Wine Bloggers Conference Logistics and Resources

WBC 11 Resources – Charlottesville, VA – A Primer

This post is a follow up to Part I - WBC11 Virginia Must Follows and Resources      (winery, VA bloggers, and other VA wine industry Twitterers to follow).

As the 2011 Wine Bloggers Conference (WBC) in Charlottesville, VA nears, I’m getting more questions about airports, transportation and things to do in the Charlottesville area.  From the emails I’m receiving, it seems as if many WBC11 attendees are bringing their family along and are going to make a summer vacation out of the trip to Virginia.

I suspect there will be more detailed logistics and travel related information posted on the Wine Bloggers Conference (WBC) website in the coming weeks, but in the meantime, I am providing the following Twitter, travel, logistics, and ‘to do’ information for the early planners.

The information below is by no means inclusive of all things Charlottesville – instead this is intended to provide basic travel information and a general overview of what to do and see in Charlottesville:

I.              Virginia Wine Tweeters to Follow
II.             Travel – Getting to Charlottesville
III.            Lodging in Charlottesville (hotels, rental homes, resorts)
IV.            Things to do in Charlottesville (history, running, golf…)
V.              Virginia Wine’s Cousin – Virginia Cider at WBC
VI.            Where to Eat
VII.           Basic Virginia Wine Stats

Picture credit: VirginiaWine.Org

I. – WHO TO FOLLOW?
There are a number of Virginia wine Tweeters that WBC attendees should follow to learn more about Virginia wine leading up to the conference.  I previously posted a list of Virginia wine bloggers, Virginia wineries, and industry folks here (Part I – Va Wine Must Follows).  Since the number of Virginia wine bloggers and tweeters seems to grow on a weekly basis, this list does not include everyone, but does provide a great starting point (apologies if I left someone off the list – please let me know via email or Twitter: @DrinkWhatULike ).

II. – GETTING TO WBC11 in CHARLOTTESVILLE:
Virginia Airports

• Charlottesville Albemarle Airport (CHO). CHO is a smaller, regional airport with a limited number of flights, but a great option if you can manage it because it’s only 10 miles away from the WBC11 host hotel.
• Richmond International Airport (RIC). Approximately 73 miles from Charlottesville, under 90 minute drive to downtown Charlottesville.  RVA is a smaller airport, and much easier to get in and out of than Dulles and Reagan.
• Washington Dulles Airport (IAD).  Approximately 105 miles from Charlottesville, about a two-hour drive.  Since I pass through this airport on a near weekly basis, IAD has a special place in my heart *sarcastic font*.  The advantage of IAD is the number of flights, and most importantly, there are two VinoVolo wine bars in the airport, which make long layovers or flight delays more palatable.  The original VinoVolo is located by gate C4, and the other is located in the middle of concourse B across from Chipotle.   Another advantage of flying in/out of Dulles is the proximity to the wineries of Loudoun County – just a 45-minute drive.  For those interested in participating in a pre/post-conference tour of Loudoun County, please email me.
• Washington Reagan Airport (DCA). About 115 miles from Charlottesville, over two-hour drive (could be considerably longer depending on traffic).  One of my least favorite airports in the US due to the human congestion element – choose this as your last resort. One upside of flying in to DCA is the public transportation option for those not renting a car.  You can take the METRO from DCA directly to Union Station train station and then take Amtrak to Charlottesville.  See below for more details.

Getting to WBC via Train:
For those that enjoy scenic (semi-scenic) rides on the rail, there is an Amtrak station located in Charlottesville (CVS), a short walk from the downtown mall area.  The host hotel, Omni Charlottesville, is located at the far west end of the downtown mall.  Although the Amtrak station is about a 10-minute walk from the Omni hotel, I wouldn’t recommend this particular walk in July unless you enjoy extreme sweating as summers in Virginia can be hot and very humid.  There are always cabs readily available outside the Amtrak gates.  One-way tickets from Washington Union Station to CVS, cost between $22 – $38, and the trip will take about 2 1/2 hours.

III. – WHERE TO STAY:

• Omni Hotel. As the host hotel, this is clearly the most convenient option in terms of being in the ‘middle of it all.’  There are a number of other hotels near the downtown mall like the Courtyard Marriott.  I would recommend Hotels.com for a complete list.
• Rental Homes. For those who need more space than a hotel offers, there are many rental cottages, lofts and homes in the area in close proximity to the downtown mall.  This is our lodging option of choice so we can have a place to spread out and cook meals if needed (and host a small gathering).   Two primary resources for rental homes: VRBO and College Weekends
• Resort Option. If you’re bringing your entire family to Charlottesville or traveling with a spouse who’s not in to wine (I can’t imagine such a thing), the resort option may be the way to go.  The only resort I’m personally familiar with is Keswick Hall.  My wife and I stayed at Keswick a few years ago to celebrate our anniversary and had a great time – beautiful rooms, amazing setting, and stellar service.  A second option is The Boar’s Head Inn.  Although I’ve played golf at The Boar’s Head many times, I’ve never stayed at the Inn, but have heard great things.  Both places have a full spa, swimming pool, on-site golf course, tennis courts, and restaurants.

IV. – WHAT TO DO IN CHARLOTTESVILLE:
For History Buffs:
Virginia is rich with history, and the Charlottesville area provides a number of historical sites worth visiting:

• Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello – No visit to the Charlottesville area is complete without a visit to Monticello (I believe there will be a WBC event there).  Jefferson’s architectural masterpiece and beloved mountaintop home, Monticello is the only home in America recognized by the United Nations as a World Heritage Site.  Guided tours of the house are offered daily throughout the year; outdoor gardens and plantation tours are offered daily April-October.   For more information about our nation’s first oenophile’s wine exploits and habits, check out ’30 Days of Thomas Jefferson on Wine.’
• James Monroe’s Ashlawn-Highland – Home of our fifth President, this 500 acre estate, highlighted by peacocks running around the grounds, is a must visit.
• Edgar Allen Poe Room – Author and poet’s room restored to 1826 time period, when he was a student.
• Small Special Collections Library – A must visit for ‘bookies.’  Over 12 million manuscripts and 300,000 rare books.
• University of Virginia – Founded by Thomas Jefferson, a walk around the historic and beautiful campus is highly recommended.
• Carter Mountain Orchard – Ownership of this land dates back to 1729, when the honorable John Carter acquired 9,350 acres of land by way of a land grant.  Today, the ‘pick your own’ Carter Mountain orchard is a great place for a day of family fun picking apples, enjoying expansive views of Charlottesville below, and enjoying perhaps the worlds very best, fresh baked cider donuts!

Political Epicenter:
If you’ve never spent time in our nation’s capital, perhaps a trip to Virginia for WBC11 is the chance to make time to visit Washington, DC.  Growing up in Virginia, school trips to Washington, DC were part of our history and political science classes.  I’m always surprised at how few people take advantage of the educational experience provided by visiting Washington, DC.  While in Virginia this summer, give consideration to spending a day or two in DC to take in the sights – the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, or contact your member of Congress for a tour of the Capital or the White House (especially if you are traveling with school age kids).

For Runners:
There is no shortage of running trails in Charlottesville.  Given the Virginia heat and humidity in July, I highly recommend early morning runs.  The University of Virginia campus provides a lovely backdrop for an early morning run, or Run.com lists a number of running trails and loops near UVA.

For Golfers:
Charlottesville is home to a number of excellent golf courses, with two notable must play courses if you bring your clubs – Keswick Hall Golf Course and Birdwood Golf Course, both about a 15 minute drive from downtown Charlottesville.

Calendar of Events:
There are a ton of community events happening throughout the summer in Charlottesville.  CvilleCalendar.com is an excellent source of event information for the Charlottesville area.  If you are traveling with your pooches, Keswick Vineyards hosts ‘Yappy Hours’ each Sunday.  Aside from great wine and one of the friendliest tasting room staffs in Virginia wine country, Yappy Hours at Keswick Vineyards provides a great chance for you to enjoy a glass of Virginia wine while your dog sniffs and socializes.  For the more refined or curious, take in a Polo match at King Family Vineyards each Sunday throughout the summer.

For Beach Goers:
A three-hour drive from Charlottesville is my ‘hood – Virginia Beach, VA.  Arrive a few days before or stay a few days after WBC, and visit Virginia Beach to enjoy the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.  Aside from vegging out on the beach, there are a number of ‘touristy’ things to do in Virginia Beach like visiting the Virginia Marine Science Museum.  If you plan a visit to the Virginia Beach area, I would recommend that you fly in/out of Norfolk International Airport (ORF).   We need the tax revenue so please consider a visit to Virginia Beach.

V. – VIRGINIA HARD CIDER:
Not only will WBC attendees have the opportunity to taste the finest wines of one of the most promising wine regions in the US, conference goers will also be introduced to Virginia hard apple cider.   As an adjunct to a thriving wine industry, Virginia is home to a blossoming apple cider industry.  Two Virginia cideries will be participating in WBC11 – Foggy Ridge Cider and Albemarle Cider Works.  For those new to hard apple cider, please check out ‘Virginia Cider 101‘ article by Foggy Ridge cider maker, Diane Flynt.

VI. – WHERE TO EAT:
Charlottesville is home to a number of excellent restaurants – too many to do justice here, but below are a few that I highly recommend that are relatively close to downtown.

• C&O Restaurant.  Located on the downtown mall, one of the most established restaurants in the area. My restaurant in Charlottesville.
• Fossett’s Restaurant at Keswick Hall.  Highly recommended, most excellent.  You’ll need a reservation.
• Hamilton’s at First & Main.
• Ivy Inn Restaurant.  Locally-inspired seasonal American cuisine.  Always excellent.
• There are also a number of quick, but good places to eat on the downtown mall.

VII. – VIRGINIA WINE STATS:

• Virginia is the 5th largest wine producing state.
• Virginia is home to over 180 wineries, and growing quickly.
• Six American Viticultural Areas (AVAs)
• Over 2,500 acres under vine.
• Chardonnay is the most planted white varietal in Virginia.
• Cabernet Franc is the most planted red varietal in Virginia.
• Though the subject of much debate and opinion, the varietals that seem to thrive here in Virginia are Cab Franc, Petit Verdot, Viognier, and Petit Manseng.

I hope this post provides some useful information for those coming to WBC11.  I look forward to meeting everyone that I’ve connected with via Twitter! If you have any specific questions about Virginia, Virginia wine, or this post, please do not hesitate to contact me.  Cheers!

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Questions, Comments, Complaints, Random Observations? Contact Me Here

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The Birth Year Wine List

The Birth Year Wine List and Virginia Wine

2011 will be a big year for the Morgan’s, as our family will grow by one in May!  My wife and I have been in overdrive preparing for the birth of our daughter – painting, repainting, shopping for baby clothes, diapers and a range of odds and ends we likely don’t need.  Thankfully wifey is a very capable and avid shopper so I am free to focus on less immediate, yet equally important activities like formulating a strategy for acquiring birth year wines for our daughter.

Although I won’t be able to get my hands on most age worthy 2011′s until 2013 at the earliest, I’m enjoying the process of sketching out our daughter’s birth-year wine collection that we will enjoy together as a family in 2032.  I have visions (delusions?) of reserve wine grandeur – Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone, Champagne, Barolo, Alsatian and New York and German Rieslings, California Cabs, Willamette Valley Pinots.  Alas I live in the real work-a-day world so birth-year selections will be based on our discretionary budget as the 2011′s become available (I don’t forsee any $500 Burgundies in this collection   ).

Though I am a huge advocate of the wines of my home state, I must admit that Virginia wines were not on my initial list of potential 2011 contenders for inclusion in this 21 year cellar list.  In my opinion, many Virginia wines are great for drinking now, or within the next few years, but I haven’t had too many that I feel would improve with 15+ years in the cellar (or, in my case, the wine fridge).  My first experiences with 10, 15, and even 20 year-old Virginia wines left me skeptical as to their ability to age gracefully, or even semi-gracefully.  Last summer I had the occasion to taste a handful of Virginia wines from the early 90′s that left me disappointed with a tasting sheet full of “thin” “rancid” “long gone” “no life” “watery” descriptions. However, my opinion on the age worthiness of Virginia wine is beginning to change as I try more of the higher quality early producers.

During a tour organized by Richard Leahy, I enjoyed a 1987 Montdomaine Cabernet Sauvignon that showed exceptionally well and could go head-to-head with any 24 year-old Cab, and last weekend I enjoyed one of the best examples of the age worthiness of Virginia wine when done right – a 1988 Montdomaine Heritage.

I was fortunate enough to enjoy this ’88 beauty during a dinner with writer Jim Raper and his wife Deborah.  As a pre-dinner primer, we had a ‘Bordeaux – Virginia’ comparative tasting of sorts, and Jim graciously opened this Virginia gem.  Every aspect of this wine surprised me – the color, freshness, and purity of flavors.  As you can see from the color in the decanter, this wine looks more like a 2008 rather than a 1988.  A blend of Merlot (48%), Cabernet Franc (33%), and Cab Sauv (19%), the wine showed vibrant blackberry and baked plum aromas with slight hints of the wood it was aged in 20+ years ago.  In the mouth, there was more dark fruit, earth, tobacco leaves and a mouthfeel characteristic of a younger wine.

Not only is this wine a testament to the early quality efforts at Montdomaine, it’s also a direct result of the winemaking skill of Shep Rouse, one of the early Virginia wine pioneers.  Shep is now the owner/winemaker at Rockbridge Winery in Raphine, VA.

After tasting these two Montdomaine wines, no doubt the our birth-year collection will include several Virginia wines. Obviously, 2011 birth-year selections will be dependent on the ’11 growing season of each region, and our budget.

I welcome any and all suggestions on birth-year wines!

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Questions, Comments, Complaints, Random Observations? Contact Me Here

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Local Beer, Nuts, and a Bankrupt Winery

What Do You Get When You Cross Local Beer, Nuts, and a Bankrupt Winery? A New Series – Local Wine and Snack Food Pairings

The Christmas and New Years holiday season holds different meanings for everyone.  For me, this end-of-year holiday means reconnecting with family members I haven’t seen in a year and don’t want to see for another year, spending more quality time with my immediate family, catching up on an ever growing backlog of reading, and guilt-free couch time watching as much football as I possibly can.

The result of this reconnecting, reading, and watching football, is a relaxing of my exercise and dietary standards by indulging in non-discriminatory eating – meats of all types, cookies, cakes and especially snack foods.

One of my snack foods of choice this holiday season is Belmont Peanut’s new Chesapeake Bay Spice Blend created by fellow Tidewater, VA resident Patrick Evans-Hylton. Since Belmont Peanuts are grown here in Virginia, and Patrick is a Virginian, Chesapeake Spice Blend Peanuts make a great ‘local‘ snack to kick off a new semi-regular series here at Drink What You Like – snack food and wine pairings. Most of the pairings in this series will focus on local wine and snack foods.

Belmont Peanuts, based in Capron, VA, has been producing gourmet Virginia-grown peanuts since 1993, and Patrick has been a food writer since 1995, and is currently senior editor for food and wine at Hampton Roads Magazine. He is also executive editor for Virginia Wine Lover Magazine, and author of six books, including two food history books and a cookbook, Popcorn.

Chesapeake Bay Spice Blend – a flavorful mix of over a dozen spices – was developed as a result of several years of experimenting with various herb and spice mixtures.  The aromas of this spice blend reminds me of eating fresh steamed Chesapeake Bay crabs on the deck of the in-laws beach cottage on Virginia’s Eastern Shore.  Amazing how certain aromas can bring back summer memories. Unlike many seasonings, like Old Bay, this Chesapeake Bay Spice Blend is not overwhelming.  I appreciate spices and blends that accentuate the flavor of the food, in this case peanuts, rather than overwhelm or mask it.

In keeping with the local theme, I paired the Chesapeake Spice Blend nuts with a Kluge Blanc de Blanc sparkling wine.  Despite the recent demise of Kluge Vineyards, I have been, and always will be, a fan of Kluge sparkling wines. This may be a biased pairing recommendation since I hold the belief that sparkling wine pairs well with anything, literally.  Although I wouldn’t typically pair wine with peanuts, the Kluge Blanc de Blanc matched well with the spices.  Bright straw color in the glass, this 100% Chardonnay sparkling wine made in the méthode traditionelle showed lively aromas of green apple, pear, flint, and lime zest on the nose.  The lively nose coupled with the green apple, yeast, and light floral flavors on the palate proved a perfect contrast (yes, contrast) for the spice blend and football.

Although I tend to limit my alcohol consumption almost exclusively to wine, I’ve recently received a number of Virginia Ciders and Beers for an upcoming series so I decided to include a more traditional pairing of nuts and beer.  The beer of choice was the Star Hill Festie made by Starr Hill Brewery in Charlottesville, VA.  Starr Hill has a number of different brews including Irish Red Ale, Lager, Hefeweizen, Stout, and this Festie – an Oktoberfest lager available seasonally.  I liked the amber, dark orange color in the glass with flavors of caramel and hints of baked peach.  I’m not sure this was the right beer for deez nuts.  Though I’m far far far from a beer expert, I feel the Starr Hill Pale Ale may have been a better pairing.

For those readers in Virginia – Buy Local – check your local gourmet shop for Chesapeake Bay Spice Blend ($9.99 for 20 ounce tin), or you can order directly from Belmont Peanuts website.  If you can find it, I highly recommend scooping up as much Kluge sparkling wine as you can – once it’s gone, it’s really gone.  Star Hill beers are sold at wine shops throughout Virginia. For those readers in the rest of the world, please buy Virginia products; we need your tax revenue!

Happy New Year!

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Questions, Comments, Complaints, Random Observations? Contact Me Here

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