Winter Wining Tips from the Wine Dogs

No need to let the cold weather put a chill on plans to explore Virginia wine country -- just named one of the top 10 travel destinations for 2012 by Wine Enthusiast magazine! Munchkin and Pomeroy share their winter wining tips.

Snuggle up in front of a warm fireplace. So what if you don't have a warm fur coat like Pomeroy's. Grab a bottle of red and curl up in front of a crackling fire. The Wine Dogs especially enjoy the blaze at Philip Carter's Cleave Hall (above) and love the homey atmosphere at Aspen Dale Winery at the Barn. A truly impressive fireplace can be found at Barrel Oak Winery , as well as generous arrangement of firepits outside (throw on your own logs) -- Munchkin and Pomeroy enjoyed both, along with a bottle of 2009 CabFranc, last weekend.

Enjoy winter comfort foods with your Virginia vino. Several wineries have winter specials. The grandfather of them all is Naked Mountain's "Lasagna Lunch." The wonderful pasta sensation (sausage or vegetarian), layered with cheese and topped with a savory sauce, is prepared by Chef Eric and offered from January thru March. Pomeroy could hardly resist long enough to pose for the picture. The Wine Dogs give two paws up to new owners Randy and Megan Morgan for continuing this tradition. Pair with Naked's 2007 Cabernet Franc or 2006 Merlot.

Also on the winter menu are Souper Sundays at Pearmund Cellars and Chili and Wine Time at Philip Carter. If you're a true Chili Dog, you won't want to miss the Chili Cook-Off Wine Trail Weekend, January 28-29, where you can sample chili at each of the four wineries along the Heart of Virginia Wine Trail (Cooper, Grayhaven, James River Cellars and Lake Anna)and vote for your fav.

That's Entertainment! Live entertainment continues at Virginia wineries throughout the winter. Take in some of the more unique offerings next weekend with Three Fox's Cabernet Caberet (sing along with winemaker/pianist "Giovanni" and special guests on the winterized patio, 1/22) and the Laugh Sip and Smile... Saturday Night Live comedy night (1/21) at Bogati's Bodega. Many other wineries feature local musicians, such as Friday Evening in Paradise (Springs) as well as the winery's Live Music Saturdays. And of course, Munchkin's favorite wine trubador Robbie Limon is making the circuit at North Mountain (1/28, 2/12), Veramar (2/11), and Narmada (2/25).

Virginia wineries are open - what are you waiting for?

Gov's Trade Mission Puts Barboursville on Fast Boat to China

The Virginia Wine Dogs were first to tweet the barking news on Monday.

Barboursville Vineyards has signed an agreement with Tianjin Tewoo Group to export their wines to China. The deal is a result of Governor McDonnell's trade and marketing mission to Asia in May and is believed to be the first commercial transaction between a Virginia winery and a Chinese importer. Barboursville and other Virginia wines have also hit the London market.

Munchkin and Pomeroy were not surprised. The Wine Dogs traveled to Barbours-ville in 2009 and sampled the award-winning wines. The winery is located in Orange County, Virginia, on the farmland of James Barbour, the 18th governor of Virginia, and includes the ruins of the manor house designed by Thomas Jefferson. Barboursville is one of the oldest wineries in Virginia, founded in 1976.

At the North American Wine Bloggers Conference in Charlottesville, viticulturalist Gabriele Russe talked about defying expectations to found a thriving vineyard in Virginia. And the bloggers who toured Barboursville were all a-twitter about Octagon. Created only in exceptional vintage years, Barboursville's premier Bordeaux blend is proof that Virginia can make world-class wines with the structure and balance to age gracefully.

This work of art is lovingly crafted by Barboursville's winemaker and general manager, Luca Paschina, currently celebrating his 20th anniversary at Barboursville. Munchkin caught up with him at Monticello, where she was treated to a sample of the 2002 Octagon.

Mr. Jefferson would be proud!

More Gold for VA in Atlantic Seaboard Competition

#VAWines claimed 14 of the 37 golds awarded at the Atlantic Seaboard Competition, and best-of-breed (Category) honors for:

Blush/Rose Hybrid/NA
2010 Gulabi by Narmada Winery, VA
Bordeaux-Style Red Blends
2007 Octagon by Barboursville Vineyards, VA
Other Red Vinifera Varietals
2008 Sangiovese by Ingleside Plantation Vineyards, VA
Other White Vinifera Varietals
2008 Petit Manseng by Horton Cellars Winery, VA
Petit Verdot
2009 Petit Verdot Reserve by Barboursville Vineyards, VA
Seyval Blanc
2010 Seyval Blanc by Barrel Oak Winery, VA
Sparkling Vinifera Wines
NV Scintilla by Veritas Winery, VA
Vidal Blanc
2010 Cold Harbor White by James River Cellars, VA
Viognier
2009 Viognier by Lazy Days Winery, VA
White Vinifera Blends
2009 Reserve d'Oriane by DelFosse Winery, VA

Other Virginia Gold Medalists were:

2009 Cabernet Franc Reserve by Afton Mountain Vineyards, VA
2009 Cabernet Franc by Fabbioli Cellars, VA
2008 Cabernet Franc by Flying Fox Vineyard, VA
2009 Reserve Chardonnay by Gray Ghost Vineyards, VA
2006 Petit Verdot by Ingleside Plantation Vineyards, VA
2009 Petit Verdot by Keswick Vineyards, VA
2008 Johann by Notaviva Vineyards LLC, VA
2010 Viognier Reserve by Potomac Point Vineyard & Winery, VA
2007 Meritage by Rockbridge Vineyard, VA

The Atlantic Seaboard Competition was held July 23-24. 564 wines from 11 states competed.

Wine Bloggers Get Big Welcome from Virginia Governor

Official welcome for the Wine Bloggers Conference from Governor Bob McDonnell (Wine Dogs are big fans!). Munchkin is packing her bags for Charlottesville.

Commonwealth of Virginia
Office of Governor Bob McDonnell

Virginia Welcomes National Wine Bloggers Conference
– 330 wine bloggers from across the country to converge in Charlottesville this weekend –

RICHMOND – Governor Bob McDonnell today welcomed 330 national wine bloggers to the annual North American Wine Bloggers Conference taking place this weekend in Charlottesville. The three-day symposium brings top wine bloggers from across the country to taste local wines, visit wineries and discuss the intersection of wine and new media.

Virginia, home to almost 200 wineries across the state, is the fifth largest wine producing state in the nation. The Virginia Wine Board, the Virginia Tourism Corporation and the Charlottesville Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau are working in partnership to host the event, which is organized by Zephyr Adventures. Eric Asimov, chief wine critic for the New York Times, and Jancis Robinson, world-renowned Master of Wine, will be special guest speakers.

Speaking about this weekend's conference, Governor McDonnell remarked, "Virginia is honored to be hosting the Wine Bloggers Conference and excited to showcase our local wines to this national audience. The conference locating in the Commonwealth this year is yet another indication of the Virginia wine industry's growing reputation in domestic and global marketplaces, and it also furthers my goal of making Virginia the East Coast Capital of wine and wine tourism."

Virginia's theme for the conference is "A Commonwealth of Wine," highlighting the fact that Virginia has wineries in nearly every region of the state. Virginia has nine distinctive wine regions and six federally-recognized American Viticultural Areas.

Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Todd P. Haymore added, "The Virginia wine industry is an important part of our agricultural and tourism efforts to employ thousands of Virginians, preserve working farmland and promote buying locally grown products. I commend the Virginia Tourism Corporation, the Charlottesville/Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Virginia Wine Board Marketing Office for their work in bringing the Wine Bloggers Conference to central Virginia and for helping to promote our burgeoning wine industry."

During the event the wine bloggers will attend seminars, taste wines from nearly 60 Virginia wineries from across the state, tour more than 20 area wineries and visit area attractions including Thomas Jefferson's Monticello and downtown Charlottesville. Attendees also are taking a pre-conference tour of Loudoun County wineries.

"We're proud to be the host city for the 2011 Wine Bloggers Conference," said Kurt Burkhart, Executive Director of the Charlottesville Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau. "We see this conference as the perfect complement to Vintage: The Winemaker's Year, which clearly shows that Virginia wines have arrived."

Attendees will use social media sites including Facebook and Twitter to share impressions and discoveries about Virginia's wines and travel experiences as well as blogging from the event.

Alisa Bailey, president and CEO of the Virginia Tourism Corporation, noted, "This is an incredible opportunity to showcase Virginia as a wine travel destination to thousands of potential travelers across the country through social media. We are excited to be a part of this event and look forward to welcoming the wine bloggers to Virginia."

Allan Wright of Zephyr Adventures stated, "We are thrilled with the response Virginia has shown us once we decided to bring the conference to the state. This is our fourth conference but our first on the East Coast and we feel we made the right decision in picking Virginia as the host."

Visit http://winebloggersconference.org/america for more information or keep up with the conference action on Twitter @Winebloggerscon #WBC11. Follow Virginia's wine and tourism industries on Twitter @vawine, @visitVirginia and @vatourismpr.

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