After visiting Casanel Vineyards and Dry Mill Vineyards, the Reston Limousine Blogger’s Wine Tour resumed our travels to our next destinations on the Loudoun Wine Trail’s Harmony Cluster.
Our group arrived at Zephaniah Farm Vineyard, Loudoun’s smallest winery and open only by appointment. Bill Hatch and his wife, Bonnie Archer, led us into the wonderful 1830 manor house that serves as one of the most unique tasting rooms we’ve visited. At the entry, Bill showed us a black and white photograph that included his great-grandfather, Zephaniah Jefferson Hatch, for whom the winery is named.
The home’s rich history was evident in the antique furniture and photographs placed throughout the tasting room, which once served as a parlor. Following the tastings of their Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, Bill was joined by his son and fellow winemaker, Tremain, in explaining his family’s winemaking process downstairs as he offered barrel tastings for the group.
We could easily have spent the entire day at Zephaniah, but the final stop on our our tour awaited: Willowcroft Farm Vineyards, Loudoun’s original winery. Celebrating 25 years this year, the award-winning Willowcroft is a popular destination on the wine trail and often hosts celebrations such as the bridal shower taking place that day.
Tastings take place in a historic red barn, and when the heights on Mt. Gilead aren’t shrouded in mist and light rain as it was on Saturday, great views of the Blue Ridge Mountains can be had from the picnic area. The weather dissuaded us from taking self-guided tours of the farm, unfortunately.
Flush with the tastings of the day, we headed back to the bus and our driver, James, and admired his handiwork in creating our names out of copper wire. If you ever meet him on the Reston Limo DC tour, be sure to ask him for a song!
We’d like to thank Tammi Marcoullier, Audrey McGill, Dezel Quillen, Joe Roberts, and Kathy and Terry Sullivan for joining us on our first blogger’s tour, and to Casanel Vineyards, Dry Mill Vineyards, Zephaniah Farm Vineyard and Willowcroft Farm Vineyard for hosting the bloggers on Saturday.
If you would like to schedule your own private tour of the Harmony Cluster of the Loudoun Wine Trail or other regional wine trails, please visit www.restonlimo.com for more information.