Try a Local Wine for the Holidays

This holiday season, why not try a few local Virginia or Maryland area wines along with your other favorite holiday wines and sparklers?

Virginia boasts over 150 wineries and Maryland has over 40 wineries around the state, making the Washington, DC area one of the fastest growing wine making regions in the country.

This holiday season, here’s a few wines I recommend for a taste of the region.

Try an award-winning Viognier (about $30.00) from Chrysalis Winery in nearby Middleburg, Virginia (map it).  Viognier is a popular Virginia wine made from a white grape known to date back to antiquity and is aged in French oak barrels.  The grape is grown almost exclusively in the northern Rhône regions of France, but its popularity for being grown along the US East Coast has expanded.

The Norton grape is one of the best indigenous American grapes for making dry table wines with a deep yet opaque color, and a soft and simple flavor. The Norton by Horton Vineyards ($12.00) in Gordonsville, Virginia (map it) offers fruity aromas, a bit of acidity and noticeable tannins.

Naked Mountain Winery located in Markham, Virginia (map it) at the foot of the blue Ridge Mountains has great views of the countryside from the winery, but also offers its signature award-winning Black Label Chardonnay table wine ($19.00) that’s been aged in oak.  If you enjoy this wine, why not order one of their “Drink Naked” tee-shirts or ball caps as a unique stocking stuffer.

For a Virginia champagne — yes, a Virginia winery makes a nice champagne, Thibaut-Janisson makes an interesting brut Blanc De Chardonnay coming out of Monticello, Virginia (map it) .  This 100% Chardonnay champagne ($28.00) has hints of apple and pears, and is crisp and balanced.  It’s light and refreshing, perfect for a festive holiday party.

And he’s a few other affordable wines to try that aren’t from the DC area.

All I can say about Liberty School cabernet (about $10.00) is smooth.  It has become my “go to” cabernet, great with meats and hardy dinners or for casual entertaining.  I first discovered this Cabernet out of Paso Robles on California’s Central Coast while out to dinner with people who live in the in the wine region of California.  For any upscale wine country restaurant to offer this as their house cabernet, you know it has to be a crowd pleaser. 

A fun and affordable Bordeaux I first tried and enjoyed over Thanksgiving was a Château Larose-Trintaudon Haut-Médoc 2004.  Priced at about about $15.00 (but tastes more like a $25 wine) it hints of wild berry and plums with a tinge of smokiness along with moderate woody tannins.  And it’s always nice to find an affordable Bordeaux to enjoy.  I was sent a couple bottles to try (full disclosure), but only after I had already sampled and enjoyed the wine over the recent holiday.

I have two favorite holiday champagnes, the first is the every classic flagship of Moët & Chandon - its White Star brut (around $30.00).  It’s a classic non-vintage French champagne that’s one of the world’s most loved (and popular) champagnes.  It has a delightful crispiness with a touch of fruit (pear, melon and peach), while being delicate and bright with perfect bubbles. I always have a bottle or two on hand.

The second champagne, Domain Carneros Brut Cuvée (about $25.00), is another crisp brut champagne I love.  This one explodes with the taste of tart apples and raspberries, with a hint of citrus.  Made in Napa, California, this wine is similar to Taittinger’s classic French champagne, that’s more affordable and made here in the USA.  The CEO and founding winemaker of Domain Carneros , Eileen Crane, is one of America’s best champagne makers, and she gives the champagne makers from Taittinger, the French parent company of Domain Carneros, a serious run for their money.  So if you visit the Napa Valley and visit any of the wineries that make champagne, a stop at the hilltop Domain Carneros winery for a sampling of champagnes is a must.

Enjoy your holidays and remember,
if you do drink, please don’t drive. 

Images – Flickr – pouring wine, pouring champagne