A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words

At an elevation of 951 feet, Bluemont Vineyard offers visitors a spectacular, panoramic view that stretches from Loudoun County, Virginia to Washington DC. I finally had the opportunity to take in the views firsthand while visiting during the DrinkLocalWine.com conference in April. After making my way up the long and winding driveway, I was excited to see I had the winery and the breathtaking views to myself. Once inside, I was warmly greeted by Loree Rupy who expertly guided me through their current lineup of wines. During my tasting, we were joined by winemaker Bob Rupy who gave me a rundown of vineyard happenings and spent time answering my questions. Both were gracious hosts and made my visit extra special.

On the white card, the 2009 Vidal Blanc (The Cow) won unanimously. Their most popular wine, the Vidal Blanc retails for $18 and is stainless steel fermented. Nice citrus notes on both the nose and palate, the semi-sweet wine is the perfect accompaniment for a warm summer day. I also recommend their 2009 Viognier, The Goat. Before moving to the reds, Loree poured a glass of their Donkey, a Rosé produced from eight different grapes. I was never a big fan of Rosé prior to my trip to Virginia, but walked away very impressed with the many offerings I sampled during the week, with Bluemont included. Before moving onto the reds, I chatted with Bob about future plans. He was excited about future plantings of Petit Manseng and Norton, two varieties that were big talking points during the conference.

I sampled four reds which included two Merlots from the ’08 vintage that retail for a reasonable $20. The first was produced from 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. A classic Virginia Merlot with delicious red fruit and good balance. The second, also my favorite, was a blend of 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Malbec. More red fruit on the nose with notes of vanilla and spice. On the palate, a medium-bodied dry wine with spice, pepper, red cherries and a hint of green pepper on the finish. My wine of choice to enjoy on the patio and featured in the pics below. Before making my way to the patio with the Merlot, I finished my tasting with two Nortons (The Pig), a non-vintage and the ’08. Deep red color in glass, both were rich, full-bodied dry wines with spicy overtones and berry flavors. Retailing for $22, kudos to the Bluemont team for producing not one but two delicious Nortons that can be enjoyed by all (read my review of the $50 Veramar Vineyard Norton here).

The view, the wine and the team at Bluemont Vineyard is first class. If you haven’t experienced Bluemont Vineyard, what are you waiting on? Enjoy the view from the top and be sure to tell them TheOther46.com sent you. Cheers!

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