Jason wine blog

Winery visit - Chateau Morrisette

On Saturday  April 22, 2012, I went to Chateau Morrisette for wine tasting. I was not very excited at the beginning as I was kinda bored at my first vinery visit at Valdhla in Roanke. But after having a tour to Chateau Morrisette, I have a completely different perspective to vinery visit as well as wine tasting. Becasue this place is a fabulous place for wine lovers.

Chateau Morrisette is located in Floyd , Virginia, which is approximately an hour away from Blacksburg. Besides the quality, another factor that makes this place be different is its history. The founder William Morissette began exprimenting grape growing since 1970s and had been giving advice to VT and Science Department. After a long term of research by him and his family, they have expanded the wine production to more than 60000 cases. In 1999, the Winery underwent an expansion and modernization, including a new wine production facility and hospitality center. (1)

Lucy and Ethel are the two machines used to crush the grapes. Lucy is the smaller machine and is used for red grapes. Ethel is the larger of the two and is used for green/white grapes. (2)

According to Katies Blog, The stainless steel contraptions process the grape juice into wine. The wood barrels are used for storing wine. Wine is taste-tested from the barrels every two weeks until it is perfect.
                                     After the tour, my desire to wine tasting has pushed me to the line eventhough the line is long. Nontheless, it worths as theevery wine that I tasted are high quality. I would even say the taste of the wine is still hanging in my mouth when I write this blog. Here is the wine that i TASTED TODAY 
Chardonnay 2010: Pear and applesauce aromas float from this opulent wine. Tasting reveals refreshing citrus fruit, augmented by rich nuances of toffee, fig and vanilla. Smooth and creamy in texture, this wine features a lengthy finish infused with traces of melon and pineapple. Slow barrel fermentation and subsequent aging sur lies (on the yeast) for 8 months resulted in a well-balanced and complex wine. Our Chardonnay pairs well with crab, lobster, and other rich seafood, especially with cream sauces; roasted poultry, mushroom dishes, and sharp cheese.
Vidal Blanc 2010: Refreshing flavors of citrus and apples are augmented by grapefruit, melon and floral aromas. Medium-bodied and smooth, this vintage features a lengthy, aromatic finish. Very food-friendly; pairs well with a wide variety of grilled or roasted poultry and seafood.

 Viognier 2010: This delightful wine entices with classic varietal aromas of fresh peaches and honeysuckle. Tasting reveals nuances of pear, melon and honey. The well-balanced, silky texture eases into a smooth, clean finish glimmering with the suggestion of apricots and limes. This wine pairs well with shellfish, broiled seafood, and grilled or roasted chicken and pork.

Sweet mountain laurel :A unique and refreshingly sweet dessert style wine made from native American grape varieties. Firm acidity balances the sweetness, producing a crisp finish with aromas of freshly picked grapes. Pour over fresh berries and sponge cake or blend with vanilla ice cream and fruit for a creamy dessert smoothie.

SERVICE DOG WHITE

A blend of Traminette and Riesling, this refreshing dry white wine is packed with lively fruit character. The smooth texture and entracing floral aromas complete this delicious tribute to Independence .

 

  In contrast with my first wine visit, Chateau Morrisette is much more meaningful as their fermentation process and the production procedure are open for public. Moreover, it is kinda lucky for me that today is a special wine tasting day as it is free of charge. Aster I go back to lectue, I will definitly recommend this place to my friends

 

Jason's wine blog

Winery visit - Valhalla vineyard

Today 8th April, 2012, Sunday, which is an Easter holiday that celebrates the reborn of Jesus Christ. And Wine, for Christian, can be regarded as the blood from Jesus. Thus, I intentionally choosed today to visit the vineyard to taste the indigenuous wine in Monogomery County. Since I am a cadet and we have formation every morningat 7 am, so I decided to go to somewhere close by and Roanke vineyard is the best choice.

Valhalla Vineyard is located in Roanke, Virginia, it has been growing grapes and winning awards with a 2000 ft mountaintop since 1998. What makes it be impressive to tourist is its 21 acre vineyard produces world calss Cabernet, Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot Viognierr, Carbeernet Franc. Moreover, the high quality of wine plus the beautiful view makes Valhalla Vineyard award winning wines in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.  The decomposing granite soils and unique climate afford the preimere terroir on the east coast. (sources from the pamphlat )

Here is the vineyard in the backyard.

They produce the wine underground and get it fermented, stored, barreled and bottled.

Unfortunately, the processing room is not opened for public. Perhaps, this is the "confidential commercial secrete" or they are trying to hide their special way of producing wine.

Lets share my wine tasting experience!!

The wine tasting costs 6 usd per person which one can taste five different wines in the list, and it is worthy as every wine that you going to taste is decent ! There are two criterias for visitors, red wine and white wine. And I picked the white wine option first and red wine as the second. Here is what I tasted,:

Viognier
A superior white wine with aromas of apricot and citrus hailing from the Rhone valley of France. Our stainless steel fermented bottling is bursting with a citrus fruit palate while our barrel fermented winner is full-bodied and pairs well with many foods. made in the French style of unfiltered wines, this wines spends 9-12 months aging in barrel before bottling. The closest match to a French Condrieu made in America.

Estate Chardonnay
One of the finest Chardonnays in the area, the Estate Chardonnay shows citrus flavors reminiscent of California Chards. During the 24 months in French Oak barrels, a true winner is born.

Rheingold Reserve Chardonnay
A taste of France here in Southwest Virginia can be found with the Rheingold. Similar to a French White Burgundy like a Grand Cru Chablis, the Rheingold is a full bodied white with butteriness and oakiness to boot. Barrel fermented in French Oak and aged 22 months before bottling, this wine will take you for an adventure back to the Old World.

Dry Rose
Unheard of and under appreciated in the United States, there is nothing to compare to a true dry rose. Patterned after those roses of Southern France, this rose is made of 100% Sangiovese. By the technique of Saigee, this wine captures the strawberry fruit-flavor of fully ripened red grapes without the tannins of its fraternal brothers. Served chilled and paired with all foods, it is a chef's secret for successful al fresco dining, picnics or brunches.

Sangiovese
The strength of any vintage is best appreciated when you understand that we produce this 100 percent Sangiovese in the true Tuscan style. Dark in color with dense cherry fruit, this spicy wine will push any pasta to its fullest potential. Silky tannins and a succulent finish win over the most dedicated white wine drinker. Great with food, this makes the perfect hostess gift.

Gotterdammerung
On the heels of the great French producer Cheval Blanc, our Cabernet Franc/Merlot blend emulates the master. Truly endowed with French-style aromas of good mother earth, this gracious fruit yielding to harmonious tannins make this the premier dinner wine of choice. Our most highly-rated and written-about wine may be difficult to pronounce but effortless to enjoy. For ease, try "Gott wine?," just like "Got milk?"

Cabernet Sauvignon
Our Cabs set new marks for ripeness and tannin maturity. Harvested in late October or early November, they spend 34-40 months aging in a combination of French and American Oak. These lusty dense wines show dark cherry fruit, cedar, spice, and sweet tobacco layer after layer. Velvet tannin feel on the palate, silky cocoa on the finish, these are passionate releases from this Cabernet Girl.

Valhalla mountaintop chalet is also a fabulous place to hold up memorable events such as meetings, private parties, wedding ceremonies and reception. Becasue the mountaintops always give vistors an unforgettable time by the beautiful view, especially during the sunset and sunrise. The sophisticated design and romantic interior is another reason why people would like to host events or meeting there. Overall, Valhalla is truely one of the best choice for hosting that is sure to impress all who attended. ( sources from the advertisment)

                                         

Jason's wine blog

Dinner - 622 North Main

The arrival of Spring  always gives people a happiness feeling to hang out with friends and family, and I think bringing my best friend to wine tasting in a real wine restaurant is the best choice for the weekend. Therefore I brought my best friend Josh to 622,  which is one of the best wine restaurant in Blacksburg.

The pictures is the entrance of the restaurant. Since this is my second time of visit, so I did not have any difficutit time to find the direction. We arrived there at around 7 45 pm on Saturaday, 4/7.

I know this pictures is sort of awakward but this is the only one that I got with the food that I ordered  which is a popular 622 burger.

As I am a sweet wine lover, I frequently choose Resling as my "dinner partner ", and the wine in the picture is Sawtooth Skyline 2009

My best friend JOSHH!!

It does not make me surprise that 622 is a decent wine restaurant, as all the tables have been reserved already before dinner time, my best friend and I have to stay in the bar side but we still had so much fun as barcelona was playing on ESPN and they won 2-0 in the league.

WINE NOTES!!  http://www.sawtoothwinery.com/wines_mainline_2009riesling.htm

 This refreshing 2009 Sawtooth Riesling combines the aromas of lemon and tangerine citrus fruits with a hint of honey. Tart granny smith apples, melon and honeysuckle give balanced acidity that creates a smooth fruitful wine on the palate. Chilled, this wine is a great summer time sipper, easy to pair with food, especially spicy entrees.

Overall, I had a wonderful time of wine tasting and having a valuable lesson about Resling. However, if I come over again, I think I will try Chadonnay becasue the waiter kept promoting their Chadonnay to us when we were making our orders.