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| Ecco congratulates Curt and Lee Hartman of Bluestone Vineyards |
Bluestone Vineyard
Bridgewater, Virginia
Bridgewater, Virginia
A big wine dogs Paws Up to Bluestone Vineyard and the Hartman family, winner of the 2021 Shenandoah Cup. The 2017 Houndstooth (great name!) is a rich and satisfying Bordeaux blend. Bluestone also made this year's Governor's Cup Case with its 2019 Petit Manseng, and their 2019 Chardonnay also earned gold in the Shenandoah Cup competition.
Ecco is excited to note that Bluestone welcomes furry visitors: "Friendly dogs on a leash are always welcome at Bluestone. Dogs are welcome in the Tasting Room and outside around the Tasting Room." The Shenandoah Valley is a top emerging wine region in Virginia and an especially charming place to visit during the fall leaf season.
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| Winemakers representing the 11 Gold Medal wines in the Shenandoah Cup competition. |
In addition to Bluestone, nine wines from six wineries earned gold:
Briede Family Vineyards claimed gold for the 2019 Tannat. Look for unique hybrids in Paul and Loretta Briede's Winchester tasting room - they were the first in the country to plant the Arandell grape,
Winner of the 2020 Shenandoah Cup, Cave Ridge Vineyard earned two golds this year - for the sparkling Blanc de Blanc and the 2019 Fissel Hill, a blend of Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc.
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| Paul Briede with the 2019 Tannat |
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| Cave Ridge General Manager Megan Phillips and Becky Smith |
Also doubling down on the gold was CrossKeys Vineyards, with the 2019 Meritage (a Right Bank, Merlot-based blend) and 2019 Petit Verdot.
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| CrossKeys founder Bob and son Babak Bakhtiar, the marketing manager display the 2019 Meritage |
The 2017 Muse Clio continues to shine, adding Shenandoah Cup gold to the gold in the 2021 Virginia Governor's Cup competition (the 2009 won the Governor's cup in 2015).
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| Muse's Sally Cowal, a former U.S. Ambassador turned wine ambassador |
Rockbridge Vineyard took home two gold medals - for the 2017 DeChiel White Riesling and the 2017 Vd'or, a dessert wine which also earned a place in the 2020 Governor's Cup Case.
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| Rockbridge's Shep Rouse has been making wine in Virginia since 1986 |
Check out these and other outstanding wineries (cideries, breweries, and meaderies) along the Shenandoah Valley Wine Trail, which stretches from Winchester down to Lexington.
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