In-Cider Scoop on Foggy Ridge from the Wine Dogs

Foggy Ridge Cider
Dugspur, Virginia

Taking a break from their usual weekend wining, Ecco and Pomeroy decidered to check out Virginia’s blooming hard cider industry.  And where to start but Virginia’s first modern cidery – Foggy Ridge Cider.

Yes, it is indeed a foggy ridge.

Diane Flynt - the First Lady of Virginia Hard Cider – planted her orchard in 1996 and fermented her first vintage of cider in 2005. Today, Diane’s Garden of Eden outside Floyd, Virignia, grows 30 different varieties of apples, spread across 200 acres and produces 4,000 to 5,000 cases of cider a year.  

Don't expect your grocery store variety of apples – cider apples are tart and tannin: “They call them spitters for a reason,” Cider Slinger Connie told the Wine Dogs were told during their tasting.

 

It’s a different story after the apples spend 6-8 weeks in steel tanks and are transformed into delightful sparkling beverages that left the Wine Dogs be-cide themselves with joy.

The walls of the cidery are replete with article of accolades for Foggy Ridge from local and national publications (will we see the Wine Dog review on our next visit?).

We loved the quote from Virginia Wooff:



Connie poured four distinct hand-crafted ciders.

The Serious Cider reminded the Wine Dogs of a Brut Champagne (or Virginia Sparkling Blanc de Blanc). Three ingredients go into the cider – apples, carbonation, and yeast.

Serious Cider is made from Old English apple varieties, including Roxbury Russets which are found just across from the cidery.  The Wine Dogs found it paired well with cheese as they enjoyed a bottle at a table overlooking the orchard.

Foggy Ridge's First Fruit cider blends early season American heirloom apples – grafted from Thomas Jefferson’s trees at Monticello. This is a rich fruity cider with lively acidity.

Little Ecco gave her “Paws Up” to the Sweet Stayman – a crossover cider with 2.3 percent residual sugar. The Cider blends Virginia Stayman apples with heirloom varieties like Pink Lady and Grimes Golden. The result is a lightly sweet cider.

The older and more sophisticated Pomeroy gave his enthusiastic two Paws Up to the Port-style cider, Pippin Gold. The cider is blends Newtown Pippin hard cider with apple brandy from Laird and Company, America’s oldest distillery, making Apple Jack since 1780. 

There are currently eight cideries in Virginia – chances are you’ve passed signs for one or two as you wine your way across the Commonwealth.

• Albemarle Ciderworks
• Blue Bee Cider
• Bold Rock Cider
• Castle Hill Cider
• Foggy Ridge Cider
• Old Hill Cider
• Potter’s Craft Cider
• Winchester Ciderworks

The Wine Dogs note that one of our fav local wineries, Cobbler Mountain, released a wicked sparkling hard cider of its own over Columbus Day Weekend, which earned a “Paws Up” from both pups.

Check them all out during Cider Week Virignia!

Miller Time for the Wine Dogs

Miller Winery

Front Royal, Virginia

 

A new winery - actually a microwinery - opened in downtown Front Royal last week, and Ecco and Pomeroy simply had to poke their heads in to bring you the scoop.

The Wine Dogs found a freshly finished tasting room in the back of what was the Old School House -

and the Millers, Jason and Amber.

Amber and Jason’s passion for wine started in 2002, when they purchased a cabin in the Shenandoah Valley, a jumping off point for touring Virginia Wine Country. Four years ago, Jason graduated to home winemaker and in 2012, he teamed up with Erik Bandzak, who pioneered urban city micro-wineries in Baltimore with Aliceanna Winery.

The back of the house includes the winery - housing several Italian stainless steel tanks and two carboys where the Millers make wine in batches, 60 gallons at a time. Total production is 2,000 bottles (yes, bottles, not cases). The plan is to double production next year, adding Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Chambourcin.

There is also an office/production room for packing and shipping. Jason already has expansion plans to bring the winery out to the front of Royal Street, with outdoor café tables looking out at the Warren County Courthouse.


Everything at Miller Winery is done by hand – from corking the bottles (Pomeroy learned how intensive that is when our own Miller hand-corked the Wine Dog wine) to the bags, which Amber hand-stamps with the Miller label.

The Miller Winery opened with Jason pouring four wines. The fifth, the Chardonnay, is awaiting label approval – apparently delayed by the government shutdown. “We tried to come out the door with something that hits everybody’s palate,” explained Jason. “Something” includes two whites – a German-style Riesling and a Seyval Blanc – and a pair of reds.

The first – aptly named LOL - was an amusing wine made from Concord grapes, with a Welch’s jelly nose accompanying a more sophisticated taste that still remains sweet on the palate. Ecco lapped it up.

(Gotta love the Miller humor).

 

Pomeroy preferred the smooth, rich and slightly peppery Hunter’s Red – made from the Noiret grape, a disease resistant hybrid developed at Cornell.

While the current run of wines are made from grapes purchased out-of-state, the Millers will be producing true Virginia wine. They have planted a 5-acre vineyard (managed by Jason’s parents) in Bumpass, Virginia (near Lake Anna).

The urban winery concept appealed to these Wine-Dogs-about-Town, a welcome addition to the flourishing Virginia industry. Yep, it's the right time for Miller Time!

Winding Road Leads to Good Wine and Good Times for the Wine Dogs

Winding Road Cellars
Markham, Virginia

Ecco and Pomeroy stop to wine along the Winding Road

Heading down the winding road to Hume, the Wine Dogs spotted an unexpected "Open" sign and turned in to investigate. They discovered Winding Road Cellars, a new Virginia winery which opened quietly over Labor Day weekend.

The pups entered the charming red wood building and Ecco's nose began to twitch as it filled with the scent of fresh wood.
From floor to ceiling, the tasting room is rich with polished pine, beautifully crafted by Amish builders from Pennsylvania.

The wines are hand-crafted too - by owner Scott Culver, who got his rookie winemaker training at Mediterranean Cellars.

Winding Road currently is pouring six wines, with a surprisingly mature selection for a new winery. The oldest is a Cabernet Franc from 2007, a pedigree year for Virginia wines. Both dogs liked the off-dry Vidal Blanc (2009). Pomeroy gave paws up to the spicy 2008 Chambourcin, while Ecco preferred its semi-sweet sibling, made from a late harvest of the same grapes.

Both Wine Dogs agreed the 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon was the pick of the litter and their choice for the steak they planned for dinner.

The spacious patio is a great place for wining and unwinding, offering sweeping views of the vineyard.

Viognier, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cab Franc, are already in the ground - along with one experimental row of Pinot Noir. Scott plans to double the vineyard this spring with another 2,500 to 3,000 vines.

The Wine Dogs are glad they followed the Winding Road to Scott and Linda Culver's door, and are looking forward to future visits.

Barking News: Virginia Wine Sales Top Half-Million Case Mark

Here's something to bark about. Governor McDonnell announced today that Virginia wine sales have reached the half-million case benchmark.

While wine sales within Virginia are up, the real story is the growth in out-of-state sales, a reflection of Virginia's growing reputation as a top producer of quality wines and the Commonwealth's aggressive marketing campaign. Paws up!

Governor McDonnell Announces Sales of Virginia Wine Reach New All-Time High

Continued Growth Push Sales Across the Half-Million Case Benchmark 

 As Administration Puts Focus on International Marketing Efforts, Export Sales Increase By More Than 74% 

During a visit to the Eastern Shore's Chatham Vineyards on his "This Commonwealth of Opportunity" tour, Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that sales of Virginia wine reached another all-time high in Fiscal Year 2013, increasing by more than 5 percent from FY2012. Virginia wineries sold over 511,000 cases of wine in FY13 versus almost 485,000, the previous record high, in FY12 according to newly available sales figures compiled by the Virginia Department of Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) and the Virginia Wine Marketing Office. Since FY2010, when almost 415,000 cases were sold, sales of Virginia wines have increased by more than 23 percent.

Speaking about the new sales record while at Chatham Vineyards, Governor McDonnell said, "At the beginning of my administration, I pledged to work with the Virginia wine industry to make the Commonwealth the East Coast capital for wine and wine tourism. Today's announcement is further proof that we're well on our way to reaching that goal. Sales have reached a new record high and tourism to our wineries continues to grow. With the outstanding product being produced by our grape growers and wine makers, it's no surprise that more and more people are buying Virginia wines and experiencing our wineries and vineyards. I'm pleased our administration's focus on promoting Virginia wines and wine tourism both here and abroad is helping the Commonwealth's wine industry to grow and expand. From serving only Virginia wines at the Executive Mansion to marketing them during all domestic and international trade missions, we have taken every step possible to help create new sales and generate more jobs and economic opportunities all across the Commonwealth."

In-state sales of Virginia wine increased by almost 3 percent from FY12 to FY13, while wine sales through Virginia wineries increased by approximately 6 percent during the same period, indicating increased interest in visiting Virginia wineries. Wine sales to distributors outside of Virginia increased by more than 60 percent from FY12 to FY13. Today, Virginia wines are being sold in numerous states including Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Washington, D.C., one of the Virginia Wine Marketing Office's top strategic growth regions. In addition, Virginia wineries sold more wine out of state, directly or through a wholesale distributor, and internationally during the most recent fiscal year. Specifically, these sales increased by 69 percent from FY12 to FY13. To continue reading the release, click here.