James Charles Winery and Vineyard

 October 20, 2022.  A little over a half hour drive from Veramar Vineyard, we came to the newest of the three facilities of the Bogaty Family Wine Group, James Charles Winery and Vineyard in Winchester, Frederick County.  James Charles feels more elegant than Veramar and, indeed, it is designed to accommodate weddings and other special events.  From its distinctive green doors, to its sleek events room, to its tasting room capable of opening up to a rolling lawn, James Charles is party central to the Wine Group.  It is fitting that this winery carries the name of its owner since, we understand, Jim and Della Bogaty met and married in the same weekend.  

Outside food is only allowed outside. Otherwise, have some appetizers from the winery menu.  The Virginia Wine Pass is not accepted.  For colder months, be sure to reserve one of the outside firepits. 

We met Matt, the tasting room manager who offered wines we did not see at Veramar.  As we noted in our Veramar post, James Charles is supposed to be focusing on a French treatment for its wines and Veramar does Italian.  Interestingly, James Charles offers a Sangiovese and Veramar does not.  Being part of a winery group, you can find The Founder Red and the Founder White at both wineries.  Matt was also very enthusiastic about the release of a Carménère in December so watch out for that. 

Here are our impressions:

2021 JC SS Chardonnay.  Kim rated this Chardonnay a B.  But this is a stainless steel Chardonnay – compared to the oaked Chardonnay available Veramar. A little crisper...

2021 JC Rosé.  This is a 100% Chambourcin Rosé.  All grapes are from the James Charles vineyard.  Nice strawberry notes.

2020 Arrivato 1913 Ameritage.  This is a Petit Verdot- Cabernet Sauvignon- Merlot blend.  Full bodied and with tannin.  This felt more ready for drinking than the JB Ameritage offered at Veramar.  If you want to drink now – go with the Arrivato as it has “arrived.” 

2020 Cabernet Sauvignon.  The Cabernet was medium bodied and smooth with light tannins.

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Linden Vineyards

Image
May 25, 2024.   Hello Readers!   It has been a while since we last posted.   We have been doing some traveling out of state, but we’re back!   We used a warm morning on the Memorial Day weekend to revisit one of the great Virginia wineries with some friends – Linden Vineyards - which is a few minutes south of the crossroads that constitute the town of Linden in western Fauquier County.   During our visit we spoke with owner and founder, Jim Law, and his son-in law, Alex Wilde, who poured for us.   Thanks to both of them for their time.   Much has been written about Linden over the years, and much by Jim Law himself.   A native of Ohio, Jim got a start in agriculture in the 1970’s when he served as an agricultural volunteer with the Peace Corps in Africa.   He loved working with fruit crops and on returning to the States, with wine and growing grapes.   His first experiences in the grape field came in Indiana but there was no mark...
Read more

Endhardt Vineyards

Image
January 26, 2024.   Days like this day don’t normally come around until June: high clouds, blue sky and warm breezes.   We came to Endhardt Vineyards along the North Fork and Lincoln Roads, Loudoun County, still wet and puddled from the left-over from early morning rains.   Johannes (Hannes) and Sarah Endhardt have built their winery among the steep hills south of the town of Lincoln (address is Purcellville).   Hannes, a German dual citizen, learned to appreciate wine from his father a wine aficionado in Bavaria who favored Italian and Austrian wines.   The tasting room is by the shores of a pond with a great vine-covered hill rising behind it.     We spent a pleasant afternoon with General Manager, Jason Deaver, an accomplished chef in his own right.   We appreciate his hospitality. All 46 acres of the property are under a conservation easement.   In 2019 they planted 11 acres of vines growing Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Petit Verdot...
Read more

Sunset Hills Vineyard

Image
March 14, 2024.   Back in the winter of 2022, Kim and I with some of our companions spent a nice afternoon with the owner of 50 West Winery, Mike Canney.   We came away with a desire to visit someday the Mother winery – that is Sunset Hills Vineyard near Purcellville.   While 50 West aims at the younger clientele from its location right on Route 50 near Aldie, Sunset Hills is the more established, family-friendly farm locale.   Still, to discuss one is to discuss both as they are two sides of a single coin. Mike and Diane Canney first planted vines at Sunset Hills in 1999 on a 45-acre farm that included an 1870’s era working barn.   Sunset Hills was incorporated in 2006 and 50 West came along in 2017, both owned by the Canney’s.   Most of the grapes come from two farms in the Shenandoah, but more on them in a bit.   In July 2022, the Canney’s sold all of these properties to Chris and Katie Key.   We wanted to visit Sunset Hills under the new own...
Read more