Effingham Manor and Winery
by
Kathy and Terry Sullivan
Summary: Effingham Manor and Winery in Nokesville, Virginia, is an adult-only venue featuring a delightful matching of wine and history. Wine enthusiasts can enjoy a wine tasting in the recently built tasting room and also appreciate a tour of the manor house built in the mid 1700s.
Effingham Manor
The Effingham Manor Winery is located close to the Effingham Manor built circa 1767. Effingham Manor is on the National Register of Historic Places.
The manor house, built in the Tidewater-style, was built by William Alexander, the grandfather of John Alexander who was the founder of Alexandria, Virginia. Four chimneys and tall white columns across the front of the manor add to the beauty of the historic building. The manor house has three floors with the first two floors open to the public. Each room has wood floors and a fireplace. Several rooms are available for rent.
In the front of the manor leading to the main entrance, the walkway is lined with tall boxwood shrubs. These boxwoods are old being planted in the early 19th century. Also of note, in the front of the house is a Western Red Cedar tree. This tree is one of two living trees, east of the Mississippi River, brought back from the Lewis and Clark expeditions in the early 1800s.
At the back of the house, down a long sloping area was once a three-tiered English garden. This tiered garden, considered the oldest in Virginia, is currently under restoration.
Close to the manor house are an assortment of small buildings including: the original well building (57 feet deep), an original slave quarters with two fireplaces, a blacksmith shop and a smokehouse.
The property also has what is considered the oldest in-ground cement swimming pool in Fairfax County. The pool is large with an impressive number of large and small koi and goldfish. These colorful fish come to the surface to find food and play when the weather is warm.
Effingham Winery
Effingham Winery, is an adult only venue, located near the Effingham Manor. Tall white columns adorn the front of the one-story building. Inside numerous tables and chairs add plenty of seating for visitors to enjoy quiet conversation and a glass of Effingham wine. The tasting counter is located at the back of the large room.
A sitting area with comfortable chairs, sofa and coffee table has a fireplace as a focal point.
Beyond the wall behind one of the tasting counters interesting wine quotes begin and wrap around to the other side of the wall. Look for quotes such as “Wine is constant proof that God loves us and loves to see us happy” (Benjamin Franklin). “Penicillin cures, but wine makes people happy” (Alexander Fleming). “Men are like wine - some turn to vinegar but the best improve with age” (Pope John XXIII). “Age appears best in four things: old wood to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust and old authors to read” (Francis Bacon). When visiting be sure to check out the wall for more wine quotes.
To the left of the tasting counter is the barrel room. Oak barrels are stacked four high. We noticed the stacking mechanism that features four rollers, making it much easier to maneuver the exceedingly heavy barrels when necessary.
You will notice a pig theme in the winery tasting room that has several tasting counters. Look at the word Effingham for a clue as to why there are so many pig paraphernalia in the room.
Effingham Wines
Chardonnay 2014 was aged in mostly stainless steel with some oak aging. The wine was a light, cloudy color. The wine offered apple and citrus notes on the aroma and tastebuds.The finish was crisp with fruit.
Viognier 2015, aged in Acacia and neutral French oak, was “a different style.” The wine was a clear, bright yellow color. The aroma was very aromatic with floral notes of roses and summer flowers. The taste offered hints of peach. The wine was sweet with some crispness.
Traminette 2015, an off-dry wine, was aged in stainless steel. This yellow color wine had 0.5% residual sugar. The aroma and taste offered hints of citrus including lemon. The wine had good body. The taste lingered on the finish.
Rosé 2016 was a lovely dark pink color making it a perfect choice for Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day. The aroma was of light summer red fruit. The taste was slightly sweet with crispness. There were notes of strawberry and raspberry. You will want to consider enjoying this wine on a summer day in the backyard.
Merlot 2015 was an almost opaque ruby color. The aroma was of dark fruits. The taste had notes of blackberries and blueberries. The wine was medium-bodied with light tannins. The finish began with fruit notes and yielded to spices.
Kings Ransom 2015 was a special blend of four 2015 Pearmund Cellars vintages including Cabernet Reserve, Ameritage Reserve (Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, and Malbec), Black Ops (proprietary) and Ameritage (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec). The opaque dark ruby colored wine offered black fruits on the aroma. The taste was reminiscent of blackberries, cassis, blueberries and baking spices. It had a medium to full body with medium tannins. On the finish, the fruit yielded to spices.
Tannat 2016 was a dark ruby color. The aroma was of blackberries. The smooth taste included notes of blackberries and baking spices. The wine was full-bodied with old tannins. The finish of fruit yielded to baking spices.
Wine and history enthusiasts to Effingham Manor and Winery will discover wine, history and a tranquil atmosphere to enjoy when visiting. Plan on spending several hours. This is an oasis to enjoy.
Effingham Manor
14325 Trotters Ridge Pl
Nokesville, Virginia 20181
Article written March 2018
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