Sabin Wine Journeys

[On July 27, 2023, I had an extended conversation with Dr. Mizuho Nita at the Virginia Tech Extension Center south of Winchester.   I did not electronically record the conversation.   This post is a paraphrase of the conversation using my notes of the visit, supplemented from public sources where indicated.   A full listing of references is at the end of the piece.   I have tried as much as possible to be faithful to what was said and the tone in which it was conveyed.   We are thankful to Dr, Nita for his time and candor.] July 27, 2023.   Here we are near the end of July 2023, what has turned out to be the hottest month in recorded history (see, Reuters).   Rogue wildfires ravage Greece; two-thirds of all Americans are under heat advisories (see, NewsNation); coral reefs in the Florida Keys are bleaching to death in waters over 100 degrees (see, CNN), Canadian wildfires.  The list goes on.   It is clear that Global Warming is here.   You may debate what causes it, but farmers are t

June 26, 2023.   Our last stop on this short trip to the Valley was a visit to Brix and Columns Vineyards in McGaheysville, Rockingham County.   Our approach to the winery is through the part of the 16 acres under vine and the pastures of the working farm just off of Route 33 between Harrisonburg to the west and before ascending into the mountains to the east.   Standing on the portico of the winery with its stately columns, you are almost under the promentory of Massanutten like a brooding spirit.   Roger and Stephanie Pence bought the 160 acres of Six Penny Farm in 2003 and soon had a wedding venue.   Then winery owners came asking to lease some of the acreage for grapes.   The Pence’s took the hint, and, after taking enology courses, began planning grapes in 2015.   Brix, of course, refers to one of the common measures of grape sugar.   Columns refers to the white columns that line the approach and, with the red bricks, give the property a distinctive Jeffersonian feel.   The ta

June 25, 2023.   We take seriously the recommendations of people we meet at wineries.   If, instead of a planned visit to Winery A, we meet someone who enthusiastically touts Winery B, we may change our route and go to the B.   After all, the goal is to visit all Virginia wineries.   In theory, we’ll get to Winery A eventually.   This is how we arrived at Marceline Vineyards.   On the recommendation of our new friend, Bicycle Mark, we changed our plans in order to visit Marceline Vineyards instead of other wineries along Cross Keys Road in Mt. Crawford near Harrisonburg.   Marceline occupies a large barn with a tasting room on the ground floor and an AirBnB upstairs.   First grapes were planted in 2006 and now cover some 22 acres on vine.   Marceline supplements with all local fruit from other growers.   Susan Pleasant incorporated the winery in 2014 and opened to the drinking public in 2016.   I believe that Tim Rausse is the winemaker (Is he Gabriele Rausse’s son?).   Unfortunate