Pairing Wine and Acrylics

Recently, Casanel Vineyards hosted an event that made for a perfect little get away for my husband and I – an afternoon of wine and painting.

While painting classes have always been around, they seem to be growing in popularity lately, and I have seen numerous online deals for art studios that are hosting such events. Virginia wineries are also seeing the trend and, as they have the perfect setting, are joining in on the fun.

Dan and I were very excited when we arrived for the event. Our tickets included a canvas, acrylic paints, paint brushes, and a glass of wine from Casanel’s classic wine menu. After saving two seats in the event area, we walked over to the tasting bar to pick up two glasses of Chardonnay.

The painting area
The event began with the instructor, a local art teacher, showing us a completed painting and explaining how she would walk us through each step of the painting. We then loaded up our paint plates with the first few colors and put brushes to canvas.

The instructor guided us through the project by starting with general outlines, filling in each large area of canvas, adding shading and details to the background, and finally, adding a bottle of wine and a glass to the picture. Alternating between instruction and individual tips, the instructor was very friendly and helpful.

Filling in the large areas

Background is almost done
We got a short break about halfway through the painting, during which Dan ran over and got us a bottle of the 2014 Cab Sav to refill our glasses with. :)

As the event drew to a close, the whole group spent a few extra minutes adding final flourishes and admiring each other’s finished paintings. Everyone agreed that it was interesting how we each added some little twist to our painting, making them unique even though the same subject matter.

Some other finished canvases
As we cleaned up, Dan and I had a chance to visit with Kathy and Erik, two of the tasting room educators who are friends of ours. Kathy told us about her recent Rose education event, and Erik mentioned that they might do another painting event in the fall, as this first one was so well received.

Kathy and I

Erik, the painting instructor, and I
Overall, it was a wonderful afternoon. The painting was fun and challenging; the wine delicious; and the company entertaining. If you are interested in attending a future wine and painting event at Casanel, check out their website and contact information and be sure to mention that you read about it on AtTheLamppost!

My finished painting

Desert Rose Winery

On a beautiful spring day, my little family drove out to Hume, Virginia for a friend’s birthday party at Desert Rose Winery.

The tasting room is a beautiful log cabin with wide-plank wooden floors and bright sky lights. When we walked up to the bar, we were warmly greeted by the staff, and even the owners Bob and Linda stopped to say “Hi” to us and our son Jax. (Everyone really just wants to say hi to Jax. Haha)

Desert Rose has a mix of red, white, and rose wines in their tasting. Among our favorites were the Fiery Run Cab Franc and Ole Moo Moo (a crisp white wine named after one of the owners’ cows who lived on the property for 26 years).

Jax trying out the beautiful wooden rocking horse in the kids corner
After our tasting, we bought a few bottles and moved outside to have a picnic and share cupcakes that I made for my friend. As the birthday girl is a big horse fan, Bob brought down a few of his beautiful horses for us to see and pet. When Jax saw the first horse (a big, black Arabian), his little mouth fell open and he whispered “dog”. Haha!

Jax meets horse
There is one other thing you should know about Desert Rose Winery, and that is that it is the newest winery to join the VA Wine Trail of geocaches! You can find the new cache listing here. We hope you are able to stop by, find the new cache, and enjoy this beautiful Virginia winery.

Jax enjoying his visit to Desert Rose

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

Virginia Wine and Cider Under One Roof

Cobbler Mountain Cellars is a growing, family-owned vineyard that has a lot to offer its guests. While it started in the family’s basement, the vineyard now has large tasting room, with space for wine making, and room to keep growing.

Cobbler Mountain is set on the rolling hills of Virginia. It has lots of open fields where fire pits and Adirondack chairs rest in view of the grape vines, and the nearby woods and brook are used for special camping events in the fall.

Enjoying the beautiful grounds
Cobbler Mountain offers white, red, and dessert wines. Dan and I enjoy many of their red wines, especially their award-winning 2011 Meritage and 2010 Cab Sav. You will also experience something new with their dessert wines, which have a maple syrup flavor.

One of the unique things about Cobbler Mountain is that they also make varieties of hard cider. On this most recent trip, Dan and I got to sample the hops, honey, cinnamon, and pumpkin varieties. Our favorite was the cinnamon cider, and we bought bottles of the hops, cinnamon, and pumpkin.

If you are ever on the Route 66 wine trail, be sure to stop by Cobbler Mountain Cellars. :)

Jax’s First Winery – Stone Tower Winery

Even before I was pregnant, I looked forward to the day when I would be able to start taking my kid(s) to vineyards with me. When Jax turned one month old, Dan and I thought it was time to take him on his first winery visit. Because he was so young, we decided to stay close to home. There are numerous vineyards close to our house, but we decided to try Stone Tower Winery, since we had never been there yet.

Stone Tower Winery has a variety of red and white wines, and Dan and I chose to do the reserve tasting so we could try more of them. Our tasting started with some very bubbly sparkling wine, which seemed fitting as a way to toast Jax’s first wine trip. Another white that I enjoyed was the estate chardonnay, which we ended up getting a bottle of. Among the reds, I liked the 2012 Sanglier Noble’s fruity scent and spicy taste.

After our tasting, we went to the patio where we shared wine and snacks with some of the VA Wine Mafia who were able to join us for the afternoon. The food and drinks were delicious, and Jax enjoyed meeting some of his Wine Mafia aunts and uncle.

Unfortunately, it was a hot hot day out, and as there was no AC running in the tasting room, we had to cut our trip short when Jax started to get too warm. It was still a fun visit, and we look forward to taking Jax to more vineyards in the future. :)

Cheers!

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!

Drink in the Aroma

I am very happy to announce that I am expecting my first little one! Whenever I say this to a wine-drinking friend, their first words are congratulatory, and their second words are sympathetic because I will not be drinking wine for a number of months.

To these people, and other women who are or will be expecting, do not let these sympathetic words bring you down! You can still be very much involved in the wine experience! How you ask? Let me tell you:

1) Drink through your nose
No, I am not saying to snort your wine. (Though that would look hilarious) When a woman is pregnant, her sense of smell is extremely heightened, so smelling a wine can be almost like tasting it. For myself, I have found this to be especially true! I could walk around just smelling wine all day and be the happiest person at the vineyard.

2) Finger Tasting
Everyone knows that alcohol is not good for a developing baby, and thus a mom-to-be. However, many physicians today will admit that a small amount of wine or beer is ok. (Just like a small amount of caffeine is ok) I’m sure there are gasps of horror from some of my readers and cheers from others. To make sure I am not misunderstood, let me explain.

My husband and I have been on numerous wine tours since I found out I was pregnant. At each winery we visted, only my husband purchased a tasting. We both get to hear about how each wine is made, and he lets me swirl and smell each wine that is poured. After that, Dan usually gets to enjoy the wine on his own. However, if I find one or two wines that smelled particularly delicious to me, I will put a drop or two of wine on my finger to taste.

Do I feel bad about doing this? Not at all. Do I think it will have any effect on my baby? Nope.

This is my personal choice though, and I will not look down on anyone who chooses to do, or not to do, the same.

3) Sip, swirl, and spit
One other option that pregnant women have is to take a sip of the wine, swirl it around their mouth, and spit it out. This is very similar to the second option I mentioned. If you choose to try this option, just be careful how big a sip you take, because some of the wine will linger in your mouth and inevitably be swallowed.

So, when you decide to start having children, do not think that your wine experiences have to end. You can still enjoy the atmosphere, aroma, and (to a degree) taste of wine. I guarantee that your friends will still love having you go with them to the wineries, especially since it means they will have a DD for the next few months. :)

For those who are curious, my little munchkin is a boy! The pregnancy is going well, and both parents and all grandparents/aunts/uncles are eagerly anticipating his arrival.

Wedding Details, part 2 - The Venue and the DJ

Our Ceremony and Reception Venue:
For our ceremony and reception, Dan and I chose to go with Bowling Green Country Club in Front Royal, VA. We were looking for a location that could have an indoor or outdoor wedding (because you can never trust the weather), a large reception area for guests (because we have LOTS of friends and family), and a price that would not reach the bottom of our savings account. Bowling Green met all of these.

Bowling Green offers two different rooms for receptions, and each has nice wooden floors, big windows, and a bright neutral décor that will go with any wedding theme. The outdoor ceremony area is a pretty little awning that the events manager keeps meticulously landscaped.

One requirement for having an event at Bowling Green is that the catering and drinks must be done through Bowling Green. However, you should not let this scare you away. Their food is fantastic (as well as VERY reasonably priced), and if you have a favorite wine, beer, or alcohol, the event manager will work with his distributors to find what you are looking for. For Dan and I, he brought in three delicious wines from two of our favorite Virginia wineries. It was wonderful!

Dan and I are very happy we chose Bowling Green for our wedding venue. While there were a couple times we had a trouble reaching someone, we did get all our questions answered. On the week of and day of the wedding, the events manager, Brian Jones, and his team were wonderful. They were eager to help put the finishing touches on everything, and when it continued to rain on our wedding day, they set up the ceremony inside the reception hall in record time.

If you ever choose to have an event at Bowling Green Country Club, let Brian know we that we sent you and tell him that we say “Hi!”.

Our Wedding DJ:
One of the trickier things for us to find was a wedding DJ. There were a LOT of them out there, but most cost way more than we could afford. After asking our friends for suggestions, we were recommended to Kevin Owens, an event DJ and magician.

Things worked out well because Kevin lived very close to the wedding venue, so we would not have to spend extra money on the mileage that most of the other DJs charged. Kevin also worked with us to play a good mix of eclectic music – as Dan and I like a mix of all different kinds of music. He even helped a friend of mine who taught all the guests a line dance during the reception. :)

If you’d like to learn more about Kevin and see what events he does in the area, you can read all about him on his facebook page!

PS: Special thanks for the pictures goes to our fantastic photographer, Stephanie!

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! :)