By Nancy Bauer Three Days in Southern Virginia: Martinsville – Henry County You already know way more than you think about southern Virginia’s Martinsville–Henry County. The region is known as the home of many household names: Bassett, Fieldcrest, NASCAR, Marshall Fields. Today, it’s also home to locally-crafted libations, plenty of culture, and lots of options […]

By Nancy Bauer The Grower of Barboursville – Fernando Franco “I love the challenge.” That’s all you’ll get out of Fernando Franco about what was perhaps the most demanding growing season in Virginia wine history. No complaints, no whining, no drama. “We were diligent with the vineyards and we kept everything healthy,” he said. “We […]

By Nancy Bauer Mountain Getaway: Romance the Blue Ridge Whisky Wine Loop Like Pacific Coast Highway in California or Tail of the Dragon in Tennessee, the “curvalicious” Skyline Drive  ranks among the most scenic America has to offer, with stunning vistas and inspiring overlook pull-offs just made for necking.    On the Blue Ridge Whisky […]

By Nancy Bauer 30 Virginia Wineries that Lay Out a Feast It’s May, so we’re talking moms. Now my mom, she loved a good lunch. She lived in Annapolis after my dad passed away, and I’d drive out every Sunday to take her to whichever restaurant had recently struck her fancy. She’d always look at […]

By Nancy Bauer Walsh Family Wine: Loudoun Wine Country’s New Crush Walsh Family Wine opened last month in Purcellville, and the owners are feeling loved. What was once their side project – growing and making wine from a Catoctin Ridge vineyard just outside of Waterford – had exploded into farming five vineyards over 50 acres […]

By Nancy Bauer Mediterranean Cellars Wins Big Love at Fauquier Wine Awards For years now, it’s been impossible to find a ticket to the annual Fauquier County People’s Choice Wine Awards. They sell out every year, and it’s easy to see why: no queuing in crushing lines, beautiful (indoor) venue at Airlie, tasty wines, and […]

By Nancy Bauer 15 VIP Experiences in Virginia Wine Country Frequent winery travelers are asking more from Virginia. With cupboards full of logo’d wine glasses at home and hundreds of hours of experience logged at tasting bars, serious winos have begun looking beyond the bar for more personal experiences. They want to trade stories with […]

By Nancy Bauer Just Getting to Know Virginia Wine Country? Here’s What You Missed Hartwood Winery celebrates thirty years, and its owner tells some tales When Hartwood Winery owner Jim Livingston opened his doors in 1989, after more than 15 years of growing grapes, there were only a few dozen wineries in the state. Of […]

Hand-crafted Wines for the Holidays by Mary Ann Dancisin, Certified Specialist of Wine Giving a gift of fine wine for the holidays is a time-honored tradition. In fact, the months leading up to Christmas are always the heaviest selling season for wines and spirits. But: not at our local wineries. Visits to wineries in the beautiful […]

By Nancy Bauer Loudoun County Wine Awards 2018 – Fabbioli Cellars Gets Top Honors   I stopped going to the mega summer wine festivals many years ago. Back then, I loved the energy, the crowds, and the novelty. Now, they just make me grumpy. The sweaty scrum pushing for tiny pours, the blasting sun and […]