We are back on the road again! The 2012 Wine and Dine season has begun and Wilderness Adventure staff members Julia Boas, Programs Director, Renee Lavin, Assistant Director for Group Programs, and Koko Radford, Head Chef and Hospitality Manager have hit the pavement hard to search for amazing wines to pair with our gourmet treats!
First stop? Locally owned and operated Virginia Mountain Vineyards, located just north of Fincastle, Virginia. This gem of a winery is only 30 minutes from Wilderness Adventure and thus the closest winery overall, yet none of us had made the voyage..until a few weeks ago! Upon arrival, we were greeted by the handsome black lab Jeeter, whose bark quickly turned into licking and wanting a belly rub. 
Owner David Gibbs was also on site to welcome us to the beautiful property. The view from the parking lot itself is incredible; hosting rows upon rows of vines that were recently harvested. The tasting room is quaint and David immediately made us feel like we were home. Bottles of wines lined the shelves as well as a selection of gifts for the avid wine drinker.
The history Daivd told of the vineyard is unique. He and his wife had a dream of someday owning a winery, but wanted to perfect 
the winemaking process first. So, in 1998, he started out by planting Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc grapes on his property and operating solely as a vineyard by supplying these grapes to other local wineries. Through the years, David experimented with the crop, mixing different varieties, figuring out what grapes did well on his land, and estimating how much of a crop to expect from year to year. He also used the monies earned to plant additional grape varieties such as Merlot, Traminette, and Petit Verdot as well as purchase wine making equipment. In 2006, Virginia Mountain Vineyards officially opened their tasting room and bottled their own wine for sale at their location near Fincastle. Today, David makes about a dozen different types of wine ranging from sweet whites to dry reds and everything in between.
Julia and Koko, enjoying the red wines, felt Wine and Dine goers would enjoy the Cabernet Franc, a native Virginia wine and one of the first type of grapes to be grown on the property, as well as the Petit Verdot, which has a smooth taste with a spicy finish and oak undertones. Renee, prefering white wines, felt the Chardonnay fermented in stainless steel and the Acacia Gold blend would be exciting to add to the menu paired possibly with some spicy dishes to offset their sweeter undertones. The dessert wine chosen is their Holiday Spice. This wine is truely unique, a red semi-sweet with hints of holiday spices such as nutmeg and clove. We have a great surprise in store for dessert with this one!
After the tasting, we headed outside and toured the property. There are some great outdoor spaces to sit back and enjoy a bottle of wine and conversation. The patio near the tasting room and the gazebo a few steps away both afford great views of the vineyard and mountains in the distance.
After a healthy tasting and informative tour, we bid farewell to the beautiful vistas of the Alleghanies and Blue Ridge offered by Virginia Mountain Vineyards and headed back to the office on Base Camp to plan out the menu and hit the ground running on marketing the event. We are excited to start the second year of the Wine and Dine series and this year is looking to go above and beyond the great 2011 season!
Interested in getting in on the fun? Make an RSVP today by calling 540-864-6792!
Virginia Mountain Vineyards Wine and Dine is Saturday, March 10, 2012. There is a cash bar and light appetizers starting at 6:30pm with the tastings and pairings slated to begin at 7:30pm. Price is $100 per person or $175 per couple and includes tastings and pairings (5 wines and 5 course dinner), lodging, and breakfast the next morning.
Guests can also add on a zipline ride for $20 per person per ride, spend some time at the climbing wall for $15 per person, rent a canoe and get a shuttle to run Craig Creek for $35, or go caving for $40 per person. Click here to see pictures of the activities or click here to see pictures of our lodges.
