Loudoun Crafted - 2024 Loudoun Crafted: A Guide to Local Beverages & Producers

Wine Time: Get the Local Lowdown

2023-12-13 05:27:36

Varied topography, limestone soils, unpredictable weather and a range of well-drained ridges deliver terroir suited to a variety of grapes and styles, while winemakers constantly innovate and experiment.

Grapes are harvested early fall when new reds are released and rosés come online in spring. Add in talks, tours, pairings, picnics, concerts and spectacular views and small wonder Travel + Leisure and Southern Living hail Loudoun as a must-visit destination.

Greatest Hits

Cab Franc - Medium body red originating from Basque Country, France
Cab sauvignon - Densely textured red wine Bordeaux grape
Merlot - Dark-blue French grape that makes bold, long-aging reds
Petit Verdot - Red wine grape used in classic Bordeaux blends
Viognier - Rich, full-bodied white with citrus and floral aromas
Chardonnay - Green-skinned varietal used to make crisp, oaky whites

Up-and-coming

Albariño - Aromatic mid-palate white originating from Spain
Cayuga Blanc - Citrus-tinged hybrid for dry, sparkling or dessert wines
Chambourcin - Vibrant, mellifluously named French American hybrid
Chardonel - Late-ripening, crisp white hybrid
Fer Servadou - Medium-bodied red grape with rustic tannins
Tannat - Complex, flavorful red grape famous for its rich tannins

Learn more about Loudoun’s award-winning wines and the local farm vineyards that produce them at LoudounFarms.org/wineries.

Signature Experiences

Tastings

Walsh Family Wine’s “self-guided flights” feature tastings in mini bottles served on slabs of reclaimed wood. Stone Tower Winery’s “Signature Experience” entails a tasting and a tour while learning about the team’s artisanal approach to winemaking.

Picnics

At Bleu Frog Vineyards, pick up grab-n-go charcuterie boxes and gourmet cheeses to enjoy on the lawns. Greenhill Vineyards’ charcuterie platters pair perfectly with a bottle of the winery’s Blanc de Blancs.

Cork Curriculum

Learn about palate, aroma, taste and tannins at Boxwood Estate Winery’s “Cork Curriculum” classes in July and August. Sunset Hills Vineyard and 50 West Vineyards’ “Knowledge Uncorked: A Master's Series in Wine” is an all-encompassing six-part wine education program held on Saturdays between September and November.

Concerts & Live Music

Scenic Otium Cellars hosts weekend music acts, 868 Estate Vineyards hosts the LoCo Music Festival every year, focused on local singer-songwriters and Notaviva Farm Brewery & Winery gives its wines musical names such as “Cantabile” Cabernet Franc.

Read between the vines

Dive into the world of wine and words at Breaux Vineyards’ book club for literary oenophiles which takes place the last Sunday of each month.

Don’t miss Virginia Wine Month and the annual Loudoun Wine Awards gala dinner each October.

Pairing Wine & Food

Pair chocolate and wine at Willowcroft Farm Vineyards’ wildly popular Wine & Chocolate Truffle tastings.

At Fabbioli Cellars, taste six wines paired with gourmet “bites” created by local chefs and food artisans.

The Vineyards & Winery at Lost Creek hosts monthly Terroir to Table dinners seasonally and offers a farm-to-table small plates menu in the tasting room year-round.

Bluemont Vineyard's annual “Harvest Wine Dinner” on Saturdays in October is a four-course spread where experts share the story behind each featured dish and pairing.

At the rustic restaurant of EagleTree Farm Vineyards, pair their wines with the locavore dishes (filet mignon, root puree) of chef-owner Jeff Judge.

View the Loudoun Wine Trail Guide at VisitLoudoun.org

Wine Time: Get the Local Lowdown
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