Valhalla Vineyards

Wine: Winery: Ambiance: Sep 08, 2011

Favorite Wine: Alicante Bouschet

Norton Wine Review: Let me get a few items behind me before I start tempting you with Valhalla Vineyards. First of all be aware that this winery has very constrained hours since the owners have other professional jobs. Next, the final four mile drive to the vineyard is very, very step on a mountain-like paved road. I would discourage RV travelers or people with Yugo like automobiles from attempting this drive. Lastly, if you read Todd Kliman’s The Wild Vine and your visit was predicated on just picking up a Norton wine, there are better selections elsewhere in Virginia. Though you are offered an aged organically grown 2004 ‘Tarnhelm’ Norton, the tasting notes are rather bland for such a normally robust wine. I found sour undertones I would not usually associate with an aged Norton wine. Rarely do I not pick up Norton wines to do later comparative notes, but here I passed this temptation. Now for the good points why you should cruise up the mountain to Valhalla Vineyards: you will be rewarded with an incredible view from 2000’ looking down over the Roanoke valley. Bring a picnic to sit out on the veranda with one of Valhalla’s selection of wines all produced from their 21 acres of grape vines which were initially planted in 1994. Here you will find a Richard Wagner score of wines to entertain you as Rheingold (Reserve Chardonnay), two Valkyri wines (Cab Sav, Cab Franc, Merlot, Petite Verdot and Malbec), and a couple Gotterdammerungs (Cabernet Franc-Merlot blends). It should be noted that Valhalla Vineyards produces wines with as few chemicals as possible. I would suggest traveling up the 'mountain' to try Valhalla’s 2005 Alicante Bouschet wine. This is a grape only produced today by nine vineyards in the U.S (CA 6, WV 1, VA 1, OK, 1). During prohibition , this was the “Dago Red” that kept the Speak Eases running with a wine that did not need the skins tossed back into the mix to make the wines red. Though, for the most part, their prices are reasonable, they do offer an additional 20% off on case prices.

Wine: Winery: Ambiance: Aug 25, 2008

Favorite Wine: 2002 Viognier

Wine: Winery: Ambiance: Apr 13, 2008

April 2008