Richard’s 2021 Thanksgiving Wine Recommendations

by Richard Leahy | Nov 20, 2021 | News/Announcements, Regions & Terroir, Tastings/Evaluations, Uncategorized

It’s time for my annual Thanksgiving wine recommendations. As a locavore and also as a historian, I promote drinking locally, especially since Thanksgiving is an East Coast tradition (first celebrated at Berkley Hundred on the James River in Virginia, on Dec. 4,...

A Fun, Frenetic Two Weeks Promoting Virginia Wine

by Richard Leahy | Nov 15, 2021 | Conferences & Meetings, Events, Regions & Terroir, Tastings/Evaluations

For the last two weeks, I’ve been busy going to ceremonies and conferences to celebrate and promote Virginia wine. This blog entry will have many more pics that usual and fewer words to give you a feel for this busy period. First, I attended a celebration for...

2017: Re-Visiting a Very Good Vintage in Virginia

by Richard Leahy | Oct 25, 2021 | Regions & Terroir, Tastings/Evaluations, Virginia Wine

While I stand by what I said in the previous posts about 2019 being the best vintage since 2001, it doesn’t mean we should overlook or dismiss other very good vintages that may still be around. While 2015 was good in Northern Virginia, 2016 was even better, and was...

2019 Reds Part 2: Big and Bold but Balanced

by Richard Leahy | Oct 18, 2021 | Regions & Terroir, Tastings/Evaluations, Virginia Wine

In my last blog post, I explained how the 2019 vintage in Virginia produced the best red wines I’ve seen in nearly 20 years. The wines reviewed there were fruit-forward and juicy, for near-term enjoyment. Now we’ll look at the more gutsy red wines of the...

2019: the Best Vintage for Virginia Red Wines Since 2001

by Richard Leahy | Oct 15, 2021 | Regions & Terroir, Tastings/Evaluations, Virginia Wine

I’ve been tasting and making notes on the red wines of the great 2019 vintage in Virginia since late January. Some of the wines were made in a fruit-forward style and bottled and released early. Others were made in a more reserve style, with more oak and...

37th Maryland Wine Festival Will be Sept. 18-19 at Carroll Co. Farm Museum

by Richard Leahy | Aug 10, 2021 | Events, News/Announcements, Regions & Terroir

New Layout and Features This Year The Maryland Wine Festival returns to the Carroll County Farm Museum on Saturday, September 18 and Sunday, September 19.  While 2021 marks the 37th celebration of this tradition, updates to the event’s programming and layout promise...