WINE FLAVORED BY HISTORY PALLADIO: The architecture and name of the winery building, Palladio, refer to Andrea Palladio (1508-80), an Italian architect and architectural theorist of the Renaissance whose studies of the ancient classical buildings of Rome resulted in his "Four Books of Rome," considered one of the most important written works in architecture. Copies of some of his remaining drawings have been reproduced and are on tour. It is anticipated they will be on exhibit at Barboursville Vineyards.
Barboursville Vineyards hosts History of Winemaking. By Patricia LaLand
Date published: 10/25/2008
EFFORTS to produce good wine in Virginia began in disappointment with the Jamestown settlers' discovery that wild scuppernong grapes did not provide a product acceptable to their educated and discriminating palates.
As a result, they continued for the next couple of hundred years to import the European wines they knew and loved, while making do with those made from what was available locally.
Now, however, winemaking is a major factor in Virginia's $18 billion tourism industry. Virginia Wine Month in October is marking its 20th anniversary this year. The long road to success is followed in the new book "Barboursville Vineyards: Crafting Great Wines Inspired by Spirits of the Past" by Chiles T.A. Larson.
There were mainly undocumented and always unsuccessful efforts to bring European vines to Virginia, the most notable being that of Philip Mazzei, an Italian from Tuscany who has been described as a "surgeon, merchant, linguist, diplomatic agent, historian and royal advisor."
Mazzei arrived in Virginia in 1773, was naturalized as a citizen by Gov. Dunmore and was well acquainted with influential Virginians, supporting the movement toward independence with his pen and oratory. He worked on behalf of the Colonies in Italy after the American Revolution by serving as an agent there.
Trying to grow grapevines and a country at the same time was a challenge that ended up being more successful for the country than for winemaking. Neglect, weather, insects and disease claimed Mazzei's vines, and he returned to Tuscany.
Gianni and Silvanna Zonin, present owners of Barboursville Vineyards, have several estates in Italy, but the 16th-century Castello d'Arbola in Tuscany is, as Silvanna says, "Our home away from home" where they have spent summers for 20 years. The vineyards there may have inspired Gianni to look toward establishing a business in the United States.
Virginia stole his heart when he visited during springtime, and in 1976 he purchased the 850-acre Barboursville property in Orange County after considering sites in New York, Illi-nois, California and Oregon.
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Barboursville Vineyards is located in Orange County, about 55 miles from Fredericksburg. From Fredericksburg take State Route 3 east to State Route 20 south to the town of Orange. Continue on Business Route 20 South (Main Street) past Montpelier to State Route 33 west. Turn left and take the first right, follow winery sign to State Route 678 for one-half mile. Turn left on State Route 777 and take the first drive on the right.
The tasting room is open Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tasting fee of $4 includes an inscribed glass and entitles you to a tasting of 16-20 wines, some offered only at the winery. On your second visit, bring your souvenir glass and there is no charge for tasting.
Winery tours are available Saturday and Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. on the hour, or by appointment, no charge. Call 540/832-3824 or go to bvvy@bar boursvillewine.com.
Lunch offers four appetizers, five first courses, five second courses and six desserts. For a two-course menu the cost is $36, with paired wines, $46; a three-course menu is $42, with paired wines, $55; the four-course menu is $50, with paired wines, $66.
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"Barboursville Vineyards: Crafting Great Wines Inspired by Spirits of the Past" by Chiles T.A. Larson has superb photography, mostly done by the author and supplemented with work by others, capturing stunningly romantic and descriptive images that take the book to coffee-table status. The 96-page book, self-published by Barboursville Vineyards, is available for $29.95 at the Barboursville Winery, Monticello, Dominion Bookshop in Charlottesville and the Virginia Historical Society in Richmond.
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Date published: 10/25/2008
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