Spring is upon us, and that means the vineyard starts waking up from its winter slumber. With buds pushing and vines turning green very soon, the focus shifts towards the vines and nursing them for the next few months so they deliver the best fruit possible.
Having had a chance to reflect on the 2015 harvest season, I am very happy with the development of the wines in barrels and tanks. Our Viognier and Chardonnay wines are superb, and the Bordeaux varietals are starting to show off their class, but now they are a bit shy. Perhaps they realize that they are following one of the stellar vintages of recent memory, 2014, where all our wines were incredible. With our Cabernet Franc Estate Reserve recently awarded the Governor’s Cup, the quality bar has been raised further; which is a good thing, and if you have this wine, give it some time since I think it will get even better in the bottle.
The great news is that the best red wine, in my opinion, has not been bottled yet. The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Reserve has to be the best wine we have ever made, and I cannot wait to bottle it in August; it is really going to blow some people away!
Life is good at Keswick Vineyards, our vines are healthy, our wines continue to improve and as we always say, “the best is yet to come.”
Join Winemaker Stephen Barnard for a guided walking tour through the vineyards with an in depth discussion about how we grow grapes on the farm. Learn about the challenges of growing grapes in Virginia and what practices we implement to combat those. We will be tasting Chardonnay, Viognier, Merlot and Touriga in the specific vineyard blocks as we talk about training techniques and how each block is managed separately. For guests on the tour, we are offering an additional 5% discount on wine purchases made that day in the tasting room. Cost is $20 for Wine Club members and $25 for the general public. RSVP by calling 434-244-3341 x105.
Virginia is for Viognier!
We have some excellent Viognier’s that we’ve released just in time for Spring, such as our 2014 Viognier Reserve, a fabulous wine that was recently awarded 90 points by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate. Our 2014 Les Vents d’Anges Viognier is a perfect summertime treat, with just a hint of residual sugar and a lot of juicy peach notes. For our wine club members, we’re offering a 30% discount on our 2015 Les Vents d’Anges Viognier, a wonderful wine with sappy ripe tropical fruits and just enough acidity to have the wine feel light and focused. Not yet a member of the wine club? Contact our Wine Club Manager, Jacqueline, to start receiving the excellent membership benefits today at 434-244-3341 x104 or email wineclub@keswickvineyards.com.
Springing into Wedding Season!
We’re a short two weeks away from the kick start of our wedding season and our team is in full swing! The flowers are blooming, the smell of fresh cut grass lingers in the air, and our Sperry Tent went up last week. It’s safe to say we’re smiling like children on Christmas morning and cannot wait to share a wonderful wedding season with our couples and their loved ones. We have a big season upon us and we’re greatly looking forward to sharing the laughter and the love. Make sure to keep in touch with whats happening on the events side by following us on our weddings blog! If you or anyone you know are interested celebrating your special day at Keswick Vineyards, contact our Special Events Coordinator, Angelica, at 434-295-1102 or events@keswickvineyards.com.
ICYMI: Our 2014 Cabernet Franc won the 2016 Virginia Governor’s Cup!
Wine is all about taste, smell and atmosphere, so what better way to enjoy great Virginia wine than with some delightful Eats & Beats at Keswick Vineyards? We’ll host local musicians and food trucks every Saturday in May-October from 12-3pm.
What better place to highlight the synergy between tobacco and wine than Virginia, the birthplace of both in America. More event info here. Ticket price is $30 for wine club members & $35 for general public and includes two glasses of wine, two cigars and and an afternoon with other wine & cigar lovers. Click here for more information & RSVP details.
Celebrate the 4th of July at Keswick Vineyards with some great Red & White Virginia wines and Bluegrass music performed by local band East of Afton! Spice Sea Gourmet will be here serving up their delicious seafood selections, and The Pie Guy will be bringing a taste of Australia to our celebration with their savory and sweet pies!
For the full, most up-to-date list of events, please check out our events calendar.
Introducing our Estate Elite Program!
For just $149 a year, our Estate Elite Shipping program enables members to enjoy unlimited standard shipping on their Keswick Vineyards purchases, including club orders, online orders, etc. Your membership is valid for a full year from the date of purchase with no mimimum on orders necessary! Please contact Jacqueline at 434-244-3341 x104 for more details or enroll online.
