Sabin Wine Journeys

February 25, 2022.  During a short trip to the Culpeper area, Kim and I visited the small Revalation Winery.   Revalation is owned by Françoise and Julian Moiseiwitsch, from Belgium and Ireland, who have their main vineyard near their home in Reva.   (This “Reva” connection is the reason why the winery is not spelled “Revelation.”)   The small tasting room is a couple of miles away, overlooking the scenic Hebron Valley in Madison.   The winery is mostly set-up for outside seating.   In the summer, a breeze blows down the valley and keeps the visitors cool as they watch the sun set over the mountains.   The tasting room is an 1830’s cabin that was relocated timber-by-timber from near Gretna to this location.   Inside, there are only two tables arranged around a nice fireplace.   If you anticipate rain or colder temperatures, it is best to call ahead and reserve one of these two tables.   Otherwise, you are at the mercy of firepits.   Outside food is alright.   The Wine Pass is accepted

  February 12, 2022.  A group of us drove out to visit 50 West Vineyards near Middleberg on a breezy but pleasant sunny day.   50 West Vineyards is the smallest of five vineyards owned by Mike and Diane Canny.   The hub of the winemaking for these farms is Sunset Hills Vineyard in Purcellville, and 50 West opened as the second tasting room in 2015.   All of 50 West’s wines are produced at Sunset Hills.   We were honored to have a long convivial talk with Mike Canny sitting around our fire pit.   Much of this post will include our discussion with Mike.   We thank him for his time.   But let’s also give a shout-out to Molly for keeping our fire pit stoked! The tasting room at 50 West is small and cozy inside, but there is ample room outside for larger groups, families and dogs.   Outside food is allowed or you may visit the food truck.   During the summer, there are festivals outside that use the large stage installed across from the tasting room.   Mike began vineyarding in 1999,

February 6, 2022. We continued our February excursion into Loudoun County with a visit to the new Three Creeks Winery in Hamilton.   Three Creeks was incorporated in February 2020 and is a fictitious name for the Harmony Creek Vineyards.   Three Creeks indeed does sit on a small rise overlooking the confluence of three creeks.   Even in the winter, the creeks were burbling along.   With these creeks, the Winery does not allow visitors under the age of 21 because there are no fences to keep children, for instance, from falling into the waters.    Outside food is allowed.   The tasting room is small and cozy. We had a nice conversation with Paula-Jean (“P.J.”). Lawrence, co-owner of the winery who told us about building the tasting room onto the original old barn and the work to bush-hog the land and plant vines.     We should not forget how much hard work vineyarding is.   We enjoyed the casual atmosphere and the very hospitable and approachable staff. Three Creeks has 11 acres

February 6, 2022. Kim and I took advantage of the first non-freezing, non-snowing or raining day in weeks to travel out to a new winery in Round Hill, Loudoun County: Williams Gap.   Approaching Williams Gap, you are surprised by how it rises from the adjacent housing development to present a winding road through acres of vineyards.   Since the early 2000’s owner John Sexton has been growing grapes for sale to other wineries.   He now has 35 acres of grapes under vine, growing ten varietals in those 35 acres.   In 2019, they decided to go into wine production as well. The tasting room sits mid-way on a hill surrounded by vines.   The winery does not permit outside food.   Reservations are advised to the comfy chairs and sofas in front of the fireplace.   Even in the winter, there appears to be much landscaping going on, with lakes and terraces being built into the hillsides.   Following our usual M.O., Kim tasted two white wines, and I tasted three red wines on offer.   Based on