A few weeks prior to the DrinkLocalWine.com conference, a few of us tossed around the idea of a Twitter Tweet-Up in Virginia. Jennifer Breaux Blosser, Director of Sales and Hospitality at Breaux Vineyards, jumped on board and rolled out the red carpet for our small group this past Saturday. Anyone who follows my blog, knows I’m a big fan of Breaux Vineyards (read more here) and I always plan a visit when I’m in Virginia. The 404 acre estate has over 100 acres planted in 18 different grape varieties, making it one of the largest growers in the region, and a popular venue for events and gatherings.
Our group was treated to a behind the scenes tour of the bottling room and barrel tastings courtesy of the winemaker, Dave Collins. The 2007 Malbec and Petit Verdot blend impressed (a future Cellar Club release), with it’s balance of tannin and fruit. We then made our way to the tasting counter to sample the current selections of white wines. The 2008 Viognier and Barrel Select Chardonnay scored high on my tasting sheet along with the Syrah Rosé with it’s strawberry and cranberry notes.
After our tasting, we headed back to the barrel room for a tasting of Breaux reds paired alongside a fabulous lunch prepared by Grandale Farm Restaurant. And if that wasn’t enough, we were joined by Paul Breaux, President and CEO of Breaux Vineyards. We chatted about the history of the vineyard and winery along with his vision for the future. Easily the highlight of my visit. And what about those reds? My favorite Virginia wine, the 2002 Reserve Merlot, took first place followed by the earthy, 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon. Elegant and reserved, a beauty drinking fabulously well. The surprise of the tasting, the 2001 Nebbiolo, was a favorite around the table (I regret not reserving a spot for the Nebbiolo vertical tasting that same day).
What makes Breaux so special, aside from the great wine, is the people. From top to bottom, the team welcomed us and made our Twitter Tweet-Up an event to remember. Bravo Breaux!
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Love Breaux! Beautiful setting and fantastic wines. Jennifer is a charming hostess and her staff is terrific. They’re friendly and knowledgeable about all of the wines, which makes their tastings interesting. Looking forward to sharing a bottle of vino on the patio soon!
Hi Ali,
Thank you for your readership! The team at Breaux Vineyards is above and beyond, and especially Jen. I had the pleasure to meet the entire team during my last visit and enjoyed some great wines. I’m already planning my next trip and have my eye on a bottle of ’02 Reserve Merlot and a seat on the patio. Cheers!