Sabin Wine Journeys

August 26, 2022.   The approach to EagleTree Farm Vineyard and Restaurant is down a narrow partially paved and rutted road just south of Lucketts.   But at the end of the road and the end of a day of tasting, it was surprising to come upon this accomplished restaurant in the middle of a field.   Lori McKeever is the moving force behind the operation and, with her husband and chef, Jeff Judge, handles the five acres of vines, production of wine on-site, and finally the restaurant itself.   From the five acres, all of EagleTree’s wine is from estate grown grapes.   In 2014, Lori moved from McLean, Virginia, where she ran McKeever’s Pub, to the Loudoun County property.   I believe that EagleTree is under LJ, Inc., with Lori and Jeff as President and Vice President, respectively. The operation is more restaurant than winery and the restrictions are consistent with what you would expect at a restaurant: no pets, no food or coolers, no strollers inside, children to be accompanied at all

August 26, 2022.   Kim and I stopped by the new Winery at Droumavalla in Lucketts as the oppressively hot days of summer continued.   The winery (I believe named after a town in County Kerry) is part of a large multi-purpose venue that seems to be focused on weddings and large events.    Coming up the driveway, the left fork will take you to a “ginormous” wedding and dance venue.   Take the right fork to the winery.   Droumavalla Winery opened in April 2022 after owners Edward and Lisa Vaughn purchased the old Winery 32 and remade the tasting room.   The tasting room is nicely appointed with plush sofas and a gas fireplace inside.   The outdoor porch and patio overlook a pond and the vineyards. This may be a winery to come back to later as most of the wines now available appear to be left-over Winery 32 inventory and are so-labeled.   Of the 27 wines listed on the winery webpage, only four are Droumavalla-labeled.   The rest are from Winery 32.   It appears from local press stories,

August 26, 2022.   We chose a sultry humid late Summer day to drive out to Fabbioli Cellars.   Fabbioli is one of the first wineries along Route 15 wine route heading north out of Leesburg towards Lucketts.   Doug Fabbioli and Coleen Berg purchased 25 acres in 2000 and made their first plantings the next year.   There are six other vineyards that supply Fabbioli besides those adjacent to the winery and tasting room.   The winery produces around 6,000 cases a year along with a custom crush business and an active mentoring program for other wineries.   That’s why Doug Fabbioli is sometime referred to as the “godfather of Loudoun wineries.”   The winery does bring some of its raw materials from out-of-state, including California, the rationalization being that Fabbioli uses whole fruit rather than juice.   You will see that some wines are labeled “Loudoun Country,” while some are labeled “American.” The distinctive round tasting building offers themed tastings, like “Back to the Futur