Sabin Wine Journeys

November 23, 2024.   It takes just minutes to drive to Star in the Valley Estate Winery, northwest from the town of Strasburg in Shenandoah County.   The grape vines were dormant when we passed through them up a steep hill; the air a seasonable Fall coolness, strong winds marshalling clouds through in their own Thanksgiving Day Parade overhead.   The sun flashed around like a search light on the mountainsides illuminating the grey denuded trees holding onto their last colors.   At an elevation of over 1300 feet, the tasting room and production building for Star in the Valley looks back at Signal Knob which is part of the mountain range that splits the Shenandoah River into its northern and southern forks.   Star in the Valley Winery has its name from the glorious night viewing of the heavens made possible by the elevation and the undeveloped park land that surrounds the property.   Owner and winemaker Shane Waller and wife Cara have their home and are r...

November 9, 2024    Loudoun County is celebrating 40 years of the wine industry this year - 2024 - because in 1984 Willowcroft Farm Vineyards released its first commercial vintage and became the first winery in the county.   Owner and winemaker Lew Parker bought an old farm on Mount Gilead in 1979 after a successful career in the medical device business.   He planted his first vines in 1980 and replanted in 1981 when the first plantings died.   Lew was the Virginia wine person of the year in 2002 and the winemaker of the year in Loudoun County in 2023 showing long-term recognition by his peers.     The old red barn from 1875 houses the wine production area on the ground floor, a small wood-beamed tasting room on the second floor and a loft room on the third floor.        The tasting room itself is cramped with virtually no seating.   Go upstairs for that.       Or better yet, take your picnic and your w...

November 9, 2024.   We met our tasting associate, C.J. Monroe, when we first walked up to the tasting bar in the Harvest Barn at Stone Tower Winery in Loudoun County.   He is a stocky 26-year old with sandy hair under his baseball cap, looking as if he would be at home in a brewery, but we were impressed by his wine knowledge and affability.   He managed to focus on us in spite of the heavy foot traffic that comes through Stone Tower on Saturdays.   CJ is a veteran winery worker, formerly at Optium Cellars doing a weekend gig.   He works for Loudoun County parks during the week.   From his father he gets a love of the Yankees (I guess I can forgive him) and the Jets, and German wine like Gewürztraminer.   That’s the one wine Stone Tower doesn’t offer.   Here are some basics about Stone Tower. The winery is one turn off of Route 15 south of Leesburg.   From there you climb Hogback Mountain to the winery along a gravel road.   The ...