During the 2015 harvesting season, vineyards across the state were working long days as they picked grapes from the vines for local favorites—Viognier, Merlot, Pinot Grio, Petit Verdot, Cardonnay and many others—prior to sorting into the press and then the barrels for fermentation.
Our senior editor, Sarah, spent a Saturday at King Family Vineyards with Winemaker Matthieu Finot among many others, learning first-hand the farm-to-table process behind local winemaking.
As we helped hand-pick Chardonnay grapes from the vines and sort into the press, other grapes were already fermenting or undergoing green harvesting.
As a way to protect the grapes and vines from insect and sun damage, they were sprayed with an organic product made of light-colored clay. The spray served dual purpose, as it also acted as a reflector of the sunlight, enhancing the grapes’ flavor.
It was hard work but enjoying the good company and the fruits of our labor was well worth the effort. We look forward to partaking in next year’s harvest and in sharing some new local techniques! ~
Wine & Country celebrates elevated living in Virginia Wine Country. Wine & Country Life, a semi-annual life & style magazine, and Wine & Country Weddings, an annual art book celebrating elegant Virginia weddings, are complemented by the Wine & Country Shop in Ivy, VA—a beautiful lifestyle boutique that brings the pages of the magazines to life. The Shop features over 40 Virginia artisans with everything from tailgating essentials and Dubarry attire to locally made foods and award-winning Virginia wines and craft beverages for your next event. Wine & Country covers the grape-growing foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains from Lynchburg to Leesburg, including points in between like Charlottesville and Middleburg. Ivy Life & Style Media also creates other projects, including CharlottesvilleFamily.com, a collection of local resources including a popular calendar of events, family services guides and features on education, health and family day trips for parents and teachers in Charlottesville, as well as the CharlottesvilleWelcomeBook.com a guide to resources for Charlottesville tourists and newcomers.
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