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This website is THE PLACE to find all the VA Winery events consolidated in one little spot!

Our geek links (on the left) allow you to take advantage of some very cool new technology:

  • TECH TIP #1 - It's all about the RSS FEED - Did you know you can get this week's Virginia Wine Events listed right on your home page without ever having to log into this site! It's simple - Click RSS Feed (at the left), then click on your favorite search engine (google, yahoo, AOL, MSN, bloglines, etc.). Now go look at your home page (for instance, your "my yahoo" page) and voila - there it is, right on your home page every time you log onto the web without even having to surf the net!
  • TECH TIP #2 - VA Wine Events goes Mobile - You no longer even need a computer to get the scoop on the hottest Virginia winery goings-on!!! From your cell phone hit "web" on the menu - type in www.virginiawineevents.com - click "mobile" and viola - there it is, a little bitty list of upcoming events  in Virginia Wine Country right there on your mobile phone!!!

 HOTTEST OF THE HOT NEWS

So many Wineries - so little time!

Virginia Wine groupees who thought they had been to all of the Tasting Rooms in the state will be in hog heaven when they find this year's slate of openings ... we counted over 20 new wineries on the roster with plans to open soon. Click on Virginia Wineries A to Z where we will try to keep up with all the up-'n-coming wineries as they get ready to open. Be sure to visit  winery websites before you meander out to visit the newbies to ensure you don't surprise someone before they are actually open! Happy hopping!

 WINE ED

Pairing - Does it matter?

Part of the fun (and skill) of enjoying fine wine is in the pairing. Acids, tannins, sugars, and other components in wine interact with food to provide different sensations. Wine can enhance the flavor of food, and a good match will bring out the nuances and enhance the flavors and unique characteristics of both. In the same vein, the wrong pairing can provide the sharp, puckery sensation of, say - orange juice and chocolate - not an enticing combination.

Pairing is as personal as taste and all the more exciting! Much is experimental for your own personal preferences, but consider the following as guidelines.

Balance Flavor with Intensity - Pair light-bodied, crispy wines with lighter food and fuller-bodied wines with heartier, richer and fattier foods.

Match Flavors - Earthy or hearty wines like Chardonnay, Viogner, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Sangiovese often marry well with roasted or grilled poultry, game birds, pork or veal when baked or roasted or sauteed. Pinot Noir usually goes well with mushroom soup and the citrus or pineapple flavored Sauvignon Blanc goes well with fish dishes. Delicates wines such as Rieslings or Sauvignon Blanc generally go well with salad, vegetables, and fish when poached or steamed.

Pair Opposites - Try a sweet dessert wine or a sweeter Riesling with hot, spicy foods.

Cheese Pairings - Reds go better with mild to sharp cheeses. Pungent and intensely flavored cheese is better with a sweeter wine. Goat cheeses pair well with dry white wine and milder cheese pair best with fruitier red wines.

Contrast - Perhaps you have a dish with a very heavy butter sauce. You may like to “cut” it with a crisp, acidic Sauvignon Blanc. Or perhaps you have an ultra sweet or tart dessert. Try an oaky Chardonnay.

 

 

  WINERY IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Such a Good Secret we Don't Want toTell

Ever come across one of those places that's so good you secretly hope nobody finds it??? We did just that this past weekend. This is one of those spots bloggers love to find and get the scoop on but just can't bring themselves to put into writing because they know you are going to go there and their favorite spot will always be taken!!

This brand new tasting room in Fauquier County emulates a classic country barn with gorgeous hay-barn inspired pull through doors on both ends. Peer through the building to the other side and you'll be tempted to sink into an adirondack chair and stay there all day sippin' vino and staring at the most post-card perfect pastoral setting you'll ever find.

And, we haven't even started talking about the wine!

Vintage Ridge Vineyards certainly wins for most creative tasting experience of the season. Vintners Bill & Vicki Edmands are showcasing their wines in true Southern style, complete with your own private host serving up cheeses, meats, artisan breads, gourmet crackers, Virginia chutney and chocolate hors'deuvres perfectly paired with their new releases. And, we think you'll agree, the inaugural Cabernet Franc and Vidal Blanc wines grown on the estate are right up there with some of the best in the state.

Vintage Ridge opened late last fall for a sneak preview and have just officially opened this Spring with weekend hours. We hate to say this, but, you've just gotta go!

 

  SAY CHEESE

 

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