More Wine Please

 

 

Before our excursion on the via ferrata last month we made a slight detour off of I81 to visit a couple wineries.  Not only did we get to cross two new (to us) wineries off our list but we also had the chance to check out some of the most amazing views in the area. 

 

The first stop was in Crawford Virginia at Cross Keys Winery.  The weather was perfect so we relaxed in their large outdoor seating area.  They have a few tasting options...whites, reds or desserts.  There is also a bistro on site if you want to grab a bite to eat.  We opted to get a cheese and meat plate to snack on while sharing a bottle of their Joy White. 

 

 

 

Our second stop was in Bridgewater Virginia at Bluestone Vineyard.  Another gorgeous view to accompany our wine tasting.

 

 

With tables on the patio and chairs under the shade trees we had plenty of options to enjoyed the view for a while before heading on our way.  We opted for a bottle of their chardonnay.  While here we found that they are working on a new addition to the winery, a new tasting room. Note to self...come back next year to check it out. 

 

This area is also pretty dense with wineries.  A return visit is in order. 

 

Back to the grind!

After such a great Holiday and so much fun with family and friends, it is back to work time for us.  However I am happy to report that with the coming and now going of this festive season The Busy Bryants will now be back up to getting out and seeing more of Virginia (and who knows where else).  We do have a small matter of New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, my birthday, and one open house to host....before the comings and goings....get going.  Last night while formulating some ideas about what we would like to do in January I started thinking about this last year and everything that has happened and all the places we have been.  I forget just how busy we are until I think back on all that we have done.



We welcomed in the year at Smith Mountain Lake.



We travelled to Williamsburg by ferry for Father's Day



We camped at Todd Lake



We visited Virginia Beach.



Mark and I had a weekend away in Leesburg.



Visited Manassas.



Hiked the Blue Ridge Mountains.



We biked the Virginia Creeper Trail.



We did a one day marathon wine tour in the Great Neck region.



Visited friends in Harrisonburg.



Took in some culture at a plantation.



Attended a few festivals.



Did I mention we visited a few wineries?



All in all it was a great year.  We made so many great memories and the good part is I have them documented on here for us to read about whenever we want to take a stroll down memory lane :)







Harrisonburg Virginia

 This past spring/early summer Mark and I headed NorthWest to Harrisonburg Virginia.  Mark has a couple close friends that live there so we paid then a visit for a couple of days.  I will admit that if I have a choice of the beach or mountains I choose the beach....but with the views from this couples front door I just might could be swayed. 



View from the front door looking to east.

 


The view from the front door looking towards the west. 

Another shot from the front of the house.

 



Gorgeous!!!  My memory isn't clear about when we actually went but I do know that here in our area it was warm enough to need shorts.  There it was at least ten degrees cooler!  AWESOME! 

Mark's friend's have an apartment above their garage so we didn't even have to worry about finding a place to spend the night.  How great is that?!?  We had plans for Sunday to visit wineries so we spent Saturday resting up for the big day :)  His friends treated to some good old southern hospitality that started with a steak dinner and ended with a night with a couple bottles of wine. 

Emma with Daddy



Emma playing in the yard



This house wasn't used to a one year old toddler but it survived our one night!  Sunday we got up and packed for the day.  Picnic baskets, food and cooler-yep we were ready. We joined up at with a third couple for the day and made our way over the mountains and around the curves (yea I was a bit ill with all those curves)

Our first winery was Sweeley Estate Winery .  This winery had a giant stone manor complete with a grand hall!  You literally drive to what seems like the middle of no where and come to this peaceful and quite spot with grape vines all around you.  The tasting was held in the main room and had the usual girt assortments to buy.  We got a bottle of their Wolftown Riesling 2007.  We may have gotten a bottle of something else but I don't remember honestly.

Stop two was at Prince Michel Vineyard and Winery.  We tasted at least twenty wines here.  You can taste their whites, their red or both.  We did both :) And then we got a couple bottles to have with our lunch.  Prince Michel also has a wine slushy!  So while eating lunch on the patio our friend surprised everyone with one of these cool treats.  And if you have never had one....then you need to.  YUMMY.

Lunch on the patio at Prince Michel



Glad I didn't have to do the dishes!



Our final stop was at Barboursville Winery.  Again you could not have picked a more beautiful place!  By this time the sun was setting which cast a glow on the grape fields.  It was something out of a book...only now in my head.  Just not my camera :(  We came away with a couple bottles for home but the Vintage Rose was the one I remember the most.  This Winery was especially scenic due to the old estate that still sits here in ruin.  You can visit the website to get more info on that.  Or visit the winery :)  and if you do...call us to go with you! 

We have found out since this trip to our friends they both now work for a winery.  One full time and the other part time.  We look forward to a visit in the near future and plan this time to try a few of those wineries we haven't gotten to yet.