White Hall Vineyards. July 7, 2021

 

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 Franc at Total Wine.  Outside food is allowed.  The tasting room has a fireplace. 

Kim and I both purchased tasting flights composed from a selection of eight available choices.  We sampled:

2020 Breakheart Rosé.  Very good – perhaps the best Rosé of this trip.  Strawberry and watermelon.

2017 Cabernet Franc.  A standard Cab Franc.

2019 Petit Verdot.  This is good full-bodied wine, good finish that lingers.  Lisa admitted that the 2019 Petit Verdot had to be made from fruit outside of the Shenandoah Valley instead of exclusively the Monticello AVA.

2017 Gewurztraminer.  Not exactly a dessert wine but close.  Seemed sweeter than the advertised 2% residual sugar.

2019 Chardonnay.  Kim found this a good value.

2017 Petit Manseng.  Kim found this an excellent value at $10.00.  A full-bodied white.

2020 Sugar Ridge White.  Kim liked this as well, a good value. 

We purchased the 2017 Petit Manseng, the 2020 Sugar Ridge White, and the 2020 Breakheart Rosé.

Let me also pass along Lisa’s recommendations for other wineries in the area: the Pinot Noir from Ankida Ridge Vineyards (Amherst) and wines from Stinson Vineyard, in general.

 

 

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