Bleu Frog Vineyards

August 11, 2023.  Just a couple of miles north of the town of Leesburg on Route 15, you will find Bleu Frog Vineyards.  With a first harvest only in 2019, this is a fairly new operation owned by Joe and Jan Kernan who bought the property in 2016.    Joe is a retired Navy SEAL frogman – thus the vineyard name – and the couple are active in Veterans affairs and animal rescue. 

The facilities have a fresh bright white and blue motif.  The tasting room is small and mellow with wood beams.  It was a little cramped with merch.    

But there is ample seating outside on porches opening from the tasting room or on lawns between the parking area and the tasting room.  There are firepits for cooler months.  There is also an open wood-beamed cupola pavilion a short walk back down the driveway.   

Children are welcome at Bleu Frog.  There is a play area for them, and, if you are into merch, plenty of plush blue frogs and ornaments to buy for them.  Also check out the Bleutique gift shop.  For special occasions, Bleu Frog can accommodate about 50 people in the tasting room, plus another 50 on the porches.  The pavilion can host around 45 under its roof, with room for another 75 or so on its lawn.  Outside food is allowed outside.  There is a minimal menu on-site. 

The vineyards cover about 10 acres of a 25-acre parcel and grow four grapes:  Chambourcin, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Vidal Blanc.  Production is around 2,000 cases per year.  According to Jan Kernan, Bleu Frog ferments and barrels all of their reds on the property.  According to staff, Joe Kernan is the winemaker.  Fabbioli Cellars ferments the Kernan’s two acres of Vidal Blanc.  Fabbioli bottles all of Bleu Frog wines. 

Besides wine, you can buy from a small selection of beers made by the Ole Bleu Brewing Company.  This is a gig operated by the Kernan’s daughter, Shannon, and her husband Adam Myers.  Beer is available in the tasting room and at Bleutique. We did not sample the beer.

We tried four wines.  All of these wines had 12% ABV.  And, again, all are estate-grown.

2020 Beau Blanc.  This is Bleu Frog’s Vidal Blanc offering, fermented in steel.  It is similar to a Sauvignon Blanc, but Kim found it too sweet.  Hard to tell where that sweetness would be from as we assumed the acid is pretty high.  She gave it a C.

2020 Mad Frog.  This is the less expensive red blend on offer.  It is 80% Chambourcin, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Petite Sirah.  In spite of this combination, I found it very young and light-bodied.  Maybe some plum in taste, but lots of acidity and some puckering.  Dry.  Also some sediment if that is a concern to you.  I rate it a B.

2021 Merlot.  Bleu Frog’s Merlot has a little sweetness.  Light tannin.  Dark fruit tastes.  Some bitterness on the finish.  Not much complexity.  I rate it a B.

2020 Cabernet Franc.  Not as acidic as the Mad Frog.  But perhaps needs to age a bit before release to mellow out.  Bright fruit and earthiness.  Also throwing some sediment.  Considering how many Cab Franc’s there are just Loudoun County, I would rate this offering C+. 

The facilities were certainly lovely, and the kids will enjoy it.  In time, the wine may develop.

Location: 16413 James Monroe Hwy, Leesburg, VA 20176, USA

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