Hunters Run to Offer Their Own Wine

I stopped in to see Geri at Hunters Run Wine Barn this weekend and she had some exciting news. She is working with Lori Corcoran, from Corcoran Vineyards to create her own wines.

Lori is a very talented winemaker and Geri knows a lot about wine and has some good ideas about what she wants in a wine. The two of them putting their heads together should result in some excellent (and interesting) wines.

I'll keep you all posted on the release dates!

Corcoran Night at Lansdowne On the Potomac

Looking for something fun to do this Saturday night? Corcoran Vineyards is hosting Corcoran Night at Lansdowne On the Potomac:

For $39 you can get spicy and sweet tapas paired with 4 wines from Corcoran Vineyards. A representative from the vineyard will be on hand to discuss the pairings while you dine. Stay for a 3-course dinner for an additional $45/person. Price does not include wine, but guests who attended the tapas pairing will get a 10% discount on Corcoran glasses or bottles.

Call 1-877-509-8400 for reservations. I'll be out of town, but this looks like fun.

Weekend Wine Activities

I haven't done a WWA post in a while, but there is so much going on this weekend, I figured you all should know about them:

1. Fabbioli is having an open house this weekend. Lots of good food, good wine and even some barrel tastings.


2. Breaux is also having an open house...and there are some special treats for cellar club members.


3. Loudoun Valley continues with their soup weekends on Saturday.


4. Corcoran Vineyards has two events happening on Saturday. First they are having an open house, then they are doing a Sparkling wine tasting with Mary Watson.


5. Veramar is continuing their Deck the Halls Event...pick up Christmas wreaths ornaments and drink mulled wine!!
   

These are just some of the events, definitely check out your favorite winery to see what is going on!

New Release: 2008 Corcoran Malbec

On Friday, Lori Corcoran released the 2008 Corcoran Malbec. I got invited to a private tasting between release parties to talk to Lori and try the wine.

The wine is 95% Malbec, 2% Tannat and 3% Cabernet Franc. The Tannat is an unusual choice in blending with Malbec but it adds a spiciness to this wine that sets it apart from most Malbecs. The wine has strong chocolate and vanilla aromas and a long palate. I think the flavors will intensify with aging, but it is a very drinkable wine now.

Hunters Run Wine Tasting Barn

The great people at the Hunters Run Wine Tasting Barn have set up their website. They even have a quote on the page from some random Virginia wine blogger....who will remain nameless :)

Hunters Run Wine Tasting Barn

Route 9 is has become one of best wine routes in the area. With wineries like Loudoun Valley, Sunset Hills, Notaviva and, of course, Breaux Route 9 has a lot of unique wineries and good diversity of wines.

The latest addition to this group of wineries is the Hunters Run Wine Tasting Barn (another barn turned into a tasting, it really is a trend here in Loudoun). The Hunters Run Wine Tasting Barn is owned by Geri Nolan, who was on hand to pour for me when I went out for a recent visit.

HRWTB does not serve its own wines, instead they pour wines from Corcoran Vineyards. This is similar to the tasting rooms I've seen in California, Washington and Oregon and I think its a great idea.

The tasting room itself is very warm and inviting, the barn is cozy and the wood-burning stove at one end of the tasting room provided much needed warmth on the cold-rainy day I visited. There is an eclectic collection of chairs and stools on the main floor and a loft overlooking the bar.

Geri is very charming and bubbly and she knows a great deal about the Corcoran wines. She is obviously a big fan not only of the wines, but of Jim and Lori as well. The visit was a lot of fun, and I highly encourage anyone tasting along Route 9 to add HRWTB to their itinerary.

Review: 2007 Corcoran Chambourcin

Wine: 2007 Corcoran Chambourcin



Review: Chambourcin is one my favorite light reds. It is a great wine to serve with pork, poultry and even some fish. Because it tends to be less tannic than a lot of reds, the flavors of the wine do not overwhelm these dishes the way a Cabernet Sauvignon or a Merlot might.

The Corcoran Chambourcin is a fresh wine. It has aromas of cranberry and cinnamon and a light purple color. The wine is 100% Chambourcin with very soft tannins and a medium palate. It is a simple wine that is easy to drink and a good food wine.

Price: $18

Grade: 95

Wine, Cheese and the Washington Mystics

The Washington Mystics are hosting a Wine and Cheese night (PDF) before their game against the Seattle Storm on September 3rd. The tasting is being held at the Verizon Center in the Dewar's Club.

What makes this especially nice is that the wines they are tasting are from Corcoran Vineyards and Sunset Hills two great Loudoun wineries. The $35 tasting fee also includes a ticket to the game, so it is a really good deal.

Wines for BBQ

Laura Malesich has a run down of BBQ wine pairings from Natalie Mclean. Of course, what she really lists is grilled food and associated wine pairings. As usual, Natalie has excellent recommendations but its still not BBQ.

For real BBQ I usually recommend a Chambourcin, the berries and soft tannins complement the vinegar in the BBQ nicely. If you want to stick with North Carolina then you can't go wrong with the Chambourcin from Silk Hope winery, one of the oldest in North Carolina.

Sticking with Virginia wineries, I am partial to the Chambourcin at Fabbioli and Corcoran.

Route 9 Barrel Tasting

It is supposed to be nice out today, so if you are looking for a break from all the holiday shopping, you might want to check out the Route 9 Barrel Tasting. 5 wineries along route 9 are participating: Breaux, Doukenie, Sunset Hills, Loudoun Valley and Corcoran. All really good wineries and barrel tastings are a lot of fun. The cost is $50 per person.

The 2007 Virginia Wine Festival was this past weekend. I went early on Sunday and it was a perfect day for it. Not too hot, but not yet chilly. The festival was spread out under 5 tents and was very well attended.

A couple of highlights: Waterford Vineyards and Windham Winery have successfully completed their respective name changes. In a weird way, I guess it is nice that Virginia wineries are becoming so well-known that they draw the attention of other wineries/crystal companies.

I also came across a winery I was not familiar with, Athena Vineyards. They had some nice wines. I especially liked their Nightingale Red a Chambourcin-based wine. They also had a Cabernet Franc that was ok, but a little light for my tastes in Cab Franc.

Overall, a good day.