stone tower winery is a great new addition to virginia wine

Stone Tower Winery produces two Chardonnays - Lacey and Lauren - named after the owners' daughters. Lacey likes Lauren's oaky, creamy chardonnay, and Lauren prefers Lacey's acidic, floral, lighter version. Stories like these are one of the many reasons that I love Virginia wine. The industry is still small enough that every winery visit feels like you're being invited into someone's home.

The winery is situated on Hogback Mountain - also home to a paintball field (though I didn't see it on the long, winding dirt road drive). The tasting room is in a large, beautiful old barn. I relished the small details. Names of wine varietals are painted on rocks from the property. The names of their wines and vintages are hand-painted on slabs of wood and hung tastefully around the tasting room. Photos from weddings held on the property show off the beauty of the landscape. And there's an equestrian theme that suits the old (but refurnished and modernized) barn - complete with riding hats on the banquet tables on the second floor. The ambiance is just as good - even on a wet and gray Saturday like this past one when we ventured out to Loudon County, Stone Cold Winery was warm, welcoming, and inviting.

Jeremy, a manager, poured our wine tasting. Jess, Zander, and I opted for the reserve tasting - and might I suggest you do the same? It's $15 for all of their current vintages and a few of their stellar older ones, as well (6 total). Jeremy and Jess talked shop while I snapped pictures and listened intently; wine tasting is serious business, and it's clear that Stone Tower prides themselves on making great wines.

We started off with a champagne-based sparkling wine, and I was "bubbling" over with happiness. It's rare to find sparkling wine at Virginia wineries, especially dry, crisp, citrusy ones. I loved it so much I ordered a glass to enjoy while we were there and bought a bottle to take home. When it came to the Chardonnays, Jess and I enjoyed the Lacey, and Zan enjoyed the Lauren more. Jess loved the 2012 Viognier. It has huge minerals and a very round mouth feel. I love Viognier, but this one kept taking me by surprise... I still can't decide if I liked it. Zan's favorite wine is their Sanglier Noble. It has a great nose of cherry, currants, baking spices - basically winter in a glass. I wanted to pair it with dark chocolate. To be honest, it lacked a little complexity on my palate, but Zander would beg to differ.

Stone Tower is new in the Virginia wine scene, and it's an incredibly welcome addition. I can't wait to get back when the air is a little warmer and the whole vineyard is ablaze with spring colors and enjoy a few more glasses of their sparkling wine.