Sabin Wine Journeys - the Virginia Wine Journeys Blog

October 17, 2026.   Hari Moosani is a software architect during the week and on weekends a grape farmer – a real vigneron.    He sports thick sideburns and a bushy moustache that he may have started when studying at Bangalore University before the wife and kids.   The grower proudly farms his acre and a quarter of vines for his Farm de Vine Vineyard situated on the side of Short Hill near Hillsboro.   Farm de Vine is a small place in the less-frequented part of Western Loudoun.  His acreage yields only around 100 cases a year on a normal year, but his experience has been that “normal” in Virginia is not always a good thing.   Since starting the vineyard in 2021, he’s experienced his first harvest (2022) – an emotional event for him, when the guidance of neighbors and people like Extension Agent Beth Sastre led him to plant small and grow slowly.   Then he endured a season of ruinous rains in 2024, and he completely lost this year’s Cabernet Sauv...

August 12, 2023.   Situated in downtown Leesburg, October One Vineyard is a departure from the normal Virginia farm winery.   The actual vineyard is located around 20 miles away from the tasting room.   There is no public access at the vineyard.   This reminded us of the tasting rooms separated from their vineyards that we saw in Woodinville, Washington State.   Out there this is commonplace; not so in Virginia. Bob and Loree Rupy formed October One in 2015 and for several years sold their wine at local farmer’s markets.   October One is the couple’s wedding anniversary.   Bob was the former co-owner of Bluemont Vineyard which still exists.   October One Vineyard is nearby in Bluemont .                                             ...