Closing out 2013 with some picks and thoughts

Flipping through my wine journal (a birthday present given to me in 2004), I stumbled across several Virginia wine entries revealing interesting trends.

• Petit Verdots and Cabernet Francs were clear winners. Especially those by Horton Vineyards and Pearmund Cellars (just down the road from my childhood home).

• Petit Verdots/Cabernet Francs outside of Virginia did not rate as high as Virginia.

• I consumed various Latours, German Auslese, even tried pinning down a Chardonnay – Burnley Vineyards' Virginia Barrel Select Chardonnay was on top. It kept coming back to Virginia.

• The Williamsburg Winery's 2009 Hening's Statute Virginia Barrel-Aged Claret rated the same as it's 2004 Barrel Aged Virginia Claret. 7 out of 10.

• As a primarily red drinker, I was pleasantly surprised at the Williamsburg Winery's 2011 Virginia Traminette. We discovered the Traminette on a tasting at the Winery. Rarely do I ever find a new favorite during a winery tasting. We left with a case.

• Maybe a little Lisa Vanderpump rubbed off on me this year, but I'm really enjoying exploring rosés. I'm sipping on a new favorite as I write this – the Williamsburg Winery's 2011 Virginia Dry Rosé. Very elegant and great alternative to the mediocre Plantation Blush.

We vacationed over 5 times in the Williamsburg area in 2013. We might even squeeze in another before the year is out. I am a huge fan of the Williamsburg Winery and even stayed as a guest of the Duffeler family.

I look to 2014 as being a year of enjoying new vintages not just from the Williamsburg Winery but from the new wineries that seem to pop up every time I venture into Virginia.

Happy Holidays!

Spring clean your wine rack. No, seriously.

We are already at 75% full bloom of the Washington cherry blossoms and daffodils are in full bloom. Before you know it, the lingering surprise snow showers will be no longer. Spring is finally here. As I write this, much of Virginia is experiencing substantial snowfall – schools already closing Monday. As we endure our Spring rituals – whether it's preparing for relatives for Easter weekend, cleaning out the garage, straightening up the attic (that's on my to-do list), or putting away the winter clothes for the warmer weather ones, there is an important task waiting for those who have a wine rack. Drink your wine. While we hope that most of our wine will age gracefully, most of it doesn't. Most wine labels will indicate whether or not your bottle will age. My bottle of 2007 Virginia Trianon Cabernet Franc (Williamsburg Winery) indicates on the label that it "will age gracefully for 5-10 years and will soften with time." Easy enough. But what about that bottle of 2011 Vidal Blanc from Horton Vineyards your aunt gave you for Christmas? My advice. Call the winery. Give them the year and the varietal. Gather all your bottles from that winery so that one phone call is needed. Don't guess if it's a good bottle. Because a bottle opened too soon is a bottle not given the opportunity to reach its potential. A bottle opened too late, yup, you got it. I tend to put my most drinkable wines at the top, wines still aging towards the bottom. Happy Spring!