Stone Tower Winery

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 county has grouped its wineries in geographic “clusters” for touring ease.  Stone Tower is the largest of the ten wineries in the central Loudoun “Harmony Cluster.”  It was founded by Mike and Christine Huber in 2009.  Mike is one of the founding brothers of Belfort Furniture in Northern Virginia.  The winery property is around 300 acres, of which 95 acres are producing grapes, equating to between 20,000 and 30,000 cases per year depending on the harvest.  They took in around 250 tons in 2023. 

There are two winery buildings at Stone Tower.  The general public have the Harvest Barn and the outdoor seating areas adjacent to it.  They have opened a new kitchen across the courtyard from the Barn that serves a menu of dips, salads, and pizzas.  Be warned that outside food is not allowed anywhere at Stone Tower.  Children and pets are okay at the Barn and on the grounds.  The website says that there is a 2.5 hour limit on visits.  Even though I’m not sure how they’d enforce it, be aware that at least it’s a stated policy. 

  

                                                                                                            Harvest Barn Tasting Room

Down the hill from the Barn is the Tower View Room, which CJ explained is “member-preferable,” meaning that it is open to 21+ age general public so long as space allows.  We visited Stone Tower on a Saturday but had no trouble finding nice seats in the Tower View Room.  If you don’t have children in tow, it is the more commodious of the two venues.  If you really want to be in the Tower Room, it is best to visit the winery during the week or on Sundays.  (The Tower View building also has a strictly members-only room in the back.) 

 

The Tower View Room is where many of Stone Tower’s many weddings take place.  September through November is the busiest time with the peak in October.  Weddings are a big business in Loudoun County generating over $100M annually and Stone Tower gets a good chunk of it. The winery is currently running a two-year wait.  They are so specialized, that they even have “proposal packages” where you can propose marriage to your love- of-life for $250 or $500 depending on size of your party.  You get some sparkling wine and the photography fee as part of the proposal (None of the FAQ’s address what happens if your love says “no,” but I assume there are no refunds.)  Stone Tower is also a big venue for corporate events.  The three cottages that are available for overnight stays are situated along Hogback Mountain Road beyond a=walking distance from the tasting rooms. 

Both venues afford a sumptuous view of rolling hills and vineyards.  For the winter months, there are enclosed pergolas that can be rented near the Harvest Barn.

 

There are some 18 wines to choose from Stone Tower which they achieve from their own fields and by importing grapes from outside Virginia.  (CJ calls this the “Swiss Army Knife” of wineries.)  If you see a “Hogback Mountain” or “Wild Boar” label – that indicates grapes from California or Washington State.  Their “Maison Sanglier” is wine from their partnership with French vineyards in the vicinity of Pommard (“Maison Sanglier” translates to “House of the Wild Boar.”)  The goal of the winery is ultimately to be totally estate-grown, but CJ says this is hard in the Virginia climate (especially as long as you’re making Pinot Noir and working with the French).  It is encouraging that, except for sparkling wine and their French connection, all of the wine is produced at their facility on-site down the hill from the public spaces.  Stone Tower has not appeared among the medal winners at the Virginia Governors Cup for the past five years.

Stone Tower has a $25.00 tasting, but CJ was nice enough to let us sample a “splash” of several wines.  When you go, check out the profligate use of Riedel glasses for tastings – was that crystal?

We thank CJ for his time and attention to us on our visit.  Below are our impressions:

2023 Estate Chardonnay Reserve.  Kim had a full glass of the estate Chardonnay and rated it a B- for the price.  All of the estate whites at Stone Tower are made using Bordeaux yeast, according to CJ.  Yet, the Estate Chardonnay is made in a Bourgogne style and to CJ’s way of thinking, the Chardonnay resembles more of a stereotypical Sauvignon Blanc while the winery’s Sauvignon Blanc resembles a Chardonnay.  There is some vanilla from the oak and the usual apple notes. 

2023 Sauvignon Blanc.  I wrote in my notes that CJ told us the Sauvignon Blan is made using the “Sancerre method.”  What I think he meant was that the winemaker used battoage to stir the lees through the wine, giving it a fuller mouthfeel and creaminess than you’d normally associate with Sauvignon Blanc.  Tasting notes indicate that the winemaker used stainless steel instead of oak.  That much is typical.  Good for summer and the grill.  We rate it a B.

2023 Sycolin Creek.  This blend may remind you of Rhȏne Valley wines.  It uses Viognier, Marsanne, and Roussanne grapes and was made in second-use barrels.  Lots of melon and perhaps a hint of jasmine and a little rustic.  A good seasonal general use wine.  B- for the price.

2022 Kristi Chardonnay.  The 2021 vintage of the Kristi Chardonnay was featured at President Biden’s state dinner for the Prime Minister of India in 2023.  The 2022 vintage is made using natural yeasts and fermented in clay amphora and concrete eggs.  Some creaminess from the malo.  It has good green fruit and pear notes.  I rate it a B. 

2022 Nebbiolo.  I had a full glass of the estate Nebbiolo.  Somewhat aggressive tannins.  Best to serve slightly chilled.  Good balance with acid.  Leathery.  Compliments hearty beef and pork dishes and rich cheeses.  I rate it a B. 

Stone Tower on the weekend gets very crowded in the public spaces and even the “member-preferred” spaces.  Best to arrive early and stake out a space, especially for a group. More than eight in a group should get a reservation for sure.