Winery Visit

 Winery Visit #1: Stone Tower Winery

This past weekend, I visited Stone Tower Winery with my family! Stone Tower Winery is a beautiful and unique winery located in the heart of Virginia wine country in Northern Virginia. The winery is set on a 206-acre estate and offers stunning views of the surrounding countryside, including rolling hills, lush vineyards, and the Blue Ridge Mountains in the distance.

When we arrived at the winery, we were immediately greeted by friendly staff who guided us through the tasting room and introduced us to the winery's many offerings. We opted for the Cellar tour, starting off with a glass of sparkling wine, my favorite! The tasting room is warm and inviting, with comfortable seating areas and a large fireplace that creates a cozy atmosphere.

During our tour of Stone Tower Winery, we learned about the winery's production process and what sets them apart from other wineries in the area. Stone Tower Winery is known for their commitment to sustainable and eco-friendly practices, including using solar power to generate energy for their winemaking operations and composting grape skins and other organic material to create nutrient-rich soil for their vineyards. Stone Tower Winery uses a variety of oak barrels to ferment and age their wine, including French, American, and Hungarian oak barrels. These barrels are carefully selected and handcrafted to enhance the flavors and aromas of the wines.

Stone Tower Winery produces a variety of wines, including Chardonnay, Viognier, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and their signature Bordeaux-style blend, Hogback Mountain. They use a combination of traditional and modern winemaking techniques to create wines that are balanced, flavorful, and representative of the terroir of Virginia wine country.

One thing that sets Stone Tower Winery apart is their focus on hospitality and customer service. They offer a variety of experiences and events throughout the year, including guided tours of the vineyards and winery, wine tastings, food and wine pairings, and even yoga classes among the vines. 

One of my favorite wine that we tried is their Wild Boar Blanc de Noir. I love sparkling wine and this one was the perfect, refreshing sip! It's a nonvintage wine, blended over the course of different years!

Their Tasting Notes: "This Burgundian crémant is a blend of Pinot Noir (85%) and Gamay (15%) produced via the traditional method, and aged for 18 months on the lees. Refreshing and crisp, this is a great wine for any celebratory toast or to enjoy in the company of family and friends. Vibrant notes of white peach, strawberry, and brioche builds on the mid-palate, finishing with a crispy texture."

Another great wine we had was this rosé, their 2022 vintage. I love a good rosé, especially one that is on the drier side, like this one was. I really appreciated how it wasn't too sweet and it was perfectly crisp.

Their Tasting Notes: "The 2022 has a slightly deeper color with a beautiful nose that is rich and juicy. On the palate, we find red wine-like flavors of red cherry, a touch of black raspberry, and a dash of pepper.  It is a perfect marriage of merlot and cabernet franc. You see the cabernet franc shine with a touch of pepper and minerality on the finish... really lovely.  It is crisp and clean, but there is a depth and juiciness resulting from the saignee method which always produces a deeper, rounder wine."

I felt so welcomed by everyone there and I really enjoyed my time! We spent a lot of time at a nice outdoor table sipping wine and catching up. I highly recommend this winery. Overall, a visit to Stone Tower Winery is an unforgettable experience that combines great wine, stunning scenery, and a commitment to sustainability and hospitality.