Sabin Wine Journeys

April 13, 2025.   When Southwest Mountains Vineyards opened in 2023, it completed a little triangle of newish wineries with Keswick Vineyards and Merrie Mill Farm, all near the junction of scenic routes 22 and 231 and the crossroads at Cismont in eastern Albermarle County.   The famous Keswick Hall is a short drive south on Route 22.   While Keswick and Merrie Mills are close to average sized Virginia wineries (see note below), Southwest Mountains is the newest and by far the largest of these three with 72 acres under vine and between 16,000 and 19,000 cases annually.   We're told there is no gap in those vines. The winery and vineyard sits inside the Castalia farm estate that once belonged to Meriwether Lewis.   They renovated and expanded a 1903 pole barn into a cavernous two-storey lodge.   I call it a lodge because on the inside, this barn more resembles a large hunting lodge.  The owner, Paul Manning, appears to have spared no expense in either ...

July 7, 2022.   At the recommendation of friends Joe and Belle, we stopped in at the new Merrie Mill Farm and Winery near Cismont.   Just over a year old (May 2021), Merrie Mill is owned by Guy and Elizabeth Pelly from Great Britain who purchased the property in 2018.   They have already suffered through a frost that killed their 2020 crop.   There are 12 acres under vine at Merrie Mill with plans for growth.   These vines produce their Rose, Viognier and White Blend offerings.   According to Haley Verdi, the Wine Club Manager who helped us, fruit for other wines comes principally from Castalia Farm in Keswick, maintaining a strong sense of place.   At this point, Merrie Mill is not fully in production on the range of products they want.   Of the ten wines listed on the Merrie Mill website, only five are Merrie Mill products (MMF); on the tasting menu, only three of seven wines are MMF.   The others are from Veritas Winery and Veritas’ seco...

July 7, 2022.   A short drive south from Honah Lee on Route 231 is Keswick Vineyards near the town of Keswick.  Before Al and Cindy Schornberg purchased it in 2000, this property was an old horse farm, and you know that you are in horse country with the white fences and rolling estates.   You sense that old money surrounding the vineyard as you approach.   Keswick had to deal with these tony neighbors and the local zoning commission, eventually coming to an agreement on noise and event restrictions before they could open.    We arrived just before a torrential rain but were able to take seats in the lounge area reserved for the wine club.   (It was a lazy Thursday afternoon).   There are no inside tables, giving the tasting room an unfinished vacant look.   I think this was COVID-related.  Outside under a tent, the rain was turning the vision of the green hillsides grey with falling water.   We had to keep drinking – the umbrellas...