Sabin Wine Journeys

July 11, 2025.   Two crossed keys is an internationally known symbol of hospitality.   Going way back, the hamlet of Cross Keys, near Mt. Crawford in Rockingham County, is named after the old Cross Keys Tavern, an important center of antebellum community life   and hospitality, which came to be used for the ultimate of caring during the Civil War - a field hospital in the 1862 battle of Cross Keys (or “Crossed Keys”).   Since 2001, when Bob and Nikoo Bakhtiar planted their first grapes, CrossKeys Vineyards has occupied the site of that old tavern.   The Bakhtiar family came to Virginia from Iran by way of California.   The Bakhtiar’s had to take down the many cedar trees that covered the property, and then they had to learn how to grow grapes in the Virginia climate.   Being in the real estate business, they were attracted by the close proximity to the Massenutten Resort, only 20 minutes away and the city of Harrisonburg, around 25 minutes away. ...

June 25, 2023.   We take seriously the recommendations of people we meet at wineries.   If, instead of a planned visit to Winery A, we meet someone who enthusiastically touts Winery B, we may change our route and go to the B.   After all, the goal is to visit all Virginia wineries.   In theory, we’ll get to Winery A eventually.   This is how we arrived at Marceline Vineyards.   On the recommendation of our new friend, Bicycle Mark, we changed our plans in order to visit Marceline Vineyards instead of other wineries along Cross Keys Road in Mt. Crawford near Harrisonburg.   Marceline occupies a large barn with a tasting room on the ground floor and an AirBnB upstairs.   First grapes were planted in 2006 and now cover some 22 acres on vine.   Marceline supplements with all local fruit from other growers.   Susan Pleasant incorporated the winery in 2014 and opened to the drinking public in 2016.   I believe that Tim Rausse is the w...