Showing posts with label Virginia Tourism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Virginia Tourism. Show all posts
July 01, 2010
General's Ridge Vineyard 009
The leaves on the sunny side of the vines need to be thinned and pruned so that an equal amount of light hits the shady side of the vines. I'm not sure if Larry told us why but I presume this allows even growth and ripening of the grapes.
Thinning and pruning, like every step of the process is done manually. Wine probably should cost more. . .
General's Ridge Vineyard 008
Larry said the leaves need to be meticulously maintained. They are prone to mold and insects. I asked about deer. He said they aren't so much a problem as smaller critters. I believe he mentioned turkeys. He also mentioned there are some coyotes in the area that keep populations in balance.
If the leaves stay free of pests, sooner or later they're going to need some pruning and thinning. . .
General's Ridge Vineyard 007
According to Larry, grapevines grow rapidly but need a lot of attention. Each April, the vines are cut nearly to the ground. So all the growth you are seeing in these photographs happened between April and mid-June.
General's Ridge Vineyard 006
We had the pleasure of meeting the vineyard's Foreman, Larry. Larry was spraying some of the vines early Sunday morning. He said they stopped Saturday afternoon because it was 100 degrees in the fields! When we met Larry, he was on his way home to get ready for church but he was still kind enough to stop and chat with us for a bit.
It is immediately clear that Larry is a gentle and affable fellow. Living on the Northern Neck his entire life, he has the weathered skin and calloused hands of a man that physically labors for a living. His eyes twinkle. They hint at wisdom and knowledge and ingenuity that might be missed if one was to focus only on his nearly toothless grin or his blue collar attire.
Larry speaks confidently but softly - his drawl smooth and sweet like honey. He laughs easily during our conversation and kindly entertains and engages our inquisitiveness.
Northern Neck Wineries 007
Our last stop was The Hague Winery. All the wineries were great but this one was probably my favorite. The tasting room was in a big old barn that was painted in raucous citrus shades. There was a respectable amount of space for lounging inside and out. I felt as if we could order a glass of wine and linger at this place without being in another parties' way. Also, the gentleman that hosted the tasting - whom I'm guessing was owner Stephen Madey, took a great deal of time explaining his entire operation. He was very low key but the passion he has for his work was obvious.
Oh yeah, didn't help he had my most FAVORITE wine possibly EVER!!!! The Hague Winery Chardonel is exactly the wine I attempt to describe to waiters when I want a white wine: citrusey, crisp, not too dry. . .Love, love, love!!!!! I could have lingered for quite a while at this place.
http://thehaguewinery.com/
Northern Neck Wineries 006
This is NOT one of ours. . .And yet he seems to be entertaining the option. . .
Northern Neck Wineries 004
Physically very impressive. This vineyard appears to be meticulously maintained. Couple notable things about this tasting:
1. The owner told us they are building a new home on the property and the existing structure will become the tasting room.
2. The dogs are very cute.
3. Purchased: A white called Conundrum. . .It's a blend of mystery whites.
4. Also purchased in copious amounts: Red and the espresso infused dark chocolates that are AMAZING with the wine.
I know very little about wine and I'm certainly not snooty about it. If it tastes good to me, I have no qualms about how much it costs, how it's packaged, or where it's from but EVEN I know this red/chocolate thing is pretty great.
http://www.vaultfield.com/index.html
June 30, 2010
Northern Neck Wineries 003
Yes. That is a gigantic stuffed catfish on top of a wine barrel. Yes. I find this hilarious for some reason. And no I didn't ask why it was there. I'm sure the answer is way more boring than what I've imagined.
At Belle Mount the crowd favorite wine seemed to be almost a picnic red called Workboat Red. The woman hosting the tasting raved about what a wonderful sangria you can make with it. The promise of sangria sealed the deal.
http://www.bellemount.com/
Northern Neck Wineries 001
If it's hot and humid, how better to spend the afternoon than hanging out in cool climate controlled tasting rooms?
Our first stop was Belle Mount Vineyards. . .
The Mooring Restaurant and Kinsale Marina 002
This is the Lucky Lady. She's apparently now part of the outdoor deck bar at The Mooring Restraurant. The menu indicated that the Lucky Lady is a 50 year old Henry Luhrs The Luhrs name has been synonymous with fine pleasure craft for generations.
The Mooring Restaurant and Kinsale Marina 001
One of THE. BEST. BRUNCH. BUFFETS. EVER.
I'm not sure how they do what they do, but it was pretty freaking magical. Lots of seafood, none of it rubbery or dry. Excellent fresh ingredients in every dish. Plus, how can you go wrong with extra large mimosas?
After we had brunch, we explored the Marina for a little while. Their website indicated they have nearly 100 year old skipjack berthed there which I definitely wanted to check out.
C got me a book by Christopher White for my birthday that chronicles the heritage of skipjacks and oyster fishermen in Maryland. Oyster dredging is the last fishery that still works under sail power and it's barely hanging on. . .
It was super hot outside and we explored with some haste. Brutal weather.
http://www.portkinsale.com/
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