Wines Along the Blue Ridge Parkway

                                                                         

Autumn is my favorite season. For me, there is no better place to enjoy an autumn afternoon than on the Blue Ridge Parkway with my good friends from southwest Virginia. Their home in Blacksburg is only about an hour from one of the entrances to the Parkway which is near Floyd, Virginia. (Please note: Yes, Floyd is a one syllable name, however, it is pronounced with three syllables, as in Fh-loy-id. . . or something like that, close enough.) Floyd is a haven of old hippies along with other good folks who aren't afraid to fly their freak flags.

The Parkway stretches 469 miles from the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to the Great Smokey Mountains National Park in North Carolina and Tennessee. The vistas along the way are breathtaking; it is nature at its finest.

There are wineries along the 469 mile stretch, and I will be focusing on two of my favorites in the greater Floyd area. The first is Chateau Morrisette which has been around for nearly thirty years. The first winery I ever visited on the Parkway.

My favorite wine at Chateau Morrisette is the award winning-- The Black Dog. It is a smooth red blend of  Chambourcin, Cabernet, and Merlot with spicy overtones, quite pleasing to the palate. It is the first wine I ever tasted there. It continues to still be my favorite selection. There are several other varieties of white and red wines to enjoy. The winery houses a lovely restaurant featuring a contemporary menu. In addition, a detached, spacious tasting room, equipped with a lengthy bar, is a favorite of visitors.

Tasters can sit on the terrace at the back of the restaurant and admire the extraordinary views of the vineyards. Often there is musical entertainment, including special concerts.

It is definitely worth stopping in and spending some time.

Arnold, my bear who hails from Fair Play, Colorado, is proudly modeling his recently acquired Chateau Morrisette t-shirt, featuring Black Dog.







                                             

Many Choices

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Continuing on . . .

Only a short distance from Chateau Morrisette is the Villa Appalaccia Winery which offers "Virginia Wines with an Italian Flair." Here we tasted seven wines, both white and red. I purchased a white, Pinot Grigio, which has a delicate flavor, and soft finish of apples and pears. I believe it will pair well with many foods. My red purchase was Aglianico (pronounced ah-LYAH-nee-koe). It is a grape grown in southern Italy which, fortunately, has adapted to the terroir of Blue Ridge Virginia. It has a fruity rich flavor, but does not overpower. It will pair well with beef, lamb, and cheeses. If you are interested in these wines, they can be ordered online at www.villaappalaccia.com.

                                                     

    
While visiting the Villa, enjoy a plate of salami, tasty cheeses, olives, and don't forget the bread! You might also engage in a game of Bocce Ball.

                                                         Some Travel Tips . . .

Before you plan a winery excursion along the Parkway, be sure to check the location of the wineries, or any other place of interest, on individual websites. If you think you can depend on local signs to guide you, you need think again. No signs are allowed on the Parkway, including road signs. There are very short, small road markers and that's it. So, one must pay extremely close attention to those markers when trying to locate a place.

Should you venture forth, please relax and take it easy as you drive along. Absorb all the lovely scenery. Don't miss a thing. Actually, you have no choice because the speed limit is 45 mph! You have no other choice but to enjoy the beautiful outdoors, and more importantly, enjoy yourself!