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Lexington Valley Vineyard is a hidden gem in the Virginia lineup of wineries. I virtually got lost the first time I went to check it out. I had to keep checking my Navigation app to be sure I was headed in the correct direction. However, once I found it, I was impressed with the wines I purchased that day back in August of 2022, especially their Marchel Foch along with their Norton.
This is a small family run operation that Ryan Hale the current winemaker father Cal planted the vineyard in 1999 but passed aways in 2021. Ryan and his sister stepped up and have kept the winery and vineyard moving forward despite having full-time day jobs.
Their Norton vines are amongst the oldest in Virginia, now approaching 25 years old. None other than Shep Rouse the owner and winemaker of Rockbridge Vineyard produces his Norton wine from their grapes. If they are good enough for Shep that is all the endorsement I needed to seek them out.
One more note: Ryan Hale was most recently in a documentary film about Dr. Daniel Norborne Norton and the history of the Norton grape here in Virginia. You can watch the film on YouTube. It is titled Norton, The Grape That Change Everything.
Listen to the Episode or read the transcript attached below.Thanks for being a listener to the Fine Wine Confidential Podcast. For more information go to www.finewineconfidential.com
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I always enjoy sitting down with Shep Rouse and getting his viewpoint on winegrowing in Virginia and wine in general. He has been making wine for close to 45 years. First in California in the early '80s and then in Virginia first in 1986 at the old Montdomaine winery and then founding his own winery Rockbridge in 1992.
Although Shep doesn't produce a Norton every vintage, mostly because he doesn't grow it in his vineyard the Norton wine, I have had from him in the past is a great expression of the grape and what it can be once in the bottle and aged properly. In fact, the 2002 Rockbridge Norton, his first vintage, that I had several years ago was one of the highlights for me since I moved to Virginia in 2019. Tasted in the fall of 2020 it had transformed into a wine that reminded me of some of the BV Private Reserve wines from the early '70s that I used to enjoy from California. It was a remarkable bottle of wine. The memory of which has stuck with me since and has inspired me to begin to collect Norton and lay it down in my cellar for the future.
You will learn from this conversation with Shep. Take a listen or read the transcript attached below.Thanks for being a listener to the Fine Wine Confidential Podcast. For more information go to www.finewineconfidential.com
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Burnley Vineyard was first planted in 1977 making them one of the early winegrowing pioneers during the formative years when Virginia wine was just beginning to re-emerge after a long slumber from the years of Prohibition and its repeal.
C. J. Reeder, Lee Reeder's father purchased the land in 1977 and Gabriele Rausse who had just begun to plant Barboursville Vineyard down the road from this property entire into a handshake deal with C. J. The arrangement was Burnley would buy Barboursville vines, (they had begun a nursery at that time) and Barboursville would buy their grapes. Ultimately that would lead to Burnley Vineyards producing its first Estate Wines in 1984 with Lee Reeder fresh out of VA Tech as the winemaker. Lee has been the winemaker ever since.
I believe you will find this interview refreshing by the openness and honesty that Lee Reeder shows throughout our discussion.
One of the fascinating facets of this interview is how Lee and Burnley Vineyard helped contribute to the trail about whether Cynthiana is a different grape than Norton or the same. I believe through, mostly my tasting experiences over the past several years that it is the former.
Take a listen and decide for yourself.Thanks for being a listener to the Fine Wine Confidential Podcast. For more information go to www.finewineconfidential.com
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This is a fascinating interview because Anna Want, the General Manager and daughter of the founders openly embraces the idea that Casanel has both Norton and Cynthiana vines planted in their vineyard. There is beginning to be a more robust open debate about whether the Cynthiana grape vine is Norton under a different name, or a completely different species of grape vine. I personally, lean toward it is a different species based on the many bottles of Norton I have tasted and enjoyed that have Cynthiana vines listed as the varietal from the nursery they purchased these vines from.
Casanel also is unique in Virginia as they are the only winery I know of who has planted the Carmenere grape and successfully produced a high-quality wine from it here in Virginia.
The back story as to why the founders Nelson & Casey DeSouza purchase the land that their vineyard was planted on in Northern Loudon County in 2008 is yet another example of the pioneering spirit behind many Virginia wineries. It is a testament to the hard work and determination of one family to make a success out of a Farm Winery.
Take a listen or read the transcript below.Thanks for being a listener to the Fine Wine Confidential Podcast. For more information go to www.finewineconfidential.com
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Rob Cox had a dream of being a professional baseball player early in his life and when that didn't pan out, he found himself in the business of Golf. Not the usual way in which a person becomes a winemaker, which eventually he did. Now almost twenty years later he guides the winemaking at both Paradise Springs Virginia winery and their wine making operation in Santa Barbara, California.
Additionally, somehow, he also has a consulting practice in Virginia. A very busy man for sure juggling all of these aspects of his wine career.
Paradise Springs is in the upper echelon of wine producers here in the Old Dominion, thanks to Rob's ability to handle many different winemaking challenges at the same time.
Rob produces a Norton that is meant for long-term bottle aging. I was fortunate several years ago upon meeting Rob for the first time at Paradise Springs to taste several vintages of their Norton going back to 2008 and I can attest to their age worthyness as the 2008 wine was showing beautifully. It was very impressive.Thanks for being a listener to the Fine Wine Confidential Podcast. For more information go to www.finewineconfidential.com
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Todd Kliman, is a James Beard Award winning writer. After reading The Wild Vine you will know why. He has an incredible ability to bring to life the story of the Norton Grape and have you feel as if you just entered another world, you didn't even know existed. All the time going back into time and then bringing you back to the moment.
He started out with the idea that he would write a column about Norton. But after meeting Jenni McCloud at Chrysalis Vineyards and spending time understanding her story and why she planted the largest single vineyard of Norton in the world he realized there was much more to this story and was inspired to write his book about it.
For my part this is one of the more intriguing and interesting Podcast Episode interviews I have ever done. It just crystalized for me why I have been captivated by Norton and the wines it can produce when grown and vinted by a talented winegrower.
One last note; if you ever have the opportunity to taste a well-aged Norton wine, say one that is at least 10 to 15 years in age, you will then understand and wonder like Todd does in the last segment of this Episode; what if Prohibition had not happened and wiped out all of the winegrowing in the Eastern United States what could have been. Enjoy the Episode.Thanks for being a listener to the Fine Wine Confidential Podcast. For more information go to www.finewineconfidential.com
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Matthew began his winemaker career on the West Coast in California. His final stop on that journey was several years at the venerable Heitz Cellars in Napa Valley where he says he learned some good winemaking skills and lesson that have served him well the rest of his career.
He would then move to Virginia in 2002 to take the position as winemaker at Williamsburg Winery established by Patrick Duffeler Sr. in 1985.
Matthew has since moved on from Williamsburg Winery and is working with Gauthier Winery a small vineyard and winery who only has Norton planed at their estate vineyard.
I always learn something when I have the opportunity to spend time with Matthew because he has a very concise and focused approached to his winemaking. He told me that he had no experience with Norton prior to producing it at Williamsburg Winery but decided he would approach it just like he would a vitis vinifera grape. In other words, give it the respect it deserves as a noble grape. You will enjoy his insights into Norton in this interview.
Listen below or read the transcriptThanks for being a listener to the Fine Wine Confidential Podcast. For more information go to www.finewineconfidential.com
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Jeremy Ligon was brought on just in time for the 2021 harvest. Barrel Oak was purchased from its' previous owners and the new ownership wanted to up the quality of the wines from their Vineyard. In my opinion, Jeremy was a significant step up and his wines reflect that.
In 2014 Jeremy was recognized as one of the new upcoming winemakers in Virginia as someone to keep an eye on. He has lived up to that from what I have tasted of his new wines from Barrel Oak.
There is an intriguing story he relays as to why the previous ownership had planted their Norton vines in the vineyard and why. It turns out it has a connection to Dr. Daniel Norton, who propagated the Norton seedling in the early 1820's.
Jeremy got his introduction to winegrowing in his early teens when his family planted a small vineyard in Southern Virginia. The rest is history.Thanks for being a listener to the Fine Wine Confidential Podcast. For more information go to www.finewineconfidential.com
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If it were not for Dennis & Sharon Horton Virginia may have never come to know and enjoy it's native grape Norton once again. Let me quote a passage from Todd Kilman book The Wild Vine to set the stage for this Episode.
Dennis Horton rang up Jon Held at Stone Hill Winery in the fall of 1988 and requested a shipment of vines, (Norton), laying the foundation for his new vineyard in Orange, Virginia. He buried the borrowed roots in the soil that spring, eight acres' worth of Norton--the first planting of the grape in Virginia since Repeal.
Folks that says it all. The rest is history. It wasn't long after that it became known as "Horton Norton" in the marketplace. I have recently had bottles of Norton produced by Horton from as far back as 2002 and more recently 2010 that reminded me of the BV Private Reserve from Rutherford from the mid '70s. it is a grape/wine that needs to be decanted when young but, when given proper bottle aging, which was the practice early in my career that we did for all of the Classified Growth Bordeaux, the wine evolves into an amazing and subtle array of aromas, and deep flavors, again reminiscent of fine Bordeaux style wines from the '70s.
Listen to Sharon and Shannon recant the history of Norton in their family or read the transcript. You will enjoy this Episode, I guarantee you.Thanks for being a listener to the Fine Wine Confidential Podcast. For more information go to www.finewineconfidential.com
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Rappahannock Cellars was established when John Delmare and his wife Marialisa made the decision to sell their vineyard in the Santa Cruz Mountain area of California and move their family to Virginia back in 1998. They soon purchased the historic Glenway farm in Rappahannock County which would become their new home and vineyard.
It is truly a family affair as three of their twelve siblings have returned to the farm after college graduation and work actively in important segments of the family business at Rapahannock Cellars.
The 85-acre farm is now planted to 30 acres, and they grow a diverse range of grape varietals which include Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Viognier, and Virginia's grape Norton.
John lives by the belief that "wine is made in the vineyard". John and Marialisa believe they have the perfect site for the style and quality of wine they want to produce. The results they have experience in over 20 years of winegrowing bear witness to that.Thanks for being a listener to the Fine Wine Confidential Podcast. For more information go to www.finewineconfidential.com
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Arterra Winery owned by Founder & winegrower Jason Murray believes in producing wine that is reflective of the grape from which it is grown. Thus, he uses only native yeasts, neutral barrels, and screw caps for bottle enclosure. He feels that when you have a bottle of Arterra you will taste exactly what the grape gave him that vintage and nothing else. After 20 years of growing grapes in Fauquier County in Northern Virginia he is guided by the philosophy that if you plant the grape vine in the best site in the vineyard and give the grape the attention and care it deserves it will reward you with a wine that is a clean and a pure expression of his vineyard and the grape itself.
Jason is an introspective and deep-thinking farmer with over 20 years' experience growing wine grapes in Fauquier County and continues to strive to produce wine that speaks of the terroir from which it is grown.
He has a special affinity for growing and producing Tannat and Petit Verdot. From what I have tasted he is right at the top here in Virginia with those varietals. Along the way he became intrigued by the Norton Grape and is becoming quickly a leader in producing some of the most interesting and compelling Norton wines I have had.
Take a listen to the Audio or read the transcript to learn for yourself how Jason approaches producing Norton wines.Thanks for being a listener to the Fine Wine Confidential Podcast. For more information go to www.finewineconfidential.com
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Dr. Bruce Zoecklein is nothing short of an Icon here in Virginia. When he was recruited by VA Tech in 1985 to head up their Enology Program the Virginia Wine Industry was just beginning to take shape and form. Bruce brought a level of knowledge about winemaking that would prove invaluable to the growth of Modern-Day Virginia winegrowing. His credentials are incredible and include authoring over 100 hundred papers and publications about winemaking and wine growing. Topped off by his book on Winery Planning and Design.
While Bruce is now Professor Emeritus at VA TECH, he is still very active in the Wine Industry, and I don't see him slowing down. Bruce has been a proponent of Norton. He shares some well-timed insights about Norton and what the future could look like.Thanks for being a listener to the Fine Wine Confidential Podcast. For more information go to www.finewineconfidential.com
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Michael Heny spent close to 20 years in winemaking at Horton Cellars before taking the position as winemaker at Michael Shaps Wineworks in 2019. As a result of his many years working with Dennis Horton, who was the person responsible for re-introducing Norton back to Virginia, he has a great deal of knowledge regarding the challenges that Norton can pose both in the vineyard and the cellar.
Michael addresses those and brings a different perspective to the dialogue about Norton wines. He also spent the early part of his wine career working with Archie Smith at Meredyth Vineyards. Archie was an early pioneer in Virginia wine growing starting in 1975 and become a well-known legend today. Michael also spent time working for one of the top retail wine merchants in Washington D.C. before taking the position at Horton. This gave him an appreciation for wine from the consumer side of the equation.
I always learn something new when I speak with Michael. This is an intriguing interview.
Listen to it above or read the transcript attached.Thanks for being a listener to the Fine Wine Confidential Podcast. For more information go to www.finewineconfidential.com
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In this Episode I interview my friend Scott Elliff the Founder & Owner of DuCard Vineyard along with his winemaker Julien Durantie. It is an in-depth look at how one small Virginia Estate tackles the challenges of growing and producing world-quality wine from the Norton grape. For my part I say, "and they do produce world-quality wine".
DuCard happens to be the first winery I ever tasted a bottle of Norton from in my now 45 years of wine industry experience. It opened my eyes to a world of wine I had never encountered which would start me on my journey to taste as many wines produced from Norton and learn exactly what this wine was all about. What I discovered was a rich storied history that dates back to the early 1800's in Richmond, Virginia and Dr. Norborne Norton who is credited with the first propagation of this Wild Grape. Thus the book the "Wild Vine" by Todd Kliman would eventually come to my attention and now serves as the best reference you can find about Norton.
All of this as a result of a chance purchase of DuCard Norton by my wife at a farmer's market here in Charlottesville. Thank you Scott.Thanks for being a listener to the Fine Wine Confidential Podcast. For more information go to www.finewineconfidential.com
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Episode # 3 found me in my studio interviewing the owner of Fifty-Third Winery & Vineyard Dave Drillock and his winemaker Chelsey Blevins who is quickly being recognized as a young rising star in the Virginia wine industry.
Fifty-Third Winery & Vineyard produces an outstanding Norton along with a wide range of wines from both vinifera and hybrid grapes. They are my favorite what I call off the radar winery here in the Old Dominion. But that is changing rapidly as a result of the steady leadership Dave Drillock provides and the high-quality wines that Chelsey crafts.
Fifty-Third is one of the upcoming stars in the Virginia growing constellation. A wine that should be on everyone's list who appreciates wine quality and the unique flavor characteristics that the best Virginia wines have to offer.Thanks for being a listener to the Fine Wine Confidential Podcast. For more information go to www.finewineconfidential.com
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Episode # 2 features Jennifer McCloud the Founder & Owner of Chrysalis Vineyards at the Ag District in Middleburg, Virginia. Along with producing some of the finest Viognier and Albarino in the country she is the proud owner of the largest single vineyard planting of Norton in the world. It makes up over 40 acres of the 70 acres of vineyard land she farms.
Chrysalis was founded in 1998. and in addition to producing estate wines, she also has 10 Dairy Cows at the property from which they produce top-quality cheeses to compliment her wines and the food that is available for sale and enjoyment at the Ag District for its visitors and the public at large. Check out the cheeses along with the wines.
Jake Blodinger the winemaker at Chrysalis, who joined the operation in 2019 is also part of this interview and brings a unique perspective to the conversation.
Because Chrysalis produces several different styles of Norton in both flavor profile and aging ability there is a Norton wine for every occasion whether the wine is to cellar and age or to enjoy today.
The Episode is very informative and will give you, the listener, a deeper understanding of what Norton is all about.Thanks for being a listener to the Fine Wine Confidential Podcast. For more information go to www.finewineconfidential.com
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This Episode kicks off my new series of Podcasts focusing on wines produced from the Norton grape here in Virginia. In Episode #1 I recorded a conversation between the judges at the Homestead Norton Cup Challenge the weekend of November 3rd & 4th, 2023. It was during the lunch break before the judges finished judging the Final Four Norton wines that had made it into the final round that morning. It is an interesting insight into their thoughts.
I especially enjoyed the conversation at the end between Dr. Bruce Zoecklein Professor Emeritus of Enology at Virginia Tech and Todd Kliman the author of the book Wild Vine which details the history of Norton and its origin dating back to 1823 and Dr. Daniel Norton.Thanks for being a listener to the Fine Wine Confidential Podcast. For more information go to www.finewineconfidential.com
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Thanks for being a listener to the Fine Wine Confidential Podcast. For more information go to www.finewineconfidential.com
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Thanks for being a listener to the Fine Wine Confidential Podcast. For more information go to www.finewineconfidential.com
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This Epilogue to my Montage about Dennis Horton and his contribution to the Virginia wine industry you get the opportunity to hear directly from 3 generations of women in the Horton family.
It was my intent to give them the last word on Dennis Horton. The interview was at Horton Cellars where I sat with Sharon Horton, his wife and partner, Shannon Horton their daughter and Caitlin Horton Shannon's daughter and the current winemaker at Horton Cellars. If was a fascinating experience to capture in their words what he meant to each of them.
I know you will find this a fitting end to Episode #44.Thanks for being a listener to the Fine Wine Confidential Podcast. For more information go to www.finewineconfidential.com
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