Bozzo Family Vineyards

July 26, 2024.  Proceeding along Route 9 – Charles Town Pike - you will find Bozzo Family Vineyards just minutes from the West Virginia line. Even though the mailing address is Purcellville, they are much closer to the Town of Hillsboro.

                                                                                                   Steve Bozzo

Steve and Maureen Bozzo founded the vineyards in 2013 and had their first significant harvest in 2018, the same year that they opened the tasting room.  Steve tells us they have 8 and a half acres under vine growing seven varietals.  All of the wine is from estate-grown grapes with an annual production of around 2,500 cases.  All of the Bozzo Family Vineyards white wines and two of their red wines are produced on-site.  Steve told us that since he underestimated the harvest, he has arrangements with a neighboring winery to help handle the surplus of grapes.  Eventually, he plans to build-out for more production but gave us no timetable for that plan.  Steve’s son, Steve, Junior, took over as vineyard manager in 2020.  Good to hear the next generation is coming along.  Steve, Senior is the winemaker.

 

The tasting room is quite small, bright, and uncluttered with only six two-person tables on the lower level and a couple of tables in the loft.  Getting up to the loft could be difficult for those troubled by steep steps. The indoors could get very crowded very quickly.  There is more seating outside on the patio or the front deck or at picnic tables along the side of the red production barn.  The front porch might be the best spot.  Across the parking lot there is more seating is an open-air structure that also holds a large pizza oven.  I imagine the oven keeps things warm over there in the cooler months.

 

Children and pets are welcome as is outside food.  Bozzo has a short menu of lite fare available.  They have hosted some weddings and special events but they are a small facility, limited in gathering space to around 75 people at the most.  Bozzo, really, is more of a small group of friends kind of place anyway.

We elected to have our tasting outside.  There we encountered several Spotted Lanternflies, that invasive, vine-killing pest which has destroyed plants across the Mid-Atlantic.  Steve admitted his vines are at special risk because they are close-by deep tall forests, forests that include overhanging Trees of Heaven, a favorite nesting perch for the flies. I tried to step on them and their red flair when I could.

Here is what we sampled and our impressions:

2020 Lisa Sauvignon Blanc.  Bozzo Family’s Sauvignon Blanc is named after Steve and Maureen’s daughter.  It was a Silver Medal winner at the 2022 Virginia Governor’s Cup.  Nevertheless, Kim found it weak and rated it a “C.” 

The following red wines were all aged 12 months in new or neutral French oak:

2019 B3 Red Blend.  This blend has a light tannic grip but otherwise is not complex.  Light-bodied despite the aging.  Bright red fruit.  I gave it a B.

2020 RayCwiert Cabernet Franc.  This Cab Franc has a decidedly soft mouthfeel.  Mild tannins, raspberry and cherry tastes.  Mid to light bodied.  Named after Maureen and Steve’s nephew.  Noted as a Silver Medal winner in the 2022 Loudoun Wine Awards.  Another B from me.

2020 JeffCwiert Cabernet Sauv.  Named after a different nephew, this is light and fruity for a Cab Sauv.  In fact, a touch of Juicy-Fruit around the edges.  Longer finish.  This wine was a Silver Medal winner at the 2023 Loudoun Wine Awards.  I rate it a B

2019 2nd Act Red Blend.  The Bozzo Family’s Bordeaux-style blend has Tannat, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot.  Dark fruit and controlled tannins.  This wine won the Silver Medal at the 2020 Virginia Governor’s Cup.   Good with chocolate or steak.  I gave it a B.

We thank Steve for spending some time with us on a hectic Friday.  We wish him all the best in fighting the Spotted Lanternfly!

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