By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor
It's weeks like this one when I'm eternally grateful for the rest of the NYCR team. After the 2011 Wine Bloggers Conference in Charlottesville, VA last weekend, I headed west with Nena and Jackson to spend the week in Williamsburg with my parents -- in a resort with expensive WiFi that didn't even work.
I'm very behind on posting here on the site, but with the rest of the team around, the site thrived while I was 'away.'
While I dig through my email and get cracking on a series of posts about WBC, drinking local and -- of course -- New York wine -- I thought I'd share some pictures from my WBC experience.
Frank Morgan of Drink What You Like moderating the Drink Local panel, which included yours truly.
The Saturday morning session on history, business and science of Virginia wine was horribly attended -- which was a bit embarrassing.
One of the after-hours gatherings featured an array of Georgia-brewed beers hand-picked by the Suburban Wino himself.
The good news: This tasting at historic Monticello was our best chance to taste a wide swath of Virginia wines. The horrific news: It was outside under this oven of a tent in 100-degree weather. I didn't taste a single red wine. I couldn't.
Blenheim Vineyards winemaker Kirsty Harmon -- one of the most charming people I met last weekend.
Some of the best wines I tasted were made by Michael Shaps who also operates Virginia's only custom crush facility, Virginia Wine Works.
Shaps puts some of the Wineworks wines into boxes. This fruity, fresh viognier would be welcome in my fridge any summer.
The red wines we tasted with Shaps. The 2007s definitely impressed with their structure, intensity and potential to improve with age.
The estate vineyard at Blenheim Vineyards
Glad you made it over to the VA Wine Works...I went there earlier in the week, and was very impressed by the quality of both the WineWorks value brand and Shaps' premium wines...good reason why Miachel is making wine for so many others. Had to love the down-to-earth tasting bar made out of particle board!
Posted by: Todd - VT Wine Media | July 29, 2011 at 02:53 PM
Hi Lenn! Please let me know if you're planning a #TasteCamp in 2012. Wine Bloggers Conference is fun, and all, but for my next wine adventure, I want to spend more time in the vineyard and not the hotel meeting room!
Posted by: Douglas Trapasso | July 30, 2011 at 07:38 AM