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 | May 16, 2020 | Regions & Terroir, Tastings/Evaluations
Here in Central Virginia, we’ve gone from a serious (and damaging) frost last Sunday night, to temps in the upper ’80s by the end of the week, so a big transition from drinking reds to whites. The first of these Wines of the Week is DuCard (Madison Co.,...
by Richard Leahy | Feb 28, 2020 | Competitions, Events, News/Announcements, Regions & Terroir, Virginia Wine
The Monticello Wine Trail (MWT) will hold its 30th Annual Monticello Cup Wine Competition on Monday, March 2 at Barboursville Vineyards. The competition is closed to the public, but results for the top scoring wines will be announced live during the public Monticello...
by Richard Leahy | Dec 7, 2019 | Regions & Terroir, Tastings/Evaluations, Virginia Wine
When a very good or great vintage comes along, it’s a good idea to buy enough to lay down for when they really mature, as you enjoy the other bottles when they’re young. Any wine lover deserves to drink mature wines of a decade old or more, especially if...
by Richard Leahy | Nov 26, 2019 | Regions & Terroir, Tastings/Evaluations, Virginia Wine
Since Thanksgiving was the original locavore feast (on the East Coast), it’s only appropriate to drink local wine (or cider, or mead or fruit wine) wherever in the country you are. Thanksgiving gives you the chance (with my encouragement!) to get outside the box of...
by Richard Leahy | Nov 11, 2019 | Competitions, Events, Regions & Terroir, Virginia Wine
The Shenandoah Valley Wine Trail, comprised of wineries in the Shenandoah Valley American Viticultural Area, will present the first Shenandoah Cup trophy to the top-rated wine submitted in its inaugural competition at a Gala on November 15. The celebration will be...