Sabin Wine Journeys

April 11, 2025.   We met up with travelling companions Susan and Jane in the hollows of north west Madison County outside the crossroads of Etlan to sample the wines at DuCard Vineyards.   DuCard sits under the eastern slope of Old Rag Mountain whose tree line marks the boundary between the vineyards and Shenandoah National Park.   Hikers along the Whiteoak Canyon Trail can reach DuCard easily to let their tired muscles recover.    Owner Scott Elliff and wife Karen Yanello looked for years for a getaway from consulting and lawyering to find this site which was a derelict apple orchard.   After reworking the site around to a vineyard, Scott began to sell grapes to other wineries in 2000, along the way making “every mistake in the book.”   But after seeing his customers winning awards with his grapes, Scott decided to make the wine himself.   They opened to the public in 2010.    Around that time, Scott hired Julien Durantie as his vine...

September 28, 2024.   On our way home, we got off the beaten path which is Route 29 and drove about 9 miles North from the town of Madison on Route 231 also called the SFT Valley Road.   We were heading to Blue Quartz Winery in Etlan, Madison County.   We found it at the top of a steep gravel driveway from where you feel you are neighbors with the mountains.   It is an easy hike to the base of Old Rag Mountain next door.   It being Saturday and the first sunny weekend in at least two weeks, the winery was doing a brisk business.   We should note that the winery shares the tasting room and the tasting bar with the Shotwell Run Brewing Company.   Wine is on the right side of the counter; beer taps occupy the left side.   Hard cider and mead are available everywhere in between.   There is ample seating inside the long tasting room.   Check-out the old hickory floor and wagon wheel chandeliers.     French doors open onto a ...

  If wineries can be judged like other real estate – by location, location, location - then Prince Michel may be the best situated winery in the State.   It is directly on State Route 29 South in Leon, Madison County, at the top of a hill to catch the breezes and turn the wind-wine sculptures in front of the tasting room.   Prince Michel has been in operation since 1982 and claims to be the oldest continuous operating Virginia winery, a claim that Barboursville, Chateau Morrisette, and a few others would dispute. (Prince Michele is under new ownership since 2005 when Kristen Holzman acquired the property from Jean and Silvian LeDucq.)   But there is no denying it is easy to get go.   Just turn right into their driveway from Route 29.   Period.    The view from the winery is of Route 29, which is not great.   The vineyard stretches out behind a spacious winery building.   Since our last visit, Prince Michel has added a brewery – Tap 29 ...