A look back at Saturday's Winter Wine Festival in Staunton

Wine lovers from near and far attended Saturday's Winter Wine Festival at the Stonewall Jackson Hotel and Convention Center from noon until 6:00 p.m. in downtown Staunton. Hosted by the Historic Staunton Foundation, the event drew hundreds of participants and featured a dozen or more local wineries, two breweries, and two cider mills. The Stonewall's ballrooms as well as Sorrell's Lounge were all packed to capacity as attendees tasted and sipped the offerings. After tasting, glasses of wine were available for $5 and bottles were available for sale.

Four friends and I met in the Stonewall's lobby and began our adventure by first filling out the door prize stub and dropping it in a silver bowl, then we took our snowflake-embossed wine glasses in search of friends John and Susan Kiers and their Ox-Eye Vineyards table.

Ox-Eye owner John Kiers was pouring as he described the various selections. White Ox continues to be my favorite followed closely by their Riesling. Ox-Eye has garnered many reviews.

In 2013, Dave McIntyre, wine editor with the Washington Post, included Ox-Eye Vineyard in his list of Top 10 Mid-Atlantic wineries worth exploring, noting, "Southwest of Staunton, also at about 1,800 feet elevation, this vineyard is producing notable Riesling, pinot noir and lemberger, from an Austrian grape also known as blaufrankisch."

Beer lovers were in luck with the presence of popular Virginia breweries Devil's Backbone in Nellysford and Starr Hill located in Crozet. Hard cider was available from Bold Rock out of Nellysford and Foggy Ridge near Hillsville.

Thought not much of a hard cider drinker, Foggy Ridge's Pippin Gold was very good, described as "a unique blend of 100% Newtown Pippin hard cider and apple brandy from Laird and Company, the country's oldest distiller. Pippin Gold is delicious as a dessert cider or sweet aperitif." All five of us were pleased with the Pippin Gold.

The pourers for Democracy Vineyards out of Lovingston were decked out in red, white, and blue with patriotic accents that included the table covering the wine labels. My favorite of their selections was the Republic 2012 described as "a sweet white wine with opening aromas of citrus and a tropical finish. The sweetness is balanced by a natural bright acidity."

Cocoa Mill Chocolatiers had a table set up with a wide variety of their chocolates including samples. Needless to say, they were a popular spot. Located in Lexington and Staunton, I was introduced to them by Barb not long after they located on Beverley Street. It continues to be a popular stop while out and about.

Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, nuts, fruits ... Cocoa Mill had it all.

 Beliveau Estate Winery outside Blacksburg has been voted 2013 Silver Best Winery by the readers of Blue Ridge Country magazine, covering the mountain regions of nine southern states. Their very luscious white wine was Lovers Quest, described as a "semi-sweet Vidal Blanc, not too dry, not too sweet." It was fabulous.

Rockbridge Vineyard located south of Staunton was offering their line of fine wines including their Tuscarora White, described as a "crisp, zingy Vidal Blanc," and their Riesling with its "slightly sweet, spicy taste." I was persuaded by my friend to try the red Meritage, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot, and Petit Verdot," but it wasn't convincing enough to convert me to a red wine lover.

Rockbridge was also pouring a Cabernet sauvignon from their neighbors, Jump Mountain Vineyard, a small family-owned winery west of Lexington. The 2011 Jump Mountain Vineyard Cabernet sauvignon, their first vintage, is described as "made from 100% Cabernet sauvignon grapes grown and processed on the property. Fruit forward, with strawberry and raspberry notes, this is a light-bodied cab that can be enjoyed young." A 2014 vintage will be released this summer.

As much as I love chocolate, I discovered that Mattaponi Winery's Pow Wow, a chocolate strawberry wine, was not my cup of tea. However, their Wabamin-Niagara, described as "like eating grapes off the vine," was a nice white wine. Spotsylvania County's Mattaponi Winery, self-described as a Native-American Indian winery, specializes in award-winning berry-infused wines using flavors of blueberries, strawberries, concord grapes, and more.

Included with the price of admission was a snack bag that included cheese and crackers, a mini loaf of French bread, and an apple. Other food offerings were available for those who wanted a bit more than a snack. Entertainment was provided by Hound Dog Hill, a bluegrass band that had feet tapping and hips swaying in one ballroom while a James Taylor-sounding musician entertained in the other.

 I don't know who did the Historic Staunton Foundation's graphics but I like not only the wine glass illustration but the font used for the "Winter Wine Festival" signage. Kudos for an all-around great event.

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell
Stonewall Jackson Hotel
February 22, 2014

Staunton's Winter Wine Festival is Saturday

Join up with friends and enjoy an afternoon in downtown Staunton! Also pouring will be Augusta County's own Ox-Eye Vineyard. Shake off the winter blues at the Winter Wine Festival....

Shenandoah Valley wine and jazz

Wine was the star of the day at Saturday's Shenandoah Wine & Jazz Festival at the Frontier Culture Museum in Staunton. Sponsored by the Shenandoah Valley Wine Trail, it featured tastings from local wineries, vendors offering food items and an array of other offerings, and live jazz. Held under the trees at the stage tucked away behind the Irish farm, it offered a cool setting with picnic tables and benches for those who had not brought lawn chairs.

Vineyards represented were Barren Ridge, Bluestone, Cave Ridge, Cross Keys, Lexington Valley, North Mountain, Ox-Eye, Rockbridge, Valerie Hill, Wisteria, Wolf Gap and Valerie Hill.

The Ox-Eye Vineyard tent was busy as festival goers waited for tastings of a variety of wine choices.

"Shenandoah at War" Battlefields Foundation was represented by Rob Aitcheson who had a variety of items on display with proceeds benefiting the foundation. I had an interesting conversation with him about the war and Confederate mapmaker Jedediah Hotchkiss who had close ties to the Staunton-Augusta County area. Cave Ridge Vineyards bottles the "Shenandoah at War"-label wine with a percentage of the proceeds going to the foundation.

Vendors were selling a variety of items including this creative shirt from Cave Ridge Vineyards.

Staunton's Betsy Bell or Mary Gray Mountain (not sure which one) can be seen behind vendors that included Dragonfly Arts and Pottery, Bath Fitter, Art Tiles by James, Vibe Bryant, Cabin Creek Roasters, Hot Wired Art, SVBF, Burton Galleries, Scentsy, D-Vine Creations, Passage Creek Farm, Woven Wood Farm, Nuts R Us, The Green Shed, and Thirty-One Gifts.

Upcoming event from Crosskeys Vineyards.

Loved the name ... Wisteria Farm & Vineyard out of Stanley, just south of Luray. As I took pictures of her selection of wines, we chatted and she said they have wisteria growing all around the farm.

Tastings ...

Barren Ridge's owner John Higgs was enjoying the crowds and had lines at his booth.

More tastings.

This young couple was sitting by the pond as the activities went on behind them. It was a peaceful setting and I couldn't resist taking a picture....

Non-alcoholic beverages were available as well as a variety of food from AVA Restaurant and Wine Bar, Derby Dogs, and Daniel Bones BBQ.

The Irish farm was alive with the sound of jazz from the adjoining field.

The covered patio area at the museum adjacent to the gift shop. Some were picnicking at the tables before returning to the stage area.

The parking area adjacent to the dairy barn was full ...

... as was the main parking area ...

... and overflow parking. Great event, great vendors, and a sweet Virginia day.

 The souvenir glass handed out to tasters at the festival. Be sure to mark your calendar for next year's event to enjoy a day relaxing in the Shenandoah Valley.

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell
Shenandoah Wine & Jazz Festival
Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia
June 29, 2013

WaPost calls Augusta County's Ox-Eye Vineyards one of top 10 mid-Atlantic wineries to check out

Congratulations to friends Susan and John Kiers, owners of Ox-Eye Vineyards, for making the Washington Post's Top 10 mid-Atlantic wineries to check out.

Dave McIntyre with the Post wrote:

For wine lovers interested in exploring beyond state borders to discover wineries producing high-quality wine and establishing a regional style, here are a few suggestions. This is by no means an exhaustive list. Rather, I am highlighting wineries that are not mentioned in the main article and are relatively new, either having opened in the last few years or about to open.

In his list is Ox-Eye, named for the Ox-Eye Daisies that are so prominent at the vineyard:

Southwest of Staunton, also at about 1,800 feet elevation, this vineyard is producing notable Riesling, pinot noir and lemberger, from an Austrian grape also known as blaufrankisch.

Be sure to stop by the Ox-Eye Tasting Room in Historic Wharf District of downtown Staunton at 44 Middlebrook Avenue in the Wharf area. The Kiers note, "Our focus is crafting high quality, food-friendly wines from grapes best suited to the soil and climate of our farm in Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley."

Various local talent has been featured at the tasting room, and this weekend is no different. On Friday, April 12, from 5:30-7:00, an art opening reception will be held featuring Jeffrey Stockberg upstairs and downstairs with Cheryl Gerhart.

Thought the farm and vineyards are located in Augusta County outside Staunton, the tasting room is located in an historic 1904 building designed by the noted architect T.J. Collins. Stop by ... you'll be glad you did.

 Ox-Eye Daisies

Will hot, dry weather make 2010 a good year for Virginia wines?

While much of the East Coast has been wilting under excessive heat and no rain the past weeks, there's a silver lining for vineyard owners who have been smiling because dryness is good for grapes. Will 2010 be a good year for Virginia wines?

As temperatures hovered at 100 degrees in the central Shenandoah Valley this week, I contacted my friends Susan and John Kiers who own Ox-Eye Vineyard and Farm located in the rolling hills of western Augusta County. I was curious about the effect the weather was having on the crop.

Made up of 20 acres of fertile soil, the Kiers planted 12,500 vines in this picturesque area of Virginia in 1999, and have been providing wine grapes to Charlottesville's Blenheim Vineyards owned by Dave Matthews (yes, that Dave Matthews) and his family who bottle an award-winning Ox-Eye Chardonnay.

Ox-Eye Vineyard handles dry seasons differently than most Virginia vineyards because they do not depend on any irrigation -- ever. Irrigation trains the roots to stay near the surface which can be disastrous in drought conditions. Instead, they planted vines from a drought-tolerant root stock in deep soil which encouraged the roots to go very deep looking for moisture. Even in the driest of seasons, Ox-Eye's grape vines encounter very little stress.

Last winter's prolonged period of snow cover in the Valley was ideal. With snow on the ground from mid-December through mid-March, the moisture soaked in and provided excellent conditions going into the 2010 growing season.

The current dry conditions lessen maintenance in the vineyards by cutting down the chances for fungal disease, and can cause wonderfully condensed sugars and intense flavors in the grapes. That, in turn, should translate into a good wine.

But what about the intense sun on days with triple digit temperatures? To prevent sun-burned fruit clusters, some leaves are removed on the eastern (morning) side of the rows but most of the leaves are left on the western (evening) side. This allows the sunlight necessary for ripening from the soft, morning light but shades them from the intense heat of the mid to late afternoon sun which is when they are most susceptible to burning.

Being in the Valley at 1,800 feet in elevation, Ox-Eye Vineyard has a climate different than many other Virginia vineyards. Average rainfall is less, average temperatures are lower, there's a significantly greater diurnal shift (which is the difference between day and night temperatures, and is especially important during ripening), and a shorter growing season.

Because of these and other conditions, Ox-Eye can successfully ripen some varieties that other Virginia operations may shy away from, such as Pinot Noir and Reisling.

While they have been successfully selling their grapes to other vineyards the past 10 years, a new on-site winery will now allow the Kiers to bottle under the Ox-Eye Vineyard label. Hopefully, the dry weather of 2010 will do its part to help in their success.

Cross-posted at The Washington Examiner