The winning wine of this year’s Virginia Governor’s Cup competition was a Vidal Blanc Passito from 868 Vineyards in Loudoun County, VA. It was quite the accomplishment for the winning wine to be a dessert wine, but a hybrid grape dessert wine made in a niche style from one of the lesser well-known winegrowing areas…
Category: virginia
Petit Manseng Grape Profile on Winetraveler.com
If you’ve been following me on social media (@historyandwine), or pay any attention to my quarantine tasting notes posts, you’ll know that I took part in a Virginia Petit Manseng Trio tasting last week hosted by Early Mountain Vineyard, which was just fantastic. Living in Miami has made it fairly difficult for me to drink…
Visiting Loudoun County Virginia: Wine, History, Attractions and More on Winetraveler.com
I have a story about Virginia and wine. If you’ve been following along through my wine adventures since the beginning (2012), then you know I started writing this blog while I was living in Arlington, VA and exploring Virginia wine country. It was truly my “start” in wine writing, and I consider Virginia wine my…
On Coravin: The Voyage of Viognier in the U.S.
There are some grapes that you don’t see very often on wine lists, but when you get a great bottle of these varieties, it can take your night from “good” to “great.” One of these grapes is Viognier. I’m a big fan of this white Rhône variety that was nearly extinct about 50 years ago,…
Wine Enthusiast Announces 40 Under 40 Tastemakers & a Friend Makes the List!
Yesterday, Wine Enthusiast announced online their 40 Under 40 Tastemakers for 2019, and I was proud to see a friend and Virginia winery CEO on the list. Kirk Wiles, CEO and Founder of Paradise Springs Winery located in Clifton, Virginia and now also in Santa Barbara, California is well-deserving of the recognition. The Wine Enthusiast 40 Under…
10 Great Virginia Wineries That Are a Day Trip From Washington, D.C. on Winetraveler
If you know me, you know that I really got my start writing about wine while living in Northern Virginia outside of Washington, D.C. I would spend some weekends out in Virginia Wine Country looking for the best glass of Virginia wine, and I would always bring some home or look for VA labels out…
On Coravin: From Sea to Shining Sea: America’s First Bi-Coastal Winery
Sometimes, I get to write about things that really bring me joy— like Virginia wine! Or better yet, a friend and fellow ‘Cane who is making waves in the wine industry through his very successful bi-coastal winery. Thanks to Coravin for the opportunity to highlight Kirk Wiles and the FIRST bi-coastal winery in the U.S., Paradise…
5 Wine Regions to Visit in 2019
Deciding where to plan your next wine vacation can be a bit daunting. With so many options from Napa to New Zealand, it’s easy to see how any wine-o can develop decision fatigue. Do you want to drink Pinot Grigio or Pinotage? Would you rather sip Sauvignon Blanc or Semillon? Visit the ocean or the…
Local South Florida Musician Spotlight: Ominé Eager
It is rare in this modern world of auto-tune and manufactured pop divas to find raw musical talent in the mainstream. Most of what we hear on the radio is audibly “photo shopped”, so-to-speak, and seemingly nothing comes from the heart. Despite the lack of quality in what we consider “popular” tunes, there is still…
Chima Steakhouse: Tysons Corner Delight
Despite living in the DC-metro area for three years now, it was not until Wednesday night of this week that I discovered one of Northern Virginia’s most delicious dining experiences. Chima Brazilian Steakhouse in Tysons Corner has to be one of the most savory and unique dining experiences you can have for a completely reasonable…
