Sabin Wine Journeys

The Winery at La Grange.  October 9, 2021.  October is Wine Month in Virginia – a time to celebrate the harvest.   Perhaps the best way to celebrate is to visit a winery.   Kim and I visited the Winery at La Grange in Haymarket on a cloudy day with impending rain.   The winery has a manor house, the original part of which was built in 1797 and completed in 1830 by Benoni Harrison who supposedly still haunts the place.   It is he that named it “La Grange.”   The manor house is situated on a small hill overlooking a wide vineyard. The manor house has a small tasting area inside and a larger tasting bar outside.   There is some indoor seating upstairs as well as a cellar converted into a wine cave.   Outdoor seating is at picnic benches, and there are some fire pits with the vineyards rolling away in the distance.   Outside food is allowed or you can see if the Winery has arranged for a food truck.   La Grange is pet friendly.  ...

Blue Valley Vineyard and Winery.     September 5, 2021 We visited Blue Valley Vineyard and Winery in Delaplane on a rainy Sunday of Labor Day weekend.   On this day, the fog rose like rivulets of smoke among the foothills.   We have visited Blue Valley several time before, just the two of us and with friends.   We have always enjoyed it.   The facility sits on top of a steep hill looking over vineyards and farmland with Interstate 66 visible in the distance.   It is a large venue and often has weddings and special events.   (Reportedly, between September and November they have over 30 weddings at the site.   So, best to call ahead to make sure they are open.)   On this visit, and at the risk of sounding like a curmudgeon, the winery was hosting two tour buses of young adults who elevated the noise level in the tasting room considerably.   We usually say hello to Ken at the tasting counter, but he was inundated with young adults th...

  Ashton Creek Vineyard.   August 20, 2021 It is startling to find a vineyard growing right on busy Route 1 but there, up a little hill, is where you will find Ashton Creek Vineyard.   Come through the front door and the traffic noise is hushed.    Starting in 2012, Ashton Creek has grown to control several vineyards throughout the state.   All wines are from Virginia grapes and 95% of the juice is from estates owned or controlled by Ashton Creek.   The facility has a nice tasting room and an adjoining special events/wedding venue.   As quiet as the tasting room is, I would advise against an outdoor wedding here because of the traffic on Route 1.   You don’t want an 18-wheeler blowing it’s air horn during the “I-do’s.”   The vineyard does not allow outside food, but does have a good menu for a winery.   We had crab dip, chicken salad, and a BLT. The crab dip and BLT were great; the chicken salad was not worth the price.  ...

  Reynard Florence.    July 7, 2021 The last winery/vineyard we visited on this trip was Reynard Florence Vineyard in Gordonsville/Barboursville.   We really must tip our hats to owner Roe Allison, who opened for us even though we completely mis-read the Vineyard website.   They are open on Wednesday’s by appointment .   We originally planned our visit to Reynard Florence for July 5, a holiday Monday when they were scheduled to be open.   We slipped the visit to Wednesday and forgot about their opening schedule.   In any case, Mr. Allison ended a business call to open the tasting room for us and served us some wine as his two Welsh corgi dogs, Ti-Rey and puppy Brixy, played at our feet.   We are very thankful to Mr. Allison for this and his hospitality! Reynard Florence formed in 2010 and has expanded to include over two acres of Grenache, Petit Verdot, and Merlot.   Roe Allison is also the winemaker while their website mentions as...