Sabin Wine Journeys - the Virginia Wine Journeys Blog

March 14, 2026.   The northernmost winery in Loudoun County is Clyde and Terry Housel’s Hiddencroft Vineyards near Lovettsville, a winery that takes you through their old barn’s corn crib into a lawn filled with flowers in the growing season.   The flowers are a butterfly habitat that fronts an old farmhouse retooled as the tasting room. We had the good fortune of speaking with owner Clyde Housel for an extended period during a quiet time at the winery.     He is as posterchild for the outdoors life – with his tousled white hair, trim beard, professorial glasses.   You might notice his enormous hands from years of pruning and working around the winery.   He has himself renovated most of the old farm buildings on the site which are now used for special intimate events and celebrations.   Hiddencroft, however, does not do large events like weddings.   The big barn they use to host barrel tastings and library tastings, but there is no heat or w...

November 15, 2025.   The area near Lovettsville around the crossroads of Taylorstown in northern Loudoun County is replete with stone farmhouses and stone barns whose walls and foundations contain the memories of plowing up endless rocks from this exhausting landscape so many years ago.   And tucked into one of those fields behind the derelict, mustard-colored Taylorstown general store, down a gravel driveway is Tedd Durden’s Creek’s Edge Winery.   Tedd and his family began planting grapes in 2009 with a plan to sell grapes to local wineries.   However, in fairly short order, they decided to make their own wine instead.     Tedd applied his background in the construction industry to build the three-storey wine production facility and tasting room and opened it for business in 2014.   We visited Creek’s Edge in 2016 and noted the wide field that slopes down to the edge of the Catoctin Creek.   The Furnace Mountains form a gentle horseshoe around th...

May 10, 2025.   Domaine Fortier Vineyards is in many ways still a baby in the wine world.   Stephen and Jennifer Fortier opened their winery to the public less than a year ago out in a field, minutes south of the town of Lovettsville in Loudoun County.   The operation is surrounded close by to its vines and bounded in the distance by Short Mountain to the North, the Furnace Mountains to the South, and the Catoctin Range in the further distance.   A greenhouse serves as their temporary tasting room with two sofas and table seating for eight to ten people.   The openness of the glass ceiling with hanging wisteria gives an intimate feel.   The bar can accommodate maybe five people if they’re all very close friends.   Even on a mild day, the green house was warm.  I expect it gets uncomfortable in there in the summer.  Our server Christian, ran a small fan on the counter to keep him cool.  You might consider taking your glass of wine or yo...