Sabin Wine Journeys

June 23, 2024.   The unexpected heat of late June continued through Sunday and our visit to Monroe Bay Winery in Colonial Beach, Westmoreland County.   The winery is next door to the recently established James Monroe Birthplace Park and Museum and in fact sits on part of the old Monroe family land.   The winery is also minutes from the town of Colonial Beach, home of the second largest sand beach in the state (after Virginia Beach itself).    Monroe Bay Winery is mostly a wedding and special events venue.   It features a 3,000 square foot “Strawbale Barn,” which is built ingeniously of straw bales encased in siding.   Colored glass walls have been made from the butt-end of empty blue and green wine bottles.   The barn can accommodate up to 200 people. From the barn, the land slopes gently to a pond.   Chairs were still set-up for a wedding that happened the previous afternoon.   There may have been some vines visible across the pond.   The wines sport a heron on the label, probably

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 farmhouse from the mid-1800’s, then set about renovatin

June 21, 2024.   Our first stop in the Northern Neck on a blistering hot Friday was to Ingleside Vineyards in Oak Grove.   When you pass through the gates to the winery from the parking lot, you come into a tree-shaded courtyard with umbrella tables and a bubbling fountain.   The heat suddenly becomes more tolerable somehow.   The dark woods of the tasting room make it cool as well.   Air conditioning helps. We were able to visit with Doug Flemer, the founder of the winery who remains active in vineyard operations and wine production.   We also met Doug’s younger brother, Chris who is the marketing manager.   We thank the Flemer’s and their staff for spending time with us. The Flemer family has owned this property since 1890.   It has a history as a boy’s school, a Union garrison during the Civil War, and a courthouse.   In 1940’s, Carl Flemer, Jr., started a plant nursery and vineyard.   The property also served as a dairy farm.   (The gift shop was a milking station at one time