Sabin Wine Journeys

October 25, 2023.   Throughout the year we often find ourselves saying how lovely a winery’s view must be during the Fall foliage season - there are so many places worth a revisit with killer overlooks or views across a gap in the mountains.   This year we tried to time a visit to the Monticello AVA to coincide with the peak of Fall Foliage.   The Blue Ridge at this time of year is much less of the muted blue you see in the summer, and more like being dappled in sand or ochre.   The summer of 2023 was brutally hot and took a toll on the vividness of the leaves this fall.   But even so, when you see the individual trees close along the by-ways as you drive, you see all shades of yellow – from butter to golden delicious, from gold to butternut.   Then trees running ochre to dull brown, and from scarlet to brick red to rust.   How much more startling is a bright red gum tree when it is framed by golden poplars.   Our first stop on this Autumn excur...

July 8, 2022.   Pollak Vineyards is around a twenty minute drives from Stinson Vineyards on the other side of Crozet.   Pollak is a mid-sized Virginia vineyard/winery, classy but understated in its appointments.   Dick and Margo Pollak first planted in 2003, produced their first vintage in 2005, and opened their modern tasting room in 2008.  In size and quality of wine, I think of Pollak as one of Virginia's best. There is a fireplace in the two-story tasting room for the colder months, and great views across the meadows and pond to the vineyards beyond whether sitting on the sofas inside or on the wrap-around porch as we were on that lazy Friday afternoon.   Definitely worth a re-visit in the Fall to catch the foliage. Pollak has 35 acres under vine separated in eight plots.   The plan is to expand to 40 acres.   According to their website, they are growing nine varietals in those acres.   All of their wine is estate grown, except for an expe...

July 8, 2022.   You find Stinson Vineyards on a busy corner in the town of White Hall near Crozet.   The winery sits several yards from where we bottomed out our car on last year’s wine trip to the Monticello AVA.   Glad we came back!  Driving up through the vines, you come to a utilitarian, unassuming production facility and tasting room.   You know that the focus here is on wine and not fancy weddings or corporate events.   There is really no extra space.   The tasting room and adjoining production area were designed by owner, Scott Stinson, and opened in 2011.   The winemaker is his daughter, Rachel Stinson Vrooman. The property features mostly outside seating right up on the vines.   We saw the great Green Eggs that signal places for family barbecues.   Jessica Weisman is the tasting room manager.   Thanks for her insights on our visit.   Pets and families are welcome.   Outside food is allowed.   Stinson does n...

  White Hall Vineyards.    July 7, 2021 We visited White Hall Vineyards in Crozet on a sweltering hot day.   The tasting room has almost a Southwestern hacienda feel, earth tones, modern, and cool.   This winery was founded in 1994 by Edith and Anthony (Edie and Tony) Champ and is a “dba” of Champ Cellars.     Do not confuse this vineyard/winery with the Estate at White Hall Vineyard in King George, Northern Neck.   White Hall in Crozet has grown to 48 acres under vine.   Like a number of wineries in the Crozet area, White Hall is at an elevation – 800 feet – that allows for some mountain cooling.   We met the very accommodating Lisa Champ Van Hecke, daughter of the owners, who was managing the tasting room.   She stated that all of their wines were estate grown (but see the Petit Verdot entry below).     She reported that White Hall is available from Total Wine and Whole Foods through their independent distributor. ...

  Grace Estate Winery.    July 7, 2021 One of the goals of these wine trips is have new experiences and meet new people along the way, not just to drink wine.   On our way to Grace Estate Winery in Crozet one quiet Wednesday morning, we met a very nice young man in overalls, long hair, and a long beard.   We met him as we considered how to get our car out of a deep ditch in front of the White Hall Community Center.   We couldn’t back out as one rear tire was elevated off of the ground.   This young man took the time and had a stout rope with which to tow us out of our hole.   Otherwise, we would have been stuck for hours in 90+ degree heat waiting for a commercial tow truck.   The young man’s only request is that we should “pay it forward.”   We should all look for chances to help others!   Good Man. But back to Grace Estate.   When we emerged from our scratched car at the winery, you smell the horses for you are deep in ...