Now is your opportunity to become a Black Women Who Wine member! Now through April 6 you can join the premier group for Black women and their allies and friends to explore Virginia wine and wineries. If you are already a member, you can renew your membership for one or two years.
For our October Meet-Up, we visited Lovingston Winery in Lovingston, VA. Lovingston is about 45 minutes from Charlottesville. This was the group’s first visit to this charming winery. Aside from an events barn/tasting room, there is plenty of outdoor seating available and there are also stay options on the property – the cabin and the farmhouse.
Lovingston Winery got new owners in 2021 and the event barn was completed in 2023. According to the winery’s website, when it first opened in 2003, the vineyard focused on Bordeaux varietals of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Now Petit Verdot, Chambourcin, Pinotage, Chardonnay, Seyval Blanc, and Petit Manseng can also be found in the vineyard.
Know before you go
Lovingston Winery is kid and pet-friendly and there are vineyard dogs onsite. In fact, corgis specifically are part of the winery’s personality and culture. During our visit, all of the children and furry friends we encountered were well behaved and seemed to enjoy the laid-back ambiance as much as we did. Outside food is allowed and the winery has some snacks and Slice Versa pizza for purchase. During our visit, Tessa and Wes Roberts, the property’s owners were the only staff we saw. They were great to work with in planning our visit, super friendly, and so accommodating.
The Wine
These wines are currently available:
Between all of us that attended, we tried all of the wines. There wasn’t one in the line-up that we didn’t find impressive, but favorites of the group were the Seyval Blanc, Rotunda Red, and Estate Reserve.
The Seyval Blanc was a crowd pleaser and had the red lovers in the group asking for it. Seyval Blanc is a hybrid grape with a citrusy flavor profile and crisp acidity. It was exceptional and we highly recommend making a visit just for this, especially if this is a new grape to you.
The Rotunda Red was a lighter bodied red that blends all of the red varietals Lovingston grows. Low in tannins, this is great for this time of year when we’re having summer one day and fall the next. If you have friends and family that are not fans of big, bold reds, this a quality red they can enjoy again and again.
The Estate Reserve is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. This is a bigger, dryer red and a perfect example of what Virgina wine growers and makers can achieve with the amazing fruit that is being produced.
We also got to try the new Love, Petit Manseng, a dessert style Petit Manseng.
All in all, if Lovingston Winery is not on your list, add it.
Virginia summers can be hot and humid and most days are spent trying to stay inside with the air conditioner as much as possible, so how do you enjoy wineries? At Black Women Who Wine, we love summer sipping, but to stay outside beyond May, we need shade and crisp options. We’ve visited many wineries over the last five years and the ones that top our list of favorites for summer visits include various seating options, crisp whites, wine slushies, and food options.
So where do we like to sip?
If you’re in the Northern Virginia area, check out Paradise Springs Winery in Clifton. Paradise Springs is located in the incredibly cute town of Clifton where you can visit small shops and local restaurants. Paradise Springs is a great summer option because it has ample indoor and outdoor space and so many wine options, including the Chill 2023, a chillable red. Others to try include the 2022 Petit Manseng, Sommet Blanc 2022, and a new pet nat. The downside to Paradise Springs is it gets extremely crowded, so either go early or late if going during the weekend or check it out on a weekday.
The Shenandoah Valley wine region in Virginia is one of the most expansive AVAs in the state and includes Frederick, Clarke, Warren, Shenandoah, Page, Rockingham, Augusta, Rockbridge, Botetourt and Amherst counties in Virginia, and Berkeley and Jefferson counties in West Virginia. Summer sipping reigns supreme here with plenty of shady options.
CrossKeys Vineyards in Mt. Crawford remains a favorite. This venue includes a full-service bistro, indoor seating, and outdoor seating that the proprietors have put a lot of care into creating a space that is pleasant for outdoor summer seating. Cave Ridge Vineyards and The Winery at Kindred Pointe in Mt. Jackson are also great choices.
We also love wine slushies. Some of our favorites can be found at Eastwood Farm & Winery, Chiles Peach Orchard/Carter’s Mountain Orchard, Bluemont Vineyard, Sweet Vines Farm Winery, and Well Hung Vineyards.
If you’re a wine lover, it is likely you have some friends, family members, or coworkers that are as well. And as wine lovers, nothing makes us more happy than sharing a clasically magnificent wine or a funky new discovery with our wine friends. But what’s the best way to gift wine? Let’s talk about it it.
There are various ways to gift wines, the most popular being via gift card, wine club subscription, or just buying a bottle and gifting it.
First, let’s talk wine subscriptions and clubs. As a member of a few wine clubs, I can actually say I would not want to be gifted a wine club membership to most wineries. There are a few reasons for this. First, I’m picky about my wine clubs and want a great experience. Second, wine clubs can be time consuming if they’re not local. Yes, you can have everything shipped, but part of the fun is being able to attend pick-up parties and members only events every now and then. If you want to gift a wine club membership, gift one that is not to a specific winery’s wine club. There are more and more of these popping up. They are often hosted by wine bars and wine shops and have several advantages over winery wine clubs. The one that sticks out the most is variety. Wine clubs and subscriptions that are not affiliated with a single winery offer diversity in wine and will allow your wine friend to receive a greater variety of wine.
Next, gift cards. These are usually a win for everyone. You can spend as little or as much as want and the person you’re gifting has control over their wine experience. Gift cards are also a great way to encourage people to explore wineries and wine shops they might not otherwise try. They can also often be used for experiences and events wineries hold, which is an added plus when gifting them.
Last but not least, gifting bottles of wine. This remains a popular choice and is especially true around the holidays as many people bring hostess gifts of wine. So where should you look? I’m glad you asked.
Trader Joe’s: Hear me out. Trader Joe’s is still that store. Its selections of affordable wines is still unmatched, but what I like most about it is the variety of international wines it has. So if you’d really like for your friend to try an Argentinian Malbec or Syrah, check Trader Joe’s.
Local wine shops: Buy local whenever you can. Wine is a great way to do it. Local wine shops usually offer local and non-local wines and offer top-notch customer service. When staff asks if they can help, they mean it and you should take advantage of it. Local shops often offer some type of wrapping or extra touch this time of year and can usually order hard-to-find items that may not be in stock.
Target: Target is a wine destination, not many people talk about it. It carries a huge selection of black-owned wine and offers discounts on four bottles or six bottles. I’m always amazed at how few people know this.
Urban wineries/tasting rooms: I love urban wineries and tasting rooms. So what are they? They are wineries located in “urban” areas, often pouring a variety of wines. These cool and comfy spots are great for having a chill time with friends and I often find myself wanting to share experiences at them with others whether that’s through gifting a wine I enjoyed there or a gift card so they can have the full experience.
On Sunday, October 15, Black Women Who Wine held its first ever Fall Harvest Wine Dinner. I’d planned for this night all year long and it was by far the biggest Black Women Who Wine event ever held. Twenty women joining together for an elevated wine experience in the heart of Central Virginia wine country right off of Route 151.
When it was time to pick the vendors for this event, I knew I wanted to support other Black businesses and for the most part I was able to. So what did we drink with our four courses? The wine dinner featured Fifty Leven, a black, woman-owned wine brand based in Leesburg. The night was made even more special because Fifty Leven owner, Kindra attended to personally share her wines with us.
The second course, Sancocho, a meat and vegetable stew, was paired with Fifty Leven Petit Verdot; the third course, filet with bourbon sauce was paired with Fifty Leven Heritage; and dessert, caramel apple cake was paired with Fifty Leven Stride Pear.
Many attendees had never tried Fifty Leven wines, but all agreed they were excellent. The Heritage is a red blend of 44% Merlot, 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 13% Cabernet Franc. The full-bodied blend paird well with the filet and was pretty fruit forward for a blend of this magnitude. The Stride Pear was a perfect pairing with dessert. A blend of Asian and American pears, this wine contains 1.7% residual sugar.
Aside from the Fifty Leven wines, the dinner also included two other wines. The heirloom tomato salad was paried with Veritas Sauvignon Blanc and a red meat alternative for the first cours, Tuscan chicken, was paired with Giuseppe Bocchino Arduine Barbera d’ Asti.
I’d say it’s a hidden gem, but plenty of people seem to know how great Molon Lave Vineyards is. Located in Warrenton, VA, Molon Lave offers customers wine, beer, seasonal sangria, and food offerings from flatbreads to cheese plates.
Molon Lave offers a variety of wines, including a sparking, ports, and four rosés – including Kokineli, traditional Greek rosé. Many of the whites stood out to our group of six that enjoyed a guided tasting led by the very knowledgeable Courtney.
The 2021 Dedication, Chardonnay Chardonnay grape, aged in a combination of oak barrels and stainless steel tanks, was a departure from big, oakey Chards. Well-balanced with flavors of green apple, pear and biscuit, everyone agreed this was a favorite. We also enjoyed the crisp and light Vidal Blanc, and a semi-sweet. Of the reds, we enjoyed the Cabernet Franc the most. While at the winery on a hot day, we enjoyed a bottle of Light Abounding, Molon Lave’s only sparking option.
Molon Lave is the only Virginia farm winery currently producing Kosher wines. The Chardonnay and proud to be the first and only Virginia Farm Winery to produce Kosher wines. Not all of the wines are Kosher and the Kosher options often sell out, so be sure to check the winery’s website to see what Kosher options are currently available.
The conclusion? If you’ve never been, add Molon Lave to your winery to visit list. It has ample outdoor and indoor seating options, live music, food trucks on some weekends, and a great selection of wines.
Wine and chocolate is one of the most popular pairings worldwide. But why? It’s actually quite scientific. And if you pair the wrong chocolate with the wrong wine, the result can be bitter, sour, and lots of other words that ultimately mean nasty. The secret to the perfect wine pairing is actually something most have never heard of, polyphenols.
Polyphenols are chemical compounds found in wine and chocolate. The good news is they are good for you and have anti-inflamatory properties. The bad news is they impact the flavors. The more polyphenols a wine or chocolate contains, the more bitter it will be. Pair a wine and chocolate that both have a lot of polyphenols and well, you get the picture.
You don’t have to do all of the guess work yourself though. Here are some general wine and chocolate pairings to consider.
Petit Verdot and a simple choclate cookie or chocolate cake. This is one of my favorite chocolate and wine pairings. When we think of wine and chocolate we often think about bold, heavy reds and chocolate with 70-85% cocoa. However, a lighter bodied red like Petit Verdot pairs well with a chocolate crinkle cookie or simple choclate cake with no frosting or a frosting that leans more towards milk chocolate flavor than a darker chocolate – think your ordinary Pilsbury cake icing. This pairing is approachable and comforting.
Malbec and dark chocolate covered ginger. Malbec has its own hint of spiciness and pairs well with chocolates that are slightly more acidic. This often makes it a great wine to pair with chocolate covered ginger, but also chocolate and fig bars or chocolate and cherry combos.
Touriga Nacional and chocolate with mint. If you’re looking for a wine to try with chocolate and mint (think a peppermint patty), try Touriga Nacional. It doesn’t fight the mint flavor, but instead compliments it, while the chocolate and mint elevate fruit flavor notes sometimes hidden in Touriga Nacional.
Moscato d’ Asti and white chcolate. Chocolate pairings are not just for red wines. Moscato d’Asti pairs well with white chocolate desserts.
Let’s get straight to the point. Crismon Lane is a dream. One of the newest wineries in Virginia and located in Linden, Virginia, Crimson Lane is the newest Tik Tok and Reels-worthy winery to enter the Virginia wine scene. Equal parts luxury and minimalism, the decor is textured and modern. The views are beautiful.
But what about the wine? Currently available are the following:
The only one above that I didn’t try was the Petit Verdot. Out of the others, the Sauvignon Blanc, Parral, and Petit Manseng stood out. The Parral was an amazing red blend with more balance than the Collina and Prelude.
As for the whites, the Sauvignon Blanc was clean and crisp with a floral and citrusy scent, and notes of pineapple and honeydew. If you visit Crimson Lane during the summer and are looking for a “porch sipping” option, this might be as close as you’re going to get. The Petit Manseng was also a standout. You’ll immediately taste honey, grapefruit, and peaches. This will go with a variety of cheeses, but also try it with chicken salad or other light summer snacks for a fun pairing.
Now the food. Crimson Lane offers light to heavy snacks and we tried the cheese plate and charcuterie board. Both were good and this was the first time I’ve seen pâté included on a charcuterie board in Virginia.
Things to note, Crimson Lane is offering an experience as much as it is offering wine. The price point is slightly higher than some Virginia wineries (especially if you’re used to visiting wineries outside of Northern Virginia), but well worth it. The customer service was top notch and the staff seems to be well versed in the winery’s conception, buildout, and future, as well as the wines and food menu. I can’t wait to go again.
Recently, members of Black Women Who Wine’s Wine Cave got an intro to the
The Workshop Wine Club based out of the Workshop at the Wool Factory in Charlottesville.
We got to enjoy a private tasting of four Wine Club wines, as well as some Workshop favorites.
The Workshop Wine Club is described as “a monthly subscription celebrating unsung grapes and regions around the world!” This was true of the picks we tasted. The club will included at least one Virginia wine per month. A four-bottle membership is $100 per month and a 12-bottle membership is $250 per month. You can also gift memberships for anywhere from 1-12 months.
We had a great time tasting through some options with Wool Factory Wine Director Kylie. We tasted Vino del Bosco 2021 Chasselas Doré, Enjingi 2020 Grasevina, Oltretorrente 2020 Timorasso, and Chateau Laurou 2020 Fronton Rouge.
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:
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.