3623 Grove Lane, Delaplane. 540-364-6402. www.barreloak.com. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tasting, $6 for the BOW or WOW; $10 for both.
While you’re in the
neighborhood . . .
Market Salamander
Grab a sandwich and Pellegrino for a picnic, or let the friendly servers pile a hot plate with mac and cheese, Swiss chard or fingerling potatoes and stay awhile at this busy shop on Middleburg’s main drag. The fare leans more Whole Foods than quaint country market, so although you may not find kitsch, you will find hearty snacks for your day and plenty of tempting-looking desserts packed to go.
200 W. Washington St., Middleburg.
540-687-8011. www.marketsalamander.com.
Timmie Jane
If there’s one stop fashion buffs should make in Middleburg, it’s Timmie Jane, a chichi vintage shop packed with snug dresses and bijoux that look like they came out of Elizabeth Taylor’s dressing room. The prices trend high, but check the labels. The shop is swimming in Ferragamo, as well as the occasional Chanel, Dior and frothy designer frock in mint condition.
12 E. Washington St., Middleburg. 540-687-3211. www.timmiejane.com.
Trip 3
Go off the grid
in Fauquier
Your GPS begins to go on the fritz as pavement gives way to winding gravel roads. You begin to pass train tracks and farms, where colorful butterflies, does and hares peek out from the roadside. It’s almost impossible to believe that, in the hilly terrain around Linden, Hume and Markham, there are two dozen wineries, many brand-new or a few years old. (Pack a lunch; there’s not much in the way of restaurants in this part of wine country.)
In July, Fauquier County passed restrictions on such events as wine dinners, catered foods and live music at wineries, which may affect the wineries in months to come. At estates such as Linden, which eschews special events and discourages partyers by limiting access to its patio, things feel much the same: tranquil.
Linden Vineyards
Tasting notes: A quiet temple of winemaking, this winery is ideal for those serious about learning.
The boom in Virginia wine tourism the past five years hasn’t changed Linden Vineyards much. The winery, firmly planted at the edge of Hardscrabble Mountain since the 1980s, has never been keen on festivals, picnickers or anyone but serious wine fans. But for those curious about what Virginia wines can be, Linden — one of the state’s most esteemed wineries — is a worthy stop. Highlights include the beautiful deck, which is open to the public only on weekdays (it’s so lovely, it’s worth playing hooky from work). If you visit on a weekend, go for the hourly reserve-cellar tastings, which provide a glimpse of a variety of the vineyard’s vintages. It makes for a fun comparison, considering how weather and terroir can change, say, a rose or a seyval, from year to year.
3708 Harrels Corner Rd., Linden. 540-364-1997. www.lindenvineyards.com. Wednesday-Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tasting, $5; reserve tasting (offered on weekends on the hour between noon and 4 p.m.), $15.
Desert Rose Ranch and Winery
Tasting notes: Quirky wines match a quirky back story. Desert Rose is the latest pursuit of a worldly government worker turned well-regarded horse trainer.
Many wineries reflect the passions and pasts of their owners in the names of wines or trinkets on the wall. For the story of Desert Rose owner Bob Claymier, just look at the bar, where every imaginable foreign currency is embedded, mementos from the far-flung places his career with the CIA took him. After retiring, Claymier had settled into life as a rancher, but in 2011, the horse trainer and his wife, Linda, added “winemakers” to their résumés.
A sense of humor finds its way into their wines, which include “R.E.D.,” a Chambourcin named for the 2010 movie about former black-ops in their golden years, and “Ole Moo Moo,” an off-dry white blend of viognier and vidal blanc that takes its name from the ranch’s sole cow. With a pond and log-cabin feel, the estate alone makes Desert Rose worth a visit, and the chatty attendants are great resources on the wines.
There is one snag to getting to Desert Rose. Ignore your GPS to avoid driving several miles on frustratingly bumpy gravel roads. As you leave Linden Vineyards, return to John Marshall Highway and travel east to Leeds Manor Road. This will lead you to the rural ranch faster.
13726 Hume Rd., Hume. 540-635-3200. www.desertrosewinery.com. Thursday-Monday, 1 to 6 p.m. Tasting, $5; reserve tasting, $7.
Naked Mountain Winery
and Vineyards
Tasting notes: Twenty-something owners have upped the fun factor since buying this 30-plus-year-old vineyard.
Never mind the funny name; this winery reflects the newcomers’ impact on Virginia wines. In 2010, Randy and Meagan Morgan, who are in their late 20s, visited Naked Mountain, a Fauquier winery whose wines were served in the White House under presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush. The couple were smitten, and when they learned the winery was for sale, they snapped it up. Since then, they have slowly remade the three-decade-old winery in their own vision, enlisting a new winemaker and adding a greater diversity of wines.
It’s all about appealing to a broader range of wine drinkers, particularly young oenophiles not unlike themselves, says Randy Morgan, explaining why Naked Mountain has added a Beaujolais-style, light-bodied red and a few dry reds. The older vintages are still available for those who want to take home some of those award-winning offerings. And to get a better sense of the current winemaking style and the older vintages, try a reserve tasting.
2747 Leeds Manor Rd., Markham. 540-364-1609. www.nakedmtnwinery.com. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday-Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tastings, $5; reserve tasting, $10.
While you’re in the
neighborhood . . .
Just down the road from Naked Mountain, you’ll find this popular you-pick farm, which teems with peaches in the late summer and, come September, apples. After Labor Day, the farm hosts small fall festivals every weekend through Halloween, featuring a corn maze, hayrides and more. This is a destination for both color-watchers and folks in search of a real pumpkin patch.
3064 Hartland Lane, Markham. 540-364-2316. www.hartlandorchard.com.
8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sky Meadows State Park
In the fall, there are few better views of the trees and stars than those afforded by this park on the edge of the Blue Ridge, just a short distance north of Naked Mountain. The park includes picnic grounds, a campsite and 12 miles of trails, but for those just looking for a cool evening excursion or somewhere to see the changing leaves, events such as the Blue Moon Walk (Aug. 31) and Fall Farm Festival (Oct. 6-28) are highlights.
11012 Edmonds Lane, Delaplane. 540-592-3556. www.dcr.virginia.gov. Parking is $3 on weekdays; $4 on weekends.
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