Visit 2 award-winning wineries in Fauquier County

Swirl, Sip, Snark’s video of a visit to Philip Carter Winery

Join us for a special wine tour to two award-winning wineries located in Hume, Fauquier County: Hume Vineyards and Philip Carter Winery!

First up on the tour is Hume Vineyards, located 50-acre historic farm dating back to the 1880s. Owner and winemaker Stephane Baldi and his wife, Andrea, opened last July and have been getting great reviews.

Here’s what wine blog Swirl, Sip, Snark had to say in an April 14 post:

The reds began with the ’10 Chambourcin ($19). This is a big red with loads of cooked fruit. It’s high alcohol for VA at 15.1% alcohol, but it’s very well balanced and doesn’t feel hot. Next, the ’08 Detour ($23) made a return appearance. It’s opened up a lot since the last time we had it, and loads of dark fruit and tobacco make an appearance. Oh, and it’s 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot.

We ended with the ’08 Cabernet Sauvignon ($26). I love coffee, and this wine has coffee notes galore and subtle fruit. Good stuff!

Next up on the tour is a winery owned by a family that traces its origins back to 1759,  when Charles Carter began growing grapes at his plantation, Cleve,  in King George County. Carter was awarded a gold medal for his wines in 1762 by the Society for the Encouragement of the Arts, Manufacture, and Commerce (now the Royal Society of Arts) in London — making them the first internationally recognized wines of America, according to the winery’s website.

Today, Carter wines continue to win accolades, and the winery claimed six titles in the 2011 Virginia Wine Lover Magazine’s First Annual “Best of” Reader’s Choice Awards:  White Overall-Chardonnay, Red Overall-Cleve, Cab Franc Overall, Desert-Late Harvest, White (Nova) and Red (Nova).

The tour takes place Saturday, May 28, with pickups at the West Falls Church Metro Kiss & Ride, Dulles Town Center and Lansdowne Resort. Cost is $35 and does not include winery tasting fees or driver gratuity.

To reserve your seats on this special wine tour, click here to visit Reston Limousine’s online Reservations page.

Destinations: Pearmund Cellars, Winery at La Grange

Reston Limousine has planned a special Public Wine Tour on May 24 to sister wineries Pearmund Cellars and Winery at La Grange, the brainchild of acclaimed winemaker Chris Pearmund.

Your visit begins at Pearmund Cellars, which boasts a 7,500-square-foot geothermal winery in the foothills of eastern Fauquier County. Here, you’ll enjoy tastings of classic and reserve wines with for $5 and $7 fees, respectively; both come with a souvenir glass. New on the tasting menu will be the 2008 Viognier, scheduled to be bottled on May 10. High hopes rest on this delicious varietal, as the 2007 vintage garnered a gold medal in Vineyard and Winery Management Magazine’s Great Harvest competition.

Judging by the long list of Pearmund’s regional, national and international awards on its Web site, guests on this tour are in for an amazing experience that will continue at the next stop, the Winery at La Grange.

Tastings take place in an 18th century manor house, where guests can choose between a Classic Tasting for $5 that includes nine wines or a Classic Plus Tasting for $8 that includes two special reds and a taste of the Snort, a Port-style red. As at Pearmund, you’ll leave with a souvenir glass with either tasting.

Among the winery’s portfolio of award-winning wines, the Fletcher’s Chardonnay stands out as a front-runner. The white Burgundean style wine which won a Best of Show and gold medals at the 2008 State Fair of Virginia Wine Competition.

At either of the wineries, be sure to ask about one of Chris Pearmund’s latest projects, a “brother winery” to Pearmund Cellars and Winery at La Grange. At Vint Hill Craft Winery, individuals or groups will work with expert winemakers from grape to bottle to create a barrel of their own of their choosing. After a year of “hands-on education,” the new winemakers will be rewarded with the juice of their labors – about 25 cases of wine.

Cost: $35 per person (does not include tasting room fees or gratuity)

For other lunch options, tour schedule, and other information, visit Reston Limousine’s Public Wine Tours page.

To book this tour, please call 703-478-0500 Option 1.