Sabin Wine Journeys

  White Hall Vineyards.    July 7, 2021 We visited White Hall Vineyards in Crozet on a sweltering hot day.   The tasting room has almost a Southwestern hacienda feel, earth tones, modern, and cool.   This winery was founded in 1994 by Edith and Anthony (Edie and Tony) Champ and is a “dba” of Champ Cellars.     Do not confuse this vineyard/winery with the Estate at White Hall Vineyard in King George, Northern Neck.   White Hall in Crozet has grown to 48 acres under vine.   Like a number of wineries in the Crozet area, White Hall is at an elevation – 800 feet – that allows for some mountain cooling.   We met the very accommodating Lisa Champ Van Hecke, daughter of the owners, who was managing the tasting room.   She stated that all of their wines were estate grown (but see the Petit Verdot entry below).     She reported that White Hall is available from Total Wine and Whole Foods through their independent distributor.   In fact, since our trip, we purchased a White Hall Cabernet Fra

  Grace Estate Winery.    July 7, 2021 One of the goals of these wine trips is have new experiences and meet new people along the way, not just to drink wine.   On our way to Grace Estate Winery in Crozet one quiet Wednesday morning, we met a very nice young man in overalls, long hair, and a long beard.   We met him as we considered how to get our car out of a deep ditch in front of the White Hall Community Center.   We couldn’t back out as one rear tire was elevated off of the ground.   This young man took the time and had a stout rope with which to tow us out of our hole.   Otherwise, we would have been stuck for hours in 90+ degree heat waiting for a commercial tow truck.   The young man’s only request is that we should “pay it forward.”   We should all look for chances to help others!   Good Man. But back to Grace Estate.   When we emerged from our scratched car at the winery, you smell the horses for you are deep in horse country at the foot of the Blue Ridge.   Grace Estate

  Cardinal Point Winery.    July 6, 2021 We concluded the second day of our wine trip to the Monticello AVA with a visit to Cardinal Point Winery in Afton.   We drove from the Northern side of the AVA to the Southwestern side at the foot of the Blue Ridge.   This took longer than you might think.   The AVA is deceptively large.   Cardinal Point was formed in 2018 according to the Virginia corporate records.   It is a small operation with mostly outside seating under a tented patio.   The on-site employee did not want to serve in the tasting room which was small but acceptably appointed.   I can see that it could get crowded quickly in there.   We are thankful that she allowed us to sit in the air-conditioned barrel room and workspace as the temperatures that day were in the upper 90’s with humidity.   They have a nice balcony inside with sofas and bar tables overlooking the stainless steel tanks and barrels. Outside food is allowed.   Kim had the 2019 Hopped Chardonnay and gave i