Sabin Wine Journeys

September 16, 2022.   If location is everything, then Dry Mill Vineyards and Winery certainly has a prime location.   Advertised as the closest winery to Leesburg, it is minutes west from downtown.   We last visited in 2016.   The somewhat rustic tasting room sits on a hillock with its back to the traffic along Dry Mill Road.   Walk around to the front and the road noise disappears.   You are in the country again.   The tasting room inside is quite small, but outside there is an extended covered porch with heaters for the winter months.   The lawn rolls down to picnic tables and forest.   The building also features a balcony from which, we understand, the Fairfax Jubil-Aires can often be found serenading the patrons.   We appreciate the hospitality from Tricia, Sandy, and Lou on our short visit.   Dry Mill is part of Vanhuss Family Cellars which has its principal office and its eight acres of vineyards in the Lovettsville area. ...

September 16, 2022.   It was one of those perfect Virginia late summer days – puffy clouds in a bright sky, low humidity.   We could think of nothing better than to drive out to Leesburg in Loudoun County to sample some wine.   Kim and I last visited Casanel Vineyard and Winery in 2016 but made no notes about it.   Time for another visit.   As far as driving is concerned, we would advise approaching Casanel from the West off of Route 7 rather than from the Southeast from Routes 15 and 622.   The Route 622 approach is on a very narrow rutted gravel road.   The approach from Route 7 is mostly on paved roads in better maintenance.      “Casanel” is a contraction of Casey and Nelson De Souza, the founders who bought the property in 2006 and had their first Estate Crush in 2014.   We were sorry to hear that Casey DeSouza has passed away. But Nelson continues to work the vineyard and to take care of much of the interior work for guests....