Wine Dogs Blogging Live from Rappahannock Cellars

Rappahannock Cellars

Huntley, Virginia

Munchkin and Pomeroy are finishing a great Columbus Day weekend of wining with all our good friends at Rappahannock Cellars.

Sam gave us a great tasting in the Club Room... love those reds! 2007 Cab Franc won international award.

Now enjoying a concert by Robbie Limon (click on video to enjoy his mellow sounds).

Wine Dogs Harvest Friends and More at Gadino

Gadino Cellars

Washington, VA

The Wine Dogs reported for duty at Gadino Cellars just as a hearty group of volunteers were finishing up the morning harvest.

Pomeroy supervised the crush as thousands of sweet purple grapes poured from basket to machine to begin their transformation into fine 2009 vintage wine.

Meanwhile, Munchkin joined the gathering crowd in the colorful tasting room to catch up on the current vintages.

Aleta Gadino and her aide de camp, Heather, filled the Wine Dogs in on Gadino’s recent award winners. The 2007 Cabernet Franc fetched a well deserved gold. Pet named Antichi Viti Reserva because it is made from 20-year-old vines – the oldest on the property – the wine has rich flavors and the signature black pepper tones of mocha which the Wine Dogs appreciated since they are not allowed to drink coffee.

It was one of several standouts among Gadino’s 07 class, noteworthy as one of Virginia’s best ever wine-growing years. The Wine Dogs were disappointed to find the 07 Pinot Grigio had sold out during the summer, but found the 2008 to be a refreshing substitute for a patio white.

Pomeroy chose the 2006 Barrel Select Chardonney to enjoy on Gadino’s deck, where the Wine Dogs made lots of new friends and met fans who had read about them in Our Town magazine.

An autumn treat was the three-squash soup, served warm with a glass of the 2007 Viognier, a crisp wine fermented in oak then barreled in stainless steel to allow the fruit to shine.

Among the Wine Dogs' missions at the Gadino stop was checking on the progress of Petit Verdot vines they planted on Earth Day. Obviously 2009 was a very good year. Four months ago, the stock reached barely as high as a Yorkie's eye. Now, the vines were climbing like Jack's beanstalk and spreading across the trellises. Next year, grapes!