The Barns at Hamilton Station Vineyards

July 28, 2024.  The Barns at Hamilton Station lies almost midway between Route 7 and Route 9 on Hamilton Station Road in Loudoun County.  As we have heard from other winery owners, Hamilton Station the depot for carrying produce to the Washington DC area back when dairy farms dominated and Loudoun County was the major milk supplier to the Washington DC area.  Since those times in the 1950’s and ‘60’s, dairy farms have been taken over by the wine business.  When you arrive at the Barns, you will walk through what is almost a park with a large dairy barn and silo, their seams and metal roofs being taken over by kudzu and creeper. 

The Barns’ tasting room is a restored 1910 bank barn with a high vaulted ceiling striated between the old wood ceiling beams and the chinking.  A large fireplace at one end can keep all 4,400 square feet cozy in the cooler months.  Most of the flooring is original or at least of the same vintage.  (In 2020, a major support beam in the main room cracked and forced a structural reset.)  Check out the chandelier made of old barrel staves.  The facing of the tasting room bar is made from the roof of the old pig pen. 

We had a chance to sit down with Susan Pratt, the operations manager at the Barns and their only full-time employee.  From her vivaciousness, you wouldn’t guess that Susan is a grandmother.  That is what loving your work will do for you.

                                                                                             Susan and Jay

Here are some basics: Andrew and MaryAnn Fialdini incorporated the Barns in 2011.  There are two acres under vine at the farm in Hamilton (Petit Verdot and Chambourcin).  In addition, they access ten acres at the Wild Meadow Vineyard near Hillsboro and around 100 acres with Michael Shaps in the Charlottesville and Shenandoah areas.  We should note that the Fialdini’s use Michael Shaps’ contract winemaking to transform their grapes into wine.  They meet with Michael Heny to decide the blends for each vintage.

Susan said that the Barns only sells at their location.  But their website does offer on-line sales of some wines to some states.  Given their volume, we suggest that you get  to Hamilton quickly.  They have already sold out of their Petit Manseng.  In the future, Petit Manseng will be used only for blending.  The Merlot is nearly gone.

Children are welcome.  Pets are welcome outside of the tasting room, but there is ample room to roam on the property.  Outside food is allowed outside of the tasting room, but there are ample spaces to have your picnic either in the shade or sun.  The back porch has a lovely view of the vineyards.  There is also a cellar room where you can have outside food and pets and still be in the protection of the tasting room building.  The Barns tends to have ticketed concerts rather than musicians playing as background.  This helps to get better artists. 

We asked Susan about what is coming for the future of the Barns.  She said their hopes are to keep doing what they are doing.  After all, the Barns did win the Governor’s Cup in 2017 and continues to be well-decorated there, including in the 2024 awards.  But Susan noted that the wine industry overall has taken a downturn, and the Barns is not immune.  For instance, at one point they were producing around 3,000 cases annually.  Susan said they are now producing only around 800 cases.  They used to host between 15 and 30 weddings a year; there are only nine scheduled so far in 2024.  This may owe to the proliferation of wineries in Loudoun County (an issue that Lori Corcoran noted).  But it is also due to wineries diversifying into beer and hard cider.  Susan is strongly against moving the Barns into the brewery or cidery business.  I agree with her perception that a winery clientele is different from a brewery clientele and one group doesn’t necessarily complement the other.  Susan also noted that the availability of cannabis may encourage some potential customers to stay home altogether.

Let’s get to the wines.  Susan and her associate Jay served a very professional wine tasting for us highlighting their Virginia Governor’s Cup recent Gold and Silver Medal winners.

2022 Bank Barn White.  This is an off-dry blend of chardonnay and Traminette.  The residual sugar is 2.5%.  A popular blend with pear notes.  Kim rated it a B-. 

2021 Cascina.  Cascina (“kay-SHEE-nah) meaning “dairy barn” in Italian, is a nod to the property’s past.  This wine is a Chardonnay-Viognier-Sauvignon Blanc-Petit Manseng blend which Kim found weak and rated a C as overpriced at $30.00.  Nevertheless, it did win Silver at the 2024 Virginia Governor’s Cup. 

2021 Chardonnay.  The 2021 Chardonnay also won a Silver medal at the 2024 Governor’s Cup.  But Kim found it weak and again overpriced.  She gave it a C.

2022 Viognier.  This is a classic Viognier.  Mild grip, honeysuckle and floral.  Mild and smooth.  This was a 2024 Governor’s Cup Gold medal winner.  Definitely worth a taste for your own curiosity.  I gave it a B+.

2020 Malbec.  Malbec is an unusual grape for Virginia.  The Barns grows its own at the Hillsboro vineyard.  This Malbec has a light tannin grip and is medium-bodied.  There is some spice and good floral aromas.  Winery notes suggest pairing with grilled chicken and veggies.  Also with cheese.  It was a Silver medal winner at the 2024 Governor’s Cup.  I give it a B.

2020 Cabernet Sauvignon.  I suggest treating this Cab Sauv almost like spaghetti wine because it would pair exceptionally with marinara sauces.  There is some pepper, light tannin, plums.  A light-bodied red for a Cab Sauv.  I would give it a B.

Our tasting included two vintages of Cabernet Franc, both of which won Gold medals at the 2024 Governor’s Cup.

2020 Cabernet Franc.  This is a medium-bodied wine with tobacco notes and mild tannin.  Finishes smoothly.  I rate it a B+ and bought a bottle. 

2021 Cabernet Franc.   For the 2021 Cab Franc, I tasted a little sweetness on the front of the palate, although Susan said there was no residual sugar.  Some vegetal notes.  May be good to lay down for a year or so.  I rate it a B-. 

2019 Meritage.  The Barns’ Meritage is 33% Petit Verdot and the rest made up of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Malbec.  With that lineup, you can guess that this is a real full-bodied wine.  But the tannins are controlled in service to dark fruit.  Good attempt at a Bordeaux.  2023 Governor's Cup Gold medal winner.  I rate it B+, but it’s $42.00.

We thank Susan and Jay for their hospitality.  They have much to be proud of and much to look forward to.

 

 

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