For our first monthly open monthly meet-up of 2023, we invited anyone interested to wine with us a Valley Road Vineyards in Afton, VA. Valley Road is one of those vineyards that lots of people pass by all the time, but haven’t visited, or that is seen squarely as a wedding and event venue.
One great thing about Valley Road is it has multiple spaces for groups. We reserved the lodge and got several bottles to try. Between flights and bottles, we were able to try most of the establishment’s 2023 Governor’s cup winners.
Valley Road’s winners include:
- 2019 Meritage (silver)
- 2019 Petit Verdot (silver)
- 2021 Cabernet Franc (silver)
- 2021 Chardonnay (silver)
- 2021 Torn Curtain (bronze)
Of these, people enjoyed the Chardonnay and the Petit Verdot the most, with the Meritage also being a favorite. The Torn Curtain is a blend of Chambourcin, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. What a blend, right? Most of us wanted a little more Merlot or Petit Verdot for a bolder flavor.
We agreed that the white wines shine at Valley Road and one of our favorites was the Fête Sparkling Viognier. We like to kick off with a sparkling and this was a hit. This sparkling was crips with citrus notes and just the right amount of bubbles. This was a 10 of 10 for us.
Another white that stood out was the off-dry Petite Manseng and Vidal Blanc blend, 2020 Mountain Glen white. This was such a treat for white wine lovers and sweet wine lovers looking to expand their pallates. Notes of honeysuckle, orange, and vanilla, made this a pleasure for all of the senses.
The Chardonnay was remniscient of a California Chardonnay, without some of the heaviness that Virginia Chardonnays can carry. The common sentiment was that Valley Road’s surpassed expecations for a Chardonnay from Virginia.
Now about the lodge. It is a small, private building that held about 14 of us. It has its own bathroom, a deck, and a sink and fridge. It is also equipped with a bluetooth speaker and a podium.
This as a fun experience and the staff was pleasant and attentive, as was the booking experience. We carried our own food, but the winery does have snacks you can purchase.
Black Women Who Wine 