behind the cork
2023 Potomac Point Winery Albariño ($35) When Potomac Point Winery & Vineyard was founded in 2007, Skip & Cindi Causey set out to make exceptional wine complete with an immersive experience rich in European ambiance and Virginia hill-side ...
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general
Wine may be fermented and aged in a variety of materials including stainless steel, oak and ceramic vessels, including concrete. The use of oak barrels is very common and its use dates back to the early days of Roman wine making. While stainless s...
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behind the cork
2022 Michael Shaps Wild Meadow Chardonnay ($28) Nestled in the woods just south of Charlottesville, Michael Shaps Winery blends Old World tradition with Virginia terroir. Founded in 2007 by acclaimed winemaker Michael Shaps, the winery is known fo...
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* Photo by Shutter Speed on Unsplash * Blending of wines plays a large role in the art of wine making. The main reason that winemakers produce blends is to make the best wine possible. Blending different grape varieties is useful in accen...
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behind the cork
2017 Barboursville Vineyards Octagon ($95) This Barboursville Vineyards wine was named to celebrate the estate’s diverse connections with the legacy of Thomas Jefferson, symbolized in the central octagon drawing room in his design for Governor Bar...
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* Photo by Sai Balaji Varma Gadhiraju on Unsplash * Just before the wine is bottled, it may go through one of several processes to remove any remaining sediment. The processes for removing sediment from wine include (1) racking, (2) fining o...
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behind the cork
50 West Aldie Heights Cuvée ($70) 50 West is a farm vineyard located on Route 50 just past the historic town of Aldie in Middleburg, Virginia. (39060 John Mosby Highway). First used by Native Americans as a route to move their migrating herds, Ro...
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* Photo by Sonia Nadales on Unsplash * Another aspect of the art of wine making is knowing when to top off oak wine barrels during the winemaking process. Winemakers need to routinely do this during barrel aging. Here’s why… 1. Evaporation...
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behind the cork
2021 King Family Vineyards Mountain Plains Monticello Red Blend ($85)  King Family Vineyards is a family-owned and operated winery. They’re known as one of the best wineries in Virginia. They...
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general
Aging wine on lees (also known as sur lie aging) is a winemaking technique that can play a role in shaping the flavor, texture, and complexity of a wine—especially whites like Chardonnay, Champagne, and Muscadet, but also increasingly in reds and e...
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