Cana Vineyard and Winery

April 1, 2022.  This post is a chance for me to clear the air about Cana Vineyards.  Kim and I visited Cana in 2015 or 2016 when it was owned by the Bell family.  My notes from the tasting I had at that time read: “Favored no wines.  All bad.”  Based on this bad experience, Cana has been an object of derision in our house to the present day. But - wait for the rest of the story!

One of the pitfalls of writing a blog about a constantly changing subject like Virginia wineries is that you will miss important events and not update your impressions when an open mind would insist on it.  That is the case with Cana.  In 2018, the Bell family sold Cana to Lisa and Bruce Petty.  The Petty’s have since been joined in ownership/management by Michelle and Tom Grant.  They have invested much in upgrading the facilities.  Their winemaker, Melanie Natoli, was named co-Woman Winemaker of the Year in 2017.  Cana won silver or bronze medals in the Virginia Governor’s Cup in 2016, 2018, 2019, and 2020, but before 2022, it had won no gold medals (and won no medals at all in 2021).  We were oblivious of this positive trend.  Then in March 2022, Cana won the 2022 Virginia Governor’s Cup with two gold medals, including the top prize for the 2019 Unité Reserve red blend.  This was over more than 600 wines.  Ms Natoli became the first woman winemaker to win the Cup.  All signs were that we needed to re-visit Cana.

Cana sits on a hilltop off of Route 50 near Middleburg.  The view is of close-by low hills, which we understand do not afford the kind of spectacular Fall foliage that you can see from some of the wineries beyond Purcellville, but nice nevertheless.  It is named for Jesus’ miracle turning water into wine at the wedding at Cana - my kind of God.  The facility is a two-story original building with the new “Sunset Pavilion” across a flagstone patio.  While the tasting area of the original building is somewhat cramped, the Pavilion is high and spacious, with two tasting bars and a real-wood fireplace and overhead heating in the winter.  Between the original building and the Pavilion, there is plenty of room for events.

We enjoyed speaking with Don, the tasting room manager, and hearing about his experience pouring at the Governor’s Cup and bringing the trophy home to Cana buckled-up in his car.  Cana has 43 acres of which seven are under vine.  All juice is Virginia grown, and mostly from Loudoun county.  The Virginia Wine Pass is accepted for a modest discount on bottle sales.  Outside food is allowed.  The Pavilion opens up in the summertime.  When we visited, it was still in its winter configuration - closed in plastic sheets that flapped loudly with the wind.  Being at the top of a hill, there is a persistent breeze.  There are outdoor firepits as well for those brave enough.  

I can say that on this visit, all of the wines were quite favorable.  Here are our impressions:

Chardonnay 2020.  Kim gave the Chardonnay a B, reflecting more the price than the quality.

Miracle 2015.  The predominance of Chambourcin really come through in this red blend.  It is light and bright with some toast.  The wine has some bite.   

Merlot 2016.  This 100% Merlot has moderate tannin.  Some plum on the finish for a light sweetness.  Some orange tinge on the glass.

Le Mariage 2016.  This red blend is 50% Merlot and 46% Petit Verdot.  It is somewhat light red fruit taste.  Higher tannin.  It was aged 18 months in French oak like the Merlot.  I bought a bottle of the 2016 Le Mariage.

Le Mariage 2019.  Thanks to Don’s hospitality, we also sampled the 2019 version of Le Mariage which is a 2022 Governor’s Cup case winner.  It is 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 14% Malbec and 14% Petit Verdot with a little Cabernet Franc.  So already it is more complex than the 2016 version but also very smooth with controlled bite and longer finish.

 

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