Sabin Wine Journeys

November 9, 2024    Loudoun County is celebrating 40 years of the wine industry this year - 2024 - because in 1984 Willowcroft Farm Vineyards released its first commercial vintage and became the first winery in the county.   Owner and winemaker Lew Parker bought an old farm on Mount Gilead in 1979 after a successful career in the medical device business.   He planted his first vines in 1980 and replanted in 1981 when the first plantings died.   Lew was the Virginia wine person of the year in 2002 and the winemaker of the year in Loudoun County in 2023 showing long-term recognition by his peers.     The old red barn from 1875 houses the wine production area on the ground floor, a small wood-beamed tasting room on the second floor and a loft room on the third floor.        The tasting room itself is cramped with virtually no seating.   Go upstairs for that.       Or better yet, take your picnic and your w...

November 9, 2024.   We met our tasting associate, C.J. Monroe, when we first walked up to the tasting bar in the Harvest Barn at Stone Tower Winery in Loudoun County.   He is a stocky 26-year old with sandy hair under his baseball cap, looking as if he would be at home in a brewery, but we were impressed by his wine knowledge and affability.   He managed to focus on us in spite of the heavy foot traffic that comes through Stone Tower on Saturdays.   CJ is a veteran winery worker, formerly at Optium Cellars doing a weekend gig.   He works for Loudoun County parks during the week.   From his father he gets a love of the Yankees (I guess I can forgive him) and the Jets, and German wine like Gewürztraminer.   That’s the one wine Stone Tower doesn’t offer.   Here are some basics about Stone Tower. The winery is one turn off of Route 15 south of Leesburg.   From there you climb Hogback Mountain to the winery along a gravel road.   The ...

January 13, 2024.   We decided to squeeze-in our first winery visit of 2024 in advance of a predicted Polar Vortex arriving in the Nation’s Capital early next week.   The heavy rains from earlier in the week gave way to a crisp, bright, breezy day that promised well for a return trip to Fleetwood Farm Winery.   Nicely located a few minutes from Virginia State Route 50, between South Riding and Aldie, Loudoun County, take care with the sharp turn and steep drive onto the property. On a rise above the parking lot is the 1765 Federal-style manor house originally built by William Ellzey.   Also called “Peggy’s Green,” the house is on the National Register of Historic Places.   Fleetwood has three main properties: the manor house and tasting room, which we’ll get to in a moment, the Grand Terrace, and the Loft.   Most private events such as wedding receptions, are in the Loft, a barn-like structure next to the parking lot.   In past visits to Fleetwood,...