Valerie Hill Vineyard & Winery is named after the historic home Valerie Hill in Stephens City, Virginia, about an hour outside of Washington DC. The Federal style brick manor house was built in 1807 and remains the centerpiece of the property.
Valerie Hill is producing an exceptional dessert wine called Bellaria. Bellaria is an aromatic white dessert wine made from the Vidal Blanc grape which is a French-American hybrid.
The wine comes in the half format bottles and retails for under $20. Bellaria is the perfect ending to any meal.
Tasting Notes:
Succulent aromas of candied lemon, juicy peaches, tropical notes of pineapple and mango and a hint of honey jump from the glass. This is a sweet wine with balanced acidity.
Perfect Pairings:
While this wine is perfect with fruit tarts, lemon meringue pie, peach cobbler and pineapple upside down cake, it’s also fantastic with an after dinner cheese plate of Stilton or Maytag Blue Cheese, quince paste, honey and candied walnuts.
Sometimes the best things in life can be found down the road less traveled. Chatham Vineyards on Virginia’s historic Eastern Shore is no exception to this rule. The 400 year old farm is nestled between the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. The maritime climate and sandy loam soil create the perfect dynamic for world class wines.
Aromas of meyer lemon, quince, honeydew melon and slight tropical undertones of pineapple are present on the nose along with honeysuckle, wet stone and a hint of salinity.
The palate echoes the aroma profile and provides a perfect foil for briny oysters and other shellfish. This is a crisp dry balanced wine with refreshing acidity. The minerality and flavor profile is reminiscent of an old world Chablis. A true expression of what the Chardonnay grape should taste like.
The best part, this wine retails for under $20!
Perfect Pairings
This wine is a classic pairing with oysters. In fact, Chatham is hosting its annual Merroir & Terroir event coming up in November where they pair local oysters with the “Steel” Chardonnay.
In addition to oysters, this is a perfect pairing with an array of seafood, poultry dishes and my Chesapeake Crab & Corn Chowder. The sweet briny crab meat brings out the fruit characteristics in the wine and the refreshing acidity cleanses your palate in between bites. This is a marriage made in heaven!
In addition to the “Steel” Chardonnay, the Wehner family is having some great results with Bordelais varietals, most notably the Cabernet France. We will review that wine later this month. It’s definitely worth the short detour of Highway 13 to stop in and savor some of the great wines from Virginia’s Eastern Shore.
I had the opportunity to spend the day with the winemaker, watch the video.
I love the crisp, refreshing burst of autumn air on a cool October morning. In my humble opinion, there is no better way to celebrate fall than by taking a drive along the winding roads of the Blue Ridge Mountains and looking out at the rolling hills that span the heart of Virginia Wine Country. This time of year conjures up images of ripe, plump grapes, a bountiful harvest and vibrant colors bursting from the trees that paint a magnificent landscape throughout Central Virginia. For those of us lucky enough to call Virginia home, this is simply a way of life.
Pumpkin Patch at Carter’s Mountain, Charlottesville.
I had the privilege of living in Charlottesville for a few years and the lifestyle simply can’t be beat. Virginia boasts more than 200 wineries with nearly half of them located in the Monticello AVA (American Viticultural Area). I would highly recommend you visit the Charlottesville area to experience firsthand why Virginia has become the East Coast destination of choice for wine lovers. President Thomas Jefferson, America’s first wine connoisseur saw tremendous promise in this fertile land and his lifelong dream of making Virginia a world class wine destination is finally being realized two centuries later. Come experience all of the beauty and serenity this region has to offer. Crystal Palate has you covered with recommendations on some of our favorite wineries, Inns and restaurants. Swirl & sip your way through the regions wine tasting rooms, savor sumptuous truffles at Gearharts Chocolates, dine at some of the area’s finest restaurants, relax in luxury at some of the most beautiful Inns in the country and perhaps take in a football game at UVA. Round out your visit with a trip to Carter’s Mountain for a little apple picking. There is a little something for everyone here. So what are you waiting for? Thomas Jefferson’s homeland is calling your name.
Vineyards to Visit:
Charlottesville Area (Monticello AVA)
Barboursville Vineyards – Founded in 1976, the Zonin family has played a formidable role in establishing Virginia as a world class wine destination.
Cardinal Point Winery – Nestled in the heart of Virginia Wine Country you will find this cozy & quaint tasting room. The A6 is a must try.
Jefferson Vineyards – Jefferson may have never produced a bottle of wine in his 30 year effort. Two centuries later, the vines at his estate are flourishing.
Keswick Vineyards – Breathtaking scenery. The 2002 Viognier Reserve won best white wine in America.
King Family Vineyards – King Family has become synonymous with Polo and the family is known for their philanthropy efforts. They also make great wine and were awarded the Best Winery in 2013 in the C-Ville’s, Best of C-ville edition.
Moss Vineyards – A newcomer to the Virginia wine scene. Barry Moss is producing some beautifully balanced Bordeaux style blends.
Valerie Hill Vineyard & Winery is named after the historic home Valerie Hill in Stephens City, Virginia, about an hour outside of Washington DC. The Federal style brick manor house was built in 1807 and remains the centerpiece of the property.
