Sabin Wine Journeys

September 26, 2024.    We worked long and hard to arrange a short trip to the Charlottesville area so as to avoid the crush of football weekends at the University.   But we did not reckon on a persistent pattern of dampness or outright deluge.   When we arrived at Afton Mountain Vineyards in Nelson County, low gray clouds glowered close along the hillsides of the Blue Ridge.   I’m sure twisty Mountain Road is a pretty drive in decent weather. Afton Mountain has been in operation as a winery since 1978 when it was called “Bacchanal Vineyards.”   It is one of the oldest wineries in a region now full of them.   After several changes in ownership, the latest taking place in May of 2024, Afton Mountain finds itself with Brad and Yelena Dickerson in charge.   Brad was the CFO of Under Armour and Blue Apron among other businesses.   We understand that the Dickerson’s are not planning too many changes from the solid operation Tony and Elizabeth Smith built.   They are keeping Damien Blanch

August 18 – 25, 2024. And now dear readers, for something completely different.   Kim and I have returned from a long-delayed trip to the Rhȏne Valley in France where we ate well, drank well, and gathered-in many memories of Provence and the Northern Rhȏne.   Instead of an exhaustive travelogue, let me focus this post on some wine-related observations to give you a sense of this region.   During our trip we visited three distinct wine producing areas and one winery in each area.   Southern Rhȏne. We began in the parched and olive-green hills around Marseilles.   Large stone outcrops define ancient river valleys of the southern Rhȏne and sandstone-colored buildings with tile roofs could as easily be in Spain or Italy as in France.   In this part of the country, practically all wines are blended with the most common blend being Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre grapes (GSM), although ten other varietals are allowed by law.   It is a miracle grapes grow in this area at all because