Winter Wine Tasting

 A couple times this winter I've visited Loudoun Valley Vineyards. My friend Tim and I had some "holiday bonus" envelopes we had to redeem that could contain discounts or free stuff. Our first visit we won a free bread & cheese basket, and our second visit I won a 10% discount and Tim got a free glass of wine and bowl of soup on a Saturday of his choosing... looks like he's going again soon!

What's funny is that each time one of us has gone to the vineyard this winter, it's been snowing. Which is somewhat rare for northern Virginia. It was complete deja vu yesterday when we walked out of the tasting room and there was a soft blanket of snow all around yet again.

The staff there is fabulous- friendly, extremely knowledgeable, and willing to answer my many questions (What are the typical elements of a Syrah? Is it strange making wine on the east coast after being trained on the west coast? Have you heard of the movie "Somm," about the Master Sommelier exam? How do the oak barrels not mold inside? Do you actually drink wine in your off time?). The answer to the last was a resounding "no!" because they like to enjoy beer and other types of alcohol after talking about, pouring, and making wine all day.

I highly recommend Loundoun Valley Vineyards if you're in the area and want to taste some delicious wines! My favorites were the Route 9 Red (a chilled, slightly fizzy, sweeter red) and the Traminette (a sweeter white blend of two grapes).