Wine Dogs offer Cherry Cheer

Munchkin and Pomeroy welcomed spring with a champagne toast following a sunrise romp thru the cherry blossoms.

A Veramar-velous Experience for the Wine Dogs

Veramar Vineyard
Berryville, Virginia

A special bloggers tour brought Munchkin and Pomeroy on a return visit to Veramar Vineyards on an early spring afternoon. It is a winery wrapped up in family, and family history - the Bogaty family, that is. As founder James Bogaty says, "Wine is in the family genes -- part of the family code from back in Italy."

His son, Justin Bogaty, welcomed the Wine Dogs and treated them to a private reserve tasting. They were joined by fellow bloggers Christian from Schiller Wine Blog and Alisha "Gut Check" Salazar from Northern Virginia Magazine.

Justin has been making wine at the family winery for 8 years; and his 2007 Cabernet Franc recently was awarded 87 points from Wine Enthusiast, the highest rating given to a Virginia red. Daughters Ashley and Tiffany work in the tasting room and will be opening the family's new enterprise, the Bogati Bodega, in May.

The group tasted six wines - three whites and three reds. Among the whites, Pomeroy was enthusiastic about the Seyval Blanc, while Munchkin really enjoyed the Estate Club Chardonney. Justin explained that part of its distinctive taste is the result of primary fermentation in Virignia oak (coopered in France). Using this process, the wine stops absorbing oak at about 2% alcohol; when it is steel fermented then transferred to barrels, it "soaks up the oak like a sponge."

The reds featured two Cab Francs -- a "free run," meaning the juices were liberated from the grapes without using any mechanical processes, giving it less tanins and more of a traditional French feel and an "unfiltered" Cabernet Franc with a more Virginia nose. The Estate Club Ameritage is a "left Bank" style Bordeaux blend of Cab Sauvignon, Cab Franc, and Merlot.

As the bloggers retired to the deck to enjoy their wine, they were met by the patriarch of Veramar Vineyard himself, who shared generously of his wine and his time.

Jim treated them to a glass of Mouvedre -- a dark, herbacious wine that paired beautifully with colorful tales of his life and Veramar's founding. The Wine Dogs lapped it up.

He led them on a tour of the vineyard, telling how Thomas Jefferson observed the Cherokees making wine from Virginia's summer grapes and hired Dr. Norton to domesticate them, giving birth to Virignia's Norton.


He took them into the barrel room where next year's vintage is aging to perfection.

He introduced them to his wife, Della, and described how he bought the property - sight unseen when she called during an out-of-town trip and declared, "I've found your farm."
He thought it would be a horse farm.

He recalled the rooster the couple spotted walking across the road, an Italian symbol of good fortune which became part of the Veramar seal and the name of their popular red blend.

He told of how the vineyard got its name -- from the North Carolina hotel where he and Della spent their honeymoon. A framed picture from the wedding, the hotel, and the bill $(23 including, dinner) hang on the tasting room wall.

Appropriately, the Bogaty's Veramar is a favorite of brides and brides-to-be. On the day of the bloggers event, Munchkin and Pomeroy found a bachelorette party already in progress, and jumped right in with the high-spirited ladies helping Shana enjoy her final fling.

On their earlier visit in July, the Wine Dogs found Veramar's idyllic grounds set for a wedding, putting ideas in Munchkin's head.

Whatever the occasion, the Wine Dogs promise you will have a Veramar-velous time.

"You leave with an experience you can carry with you as a memory -- and hopefully bring you back."

--Jim Bogaty

(NOTE: Some of the pictures in this blog were taken during the Wine Dogs' July 2007 visit)

New Winery Has Wine Dogs Singing "You can take me to Paradise (Springs)"

Paradise Springs Winery
Clifton, Virginia

As the Wine Dogs approached the 200 year-old log cabin serves as the tasting room for Paradise Springs, owner Jane Kincheloe immediately began fussing over Munchkin.

History and Yorkshire Terriers reign supreme at Paradise Springs. The winery dog, Foxy, is a 3-1/2 pound, 11-month-old Yorkie. And Fairfax County's first modern farm winery sits on land that has been in Jane's family since 1716, awarded through an original land grant from Lord Fairfax.

Even the name has histroic roots. Paradise Springs was one of the early names of the Clifton area. Now, it is wine instead of spring water that is pouring into the bottles at Paradise Springs.

When she inherited the property from her aunt, Esther Podolnick, Jane knew she wanted to have a winery there. The idea started fermenting 20 years ago when she and her aunt discussed it as a way to save the house and keep the land in agriculture. "As Virginia wines got better and better, I knew it would work," Jane told the Wine Dogs.

It certainly seems to be working. Winemaker Kirk Wiles (Jane's son) already is producing award-winning wines, working with members of the Pearmund team including Chris, D.J. Leffen, and Jef Stebben. The 2008 Norton just claimed a Gold Medal in the 2010 Governor's Cup competition, and the 2007 Reserve Cabernet was awarded gold at last year's Virginia State Fair.

Munchkin and Pomeroy joined a group in the crowded upstairs tasting room as server Ashely offered tastes of these and six other wines.

A second group was tasting down in the cellar below.

Roy was partial to the 2008 Chardonnay and the 2008 Nana's Rose, which Kirk made for his grandmother, who tends roses. Munchkin gave two paws up to the 2008 Viognier and couldn't get enough of the 2008 Norton, barking imperiously to demand another taste. Both Wine Dogs were enthusiastic about the rich red 2008 Cabernet Franc - Munchkin leaping up out of her bag.

The Cabernet Franc vines planted on the estate are expected to produce their first grapes this year (the current vintage is made from Rappahannock Cellars grapes).

The Wine Dogs and their paw-ty took a bottle out to the inviting tables spread along the hillside - just perfect for Yorkies and Poms looking for crumbs. Three new picnic tables were delivered during the the Wine Dogs' visit, and were quickly filled.



There is much speculation about the Paradise Springs label, but Munchkin and Pomeroy found a likely suspect out back, although with 36 acres spread between the park and Bull Run, it's hard to be certain.

One thing is certain -- the Wine Dogs look forward to returning for another day in Paradise.

Oh, Shenandoah.. the Wine Dogs Love You

Shenadoah Vineyards

Edinburg, Virginia

A highlight of the Wine Dogs' fall visit to the Yellow Barn for the Shenandoah Uncorked festival was meeting the charming Emma Randel, one of the Grande Dames of Virginia wine.

Emma graciously invited Munchkin and Pomeroy to her (Red) barn, home to Shenandoah Vineyards, and Munchkin and Pomeroy jumped at the opportunity to lap up a bit of Virginia wine industry history.

Shenandoah began 34 years ago, when Emma and her husband left New Jersey for Virginia's Shenandoah Valley "for health reasons" (Jim had a heart attack). Once they got to Woodstock and tasted "the local swill," Emma decided she could do better.

The Randels studied, and in April 1976 planted their first vines. The whole Randel pack got involved -- a nephew did the plowing; the children spent their Spring Break planting, with Emma dancing on each plot to make sure the vines were tucked in securely. Emma looks back fondly at those years. "The grapes were young and immature, and so were we."

Today, Shenandoah is a mature winery, boasting a wide variety of award-winning wines, produced primarily from grapes grown on the estate and entirely from grapes grown in the Valley. The water from the local well also took a bronze medal in recent competition.

Along the way, Emma has picked up a few strays. Winery Dog Rusty is a 3-1/2 year old Jack Russell Terrier who thinks he's a cat. Rusty lazed away the afternoon curled up in a box under the counter.

Then there's TC (aka "Sugah"), an LA transplant who found the warm atmosphere at the winery a cure for her homesickness as she was making her transition to Shenandoah Valley Girl.

TC and Emma led the Wine Dogs through a tasting of 14 wines plus water (hint: don't try to follow the numbers on the tasting sheet).

Among the five whites, Munchkin was particularly fond of the '07 Sauvignon Blanc, with its hints of butterscotch. The '07 Johannisberg Riesling was refreshingly dry, with a surprising hint of tangerine.

Pomeroy was impressed with the Pinot Noir, one of the few produced in Virginia. Wine Dog advice: this may be the last vintage, so fetch a bottle soon.

Both Wine Dogs gave an enthusiastic Two Paws Up to the '07 Founder's Reserve Chambourcin. Chambourcin is Shenandoah's signature wine (with good reason). Emma was among the first to champion the varietal, whose popularity is now spreading across Virginia wine country.

For those with a sweeter palate, Shenandoah produces the medium-dry Rebel Red ("for white wine drinkers who don't drink red wine") as well as the Sweet Serenade (imagine over pears and ice cream), Fiesta ("adult grape juice"), and Raspberry Serenade (a perfect compliment to chocolate).

Relaxing music and views of snow-covered mountains rising against an azure blue sky completed the atmosphere at the Red Barn. The Wine Dogs thoroughly enjoyed their afternoon at Shenandoah Vineyards, and especially their quality time with its feisty founder.