Sabin Wine Journeys

November 23, 2024.   It takes just minutes to drive to Star in the Valley Estate Winery, northwest from the town of Strasburg in Shenandoah County.   The grape vines were dormant when we passed through them up a steep hill; the air a seasonable Fall coolness, strong winds marshalling clouds through in their own Thanksgiving Day Parade overhead.   The sun flashed around like a search light on the mountainsides illuminating the grey denuded trees holding onto their last colors.   At an elevation of over 1300 feet, the tasting room and production building for Star in the Valley looks back at Signal Knob which is part of the mountain range that splits the Shenandoah River into its northern and southern forks.   Star in the Valley Winery has its name from the glorious night viewing of the heavens made possible by the elevation and the undeveloped park land that surrounds the property.   Owner and winemaker Shane Waller and wife Cara have their home and are r...

October 21, 2022.   It is not unusual for people we meet in our travels to recommend local wineries to us.   On this trip, we met a winery person and a brewery person who independently told us we had to visit Muse Vineyards in Woodstock, Shenandoah County.   When you get a recommendation from a competing winery, you need to take notice.   So, we adjusted our itinerary to visit Muse.   The vineyard is a short drive out of Woodstock, down a narrow gravel road and across a single lane bridge over the North Fork of the Shenandoah River.   Geese were bobbing for fish in the river.   The approach seems to meander through the vineyards like the river itself, until the modern tasting room appears on a hill between the golden grape leaves.   We agree with the advance notices - Muse Vineyards is a must see. Even though we were unannounced, Lauren and Hope on the tasting bar were very welcoming to us.   And we had a great visit with co-owner, Sally Co...