Just Call Us Lucy and Ricky... Wine Dogs Stomp Grapes

FOX MEADOW VINEYARDS AND WINERY
Linden, VA
It was a perfect Saturday afternoon for the Harvest Festival at Fox Meadow, aka the Wine Dogs' "Local Cheers Bar" because we have a house on the same mountain so everybody knows our names.

Fox Meadow is a realtively new winery. Owners Dan and Cheryl Mortland opened their tasting room just a year ago last May. And they're already producing award winning wines. The 2005 Cabernet Franc won "best in show" at the Atlantic Seaboard Wine Competition (just like Munchkin's great great grand-daddy at Westminster!). The wine is a family fav, rich and warm with a touch of peppery spice. Can't wait for the 2007... Munchkin and Pomeroy inspected the grapes dripping heavy from the vines, although Cheryl says they're hoping to wait til November to pick.

Add a killer view of the Blue Ridge Mountains (the winery stays open til sundown in the summer so everyone can enjoy the dramatic display as the sun sinks into the valley)... and regular entertainment on a spacious deck (catch my good friend, Robbie Limon, who plays a mean guitar with seventies music when he's not playing Hank Williams or Buddy Holly at the Wayside Inn).... and it's easy to see why Fox Meadow has quickly become a popular destination for locals and weekend wine warriors alike. We, or course, are Friends of the Fox.

This particular weekend, the music was provided by Con and Cash, a talented pair whose repertoire is a little bit country, a little bit folksy, with a touch of bluegrass. There was lots of good paw-stompin' stuff, and Con kept up a great banter with the audience.

Chow-hounds that we are, Roy and I woofed down more than our fair share of the brisket. Catering was provided by the Apple House - exit 13, a must stop when heading out to Blue Ridge wine country.

It was a full house, including Norm and Judy, who were celebrating their anniversary and practicing their tango for their upcoming trip to Argentina.

But we all really started kickin' it into high gear when Dan poured a ton of Merlot grapes into a big vat. Everyone took turns jumping in. Don't know how Roy's Dad ended up in there with Norm, but finally the wine dogs got our turn.

If you've never stomped grapes, be warned. Those little critters get real slippery, and their skins looked like little leaches stuck to mom's legs.But it was a real fun time. And just in case you're wondering, the juice was dumped. There will be no Chateau La Feet 2007 from Fox Meadow.