Sabin Wine Journeys

June 21, 2024.   General’s Ridge Vineyard in Hague, Westmoreland County, was a welcome stop in the first real heatwave of 2024.   We were able to park the car in some forgiving shade even though the light breeze only moved the warmth around.   We quickly made our way into the “Somewhere in Time” tasting room which was blessed with air conditioning.   It was dead silent in there except for some construction going on intermittently.   I suppose conversations rose to be swallowed in the unfinished ceiling.   Also, you may have problems getting reliable cell service out here.  We met servers Laura and Glenn who provided us some details on the operation.   Rick Phillips, the owner, is a retired Marine Corps general and wife Linda was a music teacher.   They met when Rick was in training at Dahlgren and eventually moved to the Northern Neck from Alexandria in Northern Virginia.   They purchased almost 100 acres that included a rundown farmho...

February 23, 2024.   About twenty minutes from downtown Charlottesville, along Route 250 in Western Albemarle County, near Greenwood, you would do yourself a favor by visiting Septenary – the Winery at Seven Oaks Farm.   The winery sits inside part of the Seven Oaks national historic site where original owner, the Reverend Samuel Black, had a tavern whose patrons included Meriwether Lewis, and William Clark of Lewis and Clark fame.   I doubt those gents drank as fine a wine as we had on the day of our visit.   In case you were asking, a hurricane in the 1950’s brought down six of the original seven oaks.   Only the one they call “Thomas Jefferson” is still standing.  The physical space at Septenary is impressive.   A white manse with long verandas looks out to the vineyards on rolling hills.   Low clouds in the hollows were signaling the arrival of rain later in the day.   Most seating is outside on a covered portico or around a calming p...

September 8, 2023.   We continued our day trip to wineries on the southside of the James River with a stop at SummerWind Vineyard in Isle of Wight County near Smithfield.   The approach to SummerWind is through the posh Days Point area and the property slopes down to a creek off of the Pagan River. SummerWind is owned and operated by the Pugh Family who began grape cultivation in 2005.   We were fortunate to catch owner Kim Pugh between chores in the vineyard and also to meet her daughter, Meghan, who manages the tasting room while managing her three-year old little, too.   Kim, with a bun of grey hair and sharp eyes, talked to us some about the operation.   We certainly appreciate her time and the team’s thoughtfulness. The tasting room is housed in an attractive frame house with a small indoor space and tasting bar.   (Know that SummerWind has no posted handicap parking, but you are welcome to let off your passengers at the end of the gravel circle at ...

August 12, 2023.   Going north on Route 15 from Leesburg and nearly to the town of Lucketts, take a right turn at the Roots 657 Café and you will come to the long driveway for the grandly-named Vineyards and Winery at Lost Creek.   The approach will have you thinking of a southwest hacienda: a beautiful garden patio overhung with green trellised vines and a courtyard fountain.   There is a scent of mushrooms in the air and quiet of surrounding pines.   When we arrived for our reservation, the sun was still largely behind the winery, and the garden was in the cool of the morning.   Todd and Aimee Henke purchased the fifty acres of Lost Creek from the Hauck family in 2013.   At the time of the sale, reports said there were 21 acres of grapes.   Now the Lost Creek website states that there are 16 acres at this site, with additional fruit coming from a vineyard in Bluemont.   All wines are from their vineyard or the Bluemont property – all Loudoun...

December 9, 2022.   On a crisp December morning, I made my way out to Paradise Springs Winery in Clifton, down curvy but fine roads that I know so well.   In full disclosure, Kim and I are long-time members at Paradise Springs since the wine is good and it is close to our home. Paradise Springs is the closest winery to Washington, DC, and in 2010 became the first winery to open in Fairfax County.   Its opening came after owners Jane Kinchloe and her son, Kirk Wiles, overcame a zoning challenge from the Fairfax Board of Supervisors and concerns from neighbors with heavy commercial traffic and drunk driving.   The zoning dispute was largely resolved by the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority in favor VABC licensing of Paradise as a farm winery taking precedence over local zoning.   [See the Atmosphere page for further details.]   Neighbor concerns with commercial traffic on the local roads and drunk driving also appear to have been resolved in t...