Winery Visit - Attimo Winery

On Friday, April 6, 2012, a couple friends and I visited Attimo Winery. The winery is located off of Childress Road in Christiansburg. It is a pretty small facility with a central house with a tasting room. The rows of vines can be seen behind and around this building. They have 15 different wines on their menu and there is a lot of variety among them. Most of the wine-making is done in their house. The house is not currently set up for people to walk through so we were unable to see their actual wine-making process. We could however go to the tasting room in the main building pictured below and take part in a tasting.

This winery does a seated tasting. Once you walk inside the building pictured above, you can find a table a someone will come up shortly to assist you. We indulged in the full tasting that featured 9 very different wines. The tasting included...

• Sonnet 98: This is a Vidal Blanc, named after Shakespeare's Sonnet 98. It had a very crisp floral aroma with a hint of greens (kind of like grass). It was extremely light and crisp with a nice acidity. It had a very earthy quality about it. This was my favorite wine from the tasting.
• I do: This is a blend of Traminette and Petit Manseng, named for the marriage/blending of the two grapes. Traminette is a cousin of Gewürztraminer and has a similar spicy taste. This wine had a sweet smell with citrus notes. It initially tasted sweet but had a spicy aftertaste. This is something that would probably pair nicely with Asian dishes, such as Pad Thai, or other spicy meals.
• Deep Silence: This is a Cabernet Franc. It has a pretty distinct cabernet aroma with notes of berries and a slight smokiness. It's not overly dry. The berry would pair nicely with a hard cheese.
• AD 325: This is a Chambourcin. It is a deep purple/red color. This wine is said to stain/ink everything that it touches so it is named AD 325 after the most inked book in the world: The Bible. It is unoaked so the taste comes purely from the grapes. It is rather tart with a subtle taste of cherries. Would pair well with chocolate. I almost prefer it when reds are oaked because this one does have a very tart taste.
• Sweet Berry Sunset: This is a blend of raspberry and red grape wine. It has a sweet aroma with a very strong smell of fresh raspberries. I like that they supplemented the fruit wine with grapes, it gives it a nice balance so the raspberries are not too overwhelming. This would be a very nice dessert wine with something chocolately. It also tastes too sweet to be 12.5% alcohol.
• Sudden Downpour: This is a blend of apple and white grape wine (mainly Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc). This blend is aged in bourbon barrels. The wine has an aroma of apples with subtle notes of bourbon. It's sweet and has a viscous mouthfeel without tasting overly sugary. This wine is said to be capable of being mulled and served hot. It would probably tasted like apple cider if that were to be done. 
• Masquerade: This is a Chardonnay. This is a pretty light-flavored Chardonnay. It has an incredibly smooth, creamy, buttery mouthfeel. The flavors are not that strong so it is a pretty light wine with a slight oakey taste.
• Vertex: This is a Cabernet Sauvignon. It is Attimo's most oaked red and the only one aged in French oak. You can smell berries on the nose. It is a dry, rich red but has a silky finish with the oak flavor at the end. This was a pretty nice Cabernet Sauvignon. The menu suggested serving this with rosemary walnuts.
• Seduction: This is a fortified wine made from Tinta Madera/Touriga Nacional/Souzao. They get the grapes for this wine directly from Portugal. It is brownish/red in color. Has an aroma of raisins and raspberry. It is 18% alcohol and has a pretty hot taste. I thought it tasted mainly like raisins. I don't particularly like raisins so I was did not really enjoy this wine.

We were informed that Attimo has about 100 oak barrels on hand, but they don't usually have all of them in use at one time. A majority of the barrels are made from American oak from Pennsylvania although Vertex is aged in French oak. After doing the tasting, we enjoyed a glass of the Sonnet 98 with a fruit and cheese platter. That wine was a very nice complement to the cheese.

Driveway leading back up to Childress Road

 Their driveway is lined on one side with grape vines (as seen on the left side in the photo above) and there are more row back behind the main building (as seen in the photo below).

My friends outside after the tasting

This was a very cute little winery and was conveniently located about 20 minutes away in Christiansburg. The staff is very friendly and welcoming and they offer a very relaxing atmosphere. This was a fun experience and a place I would probably visit again.

Tasting - Peter Mertes Liebfraumilch Rheinhessen Qualitätswein

Name: Peter Mertes Liebfraumilch Rheinhessen Qualitätswein

Variety: Müller-Thurgau, White blend

Region: Rheinhessen

Country: Germany

Year: 2009

Price: $5.95

Reviews:

"Leibfraumilch is a soft, delicate wine of the Rheinhessen and Palatinate districts. The original wine was named after the Leibfraumilch monastery in Worms, where the monks were the first wine growers and produced an unusually pleasing wine. Wines of the Rheinhessen and Palatinate are noted for their aroma, wellbalanced harmony, and fragrance.  Leibfraumilch, as all excellent white wines is best served chilled. We suggest serving with cold entrees, as well as poultry, such as chicken or turkey, or even with a mild Cheddar, mellow and slightly nutty with a medium consistency."

-- Notes from the Vintage Cellar

My review: 

Golden in color. Very fruity, sweet aroma. Has a nice fruity flavor, medium-bodied and very sweet. This tastes like a sweet dessert wine. This was a little too sweet though, so I could only drink about a glass of this at a time. I wouldn't really be able to drink any more than that since it tastes a little sugary like grape juice. Still a pretty nice sweet wine that was very enjoyable relaxing with friends on a warm spring evening.

Tasting - Col Des Vents Corbieres

Name: Col Des Vents Corbieres

Variety: 50% Carignan, 35% Grenache, 15% Syrah

Region: Languedoc-Roussillon

Country: France

Year: 2009

Price: $7.95

Reviews:

"50% Carignan, 35% Grenache, 15% Syrah. Brambly berry, cherry and raspberry, spices, black pepper…all are present in this authentic French country wine."

-- Notes from the Vintage Cellar

My review: 

Deep red in color. Pick up a little cherry and spice on the nose with an overall slightly fruity aroma. I was hoping the cherry would come through in the flavor of the wine, but it was too dry for me. The high tannic component was overwhelming and I couldn't get a whole lot out of this wine. Not for me, but someone who enjoys dry red wines would probably like this.

Tasting - San Elias Carménère

Name: San Elias Carmenere

Variety: Carménère

Region: Central Valley

Country: Chile

Year: 2010

Price: $5.95

Reviews:

"The grapes for this Carménère are selected from vineyards in the Central Valley. Beautiful red fruit aromas. Supple and round in the mouth, the wine pairs well with full flavored cheeses and lamb"

-- Notes from the Vintage Cellar

My review: 

This was my first experience with a Carménère and I was not quite sure what to expect. The wine was ruby red in color. Slightly fruity aroma. I was overwhelmed by the tannic red wine smell. It was way too dry for my liking. The dry mouth sensation made it hard for me to pick out an definable descriptors in the flavor of the wine. This reminds me of some cheap Pinot Noirs that I've had that are overly dry and seem to lack somewhat in the flavor.

Tasting - Estrella Chardonnay

Name: Estrella Chardonnay

Variety: Chardonnay

Region: Napa, CA

Country: USA

Year: 2010

Price: $5.95

Reviews: 

"Intensely flavored and balanced with layers of vanilla, butter and pear, followed by apple, banana and oak."

-- Notes from the Vintage Cellar

My review: 

Pale yellow, golden in color. Hints of pear and apple on the nose, with an overall light fruity aroma. Has a nice fruity flavor that is well-balanced. There is a slight buttery aspect to the wine. The oak is pretty subtle so as not to overwhelm the fruit components. I thought this was a rather flavorful Chardonnay. The man at the Vintage Cellar said this was a pretty typical California Chardonnay, but I did thoroughly enjoy it. Plus, since it was only $5.95 I couldn't resist grabbing a bottle for myself.

Tasting - Zonin Pinot Grigio

Name: Zonin Pinot Grigio

Variety: Pinot Grigio

Region: Delle Venezie

Country: Italy

Year: 2009

Price: $5.95

Reviews:
"Pale straw-yellow color with brilliant reflections. Delicately fruity bouquet, with outstanding finesse and marked hints of almond blossom and peaches. Elegant, soft and well-structured fruit on the palate, with remarkable freshness and a clean, persistent aftertaste."

-- Notes from Vintage Cellar

My review: 

Wine was pale yellow in color. Fruity aroma with a hint of peaches. Flavor was very light. There was a nice level of acidity for a very crisp Pinot Grigio. This wine was decent, especially for $5.95. This wine would be good if you were looking for something incredibly light as it does not have that strong of a flavor. Not bad, but it is a pretty average wine.

Winery Visit - Château Morrisette

On Saturday, March 17, 2012, a friend and I visited Chateau Morrisette in Floyd, VA. We enjoyed a fantastic lunch, wine tasting, and a tour of the winery. This was my first trip to a winery so I was anxiously awaiting the tour to get a firsthand look at the facility.

Once we got to the winery, we went to the Chateau Morrisette restaurant for lunch. We were seated next to a stained glass window, shedding soft lighting over the table. The building is rustic with natural wood on the walls and high ceilings with old wood timbers. It was absolutely beautiful with a view of the mountains out the window. We enjoyed the fruit a fomage appetizer (fresh fruit and cheese plate) accompanied by a glass of their 2011 Dry Rosé and a glass of Our Dog Blue. The main course was a wild mushroom and chicken sandwich. Everything was delicious and very fresh. They provided a wonderful atmosphere with fantastic food.

Chateau Morrisette

After lunch, we headed over the winery building, located just across the parking lot. You enter the building into the large tasting room. This building also has the same rustic charm as the restaurant with high ceilings and wood timbers. This is where we did the wine tasting. For a mere $8, you got to taste ten of their wines plus get a complementary wine glass with the Chateau Morrisette emblem. It was nice that the wines we tried with lunch were not part of the actual tasting so I was able to try twelve different ones. We were able to try the following wines during the tasting...

• 2010 Chardonnay: I have heard of the descriptor of "buttery" in reference to chardonnays but I have never really understood what that meant until I tried this wine. There was an aroma of apricot and citrus. The wine was unbelievably smooth with a buttery mouthfeel. This has got to be one of the best chardonnays I have had yet.
• Independence: This wine is a blend of Traminette, Vidal Blanc, Riesling, and Chardonnay. This white had a subtle taste of melons and a floral aspect. This one was a little sweeter than the chardonnay, but still pretty refreshing.
• 2010 Chambourcin: Dark violet wine with an aroma of berries. This is a silky red that is medium-oaked. It has the perfect amount of oak flavor balancing the berries. There is a slight pepper aftertaste. This was a really nice red that is not overly dry and would probably be really good with a piece of chocolate.
• 2009 Cabernet Franc: The Cabernet Franc includes small amounts of Petit Verdot and Tannat. This one was way too dry for me. I had difficulty picking out many specific descriptors as I was overwhelmed by dryness. We got to try this one a second time after an aerator was put on the bottle. That definitely helped make it a little smoother and I was able to taste plums and cherries. This one would have to be decanted or aerated prior to drinking.
• 2008 Petit Verdot: Like the Cabernet Franc, the Petit Verdot was also extremely dry. I had the sensation of all of the moisture being sucked out of my mouth. It smelled a tiny bit fruity but I couldn't taste much because of the high tannic component.
• 2010 Vidal Blanc: This white had an aroma of citrus, melons, and a slight floral smell. It was incredibly light and refreshing. It is one of their "off-dry" wines and is a little sweeter than the Chardonnay and Independence. This was my favorite wine during the tasting because of how well the flavors came together and how the slight sweetness was balanced by a nice acidity. I liked it so much that I went and bought a bottle right there after the tasting!
• Blushing Dog: This is a blush wine made from a blend of Vidal Blanc and Traminette, with a touch of Chambourcin. This one is 4% sugar and considerably sweeter than the Vidal Blanc. It is floral and fruity, but balanced with a slight acidity.
• Sweet Mountain Laurel: This sweet wine is made from the Niagra grape. According to winery, these grapes have a tendency to have a kerosene-like or tar-like aroma. When I smelled it, there was an initial fruity and floral aroma but then it became overwhelmed by the smell of kerosene. It tasted a little like grape juice mixed with kerosene and was incredibly sweet and sugary. I have tried this wine before and didn't notice the kerosene aspect so I was very surprised to find that flavor and smell.
• 2010 Frosty Dog: This one is an ice wine. They freeze the grapes so that the water is frozen, allowing the sugar to be more concentrated. It is 14% sugar and is incredibly syrupy. I took one sniff and knew it was going to be sweet. I heard a suggestion to freeze this wine to create a dessert slushie. Our server also suggested adding vodka to it to create a more interesting cocktail or shooter.
• Blackberry Wine: This is their only non-grape wine, made from blackberries imported by train from Oregon. Blackberries are usually tart so I was not expecting this wine to be as sweet as it was. It smelled delightful with the sweet aroma of berries. It was a little too sweet for my liking, but was interesting. Our server made a "Spanish Sangria" by mixing the Blackberry Wine with the Chambourcin. She said to add more blackberry if you like it sweeter or more Chambourcin if you like things dryer. I had a mixture that was 3:1 Blackberry Wine to Chambourcin. This was a very interesting combination. I enjoyed this more than the Blackberry Wine on its own since the combination cut back on the sweetness.

In the spirit of Saint Patrick's Day, they had a special leprechaun shooter at the end of the tasting. It was electric green in color and contained the Sweet Mountain Laurel wine with sours mix and green coloring. The sours helped to cut back on the kerosene flavor of the wine and I enjoyed that a little more than the wine by itself.


After the tasting, we gathered at the front of the tasting room for the winery tour. We learned the history of the winery and how it got started. David Morrisette planted the first grape vines in 1978. It started as a very small operation. The restaurant started as a small building to serve soup and sandwiches to visitors but has grown to have a full menu. Morrisette wanted to use real wood timbers in the winery and bought the wood from an old factory that had been shut down. After the history lesson, we were led outside. Chateau Morrisette gets their grapes from several different areas around the Shenandoah Valley. The wine production occurs in the Fall, once the grapes have reached the perfect level of ripeness. They are delivered to the chateau and dropped off here...

De-Stemmer

The grapes are fed into the de-stemmer to separate the grapes from the stems. They are then added to the crusher.

Grape Crusher

This machine contains a series of plates with holes punched in them. There is a rubber bladder which is slowly inflated. The pressure of the bladder gently presses the grapes against the side of the machine, forcing the juice out and through the holes. The juice is collected at the bottom and fed into a tube which then sends the juice to the fermentation room.

Fermentation Tanks

We walked back inside and found the fermentation tanks. The juice is brought into these tanks where the yeast is then added. Once fermentation is complete, the wine is transferred to either a stainless steel tank (mostly for the white wines) or an oak barrel (mostly for the red wines).

Wall of barrels where the red wines are stored and aged

Stainless steel tanks to store the white wines

Once the wines are aged for the appropriate length of time, they are bottled. Our tour guide unfortunately did not show us where the bottling takes place. The oak barrels are used for about 5 to 7 aging processes. The oak trees for the barrels are grown on a farm in France. The barrels cost a couple thousand dollars when they are brand new and the winery will sell the old ones for about $75. The guide said he has an old barrel that he uses as a rain collector.

Old barrels for sale

This was an incredibly fun experience. The winery is picture-perfect, nestled in the mountains and just steps from the Blue Ridge Parkway. They have a large patio that would be lovely to sit at and enjoy a bottle of wine while taking in the beauty of the surroundings. It had unfortunately started raining during our visit so we ended up staying inside most of the time. This would be a wonderful place to go back in the summer though when they have small concerts on Sunday nights.