Showing posts with label Wine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wine. Show all posts

Friday, August 30, 2024

On the MD Wine Trail - Catoctin Breeze Vineyard

Catoctin Breeze Vineyard
Thurmont, MD
August 29, 2024

 Chris and I , along with two friends, headed out on the Maryland Wine Trail to visit wineries that we had never visited. There are many more wineries in Maryland than most realize and there is always the opportunity to discover a hidden gem. 

We found one yesterday in Catoctin Breeze Vineyard. The winery is nestled at the foot of a hill in Thurmont, Maryland. The tasting room is a very inviting facility and provides a great vantage point of the vineyards. There is ample outdoor seating for picnicking. 

Catoctin Breeze Merlot
Thurmont, MD
August 29, 2024

The visit was a success. We found great wines, with white, rose, and red. The price point is a bit high, but the wines are definitely well made and come with layers and long finishes.

We were especially impressed with the Merlot ($30) and the Cabernet Franc ($55). Both, while medium body presented with layers and flavors of well blended wines. I bought some of the Merlot, but felt the price point of the Cabernet Franc was a bit high. 

Be aware, the price of a tasting is $24, but comes with 6 wines and if you are really nice, maybe a 7th. In addition to the two wines already mentioned, the Adagio 2022 ($40) was tasting very nicely. It is a blend of 50% Merlot, 25% Cab Franc, and 25% Teroldego. In addition to the red wines mentioned, there are white wines and a rose. The listing from yesterday showed 18 offerings call ranging from $30-$55. 

I recommend a visit to enjoy some great wines and scenery. 


-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Thursday, August 29, 2024

Chasing the Moon

Moon over Magnus Ridge
Rock Stream, NY
August 25, 2024

 It seems that lately I have been noticing the moon more during the day. Perhaps it is because the daylight is longer and I do not go out much after dark to avoid the mosquitoes. 

Sunday, Chris and I stopped off a Magnus Ridge Winery, just north of Watkins Glen, to experience some Finger Lakes Wine. Magnus Ridge is one of my favorites because they make a variety of wines with good balance. And some nice medium body reds. I especially like the Cabernet Franc.

As we stepped out of the truck, I spied the moon over the winery. I guess I am not good at moonshots, but if you look real hard you can see it. I was amazed at the crystal blue sky as well. It was a beautiful image, in my head at least. 


-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD


Sunday, October 22, 2023

Wine Event - Doris Market

 I love Wine events!

A Table at the Wine Event
Doris Market, North Palm Beach, FL
October 21, 2023

Last evening, beginning at 8:30 PM, we attended a wine and food event sponsored by Doris Market in North Palm Beach. It was not far, fortunately. 

The event was held in the supermarket and there were well over 100 wines, probably closer to 200, available for tasting. The majority seemed to be from Italy, but I did find, and buy, a good Australian wine. There was enough wine that most vendors had wines available at the end of the event. Some of the most popular, and expensive, wines did run out a bit earlier.

The food portion of the evening was well done, buffet style. The event lasted two hours, which seemed like a short time, but at the end of an hour I had circulated through all of the wine tables selecting and tasting specific wines and eaten my fill of food. The next hour was spent revisiting tables to re-taste wines I was unsure of or to taste wines that friends or other wine event patrons recommended. 

It was a great evening and the event efficiently processed purchases and believe it or not, we were actually out of the venue before the two hours were complete. And we had a great time. 


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Saturday, September 9, 2023

Chateau Ste Michelle

Chris and I 
Chateau Ste Michelle, WA
August 27, 2023

 One of the really fun things we did while on our trip to the PNW and Alaska was to visit a winery. Yup. Wine!

We visited Chateau Ste Michelle right outside of Seattle on a glorious Sunday afternoon. It was the last day of nice weather for the entire trip. 

The Tasting Area with Fran and Chris
Chateau Ste Michelle
August 27, 2023
We thoroughly enjoyed the visit to the winery and decided on a high end tasting served outdoors in the bright sunshine and heat of the day. The wines were tasting great and the tasting came with a small charcuterie tray to help understand the nature of the wines better. 

I remain, however, convinced that handing wines and munchies to visitors and allowing them to do their own thing is not the best way to tell the story of the winery. But, Chateau Ste Michelle is HUGE! It may be the largest winery operation that we have visited. 

once we were finished with the tasting, which was $50 per person, and we decided to join one of the top end wine clubs we were invited to the members only lounge for more tastings and some relaxation. I had forgotten how expensive West coast Wine Tastings are. 

Our first wine club shipment should arrive next week and I am excited. The wines we tasted were very good with a nice price point. 


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Wednesday, August 16, 2023

Escape to the Wineries

 

Wine Tasting
Sheldrake Point Winery, Ovid, NY
August 15, 2023

We did it!

Yesterday, Chris, Nicole, and I managed to escape for a few hours and visit the three closest wineries. It was a grand afternoon.

One of the wineries, the closest, we had never visited and we had a very good time. It was fun to talk with the owner, founder, and winemaker all in the form of the same person. She has established a well designed small farm winery. The winery, Bet the Farm Winery, is a fun and enjoyable place to visit. The wines are solid offerings and the 2021 Lemburger stood out as a solid New York red wine. 

As it turned out, the other two wineries we visited are both for sale. They are also repeat favorites and we have been members of both at some point in the past. 

Sheldrake Point Winery and Americana Winery are both for sale, but their wines were tasting very well. I had the Riesling flight at Sheldrake Point and they were all very nice. The tasting was fun and enjoyable. It is always better to visit mid-week.

Americana was tasting well also. Their wines continue to run the gamut including a number of blueberry wines, but the redesigned tasting allows for sampling the wines paired with munchies and fudge. 

The wine tasting success of the day, however, goes to Bet the Farm. It was a traditional wine tasting at the bar and I thoroughly enjoyed talking to the owner/winemaker about the wines and her interpretation of the grapes. I had fun.

I still do not appreciate tasting wines in flights alone at a small table with no interaction with the staff.


OK, do not fret. I am not considering buying a winery. A wise person once noted, How do you make a small fortune? Start with a large one and open a winery.


-- Bob Doan, Ithaca, NY


Friday, May 26, 2023

Virginia Wineries

King Family Vineyards
Crozet, VA
May 25, 2023

 During the past two days, Chris and I have managed to visit 8 Virginia Wineries in the Charlottesville region. 

We have been treated to stunning vistas, varied wines, and great conversations with the friends who are accompanying us on our trek. 

One thing we are definitely enjoying are the varied wines. It is surprising that we have not purchased more than we have, but I think the idea of transporting them to Florida and hoping they arrive in good condition is a bit off-putting. 

View at Mount Ida Farm and Vineyard
Charlottesville, VA
May 24, 2023
We especially enjoyed returning to King Family Vineyards, where we are members. I believe the consensus of the group was that the wines were tasting best at King. I also purchased the most wine at that vineyards.

We enjoyed the stunning views from Mount Ida Farm and Vineyard and also from Hazy Mountain Vineyards and Brewery. These vineyards are designed for stunning views and hosting weddings. Their wines are coming along. But, I will say that the pizza at Hazy Mountain is excellent!

We have had some great fun and great food. 

I highly recommend Duner's out outside of Charlottesville for dinner! Excellent service, great menu, and a just a really nice place to enjoy conversation and dinner. 

And our visit is not yet over. 


-- Bob Doan, Earlysville, VA

Thursday, May 25, 2023

National Wine Day

 




Chris and I are out celebrating National Wine Day by visiting Virginia Wineries. We are at our second stop of the day, Hazy Mountain Vineyards. We are atop a mountain with a 360 degree view of mountains. 

We were at King Family in Crozet, VA, earlier. 

Drink wine and have a dog to live longer. 


— Bob Doan, Afton, VA

Friday, February 10, 2023

Dirt to Ice Cream to Wine

 Yesterday was a day for touring. 

We departed the homestead about 9:30 for a tour through Central Texas. We were excited about the prospect for the day. 

First stop was near Brenham, Texas. We went to view a plot of dirt that may one day become a homesite. Because of the rain the day before, the area was very muddy and we could only view the plot from afar. It looks to be a very nice more than an acre lot that will someday be an enjoyable residence. 

From the future building site, we went to the Blue Bell Ice Cream factory. It happens to be in Brenham. We had an enjoyable time and especially liked the $1 per scoop ice cream. There is not real tour, but there is a small baseball museum devoted to local heroes and an ice cream parlor with a viewing area overlooking the factory floor. 

Entrance to Saddlehorn Winery
Burton, TX
February 9, 2023

From there, and because we did not spend much time at the future building site, we searched for wineries in the area and actually found one that was open. Being the winter season many of the smaller wineries are only open on the weekends. We made the 17 minute trip to Burton, Texas and Saddlehorn Winery. We enjoyed the winery, it is something that we do not get to enjoy in Florida. The wines were solid for house wines, but the price point was high by comparison. I did enjoy two uniquely Texas wines: Blanc du Bois, a white with a lot of minimality and good flavor; as well a Black Spanish, which was a semi-sweet wine with some interesting flavors, but not my type of wine. Since we do not plan on checking a bag for ur return flight to Palm Beach we did not purchase any of the wines.

We had a very enjoyable drive through the Texas countryside. 


-- Bob Doan, Weston Lakes, Texas

Sunday, December 4, 2022

Annapolis to Rohrersville

Main Street Annapolis on a Christmas Shopping Saturday
Annapolis, MD
December 3, 2022

 

Although the day started with rain, it developed into a very nice December day with clear skies and a high of around 60 degrees. 

Being the Christmas season, shopping was on the agenda for the early afternoon after suffering through the USMNT 1-3 loss to The Netherlands. It was a good run, but we were all hoping for more. 

Heading off to Annapolis, we were able to actually find parking, which was free thanks to the business association, and stroll the streets looking for the perfect gifts. The rain stopped and the skies began to clear while we were in Annapolis. Many businesses were decorating for the season and we enjoyed lunch at a local shop. 

Chris and Sue Walking to Big Cork
Rohrersville, MD
December 3, 2022


We could not remain long in Annapolis because we had an evening engagement at our favorite Maryland winery. Yes, after Annapolis we drove west to Rohrersville for a fun evening at Big Cork Vineyards.

It was the case club night! We had selected our holiday wines and there was a party with the members of the Case Club filled with food and wine to both celebrate the season and the wines. We had great fun with our friends George and Sue along with the staff at the vineyard. It resulted in another late night where we enjoyed the company of friends along with great wines. that is the best kind of evening. 

What a day!

Today? It is football and packing day. We return to Florida tomorrow for a few weeks before returning to celebrate Christmas. I hope the weather is favorable!


-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD


Monday, May 23, 2022

Monday Musings - May 23, 2022

 


1. Welcome the 4th Monday of May 2022. Yay! Next Monday is Memorial Day. 

2. Thunderstorms last evening broke the heat, which I was enjoying. The pool made it to 80 degrees during the hot spell, however, after the rains I expect it is a bit cooler. 

Baby Grapes
Big Cork Winery
Rohersville, MD
May 22, 2022
3. Yesterday, Chris and I took a break from downsizing the house and baseball. We joined friends and ventured off to enjoy one of our favorite hobbies: wine tasting. The day began at Big Cork Vineyards where we enjoyed a fantastic tasting and then lunch as part of our Case Club pick-up event. The wines at Big Cork are tasting great! The 2021 Syrah Rose is truly special and was only recently released. The 2021 Sauvignon Blanc also was drinking very well as was the 2019 Cabernet Franc. Following our time at Big Cork we visited Sunset Hills Vineyards in Purcellville, VA. It was our first visit there and we sampled a selection of their wine offerings. 

4. Baby Birds! The Orioles have generated some enthusiasm all of a sudden. I attended a game against the Yankees on Monday and the Club Level of Camden Yards seemed more like a hospital wing than a sports venue. But then on Saturday the call-up and arrival of the number one Minor League prospect catcher Adley Rutschman has generated excitement as this begins the expected revitalization of the Orioles club house and may begins to add the final pieces needed for the Orioles to move from perennial cellar-dweller to contended. Last evening the Orioles managed an 11th inning walk-off win to take a series from the Tampa Bay Rays for the first time since 2020! And who scored the winning run? Adley Rutschman off a single by Rougned Odor!

5. With there rains and storms of yesterday I was reminded about why I love owning a pool. Because it needs love after the storms to remove the debris! Oh how I wish I could have a lanai. 

6. Today in History. On May 23, 1934, notorious criminals Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow are shot to death by Texas and Louisiana state police while driving a stolen car near Sailes, Louisiana.

Bonnie Parker met the charismatic Clyde Barrow in Texas when she was 19 years old and her husband (she married when she was 16) was serving time in jail for murder. Shortly after they met, Barrow was imprisoned for robbery. Parker visited him every day, and smuggled a gun into prison to help him escape, but he was soon caught in Ohio and sent back to jail. When Barrow was paroled in 1932, he immediately hooked up with Parker, and the couple began a life of crime together.



Russian soldier sentenced in first Ukraine war crimes trial - CNN

White House explores tapping emergency diesel reserve to ease price spike - CNN

Beijing urges millions to keep working from home amid COVID outbreak menace - Reuters

On Asia trip, Biden says would be willing to use force to defend Taiwan - Reuters

Iran will avenge slain Revolutionary Guards colonel, president says - Reuters

Shale Drillers Are Pumping Out Dividends Instead of More Oil and Gas - The Wall Street Journal

Suspected Graves at Canada’s Indigenous Schools Prompt Search for Answers - The Wall Street Journal

From Sandy Hook to Buffalo: 10 years of failure on gun control - The Washington Post

Civilian killings soar as Russian mercenaries join fight in West Africa - The Washington Post

Fire engulfs Philippine ferry carrying over 100 people, killing 7 - The Washington Post

Opinion | Florida lawmakers, too busy with culture wars, missed an actual crisis - The Washington Post



-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Friday, January 14, 2022

Messina Hof - Texas Winery & Kitchen

 

It has been a busy week of travel and visiting with family. 

Last evening we had the opportunity to visit a local winery for dinner. The Messina Hof provided a great dinner menu highlighting Texas wines. We specifically visited the Messina Hof Harvest Green Winery & Kitchen in Richmond, Texas.

I had read that Texas wines were becoming very good and I was not disappointed by the wines we chose with dinner. The GSM was the spectacular wine of the night. Very deep with a great nose. The winemaker describes it as follows: GSM is for the sophisticatedly-curious. Upon first taste, this medium-bodied wine leaves the palate with a blended synergy of rich flavors like blackberry, dark cherry, and plum with a hint of spice. Enjoy this hearty blend with savory meats like pork or lamb complemented with blends of herbs and peppery spices. The wine has an excellent price point of $25.

I also enjoyed the Paulo Tempranillo with my dinner which was an elegantly served and tasteful pork dish called The Cactus & Pig. Duroc pork chop, grilled Texas peach and cactus flower agrodolce with Blushing Angel and smoked potato hash cake and arugula. The Tempranillo is described as: a full-bodied wine with nuances of dark cherry, vanilla, and dried cloves. It is masterfully oak aged giving it a wonderful tannin structure and long, refined finish. It has a price point of $60 and the wine was perfect for the dinner.

The final wine of the evening, which was enjoyed sitting around a fire pit, was the HG Abounding. It was very enjoyable with earthy aromas of rich Texas terroir and flavors of blackberry that reach out from the depths of the glass. Oak aging adds balanced layers of black tea and leather. Its lingering finish, when savored, evokes the lifecycle of the grapevine from soil to press. A great bottle of wine with a $25 price point.

The service at the restaurant was excellent and friendly. The wines and courses were serves promptly and the servers and manager were eager to showcase their wines for non-Texans. And I was very impressed.

A great Texas meal highlighted with Texas wines!


-- Bob Doan, writing from Weston Lakes, TX


Tuesday, November 9, 2021

Wine Tasting Disaster

Wine Tasting in Small Plastic Cups
Chris and I decided to visit a few local wineries and vineyards to enjoy the fruit of the vine and see how the wines are progressing. We ended up visiting two wineries that we had last visited a few years ago and one winery that we had never visited. 

I was disappointed in the quality of the tastings. And of course the wines suffered as well from poor presentation.

In my mind, winemakers should ensure that their wines are presented in the best possible manner for people to enjoy and hopefully purchase. 

All three of the wineries visited were doing tastings by the flight. Which, in my mind is the worst way to do a tasting. There is little interaction with the staff and almost no knowledge transfer regarding the estate and the wines. 

At one winery Chris and I tasted 12 wines--but they were served in small plastic glasses--single serving glasses not much larger than communion cups. It is impossible to enjoy the intricacies of wine in small plastic cups which provide no space for the bouquet to develop. At least when I had decided that I wanted to taste a couple of the wines in glass, the tasting room manager accommodated me.

At another winery we were seated outside, under alleged heaters on a cold November day, to taste wines in flights of four. At least they were serves in glass--although not wine glasses. And since the day was cold the wines definitely did not overheat. The reds may have been a bit cool. As the cold November wind blew, we definitely did not enjoy the wines in the same manner that could be done in a warm tasting room with knowledgeable staff to help us understand the vintages and processing. 

The final winery's tasting was probably the most egregious. The wine tasting was $20 for three wines. They were served in wine glasses and were a sufficient pour--but the server poured the wines, placed them in front of us and went back to her computer and continued shopping on Amazon. So much for as personalized tasting experience. We did not even get a written description of the wines. Did I mention that there was only one other two-some in the tasting room? Well, at least we were in the tasting room.

Based upon our experience we likely will never return to any of the three wineries. 


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

Wines of Virginia

Tarting Room Casanel Vineyards
Leesburg, VA
August 13, 2021
Chris and I headed off to the Leesburg, VA, area this past weekend to sample wines from wineries and vineyards that we had not yet had the opportunity to visit.

Let me begin by writing that there are more wineries and vineyards in this region of Virginia than can possibly be sampled in a single weekend or for that matter likely in a month. Trying to keep the weekend sane and to truly experience the wines and ambiance of the vineyards we limited ourselves to three tastings per day. So for the weekend we visited six wineries or vineyards. We had alternates selected to account for unforeseen circumstances and, in fact, the first stop was at a winery we had previously visited, but forgotten, and so we went to our second planned stop instead and added the alternate to become the third stop of the day.

The six wineries or vineyards were chosen based upon a review of their websites and the types of wine offered. Two were chosen because they offered varietals not normally experienced in Virginia. One offered both a Tempranillo and an Albariño, while another offered a Vermentino. We were not disappointed at either vineyard, although truth be told, the Tempranillo was made with grapes sourced from Washington State. My understanding is that Tempranillo does not grow well in Virginia.

So the scorecard for the weekend was six stops at wineries or vineyards. Of there six, four were definite keepers, one is on the must revisit after COVID list, and one was truly disappointing despite having a magnificent facility and a seemingly diverse and exciting wine list. That said, we purchased wines from all six wineries and vineyards and joined the wine club at one of them. Yes, I came home with bottles of all three of the wines that most interested me and many more. 

So the top four, in no particular order:

Casanel Vineyards

Stone Tower Estate Winery

8 Chains North

Walsh Family Wine

Important safety tip: Check the websites at any winery/vineyard you intend to visit to determine how or if they are conducting tastings during COVID and whether reservations are required.

Important Safety Tip #2: Drink and drive responsibly. It is OK and desired for you to spit after tasting to avoid alcohol loading.


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD


Saturday, July 24, 2021

Shiraz and Key Lime Pie

 

Key Lime Pie and Australian Shiraz
A couple weeks ago, while dining at a friend's for Happy Hour I experienced something unexpected. I enjoyed wine, as we usually do, but as we moved onto dessert we put together Key Lime Pie and a very special bottle of Australian Shiraz--Mollydooker The Boxer, 2016. 

I initially thought that this experiment was doomed for failure. How possibly could a fully bodied Australian red wine possible work with one of my favorite desserts: Key Lime Pie. 

But work it did. 

The pie and wine went together exceptionally well and it wasn't to just my opinion, but the opinion of everyone at Happy Hour. The deep rich flavors of the Shiraz blended perfectly with the sweetness of the Key Lime Pie and made a very pleasant and enticing dessert combination. 

I am going to save this combination for the future.


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Wednesday, June 9, 2021

Beware the Wine Tasting

 

The View from an Unnamed Winery
Northern Loudoun County, Virgnia
June 6, 2021

We experienced a COVID-19 modified wine tasting at a prestigious Northern Loudoun County, Virginia, winery the other day.

The facility was beautiful and reservations were highly encouraged for the Sunday tastings. I had made a reservation and the checking in process went smoothly. We were given a nice souvenir glass, which I think we left at the table and went off to the covered porch for a nice tasting. There was pleasant music and everything seemed very nice. 

Then the tasting. 

There were two tastings--the first, for $22 was for six of their normal wines, and the second for $18 was for three of their award winning wines. We did both--starting with the normal tasting. The wines were poured into plastic cups and I have to admit they were very small pours. We then took the tray with the cups and information about the wines to our seats to conduct the tasting on our own.

Here comes the problem. It was a near 90 degree day. Meaning it was hot. With the small pours and all six wines already poured the samples quickly warmed to a temperature which was not suitable for the tasting. We tasted two whites, one rose, and three reds during the first tasting. I have to admit, none of the wines, except for the Meritage tasted well. 

Believe it or not, I then went and bought the second tasting which was the real reason we visited the winery. Same problem. Three wines, all red with price points above $50 per bottle were too warm and were not enjoyable. 

I dearly wanted to buy something and find a drinkable wine, but because of the environmental conditions of the day, there was no way the wines would hold up. 

Note: tasting flights of wines outside on a hot day is not a good way to enjoy the fruits of the winemakers labors.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD


Tuesday, March 16, 2021

Perfect Weekend

 This past weekend was the most normal weekend that I have experienced in quite a while. 

Blooming Crocus
Ellicott City
March 14, 2021
The weekend started on Thursday evening with friends around the fire pit celebrating the warm temperatures. It was a fantastic start to the weekend and marked the first time we had all gathered together in many months. We are all vaccinated and took advantage of our new status to renew in person gatherings.

Then on Friday, Chris and I ventured out to a new place to enjoy a quiet happy hour together. I wrote of this before. It was very nice and a grand way to start the weekend. 

Saturday was a normal Saturday. I felled three trees in the morning, attended a baseball game, and spent the evening with Nicole and Mike and the boys. Wow. We have not done that in a long time.

Sunday was more of the same. Chris and I completed the forms to renew our passports in the morning and went to a winery in the afternoon. And to top it off, it was Pi Day!

Just like that--poof, the weekend was gone.

But it was just like weekends used to be--too much activity crammed into to too few days.

And along the way, I even stopped to see the blooming Springtime flowers!


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Wednesday, February 24, 2021

Summer is Coming

Yesterday, my first wine shipment of summertime wines arrived. I ordered it from one of my favorite Virginia wineries when they announced it was available.  

It is the 2020 Crose from King Family Vineyards and it is a true  summertime wine. It is to be enjoyed on a hot summer's day around the pool or watching a polo match at the winery. 

It is exciting to think about summer coming and realize that in just 24 short days Spring officially begins! And the season of the darkness will be ended and life can begin again for another cycle. 

It is then that I will begin thinking about opening the pool and ensuring that the lawn tractor, instead of the snow thrower, is full of gas and ready for operation. 

The signs are pointing to the end of a too long winter.


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Friday, January 29, 2021

Comfort Food

Roast Beef Dinner
Elkridge, MD
January 28, 2021
Last evening's dinner was comfort food all the way. 

We try to have a no cook Thursday which means that we call a restaurant and order dinner for pick-up. Due to COVID-19 we do not actually eat-out.

Yesterday Chris decided to try something different. She pulled out the slow cooker and made a roast beef dinner. Comfort food! 

I enjoyed the warm smells of the food in the cooker when I came through the door at the end of the day. The dark red wine was, of course, the star of the show perfectly highlighting the flavors of the beef and roasted vegetables.

A mid-Winter's feast!


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Sunday, November 15, 2020

Escaping the House

 

Viognier Grapes
Big Cork Vineyard
Rohrersville, MD
November 14, 2020
Syrah Grapes after the Harvest
Big Cork Vineyards
Rohrersville, MD
November 14, 2020
Looking to get out and escape the house, safely, while enjoying the outdoors on a beautiful late autumn day, Chris and I headed out to some wineries. It was a way to escape the confines of the house while maintaining physical distancing and also enjoying something that we love doing. There is going to be enough time this coming winter to be stuck in the house.


Of course, we made our way to Big Cork Vineyards in Rohrersville, Maryland as a beginning. But, we were sure that we would visit at least one other winery and we did! We also visited Hiddencroft Vineyards in Lovettsville, Virginia. 

It was a beautiful day to be out in the vineyards and then around a fire pit chatting with other oenophiles while enjoying a glass or two of wine.

One of the hard parts about visiting a winery during the pandemic is that most are not doing tastings except by appointment. But, most wineries are offsetting the lack of tastings by increasing socially acceptable activities, like outdoor games.

Sometimes we just need to escape the house because the pandemic feels as if it is closing in on all sides. I believe that wineries are great places to visit because it is generally easy to maintain physical distancing while there. Chris and I were able to stroll around the actual vineyards yesterday to enjoy the autumn colors and see the grapes that remained after the harvest. Those grapes are not lost as they continue to feed the wildlife that can get to them.

If you need to escape--do it safely!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD


Sunday, February 23, 2020

Funny Signs


Virginia is for lovers, I am guessing that it is also for people with a refined sense of humor. 

Yesterday, while visiting wineries/vineyards in Loudon County, Virginia, we happened upon a sign that made me smile and also decide to take an image of it. I am glad the owners of the winery had a sense of humor. I am also glad that wineries are a place where families can go to have fun for an afternoon. 

It was a beautiful day, with clear blue skies and a warm sun in the sky. It was hard to believe that it was only the 22nd of February and I was visiting wineries wearing only a jersey shirt. One of the wineries had fire pits roaring and it would have been nice to sit and enjoy a bottle of wine around the fire pit, but as it was getting late and consuming too much wine while on a road trip is not recommended, we passed on the fire pits and returned home. 

We had a great afternoon, visited some nice wineries, and enjoyed a mid-Winter's day.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD


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