Breaking in the Tasting Room

On Veteran’s Day, Dan and I got to help our friends at Cardamon Family Vineyards break in their new tasting room! We are so excited for Chuck and Ana and very blessed to have them in our lives.

Chuck toasting the opening
Walking up to the tasting room, you will find little groups of tables and chairs where you can look out at the tree covered mountains. (or, as we were there in the evening, look up at the brilliant stars)

The new tasting room is warm and welcoming and has lots of natural beauty, which you can see in the colorful wood used in the floor, bar, and ceiling beams. Small, black metal tables and chairs are tucked into the corners of the room, and two leather love seats rest in the center of the room near a big TV that cycles through pictures of the vineyard, as well as Chuck and Ana’s travel adventures.

There were lots of delicious wines being served for the party. I had glasses of Cardamon’s Rkatz and Myshells from the whites, and I got to try Breaux’s Silk and a Spanish Crianza from the reds. Chuck had also saved Dan and I a bottle of his Cuvee Blanc as an anniversary gift. Mmm! Going with the spirit of the evening, we decided to have a glass right then and share some with the others in attendance.

Jax chilling with dad at the bar

Everyone enjoying the new tasting room!
Overall, it was a successful opening, and a very enjoyable evening. When you are out on Harper’s Ferry Road, be sure to stop at the Cardamon’s and relax in the new tasting room with some of their delicious wine. :)

All the wine was finished, but not quite all the milk. LOL

Great Happenings on Harper’s Ferry Road

Good wine has been found on Harper’s Ferry Rd for many years now, but the last two years have seen multiple new vineyards added to this already fun-to-visit road. Dan and I recently did another day tour of three of the newer wineries: Cardamon Family Vineyards, Maggie Malick Wine Caves, and Two Twisted Posts.

Our day started with a picnic lunch at Cardamon. Dan and our friend Katie did a tasting, while chatting with Chuck (the winery owner) about the latest happenings at the winery. Getting a bottle of Myshells to enjoy with our lunch, we settled down at one of the picnic tables nestled between the vines. It was the perfect day for a picnic, and we got a few pictures of us near the vines (including some of my baby bump!)

One driveway north of Cardamon is Maggie Malick Wine Caves. Dan and I have visited this spot multiple times, but it was a first visit for Katie. We enjoyed a nice leisurely tasting with two other visitors who turned out to be from Two Twisted Posts, the last winery stop of our day. We had a great time talking with them about Maggie’s wines, and both Dan and Katie found some favorites among Maggie’s delicious wines. After purchasing a couple bottles, we wandered the grounds for a little while before heading out for Two Twisted Posts.

For those who follow Virginia wine, you will have probably heard of the yearly Governor’s Cup awards. Usually, it is only the larger wineries that are able to participate in this contest, because of the strict requirements that must be met to compete. However, every so often, a smaller winery is able to enter and win a coveted medal – and Two Twisted Posts is one such winery.

Two Twisted Posts is a small family-run winery that has only recently opened to the public. While their barn-style tasting room is being finished, the family offers tastings every other weekend under their white tent.

Dan, Katie, and I were greeted warmly when we arrived, and the couple we had met at Maggie’s introduced us to their mother, the winery maker and owner. Everyone was very friendly and eager to share about the experience of winning a Governor’s cup gold medal and all the excitement and business that has come to them after.

Their tasting consisted of six different wines. It started with a 2011 Chardonnay which had been aged in medium charred barrels that had never been used before. This was very unique, as most wine barrels have been used for something else beforehand. The wine had a fresh, light scent with a slightly woody taste. Next was the 2012 Chardonnay, which was their Governor's cup gold medal winner. We all found it to have a delicious scent, and even I had to have a sip of the delicious citrusy wine, which had almost a creamy finish.

Moving into the reds, we tried the 2011 Cab Franc, which had a medium-level of pepper taste and a cherry scent, and the 2011 Sweet Life wine, which smelled like Granny Smith apples and had a nice, lingering flavor. One wine that surprised me was the 2011 Don’t Call Me a Cab. This wine was made from Cab Franc grapes but had a surprisingly dry, tangy fruit flavor with a smooth, quick finish. I was also a fan of the creative name. :) The final wine in the tasting is their 2011 Vidal Blanc. It has less than 1% residual sugar and is a fresh, sweet summertime wine.

All three of us enjoyed our short tour of Harper’s Ferry Road. The weather was gorgeous, the wine and food delicious, and the company fun and entertaining.

Yes, rice crispy treats go great with wine!
We also got permission to hide a geocache at Two Twisted Posts when their tasting room is finish, and a new acquaintance will be setting one up soon at Maggie Malick Wine Caves – so keep your eyes open for the new additions!

New to the Trail – Maggie Malick’s Wine Cave

Dan and I could not think of a better way to spend our first weekend back from our honeymoon than to go out on the VA Wine trial. :) Since we had not seen our friends Chuck and Ana at Cardamon Family Vineyards in a while, we decided to visit them and their neighbor, Maggie Malick Wine Cave.

Visiting Chuck and Ana Cardamon is always a pleasure, and it was great to spend some time catching up with them. We heard how construction was progressing on their new tasting room, and their future plans for the vineyard (hint: it is going to be fun!). We also told them about the wedding and showed them a few of our pictures. Sadly, they just closed the vineyard for the winter, but this is really good news, as they will be finishing their new tasting room for the upcoming spring!

After stocking up on our favorite wines, we headed out to Maggie Malick Wine Caves, which is literally the next driveway down. LOL

Maggie Malick Wine Caves uses the Virginia’s rolling hills to create a naturally cool environment for its wine. As we walked up to the entrance, I was instantly reminded of a cheerful hobbit hole.  The interior of the wine cave is cozy yet roomy, with stacks of wine barrels resting right beside the tasting bar.

The tasting includes 11 different wines, ranging from whites to reds. Our server, Leah, walked us through each one. Dan and I enjoyed many of their wines, and some of our favorites were the Petit Verdot and Tannat.

After our tasting, we picked up a few snacks and stepped out back to enjoy a glass in the sunshine. There was both open and covered seating, and the grounds are very picturesque with a large pond and rolling hills all around.

Being dog people, Dan and I were instantly charmed by the very cute and friendly wine dogs, Moxie and Abby. While chatting with the wine owner, Maggie, we learned that Moxie had just had a minor surgery, and she was having trouble keeping him calm. With the help of a leash and some tasty treats from Maggie, we were able to get him to lie down and rest with us until we left.

Moxie will hold still if you rub his belly

Adorible, sweet Abby

Winery dogs love the sunshine
We are glad that Virginia has another wonderful wine location, and I hope my readers get a chance to visit the wine cave soon! :)

Cardamon Family Vineyards

As much as I love some of the larger Virginia vineyards, small, family-owned vineyards will always have a special place in my heart. They are usually younger vineyards, but many still have delightful wines. They tend to have friendly, intimate settings, and there is something extra special about talking to the person who actually makes the wine.

I recently visited one such family-owned vineyard called Cardamon Family Vineyards. Located off of Harper’s Ferry Rd in Purcellville, VA, Cardamon has all the factors that make small wineries such charming places to stop. Chuck and Ana Cardamon opened their doors only a few weeks ago and are in the process of building a tasting room off of their house. Until the construction is finished, they are offering tastings in their wine barn.


Winemaker Chuck Cardamon has had a life-long love of wine. During his Navy career, he was stationed near Napa Valley, and after retiring, he got to experience wineries in Livermore Valley while attending culinary school. The Cardamons moved to Virginia in 2008 and planted vines of their own.


Cardamon is currently serving three different white wines: Vino di Mele, Cuvee Blanc, and RKATZ. The Vino di Mele is created from 100% apple juice, and unlike most apple wines, it is dry, not sweet. Their Cuvee Blanc is fermented in Minnesota Oak barrels and is a mix of Chardonnay, Semillon, Pinot Gris, and Sauvignon Blanc. It has an appealing wood scent and a soft citrus flavor. Last but not least, the RKATZ is made from 100% Rkatzitelli grapes grown in Horton Vineyards. It is stainless steel fermented, giving it a nice, clean citrus flavor.


As many smaller vineyards do, Chuck Cardamon has found a way to offer something unique at his vineyard. Instead of the usual cheese or oyster crackers to accompany a wine tasting, he enjoys pairing his wines with homemade salsas that he has created himself – and boy are they good! He has even compiled his recipes into a small book that visitors can purchase during their visit. :)

After our tasting, Dan and I sat on a picnic table with some family friends and shared a delicious picnic, enjoying a bottle of Vino di Mele with our meal.

A picture Chuck took for us :)
We really enjoyed our visit to Cardamon Family Vineyards. The friendly atmosphere, the chance to talk with Chuck and Ana about their love of wine, and the delicious wines paired with creative salsas made for a wonderful visit. Dan and I left with three extra bottles to hold us over until we can visit again.

When you stop at Cardamon for a visit, be sure to tell them that Erin and Dan from At The Lamppost say “Hi!”!