May 16thVintage Virginia

While on our trip to Virginia, we visited several of the state’s 206 wineries.  Two of the highlights were a trip to Keswick Vineyards (one of the state’s most beautiful) and to Reynard Florence Vineyard (one of the newest).

Keswick Vineyards produces some of Virginia’s finest wines.  It is located on the 400-acre historic Edgewood Estate. In just over ten years, Keswick has made a name for itself in the Virginia wine culture. They’ve won awards for a number of their wines, such as the Gold at the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition for their Cabernet Franc. My personal favorite is a dry white made with the Verdejo grape. This is a Spanish grape that is rare in the United States. We have visited here many times in the past and will continue to visit in the future.

 Reynard Florence opened the winery in October 2011. Unlike many new wineries, they are already producing excellent wines. One of their most notable wines is a Reynard Rouge – Monticello, a blend of Merlot and Malbec. Aged for 15 months in French oak, the wine has a complexity, but allows the fruits to show through. This was our first visit; we will return.