Sabin Wine Journeys

February 23, 2024.   We had one more stop on our Friday travels: a drive through the country about a half an hour from Septenary to Knight’s Gambit Vineyard in a very rural part of Charlottesville.   The name “Knight’s Gambit” comes from a short story by William Faulkner that was well-loved by his daughter Jill Faulkner Summers.   Mr. Faulkner lived nearby the property that Jill and her husband bought in the 1970’s.   Their son, Paul Summers, William Faulkner’s grandson, planted grapes on the property in 2003 and, with partner Maggie Duensing, opened the winery in 2016.                                                                                           Maggie Duensing We had a nice visit with Maggie on a dreary Friday afternoon and picked up some background info.   Knight’s Gambit has around seven acres under vine at the Charlottesville location and five more acres in the Lake Anna area where they grow Chardonnay and Petit Verdot.   They produce around 1,000 cases annually u

May 16, 2023.   Our last winery visit on this trip was to Michael Shaps Wineworks, around thirty minutes south of Charlottesville.   Wineworks is one of the most decorated wineries in the Commonwealth and is one of the only international brands in this sphere.   Michael Shaps learned his wine at school in Burgundy, France and moved to Virginia in 1995 to be winemaker at Jefferson Vineyards.   He managed six vintages there before going out on his own.   He was soon in a partnership with a winemaker in Meursault (Burgundy) France and with King Family Vineyards.   When we visited Wineworks in 2018, the tasting room was a small cramped cabin up a steep mountain road, the site of the old Montdomaine Winery.   He has continued to expand operations and influence since then.   He has shed his partners and since around 2014 I believe that his ventures have been sole proprietorships.   In 2018, Michael purchased Shenandoah Vineyards and continues to make wines under the Shenandoah label.   He

May 15, 2023.   We began the second day of our Charlottesville wine trip by visiting the Gabrielle Rausse Winery, on the Southeast side of Carters Mountain.   The winding Carters Mountain Road passes several wineries including the Trump Winery which announces itself unmistakably.   In contrast, you must be careful not to overshoot the entrance for Gabriele Rausse.   There is no sign on the road telling you where to turn.   Just know the number, 3247 , and look for the large black partially overgrown mailbox with white “3247” on the sides.   Turn in there. Maybe a hundred feet up the gravel driveway across Quarry Creek brings you to the small parking lot for the winery on the left.   The winery building itself reminded me of how glass might be used in the later Usonian homes – to convey a sense of lightness and integration of the building into the forest.   The walls that define the working space are low and accessible.     The dimensions are comfortable and inviting.   With all cus

May 14, 2023.   By the time we arrived at Jefferson Vineyards, which adjoins Mr. Jefferson’s Charlottesville home at Monticello, the party was already in full swing.   The singer sang “Margaritaville” in the afternoon sun to a packed house.   Salt! Salt! Salt!   Somehow we grabbed the last table and settled in.   Jefferson Vineyards has some 22 acres under vine across four plots.   The 12 acres of the Upper Vineyard is on land originally planted in 1774 by Thomas Jefferson’s expert, Philip Mazzi.   Mazzi’s plantings eventually suffered the fate of Virginia vines over history: plant disease, rapacious pests, and war (Revolutionary Hessians, and both sides during the Civil War).   The vineyard was re-established in 1981 by Gabriele Rausse and now grows Petit Verdot and Viognier.   Back then it was called Simeon Vineyards after the little depot outside their gates at the sharp bend in the road.   [More about Gabriele Rausse and his winery in later posts.]   Jefferson releases around 8,0