Wind Vineyards listed as one of the top ‘Hidden Gems of Virginia Wineries’

In a recent article published in the Old Town Crier by Matthew Fitzsimmons on the top hidden gems of Virginia Wineries, Wind Vineyards made the list with other wineries from around the state that many locals know about, but few from around the state do! I think it is the authors objective to get more recognition to these deserving wineries, and we are honored to be selected and included.

Read the full article below and be sure to visit OldTownCrier.com to view other wining and dining articles of interest. The blurb about Wind Vineyards is found at the bottom of the article.

This February, Governor Glen Youngkin awarded Delfosse Vineyards and Winery the Virginia Governor’s Cup for its 2021 Screaming Hawk Meritage. This petit verdot-heavy red blend took top honors in the Governor’s Case, which showcase the event’s best scoring wines.

What made this event unusual is that many of the industry’s most famous winemakers didn’t make it into the Case. It’s not because King Family, Michael Shaps, or Veritas aren’t making the stellar wine they’ve long been known for. Instead, wineries that are further off the beaten path such as Delfosse and Mountain Run Vineyards gave the most famous names in Virginia wine a run for their money.

If there’s a lesson in all this, it’s that you don’t need a famous name or central location to make it into the big leagues. You just have to make great wine.

There’s a term I like to use for wineries like these: “hidden gems”.

The extra time it takes to find such locations make them particularly rewarding. While large venues can wow you with amazing views and chateau-like tasting rooms (and don’t get me wrong, many hidden gems have those too), wineries at the furthest ends of the wine trail keep visitors coming back by focusing on the basics: great wine and service. And isn’t that what visiting a winery should be about?

Virginia is full of ‘hidden gems’; these are just a few of the Virginia wineries that make this list. Get out there and find the rest for yourself.

Jump Mountain Vineyard

When it comes to ‘hidden gems’, the Shenandoah Valley sits on a wealth of riches. With low levels of rainfall and high elevation, the valley has a strong argument as the best wine-growing region in the state.

The Shenandoah Valley is already a road trip for most Virginia residents, but Jump Mountain takes things to a whole new level. Located in the hills roughly between Staunton and Lexington, Jump Mountain is one of those places you need to map out in advance since your GPS signal may fail you on the way there.

But don’t let that dissuade you! In addition to growing cabernet sauvignon and tannat on the hottest slopes of their vineyard, owners Mary Hughes and David Vermillion grow vines not easily found elsewhere in Virginia, such as refosco, grüner veltliner, and lagrein.

Refosco is particularly fascinating as it’s one of the oldest grapes still used to make wine. Jump’s “Livia” refosco-heavy blend is named after the wife of the Roman emperor Octavian who once extolled on the benefits of drinking wine.

Rogers Ford Farm Winery

Rogers Ford is one of the best wineries most people don’t know about. Located between Fredericksburg and Culpeper, the winery is housed in a two hundred year old farmhouse converted into a tasting room. Visitors don’t come here for wine as much as they visit to relax.

Owner/winemaker Johnny Puckett makes a dizzying array of wines for such a small venue, including an orange wine, bourbon barrel port-style, and a late-harvest “First Frost” vidal blanc. Even traditional favorites like chardonnay have a southern hemisphere twist.

Rogers Ford has another claim to fame; they made Virginia’s first petit verdot. While now one of Virginia’s most popular single-varietal wines, decades ago petit verdot was considered strictly a blending grape.

Johnny’s father recognized this grape’s potential and bottled a full varietal petit verdot in 2000. Today, petit verdots are among Virginia’s most awarded wines, and Roger Ford’s PVs should be recognized as some of the best.

Rosemont Vineyards & Winery

Calling Rosemont a hidden gem is something of a misnomer. It’s a well-respected name in Virginia wine, despite the fact that most people familiar with the winery have never taken the trip to southern Virginia to visit in person.

Those ‘in the know’ have likely met Aubrey and Justin Rose pouring at the Mount Vernon wine festival, seen the scores of Justin’s signature Kilravock red blend in Wine Enthusiast, or sampled Rosemont wines as part of Early Mountain Vineyard’s “Best of Virginia” flight. The really lucky ones may have sampled Rosemont’s vermouth or its Gold Medal-winning Extra Brut sparkling.

True wine-lovers, however, take the trip to Bracy to sample these wines first-hand. The farm has been in the family since 1858 and was revitalized as a winery after the Roses sought advice from vineyard consultant Lucie Morton on what to plant. Today, they have a mix of hybrids and vinifera, including some tannat which Justin uses to power up his red blends.

Stanburn Winery & Daring Wine Company

While all vineyards are by definition farms, some wineries reflect their rural roots more than others. Located in scenic Patrick County (not far from the border of North Carolina), Stanburn is one such location.

Family patriarch Nelson Stanley planted his first vines in 1999, intending to source to local wineries but later making wine on his own. Today, Stanburn has a mixture of hybrid and vinifera grapes, including a small section of barbera.

Stanburn also has a secret weapon – winemaker Jocelyn Kuzelka. Jocelyn not only makes wine for Stanburn, she’s a cider maker and co-owner of Daring Wine Company, one of Virginia’s only 100% female-owned wine businesses. You can find Jocelyn and co-owner Megan Hereford selling wine at farmers markets in Charlottesville.

Wind Vineyards at Laurel Grove

Vineyards probably aren’t the first thing that come to mind when thinking of Essex County, but a visit to Wind Vineyards may change that. The area is part of the Chesapeake Wine Trail, which produces some of the best oyster and wine pairings in the state.

Wind earned a Gold medal for its chambourcin at the 2023 Governor’s Cup competition. Such recognition is rare for hybrid grapes, as many judges tend to turn their nose at anything that isn’t vinifera. But as climate change wreaks havoc on low-elevation vineyards, chambourcin and other hybrids may be the wave of the future.

Wind also boasts one thing that’s totally unique in Virginia wine – it hosts a monster truck show every year, with one of the trucks driven by the owner/winemaker. Take that wine snobs!

The post Top Hidden Gems of Virginia Wineries in 2023 first appeared on Wind Vineyards.

There are many occasions throughout the year where you need to find that perfect, artisan designed gift for that someone special in your life. One of the best of days, other than Christmas for gift giving is Valentine’s Day. Support our small businesses and find that special gift at our first vendor show of 2023.

Saturday, February 11, 2023
10:00 am -4:00 pm

This event is rain or shine.
Interested in participating as a vendor, contact AmbersEventing2@gmail.com for more details.

The post Valentines Sip and Shop Event first appeared on Wind Vineyards.

Pre-registration is required. $35.00 per individual which includes all paint supplies.

Friday, February 10, 2023
6:00 – 8:30 pm
$35.00 per individual
Space is limited, so please RSVP early! When registering, please put in that you are attending the Wind Vineyards paint and sip event.
RSVP & Pay through Paypal: @AshleyDJones1355
RSVP & Pay through Venmo: @Ashley-Jones-837

The post “Wine is My Valentine” Paint and Sip first appeared on Wind Vineyards.

We have THREE of the world’s BEST monster trucks, a mini monster truck, a pit party that rivals any you can find, clear views for everyone in attendance, and one of the largest monster truck tracks in the country with ACRES of jumps and obstacles allowing the trucks to perform freely—no small indoor arenas, crammed jumps on a pulling track, or small venue constraints! There is no monster truck venue more fun for drivers or fans!

Come join Walking Tall Monster Truck and Grand Slam mini monster as they welcome Hurricane Force and Storm Damage Monster Trucks to the farm! These trucks are fresh off of the Monster Jam circuit and eager to thrill the folks of Eastern Virginia! NEVER have there been this many nationally known trucks competing in our region!

Ticket Price & Sales

Ticket sales through August 27: $15 for kids (3-12 years old) and $25 for adults (13 & up)
Ticket sales after August 27: $20 for kids (3-12 years old) and $30 for adults (13 & up)
Children 2 and under are free!
& Attend both show dates (September 17 & 18) for a discounted price for a limited time of $40 for adults and $25 for kids!

Get your tickets here: Wind Vineyards Monster Truck Show & Harvest Festival (givesignup.org)

Event Schedule

Saturday, September 17, 2022, 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Sunday, September 18, 2022, 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Grape Harvest Festival starts off a 1:00 pm
Enjoy slides, bounce houses, games, rides, food trucks, concessions, vendors, and of course, award winning Wind Vineyards wine, sangria, and ridiculously delicious wine slushies! Wind Vineyards brand new monster ride truck, GRAPE CRUSHER, will load up daring attendees and take them for a ride in a REAL monster truck! (additional fee required)

Pit Party starts at 3:00 pm
Included with your admission ticket, attendees get a chance to get up close and personal with the drivers of the monster trucks, mini monster trucks, and other competitors to chat, get autographs, and snap photos with these amazing machines. No other show in the country will allow such a personal experience! Merchandise from the trucks will be on sale.

Monster Truck show starts at 4:00 pm
Find your seat early as the real fun begins when the engines fire up and national superstars Walking Tall, Hurricane Force, & Storm Damage take to the air for high flying car crushing action, including jumping a full-size school bus! The show will also feature “Grand Slam,” driven by 11yo Tyler Wind, II.

An old-fashioned DEMOLITION DERBY will entertain everyone midway through the show! A kid’s “Power Wheels” race will steal the spotlight and put your youngster center stage on the track at intermission! (sign up coming soon for Power Wheels racing). “Tough trucks” are scheduled for racing as well as other motorsports fun!

On Sunday only, you can see professional lawn mower racing!

TAILGATE SPOTS are available for $200 and will allow you to park your vehicle trackside to grill, hang out, and watch the show with a front row seat! These spots will be laid out and marked clearly to guarantee your position and are very limited.
This event is rain or shine. The event line up and activities are subject to change, and we are working to add more attractions. Please realize that machines all break occasionally and while all participants will do their best to make the show go on, disabled machines are possible.

Rules & Regulations

• NO PETS please!
• There is NO OUTSIDE DRINKS allowed anywhere and bringing drinks is grounds for immediate dismissal without refund. We will have Wind Vineyards wine, sangria, beer, and hard cider available for sale AS WELL AS WATER, soft drinks, and Gatorade.
• Outside food is NOT allowed EXCEPT for those with tailgate spots. Tailgate ticket holders may bring food and/or a grill. Tailgate tickets are only for the trackside spot and general admission tickets must be purchased as well.
• Seating is limited and bringing chairs and tents is not only allowed but encouraged.

Get your tickets here: Wind Vineyards Monster Truck Show & Harvest Festival (givesignup.org)

The post 2nd Annual Grape Harvest Festival with Monster Truck Show first appeared on Wind Vineyards.