Sabin Wine Journeys

February 24, 2024.   Barboursville Vineyards, near the little crossroads of Barboursville in Orange County, is unquestionably, one of the most recognized and applauded wine operations in Virginia.   They have won the Virginia Governor’s Cup five times, the last in 2021.   When Queen Elizabeth visited Virginia to commemorate the founding of Jamestown, it was Barboursville wine that was served at the reception.   Barboursville, consistently appears on lists of Virginia’s best wineries.*   We last visited Barboursville in 2021 and wrote somewhat disparagingly of the tiny antiseptic "Discovery" tasting room where visitors received tasting samples in automated amounts from dispensing machines.   Those machines are still in place, a remnant of COVID, but we understand are being phased out in favor of humans.   Today, we drove to the winery almost by accident.   I misread the opening time of a winery we planned to visit, and with time on our hands de...

October 26, 2023.   Near where Route 20 jogs briefly on Route 33 in Barboursville, you will find the Barn at 678 Vineyard, a new winery located on Route 678 a few yards from the turn for the famous Barboursville Vineyard.   Opened in June 2022, the Barn is the work of Rick and Lorrie Bryant.   The tasting room is cozy and unfinished and may feel a bit cramped in the winter.     The side porch is better -   more relaxed with the vines standing just a few steps away beginning to turn a deep Autumn red.   Outside food is welcome.   Check their website for the food truck schedule.   We spoke with Rick Bryant who comes to this enterprise from his work in landscaping (according to the Barn website).   Interestingly, Rick didn’t say anything about landscaping. He told us that he is also a pathologist and medical examiner.   Talk about work that cries out for a change of pace to be outside in the vines and managing a wine business!  ...