Muse Vineyards

October 21, 2022.  It is not unusual for people we meet in our travels to recommend local wineries to us.  On this trip, we met a winery person and a brewery person who independently told us we had to visit Muse Vineyards in Woodstock, Shenandoah County.  When you get a recommendation from a competing winery, you need to take notice.  So, we adjusted our itinerary to visit Muse.  The vineyard is a short drive out of Woodstock, down a narrow gravel road and across a single lane bridge over the North Fork of the Shenandoah River.  Geese were bobbing for fish in the river.  The approach seems to meander through the vineyards like the river itself, until the modern tasting room appears on a hill between the golden grape leaves.  We agree with the advance notices - Muse Vineyards is a must see.

Even though we were unannounced, Lauren and Hope on the tasting bar were very welcoming to us.  And we had a great visit with co-owner, Sally Cowal.  Dimutive and dynamic, Sally is a former Ambassador to Trinadad and Tobago.  Not a bad posting, but no leaves turning gold in Autumn as in this place of her second career.  The tasting room is modern wood-framed and offers a fireplace for winter, a veranda, a spacious balcony, and ample outdoor seating right up on the vines.  If you’d like some exercise while you are visiting, you can walk Muse’s 1.8 mile self-guided vineyard tour.  Outside food is allowed outside; food is also offered for sale.  Doges are allowed everywhere.  The Virginia Wine Pass is not accepted.  Muse can accommodate overnight guests in its B&B.

Robert Muse and Sally Cowal bought an overgrown vineyard in 2003 with a goal of rescuing the vines.  Soon they bought the neighboring old Mennonite farm and expanded the vineyard.  Today, Muse grows some 20 varietals on its 35 acres of vines.  All of their wines – some 6 to 7,000 cases per year - are estate grown.  Muse won the 2015 Governor’s Cup for its 2009 Meritage, “Clio.”  At 1,000 feet in elevation, the soil is shale and rocky clay.  


Sally Cowal and I discussed the Shenandoah AVA microclimate where they have 10 – 12 inches less rainfall per year than the rest of the Commonwealth.  This leads to higher acidity and brighter tones for wine.  The general climate also contributes to longer hang times for grape ripening.  While the model for Virginia wine is for less structured wines for immediate drinking, Muse can go the other way - ageable complexity - because of the climate.  

We sampled beyond the standard tasting menu, but all wines are for sale.  Here are our notes: 

Roussanne 2020.  Kim tried the Roussane but did not rate it.  It is more complex than many white wines having been aged for one year on French oak barrels.  Drink it now or lay it down for several years.

Blanc de Blancs NV.  Kim also tried the sparkling wine made using 100% Chardonnay and traditional Champagne methods. 

Cabernet Franc 2019.  I found the 2019 Cabernet Franc very smooth, mid-weight wine with light tannins.  The fruit is not obtrusive.  Aged two years in French oak barrels.  ABV is 14.9% - so a well-structured wine.  We bought a bottle.

Petit Verdot 2019.  The Petit Verdot has more tannin than the Cabernet Franc as is expected. 

Clio 2019.  Clio is Muse Vineyards’ Bordeaux blend having 63% Cabernet Franc, 26% Petit Verdot, and 11% Malbec.  It come in at 15% ABV.  It has just been released for the Muse Wine Club.  Nicely complex and ageable.

Pichet NV.  The red wine tasting should probably start with the light-bodied Pichet.  It is fermented in stainless steel and bottled early.  It has a little sweetness which we were told is not residual sugar.  Serve slightly chilled for best results.

Calliope 2020.  Calliope is Muse’s Rhȏne blend of Grenache and Mourvedre (no Syrah). It is light with some fruit and light tannins helping a slight finish.  Very good.

Nebbiolo 2017.  The Nebbiolo is pale – almost orange.  Full-bodied with lots of tannin.  Good with heavier food.  ABV is 14.9%.

Cabernet Franc 2016.  There are a few bottles of the 2016 Cabernet Franc left.  Some of the 2016 barrels were discovered accidentally just five months ago.  But having aged around 15 years in French barrels does not appear to have hurt this wine.  It is full-bodied.  Sophisticated muted fruit.  Heat at the back of a strong finish. 15% ABV.  I would advise buying a bottle of the 2016 if you can.  Or buy the 2019 and

Location: 16 Serendipity Ln, Woodstock, VA 22664, USA

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