We look forward to these events
and already have them on our calendar. It’s a great way to get together with
friends in Nelson County. This year’s events are on these dates:
June 14th with King Cadillac with some retro
Rock N Roll
July 12th with Abbey Road—Beatles Cover Band
August 9th with TBD
September 13th with TBD
Hill Top Berry Farm & Winery
Hill Top Berry Farm & Winery is a family-owned business in
Nelson County and was one of the first local wineries to produce specialty
wines. They are open for tastings Wednesday-Saturday from 11AM-5PM and Sunday
1PM-5PM. (Closed Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve/Day and New Year’s Day)
They welcome tours, and if you call ahead they can customize your visit.
Directions: Take 64 West to the Crozet Exit #107, Turn
Left onto 250 West, Turn Left onto 151 South, go 10 Miles, turn left onto Rt.
612, Go across the bridge and up the hill. The winery is on the left at 2800
Berry Hill Road. This is in the heart of Nelson County and is a beautiful
drive.
On a side note, Berry Season is July 19th-August
17th. We love going here for fresh berries.
Another side note is that Hill Top has both indoor and
outdoor meeting rooms. The outdoor meeting area has a wonderful Nelson County
view. We love visiting and sitting with some wine and the view.
The web site is
www.hilltopberrywine.com and is the best place to go to view their wine
list.
Afton Mountain Vineyards
Afton Mountain Vineyards is located at 234
Vineyard Lane in Afton, Virginia. They are open for Spring and Summer Hours
each day, except Tuesday, from 10AM-6PM. This is a beautiful location for a
visit to Afton, VA and to learn about winemaking in Virginia.
Visiting this winery is also a history lesson
in Nelson County wine. The vineyards original vines were planted in 1978
and 1979 and their Cabernet Sauvignon vines are among the oldest in Virginia.
They opened their tasting room in 1991, one of the first in Nelson County.
In addition to their tasting room, they have a picnic area with beautiful
views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. They have picnic supplies available for
purchase such as cheese and spreads or see below about a trip to a Farmers’
Market prior to visiting the winery. If you are looking for a great place to
host an event, this picnic area would be the place.
If you are looking for a gift idea, I recommend a membership in the Afton
Mountain Wine Alliance. ( This would make a great Mother’s Day gift) Alliance
members receive the following:
Two bottles of wine shipped to your door four times a year
The shipments include recipes for food to pair with the wine
Special invites to three Alliance Events per year
Spend the Day at DelFosse Winery in Nelson
County
As part of our Red, White and Brew Tour of
Nelson County, today’s stop is at the DelFosse Winery. This truly is a winery
where you can spend the whole day. Take a wine tour, picnic by their lake or
take a hike (or bike ride) on their 5.5 mile trail.
When visiting, notice that this is one of the
only Virginia vineyards with terraced vines. The elevation provides beautiful
views and many photo opportunities. Check out their web site for some great
photos,
www.delfossewine.com
Currently, the winery is open Wednesday-Sunday
from 11AM-5PM and there is no charge for tastings. Contact information
includes:
DelFosse Vineyard & Winery
500 DelFosse Winery Lane
Faber, VA 22938
tel: 434.263.6100
Premium wines include Chardonnay Reserve, Viognier, Cabernet Franc, Rosé,
Merlot and Meritage. Add a cheese plate to your picnic from their bistro menu.
DelFosse Winery was showcased on the PBS special “The Endless Feast”. This
winery has become widely known for their food and wine pairing. DelFosse has
become known for its multi-course wine paired dinners and theme events. The
next theme event will be there Spring Food & Wine Pairing on April 27th.
This event will be from 1PM-5PM.
On May 3rd, the winery will host their annual Cinco De Mayo
dinner. They really are the masters of theme events. So, check out their web
site for upcoming dinners and make reservations early.
Another popular event is the winery’s “Fridays on the Patio”. These
warm-weather events start on Friday, April 25th from 5PM-8PM. Call
DelFosse for more details.
If you are looking for a great Nelson County get-away, be sure to check out
the DelFosse “great escape” including a stay at the Orchard House B&B in
Lovingston, VA. The package includes mid-week accommodations, a VIP Reserve
Tasting, two wineglasses, a corkscrew and discounts on wine purchased. You can
also add a visit to Jefferson’s Monticello. For more information, call the
Orchard House at 434-263-7747.
Also on their web site, sign up for their free wine club or to receive RSS
news feeds.
I hope to see you on the DelFosse patio one Friday soon.
A Hike in Fortunes Cove and the Mountain
Cove Winery
The Fortunes Cove and Mountain Cover area is
another one of my favorite areas in Nelson County. My family has roamed this
area since the 1700s. Family members were still farming apples in this area
until the 1980s. When heading over to Fortunes Cove and Mountain Cove Winery,
be sure to take your time on Mountain Cove Road and enjoy the scenery of Nelson
County apple trees. I will be blogging about Nelson County orchards later this
year.
The Fortunes Cove Preserve
has hiking and biking trails across 755 acres
that stretches along the crest of Woods Mountain. The preserve is the home to a
wide variety of flora and wildlife. This preserve is open daily from dawn until
dusk.
There are 5.5 miles of hiking trails that
take hikers through a loop around the preserve. There is a stream along the
base of the trail that is filled with blooming wildflowers during the summer
months.
The 5.5-mile loop trail climbs steeply from the parking area, gaining some
1,500 feet in elevation before reaching its highest point. Hikers should be in
good physical condition and should allow six hours to complete the entire loop.
A gravel parking area and kiosk with trail map are at the preserve entrance;
there are no restrooms
The Fortunes Cove Preserve is also home to
many birds. You will probably see pileated woodpeckers, northern cardinals,
Carolina wrens, warblers, tanagers, American restarts and scarlet tangers.
Other wildlife that lives in the preserve
includes Black bear, bobcat, white-tailed deer, red fox, raccoon, and box
turtle.
After hiking in The Fortunes Cove Preserve,
head next door to the Mountain Cove Winery. The Mountain Cove Winery is
one of the oldest continuously operated wineries in Virginia. Most of the
vineyard was re-planted in 1997 and the winery is in full modern production.
There is a sales and tasting room that includes a selection of wine gift items.
The vineyard now includes Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Norton,
Chambourcin, Villard Blanc and Traminette.
Be sure to bring a picnic to the Mountain Cove Winery. There is plenty of
outdoor seating available in their wine garden and beautiful views. Visiting
this winery is like visiting a traditional Nelson County farm.
The Grape Escape
The tour is sponsored by Wintergreen Resort. For full
details, see their web page at
www.WintergreenResort.com Note that this tour would make a great addition
to a spa package weekend for couples or friends.
This tour is also perfect for the novice wine drinker who
wants to learn more about the craft of winemaking and drinking. You can also
customize this tour so that it fits your tastes. Wintergreen Resort will
provide a wine expert guide and private transportation, including the driver.
You will also be treated to dinner at the Wintergreen restaurant of your choice.
Full Day Grape Escape:
Transportation to wineries
Tastings at five different wineries with a wine expert
Lunch
Dinner at your choice of Wintergreen restaurants
Access to the Aquatics and Fitness Center with sauna, steam
room, whirlpool and indoor and outdoor pools.
$209 per person
The half-day Grape Escape is the perfect package to add to
a half day spa package. I also suggest that it is the perfect package to add to
The Evening With The Arts with Wintergreen Performing Arts. I will be
discussing upcoming events with Wintergreen Performing Arts in upcoming blogs.
Half Day Grape Escape:
Transportation to wineries
Tastings at three different wineries with a wine expert
Dinner at your choice of Wintergreen restaurants
Access to the Aquatics and Fitness Center with sauna, steam
room, whirlpool, indoor and outdoor swimming pools.
$179 per person
If you would rather plan your own winery tour of Nelson
County, read the blogs in April. The blogs in April will provide enough
information to plan a complete weekend around winery events and tours. (plus
hiking, biking and picnics at some of the wineries)
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