Seven Doors Winery
formally
Savoy Lee Vineyard & Winery
by
Kathy Sullivan
Note: Savoy Lee Vineyard & Winery was sold and is now Seven Doors Winery.
Summary: Seven Doors Winerylocated in Huddleston, Virginia provides a delightful winery experience that concludes with a taste of their special Sangria. The saying at the winery is “It’s not just a place, it’s a feeling,” says it all.
Seven Doors Winery is located in the countryside of Huddleston, Virginia. The parking lot has tall, antique-style lights surrounding it. David Wood started the winery in 2004. He commented that he always wanted to own a farm. Currently the winery produces 1,200 cases of wine and has the capacity for 5,000 up to 6,000 cases.
Tasting Room
The tasting room is delightful with additional space for events. The area for events is adjacent to the tasting area. There are several tables with chairs. A fireplace adds to the ambiance of this room. The tasting bar is made from cloth covered wood resting on oak barrels. It is a simple and elegant design.
The Winery
The winery is located below the tasting and event room. The planning for the winery included building the winery so that most of it is underground. There is plenty of space to grow in the tank area and a separate barrel room. The winery is an example of form follows function. There are many details that were implemented in the design. For example, there are three different electrical outlets for the crush pad equipment. This means that destemmers and crushers can be bought from around the world, this is a convenient feature.
The Vineyard
The six-acre vineyard was started in 2001 and is located near a lake about one mile from the winery. The grapevines include Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Sangiovese and Traminette.
The Savoy Lee Wines
We tasted two wines not bottled as of yet at Savoy Lee. The Cabernet Franc 2006 was currently in stainless steel and had been aged in oak for 18 months. The wine offered a plum aroma and taste. Another Cabernet Franc 2006 was in neutral American oak. This wine had a plum aroma and taste with mild tannins.
Back in the tasting room we tasted several wines including Johnson Mountain Picnic Red 2006, a Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc blend. The aroma was of dark fruit. The taste was light bodied with dark fruit notes including blackberries and plums. The finish was fruity with mild tannins. Echo Forest Red 2004 was produced from 2004, a wet year. The wine was a blend of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. It was a sienna color. There was an aroma of pepper and spice. The taste was light bodied with dark fruit nuances. The finish offered very mild tannins. Echo Forest Red 2005 was from a dry year. The color was dark sienna. This was a blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The aroma and taste were of dark fruit with earthy notes. Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 was aged in American oak for 18 months. The color was a dark red. The aroma and taste were of dark fruit with wood nuances. The finish was fruity with tannins. Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 was also aged for 18 months in American oak. The color was a dark purple. The aroma was of black fruit with wood nuances while the taste was of black fruit and spice.
For an extra special treat created at Savoy Lee be sure to ask about the Sangria. This is a very fruity drink. It is also attractive in a glass pitcher. In addition to a lemon, orange and lime wedges, pineapple and frozen strawberries are added to the mixture. Even in March this Sangria is delicious.
Seven Doors Winery
5800 Johnson Mountain Road
Huddleston, Virginia 24104
GPS: N37º 11.122’ W79º 23.227’
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