Wine Dogs Get to the Point

Potomac Point Vineyard & Winery

Stafford, VA

Pomeroy decided Prosecco was ready to begin her training as a Virginia Wine Dog. First stop, Potomac Point Vineyard and Winery, a short trip down 95 from Alexandria.

Potomac Point's large Mediterranean-style tasting room says “wine” from the moment you pull up, with an impish Bacchus poised out front ready to greet guests and gates embellished with sculptured vines enclosing an enticing outside seating areas (for warmer weather). 

Designed by homebuilder Skip Causey (his largest commercial project) and decorated and furnished by wife Cindi, the interior features a four-sided tasting bar, imviting fireplace, and impressive murals of la vita vino.

Potomac Point also offers Le Grand Cru Bistro for those who want to wine and dine (Wine Dogs are not allowed in the dining room, but are otherwise welcome).

Indeed, Pomeroy and Prosecco were warmly welcomed to Potomac Point by proprietor Skip, who provided them the inside scoop on the Potomac Point winery and wines.  

The Causeys have lived in Stafford for 27 years.  In 2005, Skip was looking for an investment and, having been bitten by the winebug in Napa and Sonoma – as well as a pruning class at Tarara – decided to start a winery close to home.  Potomac Point opened to the public in 2007 and currently has 5 acres in vine (Viognier, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Petit Manseng) and are exploring acquiring additional acreage.

Skip told the Wine Dogs that 2009 has been his best year for reds so far. Looking ahead to the 2012 wines, he expects the Viognier to be a star and anticipates an awesome Rose. In addition, Charlie Kidd will be coming to Potomac Point to make his Virginia debut as winemaker, after working in California and Texas.

Pomeroy and Prosecco opted for the Premier tasting and Erin led the Wine Dogs through a flight of 11 wines.  There were several standouts and unique offerings. 

Pomeroy gave paws up to the 2010 Chardonnay Reserve, a big and oaky offering while Ecco preferred the 2011 steel-barrel fermented Chard with its crisp flavors. 

Potomac Point offers two “custom label” wines, and both Wine Dogs gave paws up to the Custom Label Red (a blend of Merlot, Cab Franc, and Cab Sauv) playfully labeled “Drunken Reindeer” for Christmas. Pomeroy also liked the 2011 Norton , a classic presentation of the native Virginia varietal finished nicely with a touch of Cab Franc (10%) and Tannat (5%). 

Both of the desert wines are noteworthy. The Vin de Paille is crafted in the Itailian Passito style, with wind-dried Muscat grapes wind-dried on beds of straw from an old Virginia tobacco warehouse and blended with hand-des-stemmed very late harvest Vidal and Petit Manseng for a pleasantly sweet, peach-apricot wine which Pomeroy adored.

On the Port side, the Rabelos blends Touriga Nacional, Chambourcin and Tinta Cao aged in a bourbon barrel from the neighboring A. Smith Bowman Distillery for a lovely desert wine that had Ecco coming back for more.

The star of the lineup is the 2009 Richland Reserve Heritage. The Bordeaux blend of Merlot, Cab Franc, Cab Sauv and Petit Verdot was the Wine Dogs’ pick for enjoying in front of the fireplace, where they were joined by Chianti, a 2-1/2 year old Australian Shepherd and “Miss December” in the 2013 Old Dominion Wine Dogs Calendar.

Heritage is one of the 12 Governor’s Cup Gold medal winners to be included in the 2012 Governor’s Case used to showcase the best of Virginia Wine across the country and around the world.   This year’s Governor’s Cup winners will be announced on February 21.