Paradise Springs Winery

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Paradise Springs Winery and Vineyards

Location: Clifton, VA

Now that I have covered past wineries and vineyards, I am finally up to date with a winery I just visited last weekend. Paradise Springs is the one and only winery located in Fairfax County. It is also the closest winery to Washington D.C., making it a starting point of Virginia Wine Country.

The tasting room itself is beautiful yet rustic with the rich wood interior and stone detailing on the bar. Right outside the tasting room is a large covered deck with a fireplace. We went on a Saturday afternoon so we also got to enjoy some live music. However the place was packed! So be prepared to be patient while waiting for a tasting.

My favorite wines here were the Sommet Blanc, Norton and Nana's Rosé. Our group actually ended up getting all three bottles and splitting them. We also ordered some cheese and baguettes. They are a little expensive here but hey, that's Northern Virginia. I would definitely recommend this place for a weekend outing. The combination of wine and live music made for such an amazing day. 

Website: http://www.paradisespringswinery.com/

CrossKeys Vineyards

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CrossKeys Vineyards

Location: Mt. Crawford, VA

Wine Trail: Shenandoah Valley Wine Trail, Skyline Wine Trail

Being a JMU girl, this post on CrossKeys is near and dear to my heart. Located only 15 minutes away from campus, CrossKeys Vineyards is a popular location for college students to enjoy a glass of vino while overlooking the breathtaking scenery of the Shenandoah Valley. One thing I liked about CrossKeys was that they offered different tastings in order to please all guests. Although my friends and I did the full tasting, they also offer a white and red tasting.

 
Out of all of the wines my favorite was their Fiore, which is a rosé made from Cabernet Franc grapes. But I also liked their Joy Red and Joy White (which is a gold metal winning wine). I will say that if you  are a fan of reds CrossKeys has a wonderful selection. Because it is close to a college town the tasting are reasonably priced at $5.00/tasting. But with that being said, as a heads up they may ask you for two forms of i.d.

Website: http://www.crosskeysvineyards.com/

Veritas Winery

Veritas Vineyard and Winery

Location: Afton, VA

Wine Trail: Nelson Wine Trail, Skyline Wine Trail

My next winery is Veritas Vineyards and Winery located down the street from Afton Mountain Vineyards. Veritas is probably one of my favorite wineries to date. I love the above picture of the corks spelling out 'love' which is what guest see as soon as they enter the tasting room. I thought it was appropriate since I visited Veritas on my Valentines Day weekend. The tasting room has a regal feel thanks to the high ceilings, floor-length curtains, and chandeliers.

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I was also very impressed with the actual wines at Veritas. After our tasting I enjoyed a glass of their White Star, which is a blend of Viognier, Traminette, Chardonnay and Petite Manseng grapes. However my boyfriend and I also liked their  Red Star (pictured below) which is one of the most popular wines at Veritas. It is a light bodied red made from a blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Chambourcin. As if the wine and ambiance wasn't enough, I am also in love with their slogan 'In Vino Veritas', which is Latin for "in wine (there is the) truth".

We sat on the inside loft which overlooks the tasting room and enjoyed our wine and cheese plate. There is ample seating in the tasting room so it's a great winery to visit on a cool or rainy day. Veritas is truly an amazing winery. I would recommend it to anyone visiting the Central Virginia area.

Website: http://www.veritaswines.com/index.htm

Afton Mountain Vineyards

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Afton Mountain Vineyards

Location: Afton, VA

Wine Trail: Nelson Wine Trail, Monticello Wine Trail, Skyline Wine Trail 

I stopped by Afton Mountain Vineyards on my way back from a day trip in Charlottesville, VA last Fall. I would describe Afton Mountain as a charming winery located 'over the river and through the wood down the mountain'....literally. I actually started to get concerned for my wellbeing just getting to the place. The winding road take you up and down the mountains through the Central Virginia country side. Although getting there was a little crazy, the drive offered amazing views. 

I was impressed with all of the wines Afton Mountain had to offer and ended up purchasing a bottle of their Gewurztraminer, which is a crisp, dry white. Next time I'm in the area I would love to give Afton Mountain another try. 

Website: http://www.aftonmountainvineyards.com/

Fabbioli Cellars

Fabbioli Cellars

Location: Leesburg, VA

Wine Trail: Loudoun Wine Trail

Just 25 minutes down the road from Casanel is the boutique style winery, Fabbioli Cellars. As you drive up the driveway, you may become concerned you are at the wrong location because the winery looks as if it is a residential home. But not to worry, you are at the correct place. Just enter the tasting room through the french doors.

Something that I found interesting was the Fabbioli offered a chocolate and wine tasting. This tasting paired chocolate truffles with the wines for a very unique experience. I know this was the first chocolate/wine tasting I have ever heard of.

Unfortunately I can't say the majority of the wines pleased my palate but I was impressed with a couple. I enjoyed their "Something White" white wine which offered floral and fruity notes. But the wine that absolutely blew me away was their Raspberry Merlot. The blend of grapes and raspberries paired perfected with the raspberry chocolate truffle (the heart shaped chocolate shown above). With a 375 ml bottle costing about $23.00, you can be sure that this wine would be the perfect compliment to a romantic evening. 

Website: http://www.fabbioliwines.com/

Casanel Vineyards

Casanel Vineyards

Location: Leesburg, VA

Wine Trail: Loudoun Wine Trail

My next winery to reminisce on is Casanel Vineyards. Casanel is a 40 acre vineyard located off of a gravel road in Loudoun County, Virginia. The tasting room is a restored stone barn which offers a quaint, yet intimate, atmosphere. Right outside of the tasting room is a large patio which offers guest a relaxing sitting area to enjoy their wine. One thing I remember loving about Casanel was that they actually offered hot food, versus the typical cheese plater.

Again, it is hard for me to remember all of the wines but we did end up purchasing a bottle of their Don Lorenzo. It is a crisp, yet sweet, white wine made from a blend of Pinot Gris and Chardonnay. I also remember their Dulce wine which is an extremely sweet dessert wine. It was a little too sweet for my liking but if you have a palate for sugary sweet, then this is the wine for you. Another great thing about Casanel is the price... tastings are only $5.00!

I remember seeing some construction trucks around the property while I was there last, so I am eager to  revisit and see if any new features have been added.

Website: http://www.casanelvineyards.com/default.html

Sunset Hills Vineyard

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Sunset Hills Vineyard

Location: Purcellville, VA

Wine Trail: Loudoun Wine Trail

I thought I would start off by covering some wineries and vineyards I visited in the past. Sunset Hills was where I had my very first Virginia wine tasting last Summer. This is a beautiful commercialized vineyard located in the western part of Loudoun County. One of the features I loved about this winery was the two level deck located right outside the tasting room.

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Another thing I loved about Sunset was the amazing food. We ordered french bread and Amish sharp cheddar to pair with our glasses after the tasting. I wish I could remember my favorite wine but it has been about a year since this trip. That in itself is a great reason for me to give Sunset Hills a second try.

Be sure to stop by their website for more information and detail on upcoming events this Summer!

Website: http://sunsethillsvineyard.com/index.html