Best Wines at the 2015 Virginia Wine Expo
My family and I were among the many attendees at the 2015 Virginia Wine Expo held at the Va. Beach Expo Center this past weekend (Jan. 17 & 18th).
There were 54 wineries and over 100 other vendors. I’m glad I went on Sunday instead of Saturday because on Saturday over 4,000 people attended. 2014 was the first time this event was held at the VA Beach Expo center, I had a great time then and I had a nice time this year too. But it was really crowded and I spent a lot of time in lines. I hope if this event is held here again they will expand the wineries tasting areas so the lines and wait time isn’t so long!
I love going to wine events and tasting the different wines. It’s a nice way to test wines without committing to a glass or whole bottle. There were large and small wineries to choose from. I tried to sample as many as I could before hitting the breaking point where all the wines start to blend into one another.
I took notes on the wines that stood out to me so I could pass this info on to you, and remember for myself next time I want to buy more wine.
Below are my top choices with reviews, please check these out next time you are looking for a new wine. You will be glad you did.
My favorite wines of the show started with Rapidan River wines. Their prices were good and their wines were GREAT! I love Riesling and theirs was excellent! I also liked their Rapidan River Peach, it tasted like I just bit into a sweet, ripe, juicy peach. And if you are a Chocolate lover, you must, must, must try their Rapidan River Chocolate, it’s nose is crazy good!
Rapidan River
Rapidan River Semi Dry Riesling $12
Round and creamy, this wine is full of fruity flavor and pairs well with anything spicy.
Rapidan River Peach $12
Light and redolent with the sweet taste of summer.
Pair with rhubarb pie and here is a great rhubarb pie recipe
Rapidan River Chocolate $12
Smooth and luscious, this sweet red wine has a nose that is out of this world. If you like Chocolate this is a must for you to try.
Pair with cherries, a chocolate lava cake, chocolate chip cookies or salted caramel pecan pie.
I’ve tasted Athena Vineyards wines before and they never disappoint. If you like full bodied sweet wines with lots of taste and balance these are the wines for you.
Athena Vineyards
Sweet Notes $15
A balanced sweet red wine with raspberry, blackberry and blueberry notes.
Pairs epically well with vanilla ice cream.
Safe Harbor $40
A wonderfully delicious fortivied Chambourcin wine. The perfect digestif!
The line to taste Lake Anna’s wines was long, but worth the wait. My favorite wine was their Lake Side White, a simple white wine full of crisp flavor and too easy to drink. This could end up being your “go to” wine.
Lake Anna Winery
Lake Side White $14
A semi-sweet white wine with waves of tropical fruit fermented in stainless steel. Pairs well with everyday food.
If you are looking for a new white wine on the dryer side, look no further. This Narmanda wine is full of flavor and just the right amount of crispness provided by the steel.
Narmanda
2011 MOM $20
Their signature wine with tropical notes, fermented in steel, Vidal Blanc/Chardonel.
Pairs perfectly with shrimp.
If you love picnics this is the wine for you. One taste and you will think you are laying on a blanket by the lake getting ready to bite into a deli sandwich. The perfect Vidal Blanc.
Davis Valley Winery
Virginia Breeze White – $14
A sweet summertime wine made with Vidal Blanc grapes. The perfect wine to take on a picnic.
This was the first time I have tasted a wine from the Potomac Point Winery, and it won’t be the last. After one taste I fell in love with La Belle Vie, a slightly sweet white wine that pairs well with almost anything. It’s one of those easy drinking wines that you will never get tired of.
Potomac Point Winery
La Belle Vie 2013 $14.99
Crisp and refreshing, slightly sweet, fermented in Stainless Steel, 5% Chardonnay, 5%Petit Manseng, 10% Viognier, 20% Rkatsiteli.
Pairs well with soft cheese, chicken and so much more.
I had a great time at the 2015 Virginia Wine Expo and can’t wait for next year to try out more wines. I hope to see you there!
Cheers – Carrie