Virginia WineFest 2016

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33 Outstanding Wineries – all the wine you can taste – $30, plus 62 other vendors!My Family

This is the best WineFest show I’ve attended at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. I went this past Sunday and was afraid that the Saturday event would have depleted their stock but my fears were cured by the abundance of samples. Yay.  This blog lists some of the most amazing Virginia wines I have ever tasted by bullet points and how to get them.

  • Best Sweet Red
  • Best Dry Red
  • Best Port Style
  • Best Semi- Sweet White Riesling

It rained on Saturday which may explain the short or no waiting lines to taste samples. Last year the lines were long and I spent way too much time in them (2015 blog). My daughter and her husband joined us and we had a great time.

I love wine shows because they are the best way to sample new wines and expand your palate. It’s easy to get stuck in a routine and keep buying the same wines over and over. By doing that you can miss out on some exceptional wines with outstanding aromas and flavors.  At this show I revisited some old favorites and found some new remarkable wines that offered me new experiences in wine tasting.

There is still a huge trend in sweet wines right now. I did find the sugar monster alive and thriving in several wines. The sugar monster tends to overtake anything in its path, overpowering structure, balance, and flavor. But I’m happy to say that I tasted a lot of semi-sweet wines that bring more flavor and complexity to wine. I think these semi-sweet wines are a great transition from sugar flavor to wines with more depth and character.

Here are my WineFest favorites:

AmRhein Wine Cellars 

located between Roanoke and Blacksburg Va.
AmRhein_Red_Vidal_blancThis was my first experience tasting these excellent wines from a family owned winery with a German influence. These wines are filled with complexity and flavor.

  • Sweet –  Vidal Blanc $13.95 – This wine is bursting with tropical fruit flavors and just enough acidity to keep it balanced, clean and refreshing.
  • Dry – Petit Verdot – $26.95 – My favorite Dry Red of the show. This is their signature wine. If you like reds with multiple layers of flavors and a little oak, give this one a try.  This dark wine tasted like plums, cherries, and blackberries mixed with spices and hints of oak.

Athena Vineyards & Winery 

Heathsville, VA
I’ve tasted these wines before and they never disappoint. They were one of my favorites in my 2015 WineFest review. I could list all their wines but have put my top two favorites below. If you are going to buy a Port style wine this is the one you should get!

  • Port – Best Port Style Wine at the show – Safe Harbor -$40  – This red fortified Chambourcin wine has 18% alcohol and is made in the Portuguese style. Tons of flavor and subtle nuances that you won’t find in many Port style wines. This wine pairs wonderfully with cheese, nuts and chocolate!
  • Sweet – Sweet Notes Red– $15 – Alcohol 12.5% – Sweet tastes of raspberry, blackberry and blueberry. Goes great with spicy dishes or desserts. Yum!


Chateau Morrisette Winery 

hateau Morrisette RieslingFloyd VA
This is another of my favorite wineries that produces one of the best Rieslings I have ever tasted. All their wines are nice and they are easy to find – just look for the dog on the label.

  • Semi-Sweet – My favorite White Wine at the show – Our Dog Blue – $10.99 – This semi-sweet Riesling-Traminette blend adds Vidal Blanc for added depth. Aromas of melons, citrus fruits, apricots, and delicate flowers highlight the soft finish of this soothing wine.


Defosse Vinyards

Delfosse WineFaber, Virginia
This new winery about 30 minutes from Charlottesville has AWESOME wine!!!! I really enjoyed their Deer Rock Farm White wine. I love the way they basically elevate and infuse their Deer Rock White that is mostly Chardonnay/Sauvignon Blanc with the sweet Petit Manseng grape to boost this to a fruit forward wine.

  • Semi-Sweet – 2014 Deer Rock White – $18 – 88% Chardonnay, 6% Sauvignon Blanc, and 6% Petit Manseng
    Aged 7 months in neutral French oak barrels. Sweet tropical, floral and fresh fruit aromas. A fruity Pineapple and peach flavor with just the right amount of acidity.
  • Delfosse Wine Rouge CeriseDry Red – Rouge Cerise – $22 – My husband Mike’s Favorite of the Show – 100% Merlot, aged 6 months in French oak barrels.  This is a light tasting red wine with a fruit forward cherry finish and just enough spice on the end to keep it interesting.  No oak monsters or tannin tongue torturers here, just delicious flavor.


Blue Toad Hard Cider

Roseland, VA (near Charlottesville)
I was sooo happy to see the Blue Toad booth at this show! My family & I took a wine trip to the Charlottesville area this past November and stopped by their new tasting store and absolutely loved it. They gave out huge, delicious samples at this show. They were sampling two ciders, The Blue Ridge Blonde and the Rock Hard Amber. The Blonde was my favorite.  All I have to say is watch out Bold Rock there is a new Toad in Town and it may leap over you.  (both are located near each other in the Charlottesville area).

This was a great show with lots of wineries, specialty foods, and arts and crafts. There was a craft beer garden, grape stomp competition, live entertainment and a lot more. I’m already looking forward to the 2017 WineFest.

Cheers – Carrie