Not so good for round one with the battle over Virginia State Farm Wineries ability to self distribute. For coverage of the story click the link to the right. First Vote Squeezes Wineries

TAGS:   [WINE]  [VIRGINIA WINERY LEGISLATION]

Help Save Virginia Wineries. Click the link below for further information on how to contact your local delegate and Senator to offer support for the Virginia Farm Winery Self Distrubution Bill.

Click Here 

The Toss UP! for today is googling the word winery.  I decided I would review the webpage of the first winery website on the list after I did the google search.

The first winery that came up on the list was Ravenswood, famous for their Zinfandel.  The website is very upfront about their Big Bold Zins and no wimpy wines is stamped right on the homepage.  The about wines section is very informative and easy to navigate, with your basic wine descriptions but also very nice appellation information. When I go to a winery website I check for 3 things:

1. The History of the winery; I think this is very important in getting you connected with the wine on a personnel level which from a business persepective helps increase the number of repeat drinkers.
2. Wine information; As I stated above Ravenswood went above most of the competition in giving not only typical wine descriptors and Brix information but also appellation statistics. Very Nice!
3. Contact Information and tasting; Sounds silly but sometimes winery websites make it so difficult to find when and how much tastings are as well as just directions or an address. Again, Ravenswood did a great job in this respect.

I give Ravenswood website a 9.5 out of 10. Very nice site, lots info and not too busy.

Now not all Tuesdsay Toss UPs will be done this way so make sure to check back every Tuesday for a different Toss UP!!

This is the first in a Saturday series that will attempt to review the Friday night wine tastings at our favorite Richmond/Midlothian Virginia Wine Shop. The tastings are held every Friday from 5-8 at the The Wine Cellar on Midlothian Turnpike, they usually feature 5 wines mixed with reds and whites. Last nights (1.20.06) they featured 5 reds.

• Block #45 Petite Syrah 2004 - $9.95
• My wife and I are not syrah/sirah/shiraz fans. We keep trying them hoping to find one that we truly like but haven't yet. This was a typical petite syrah by our standards but I won't rate it because I wouldn't do it justice. (?)
  
• Peachy Canyon Jester 2003 - $16.95
• Very nice blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Syrah, 6% Cabernet Franc. Typcial Cab. Sauv. on the front end of this wine with nice cherry and blackberry notes but the syrah kicks in at the end with a slightly tannic finish. (more tannic that your typical Cab, but very nice) We bought this one! (8.5)
• Graham Beck Pinotage 2001- 17.95$
• I was very excited to try this wine as I love Graham Beck Cabernet's. This one was nothing what I expected.  The aroma and flavor tasted like a cherry soaked band-aid. Two Thumbs down on this one! (5)
  
• Woodward Canyon Cabernet 2003 - $20.95
• Very nice Cabernet with lovely black cherry and currant aromas with a slight chocolate and tobacco flavors, with a smooth rich finish! (8.5)
  
• Hess Collection Mountain Cuvee 2002 - $33.45
• A great blend of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon 10% Syrah 12% Merlot 5% Malbec 4% Cabernet Franc that presents you with a nice black cherry and cinnamon nose with a nice silky "semi-long" finish. This was a really good wine but wasn't sure that it was worth the price. Almost bought this one! (8.75)
  

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I am currently reading Judgement of Paris by George Taber and am about a ¼ of the way finished so I thought I would give a pre-review. The opening chapters of the book outline the history of both French and American wine.  I really had no comprehension of the ups and downs that the California wine industry went through in the early years of its existence.

In addition to the great history lesson we are introduced to Mike Grgich (now winemaker and owner of Grgich Cellars).  The next couple of chapters outline the life of Mike up to the point of his arrival in America, and this his introduction to American wineries and winemaking with his 1^st job at  Souverain Vineyards.

So far the book is enthrawling and is a very enjoyable read, which I imagine would be the case even if you aren't a wine lover (although it helps).

Stay tuned to further review segments as I try and get through this book quickly.

Welcome to the first entry from Oak Barrel News.  The content of this blog will pertain mostly to the wine industry, wine reviews and my small 200 case winery in Virginia.Woodland Vineyard Farm Winery Myself and my wife Megan will bring you "up to date" happenings from inside the winery and outside in the vineyard. This will also be a forum to express our own interests in wine itself and current happenings in the wine industry, not just in Virginia.

Please check back often as this will be an exciting blog once we get rolling.