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53RD WINERY AND VINEYARD 2021 Two Springs Red Vinifera Blend A few notes from winegrower and owner, Dave Drillock: The results from the Governor’s Cup Wine Competition will not be known for a couple of weeks yet. In the meantime, JamesSuckling. com completed their biannual review of Virginia wines. We submitted six wines that scored in a range of 89 – 92 points. The results are further confirmation of our efforts to produce quality Virginia wines! The following is the score and comments on each wine (by jamessuckling.com) with our expected release date. 2021 Cabernet Franc Reserve – 92 - Textbook cabernet franc is a middleweight wine with good concentration and also a sense of freshness that keeps it lively as you sip. Delicious red and black cherries, black currents and touches of oak toast and vanilla give plenty to savor. Drink or hold. Expected Release date: late February 2024. 2021 Rock Ridge Red Blend – 91A good middleweight wine with an attractive ripeness and nicely structured with mild acidity and moderate tannins. Lots of dark plums, dark cherries and hints of cedar and chocolate fill up the aroma and flavors. Drink or hold. Expected release date October 2024
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DUCARD VINEYARDS
Guide Map
PRINCE MICHEL VINEYARD AND WINERY
REVALATION VINEYARDS
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MADISON
33 HARRISONBURG
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STANARDSVILLE
ORANGE
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MONTIFALCO VINEYARD
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HORTON VINEYARDS 29
CROZET AFTON
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CHISWELL FARM WINERY
REYNARD FLORENCE GORDONSVILLE VINEYARD 33 CASTLE HILL FARM CIDERY KESWICK VINEYARDS
CHARLOTTESVILLE
EASTWOOD FARM AND WINERY
ZION CROSSROADS
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LOUISA
53RD VINEYARD & WINERY
Drink now. Available now. 2021 Norton – 89 - This vivid, powerful wine shows the wild spirit of Norton quite well. Plenty of cocoa, cedar and blueberry aromas are followed by smokey black grape and blackberry flavors with a dash of balsamic. Drink or hold. Expected release date: Early March 2024. 2022 Viognier – 89 - Fruity nose of apricots, lemon curd and melon. It’s medium bodied, tasty and juicy with a straightforward finish. Drink now. Expected release date mid-February 2024. Besides remarkable wines, there are several reasons to visit FiftyThird Winery and Vineyard this month. February 24th - We have scheduled a special “Taste the Future” barrel tasting of Norton and Chambourcin wines from the 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 vintages! Check our website, www.53rdwinery.com for the full list and to sign up for the above sessions. Do not wait, they fill up fast! So come for the wine and enjoy your visit to our meadow-like setting in rural Louisa County. We are down-to-earth and love to share our enthusiasm with customers about our wine. We are open 7 days a week 11am – 5pm. Check our website www.53rdwinery.com or call 540-894-1536 for more information. We look forward to seeing you at the winery!
2021 Romulus Red Blend – 91 - Ripeness comes with rather lightweight in this red blend. Broad and mouth coating, it is packed with dark plums, dark cherries, vanilla, and chocolate on a frame of gentle tannins and a medium body. Drink now. Expected release date July 2024.
Open 7 days a week, 11 am – 5 pm Sat/Sun. 12-6 pm
2021 Two Springs Red Blend – 90 - Bright and berry fruit aromas with orange peel and chopped herbs. It’s medium bodied, juicy, and fresh, with sleek tannins.
2021 Cabernet Franc The bright and beautiful characteristics of pure Cabernet Franc shine in this Bourgueilstyle wine. Fermented and aged
13372 Shannon Hill Rd Louisa, VA 23093 (540) 894-5474 • 53rdwinery.com.
DUCARD VINEYARDS
completely in stainless steel, this unoaked wine exhibits a floral nose, red fruits and fresh sweet herbs. This wine is perfect with beef stews and other hearty, wintery, meaty dishes.
New at the Winery: Join us for Eastwood After Dark featuring upbeat, danceable music every Saturday night this winter.
Weekends- Live music all weekend long! Check out our lineup on our website! Open daily Mon-Thurs. 12-5 pm Fri. 12-9 pm Sat/Sun. 12-6 pm
40 Gibson Hollow Ln • Etlan, VA 22719 (540) 923-4206 www.ducardvineyards.com
EASTWOOD FARM AND WINERY WINTER AT THE WINERY Baby, it’s warm inside! We look forward to welcoming you to our cozy tasting room just five miles from the Downtown Mall in Charlottesville all winter long. SPECIAL ADVERTORIAL SECTION
Every Friday: Live Music 5-8 Every Saturday: Live Music 1-4, Eastwood After Dark with Live Music 5-8 Every Sundays: Music Bingo or Paint & Sip
March 24th - Chocolate & Wine Pairing $69 We are excited to welcome Master Chocolatier Ann Czaja, Dip WSET to DuCard for a special Chocolate and Wine Program. She will share with us the history of chocolate, talk about her work in making Lindt’s fine chocolates and offer some samples of ‘raw’ chocolate for us to try, as well as a flight of premium chocolates each paired with a DuCard wine. Tickets available on our website. https://ducardvineyards. com/event/choc-wine-pairing/
Flights All Day
OTHER EVENTS & SPECIALS Mondays-Fridays: Lunch Specials (Pick 2 for $12) Wednesday: Chef Tasting Series, Paint & Sip; 10% off bottles (see calendar on website for specifics) Fridays: Barrels & Tanks Tasting Bar Takeover (beginning Feb 16)
Eastwood will also be hosting Live Music every Thursday and Friday, (all day on Saturdays), along with many special events this season. Join us for the popular Galentine’s Market on February 11th, kick off our Barrels & Tanks Tasting Series on February 16th with complimentary tastings by Jake Busching, and our Chef Tasting Series is back on February 21st. Enjoy making your own s’mores around our fire pits with a mug of hot mulled wine. Or, stay inside and enjoy live music with a seasonal flatbread or fondue. Eastwood has award-winning wines, on tap beers and ciders, and great lunch and dinner menus all week. We also have juice flights and cheese boards for the kids. Open yearround, seven days a week. WEEKLY MUSIC SERIES Every Thursday: Live Music 5-8, $5 Glasses of Wine, Beer & Cider + Chip Pairings With Beer
What about the kids? Kids can share in the experience with their own juice tasting flights and cheese boards! OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK! Winery Hours: WednesdaySaturday (12-8 PM); Sunday, Monday and Tuesday (12-5 PM) Pet friendly and large groups are welcome. Ample indoor and outdoor seating. Rt 20 near the intersection with Avon Extended (5 mi from Downtown Mall) Charlottesville, VA 22902 (434) 264-6727 www.eastwoodfarmandwinery.com
KESWICK VINEYARDS 2022 LVA Rosé Dark and inky in color with dark ruby edges, the nose is quite expressive with initially flavors of red berry fruit, turning darker with aeration and warmth. The lovely acidity to the wine, helps express the fruit characteristics. There are additional flavors of black tea,
violet, spicy, and black pepperperfect for colder January nights! We look forward to continuing to serve all of our wonderful guests this winter during our daily hours of 10am-5pm (last pour at 4:45). We offer first come, first served seating under our tent or open seating in our outdoor courtyard. Wine is available by the flight, glass and bottle at our inside or outside service bars, with bar service inside on the weekends! A selection of pre-packaged meats, cheeses, crackers, and spreads are available for purchase as well as our new food truck which is currently open Wednesday- Sunday from 12p-4p. Our winter tent is up and heated for you to enjoy as well! Bring the family or friends and enjoy live music every Saturday from 12 - 4p or play a fun 9 hole of miniature golf on our new course! (Weather permitting)ew course! (Weather permitting) Saturdays – Live Music! Check out our website for the lineup and more details.
Hours: Monday- Sunday from 10 am – 5 pm 1575 Keswick Winery Drive Keswick, Virginia 22947 Tasting Room: (434) 244-3341 ext 105 tastingroom@keswickvineyards.com www.keswickvineyards.com
MONTIFALCO VINEYARD 2021 Merlot We just released our 2022 vintage Merlot! The grapes come from our vineyard in Stanardsville, Virginia where the Bordeaux vines were planted 30+ years ago! Aromas of ripe plum, black cherry, and raspberry. Intense, jammy fruit flavors, ripe plums, blackberries, and cherries with a hint of cocoa. Calling all wine enthusiasts and photography aficionados! We are thrilled to announce our Montifalco Photo Contest. Capture the essence of our wine bottle(s) in a photograph! Whether you’re savoring one of our wines with friends, enjoying a romantic evening, toasting to a special occasion, or on a trip, we want to see your creativity shine. Share your unique perspective and showcase the beauty of our wines in any setting (please nothing dangerous!). The photo with the most creativity, style, and storytelling prowess will win a private food & wine pairing with our winemaker Justin Falco for up to 6 guests, including a case selection of our finest wines for you to take home. Join us in celebrating Montifalco Vineyard’s wines through your lens. Cheers to capturing the perfect moment! Up to 3 photos per entry may be sent to info@montifalco.com. Deadline is March 1st.
We are open Thursday through Monday Noon-5. Final walk-in seating is 30 minutes prior to closing, at which time we offer wine by the glass and bottles to go.
winery on Route 29 between Charlottesville and Washington DC offers wine tastings, tours, shopping, and scenic picnic spots daily from 11am.
Please visit montifalcovineyard. com, call/text 434-989-9115 or email info@montifalco.com if you have any questions or requests. We look forward to welcoming you to our Monticello Farm Winery!
At Prince Michel Indulge in a spectrum of wines, from luxurious craft picks such as Chardonnay and Petit Verdot, to distinctive options like the Semi-Dry Riesling from our Rapidan River series. Don’t miss our crowd-favorite Decadence Chocolate or a refreshing wine slushie for a delightful twist. We have something to offer for every palate!
1800 Fray Rd, Ruckersville, VA 22968 (434) 989-9115 montifalcovineyard.com
PRINCE MICHEL VINEYARDS Rapidan River Raspberry During the month of February celebrate with Prince Michel’s reformulation of our Rapidan River Raspberry wine! This selection has a delightfully light and seductively sweet profile that boasts a memorable experience for any occasion. Exceptionally well balanced as an after-dinner indulgence, especially alongside rich dark chocolate desserts. Its vibrant raspberry notes come together in harmonious balance, making it a perfect choice for those who appreciate a little sweetness in life!
Hours: Open 7 days a Week at 11 a.m. Weekends- Live Music! (Music lineup on our website) 154 Winery Lane, Leon, VA 22725 (540) 547-3707 • www.princemichel.com
REVALATION VINEYARDS Zeus Just releasing our first sparkling wine made by the traditional
méthode champenoise with 100% estate-grown Vidal Blanc grapes. Its small delicate bubbles and its fresh acidic finish make this wine fun and easy to drink. Aromas of citrus, peach, hazelnut, and fennel. Absolutely delicious as a kir with hibiscus syrup. February Hours: Friday 12pm to Sunset; Saturday 12pm to 6pm; Sunday 12pm to 5pm; Holiday Monday 12pm to 5pm; Monday and Thursday by reservation only. Until February 29 - Exhibition of art pieces by Anna Marie DeMio Dowen. February 23rd - Book Club @ The Vineyard starting at 6pm: Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan. March 1st– Book World Meets Wine World at 5:30pm: Mollie Cox Bryan will read from her book The Lace Widow. March 8th- Grand Opening of the new tasting room at 11am! 2710 Hebron Valley Road, Madison, VA 22727 540-407-1236 www.revalationvineyards.com
Discover Prince Michel Vineyard and Winery, an iconic East Coast estate. Family and pet-friendly, it’s one of the oldest and largest wineries in the Commonwealth. Also, home to Tap 29 Brew Pub, serving local craft brews and delicious pub-style food seven days a week. Located in the heart of Virginia Wine Country, our elegant SPECIAL ADVERTORIAL SECTION