Wisdom Oak Winery

July 9, 2022.  Kim and I got some whiplash driving from Hazy Mountain to Wisdom Oak Winery in North Garden.  It wasn’t that we were driving especially fast – the road up to Wisdom Oak is a a narrow single-lane mixed dirt and asphalt path with stout trees closing in the sides.  It’s the kind of road where one car will have to back up if two meet on the road in a standoff.

No, the whiplash was from following a 15,000-case winery (Hazy Mountain) immediately with a 3,600-case winery.  We put Wisdom Oak on our itinerary on the strength of is 2019 Nineteen wine, which made it into the 2020 Virginia Governor’s Cup Case – a high accolade for this small winery.

Formed in 2015, James and Laura Lavallee have around 6 acres under vine at North Garden and a larger vineyard of 14 acres three miles away.  They produce small batches wines from Chardonnay, Petit Manseng, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot.  Individual wines are usually produced at 200 cases or less.   When we visited, for instance, there were only six bottles of the award-winning 2019 Nineteen left.

The atmosphere at Wisdom Oak is very relaxed family friendly and pet friendly.  All seating is outside except a small wine club area.  The tasting room is like a lean-to next to the production building.  Restrooms are nestled inside next to the stainless steel tanks.  Wisdom Oak does accept the Virginia Wine Pass for discounts on bottle purchases.  Outside food.  Virtually all sales are through the Tasting Room.

We sampled two wines, both from the Monticello AVA:

2021 Sauvignon Blanc.  Light bodied, pale straw in color.  Better on a hot day instead of the drizzly overcast and cool day we had.  This is their first estate Sauvignon Blanc. 

2019 Petit Verdot.  Medium bodied with some alcohol on the finish.  Moderate tannins.  Plum aroma.  According to tasting notes, this wine was aged in 50% oak for two years.  It was designed to age, and it is recommended that you decant the wine if opening before 2023.  This was a 2022 Virginia Governor’s Cup Silver Medal Winner.

Location: Wisdom Oak Winery

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