by Richard Leahy | May 16, 2021 | Regions & Terroir, Virginia Wine, Winery Visits
May 15th was an ideal day to do most anything outdoors. Near Charlottesville, it was an ideal day to avoid the crowds near the University and visit wineries, especially since the CDC had OK’d not wearing masks when in groups outdoors. Wineries were serving...
by Richard Leahy | May 3, 2021 | Tastings/Evaluations, Virginia Wine, Winery Visits
There’s no winery event like one where a new label is introduced, and the world is coming out of pandemic restrictions. Last weekend in early May I drove to Ankida Ridge Vineyards in western Amherst County, to enjoy the lovely mountain views and top-notch...
by Richard Leahy | Dec 31, 2020 | Tastings/Evaluations, Virginia Wine, Winery Visits
If you’re reading this, you’re probably as relieved as I am that we’re in a new year. What a great year 2020 was (to focus on fine food and wine, music, or anything else than covid and politics), although there is hope now on those two fronts for the...
by Richard Leahy | Nov 13, 2020 | Events, News/Announcements, Winery Visits
On Saturday Nov. 21, five days before Thanksgiving, author Richard Leahy will sign copies of his current, third edition of Beyond Jefferson’s Vines, the complete guide to Virginia wine in the first 400 years, at Muse Vineyards just east of Woodstock, from 2-4...
by Richard Leahy | Aug 25, 2020 | Regions & Terroir, Tastings/Evaluations, Virginia Wine, Winery Review, Winery Visits
On August 1st I signed copies of my new third edition of Beyond Jefferson’s Vines (the definitive book on Virginia wine) at Breaux Vineyards in northern Loudoun County, so I stayed for a couple of nights and visited a half-dozen other wineries, some of which...
by Richard Leahy | Jun 12, 2020 | Events, Tastings/Evaluations, Winery Review, Winery Visits
Ankida Ridge Vineyards, the “jewel of Amherst County” (my phrasing) has just released their new 2017 vintage Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and 2016 Blanc de Blancs sparkling wine. The 2017 vintage was a fine one in Virginia, for both reds and whites. The...
