Fox Meadow Vineyards

Tap the tank

Amber and I enjoyed our visit at my rental cabin in Front Royal this past weekend. It was great to relax like our guests! We had to hit the vineyard trail and visited Gadino Cellars, Narmada Winery, and Fox Meadow Vineyards.

While at Fox Meadow, we enjoyed the tap the tank experience! Tasting wines that are getting ready to be bottled! Let me tell you, they have some AMAZING stuff about to come out! Loved the Viognier.

It's official! I've launched Virginia Loves Vino. The website will provide visitors with information about Virginia Wine as well as some cool Virginia wine gifts and accessories, such as the Make Mine Virginia Wine bumper sticker. In partnership with Backyard Winery I will post reviews of local Virginia Wine. We hope this becomes a website guests find with searching for Virginia Wine.

Virginia Loves Vino, home of the "Make Mine Virginia Wine" bumper sticker. I created this website on October 1, 2010 to celebrate Virginia Wine Month. The website will provide visitors with information about Virginia and in conjunction with Backyard Winery provide wine reviews of local Virginia wine.

Dezel over at My Vine Spot opened up my eyes to the proposed HR5034 bill. Everyone needs to be aware of this and say NO to HR5034. As Dezel writes:

"A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of being included in a short CNN clip along with Rachel Martin of Boxwood Winery which focused on House Resolution 5034. HR 5034 is a bill that could potentially remove our ability to purchase wine from out of state wineries via direct shipping. It seems wrong in a sense that people can buy drugs and pornography over the internet and have these items delivered to their front door, yet the National Beer Wholesalers Association, with support from the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America, wants to put a screeching halt to the licensed and regulated interstate shipping of wine and spirits from source to consumer. Small family businesses started from the ground up by hard-working Americans who do not have enough production for a wholesaler to be interested in would be crippled by the passage of such a bill. Small mom-and-pop farm wineries rely on shipping a percentage of their wine production to out of state consumers who support and enjoy their limited production hand-crafted artisan wines. Social media has assisted in establishing a market for these wines, and many producers, especially those out west, have successfully built brands and forged real relationships with people like me who patronize their business. If I want an Oregon Pinot Noir, a California Cabernet Sauvignon, or a Washington Merlot on my dinner table from a small US producer, I believe I should have that right. These small producers have limited to no distribution, and not by choice, therefore, direct shipping is the only way I can get their wine and the only way they can remain viable as a business.(NOTE: If you cannot view the video please click on the following url:

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2010/07/30/caifa.grapes.and.wrath.cnn

Finger Lakes

Cayuga Trail

Amber and I enjoyed a recent trip to the Finger Lakes. We toured 4 vineyards and enjoyed some great wine! Be sure to check-out the Backyard Winery Finger Lakes wine review I just posted

Backyard Winery

Zinfandel

I started a new batch of wine for Backyard Winery. We are making a Zinfandel infused with oak chips. Learn more, click here.