Chardonnay & Oak Aging
This dry white wine, made from the Chardonnay grape, is the most popular of its variety. Chardonnay ranges in style, with some oakier versions contributing to taste. The purpose of Chardonnay aged in oak is to add some of the oaks characters, along with helping the wine develop its texture. Winemakers may lightly toast the inner surface of barrels, allowing the smoky oak or toasty characters to be detected in the final product. Oak gives the taste a dimension of spiciness and adds a hint of vanilla or coconut to the grapes aroma. The oak and Chardonnay combination is a favorite that is sure to last!
Wine Tasting - The Sense of Smell
There are a few very important things to note when we "nose" a wine. It is suggested to first smell the wine before swirling, noticing the delicate aromas. Next, swirl the wine and smell again after it is at rest. Depending on the bouquet, you may then notice a profound difference in the odors emerging. Aroma is a smell that originates from the actual grape, with very clear cut characteristics. Aroma is most prevalent in young wines. The bouquet of a wine refers to smells generated as a result of aging; smells found particularly in mature wines that were aged in a bottle. The bouquet generally has much softer and complex characteristics than aromas. Identifying what you smell is usually the most challenging part in wine tasting. Although there are many smell categories used to describe characteristics of wine, none have been exclusively agreed upon.
Wine Tasting - The Sense of Taste
After observing your wine using the sense of sight and smell, it is then time to use your palate to identify tastes. This is far more detailed than simply tasting as we would any other beverage. We must remember to note the characteristics of the wine on all sensory areas of the tongue. Sweetness is detected on the very tip of the tongue, while bitter tastes are sensed in the extreme rear. Saltiness is sensed on the front, upper sides of the tongue, and the acidity-sour taste is sensed mainly on the sides. Some suggest focusing your attention on one sensation at a time in order to be more efficient in your taste. Try taking a sip of wine and swallowing immediately. Then try another sip, this time letting the wine work well around the palate into these sensory areas before swallowing. You will recognize a noticeable difference in the intensity of flavors!
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Virginia Winery List
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Abingdon Vineyard & Winery
Afton Mountain Vineyards
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AmRhein Wine Cellars
Autumn Hill Vineyards
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Barboursville Vineyards
Barren Ridge Vineyards
Belle Mount Vineyards
Blenheim Vineyards
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Bluemont Vineyard
Boxwood Winery
Breaux Vineyards
Burnley Vineyards
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Cardinal Point Winery
Cave Ridge Vineyard & Winery
Chateau Morrisette
Chatham Vineyard & Winery
Chester Gap Cellars
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Christensen Ridge
Chrysalis Vineyards
Cooper Vineyards
Corcoran Vineyards
CrossKeys Vineyards
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Deer Meadow Vineyard
DelFosse Vineyards
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Doukenie Winery
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Farfelu Vineyard
Fincastle Vineyard
First Colony Winery
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Flying Fox Vineyard
Fox Meadow
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Gadino Cellars
Glen Manor Vineyards
Gray Ghost Vineyards
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Grayhaven Winery
Green Springs Winery
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Hartwood Winery
Hickory Hill Vineyard
Hidden Brook Winery
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Hill Top Berry Farm
Hillsborough Vineyards
Horton Vineyards
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Ingleside Vineyards
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James River Cellars
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Jefferson Vineyards
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Keswick Vineyards
King Family Vineyards
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Kluge Estate Winery, The
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Lake Anna Winery
LeoGrande Vineyards
Lexington Valley Vineyard
Linden Vineyards
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Lost Creek Winery
Loudoun Valley Vineyards
Lovingston Winery
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Marterella Winery
Mediterranean Cellars Winery
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Mountain Cove Vineyards
MountainRose Vineyard
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Naked Mountain Vineyard
New Kent Winery
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North Mountain Vineyard
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Oak Crest Vineyard
Oasis Winery
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Old House Vineyards
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Peaks Of Otter Winery
Pearmund Cellars Winery
Philip Carter Winery
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Piedmont Vineyards
Prince Michel of Virginia
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Rappahannock Cellars
Rebec Vineyards
Rockbridge Vineyard
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Rogers Ford Farm Winery
Rose River Vineyards
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Sans Soucy Vineyards
Savoy-Lee Winery
Sharp Rock Vineyards
Shenandoah Vineyards
Smokehouse Winery
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Stone Mountain Vineyards
Sugarleaf Vineyards
Swedenburg Estate Vineyard
Sweely Estate Winery (Opening Fall 2008)
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Tarara
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Tomahawk Mill Winery
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Unicorn Winery
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Valhalla Vineyards
Veramar Vineyard
Veritas Vineyard & Winery
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Villa Appalaccia Winery
Village Winery & Vineyard
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White Hall Vineyards
White Rock Vineyards
Williamsburg Winery, Ltd.
Willowcroft Farm Vineyards
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Wine Cellar, The
Winery at La Grange, The
Wintergreen Vineyard
Wolf Gap Vineyard
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