868 Estate Vineyards
by
Kathy Sullivan
Summary: 868 Estate Vineyards is a winery and vineyard outside of Purcellville, Virginia that offers a unique and creative experience. Visitors can view local artwork, dine at the Grandale Restaurant or enjoy a glass of wine on the patio in the pavilion.
868 Estate Vineyards located in the countryside near Purcellville, Virginia offers numerous experiences. The property includes Grandale Restaurant, 868 Estate Vineyards wine tasting room, the Monarch Butterfly Project, a park-like area with a pavilion and picnic tables under shady trees. Local artists exhibit their works on the walls of the 868 tasting room. During the summer of 2014, ten local artists are displaying detailed and colorful artwork of Monarch butterflies. In addition on summer weekends The Grill offers hamburgers, hot dogs and more.
At certain times of the year, parents can taste wines in the pavilion while their children play in two teepees created from bamboo and flowering vines.
Vineyards
The 868 Estate Vineyards was started in 2012 and includes Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonel grape varieties.
Three families own 868 Estate Vineyards. The owners include Peter and Nancy Deliso, Wendy and Chris Charron and Carl and Erin DiManno. Carl is also the winemaker. The partners began looking for property in 2010. Carl noted that it was difficult to find property to purchase. Finally in 2011, they purchased 90 acres, and opened for wine tastings in May 2012. Carl had already been producing wines and had some wines available for sale. Today Carl noted that he likes the sense of ownership he has as one of the owners.
In an earlier career, Carl DiManno was a chemical engineer working for Chevron on the corporate side of the business. After visiting California’s wine country he realized that winemaking has a “I made that” feeling. At Chevron he was missing that feeling. Eventually he left the chemical field to study winemaking at the University of California Davis. He worked two harvests in Napa Valley and decided to move to the Virginia and Maryland region. Carl was winemaker at a Maryland winery until he and his partners decided to purchase land in Northern Virginia to begin their own winery and vineyard.
The 868 Estate Tasting Room
The name for the winery 868 is for the elevation of the land. Carl noted that the highest elevation on the property is 868 feet. The tasting room is located in what was once a part of the Grandale Restaurant used for classes and events. Now the building has been transformed into the 868 tasting room only a short distance from the restaurant.
The tasting counter is U-shaped and several tables are available where visitors can enjoy a glass of wine. A patio is just outside of the tasting room and leads to an outdoor pavilion, beautifully landscaped gardens and picnic tables on a vast green grass area.
White Wines
Chardonnay 2012, with a light yellow color, was produced with fruit sourced from Washington State. The aroma was of apple and citrus. The finish was crisp with fruit yielding to caramel and vanilla. Riesling 2013 was a light yellow color. The aroma was aromatic with notes of fruit. The taste was also fruity. The finish lingered. Canvas White was a pale yellow wine with 12.9 percent alcohol. The aroma was of perfume and fruit. The taste was very sweet and fruity. Drink this wine as a 3P (porch, patio or pool) wine.
Red Wines
Altezza 2013 was a light ruby translucent color. The wine was a blend of Nebbiolo and Merlot. The aroma and taste had cherry notes. The wine offered mild chewy tannins. The finish was crisp and fruity. Meritage 2012 was a translucent ruby color. The wine was a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The aroma and taste were of blackberries and black cherries and the wine had medium tannins. The finish was fruity yielding to spice. Merlot 2012 was a translucent ruby color. The grapes were from the Columbia Valley. The aroma and taste were reminiscent of cherries. The wine had bold chewy tannins. The finish was crisp with fruit yielding to spice.
Events
Women will want to check out the special event, “The Vine, The Women’s Wine Event.” This event takes place on the fourth Thursday of each month. Each evening includes a three-course food and wine pairing and a seminar on wine.
Other events at 868 Estate include: guided butterfly walks, live music, winemaker talks and Fall Kite Day. For up-to-date event details, check out the online calendar on the 868 Estate Vineyards website.
Grandale Restaurant
The Grandale Restaurant is in a separate building, just a short walk from the 868 tasting room. The restaurant is one of the only restaurants in the countryside of Loudoun County due to county regulations. The restaurant's hours are somewhat limited and visitors who plan to dine should call for the hours. Grandale also offers catering for 868, other area wineries and businesses.
As you travel through Loudoun County in Northern Virginia, be sure to make 868 Estate Vineyards one of your stops. Plan to stay awhile to enjoy the wines and everything 868 Estate Vineyard has to offer.
868 Estate Vineyards
14001 Harpers Ferry Rd
Purcellville, Virginia 20132
GPS: N39º 13.893’ W77º 44.362’
Article written July 2014
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