Winery Visit - The Barns

The Barns at Hamilton Station Vineyards has to be my favorite winery I have been to up to this date. While I was home in Northern Virginia my mom, friend and I decided that we should spend our Saturday going to different wineries. We've heard wonderful things about The Barns from our friends that live in Hamilton and figured it would be a great place to begin our Saturday.

The interesting thing about this winery is that I passed it almost everyday last summer on my way to work, but had never noticed it. That is very surprising because it is located on a beautiful lot of land and has an absolutely gorgeous barn. After parking next to rows and rows of vines, we walked up the rocky road to the barn. The simple sight of the barn was enough for us to want to stop and take pictures.

The Barn in which the Tasting Room is located

 

 

Sign outside the main barn

Erin and I outside of the Barn

When we walked inside it was relatively crowded but I still decided that I would stand in the middle of the room and take pictures of the beautiful woodwork, looking like a crazy person.

Inside tasting room

Inside tasting room

When we walked up to the tasting bar a young girl greeted us and we began our tasting. Through talking with her we learned that she is the girlfriend of the owner's son. She began to tell us that his parents and their friends joined in on this adventure and have owned the winery for a few years. They opened the tasting room only last summer and are looking forward to having a "true, full" summer in which all of the area knows of their wonderful winery. I learned about the details of the actual barn from a brochure I picked up on the way in. It states, "The Barns at Hamilton Station Vineyards boasts a 100-year-old restored stone and wood Bank Barn. Along with the pastoral and mountain views, amazing sunsets, beautiful old-world style farm grounds and the golden wood and ethereal ceilings of the restored 2000 square foot barn make it a wonderful location for special events or simply for a casual meeting with a group of friends."

Tasting:

Our tasting began with...

Name: 2011 Bank Barn White
Varietal: Vidal Blanc, Tramminette, Viognier, Petit Manseng
Region: Hamilton, VA
Country: U.S.
Year: 2011
Price: $22

Winery Review: This refreshing blend of Vidal Blanc, Tramminette, Viognier, and Petit Manseng offers aromes of lime and honey dew melon and a soft touch of lychee on the palate. Pair with spicy Asian fusion dishes, or simply enjoy it with a relaxing evening.

My Review: Loved this wine!  It had a strong, sweet aroma with a very strong honey dew scent. It opened with a sweetness but had a balanced finish that was full and clean.

Food: N/A

 
Name: 2011 Petit Verdot
Varietal: 100% Petit Verdot
Region: Hamilton, VA
Country: U.S.
Year: 2011
Price: $26

Winery Review: This wine shows dark fruit notes of blackberries with some overlapping floral and spice notes, as well as vanilla and toast. Nicely extracted and deep in color and body, the wine has depth and structure. The dark fruits work with the new oak and tannins to provide for a complete wine. A young wine that will benefit from time in the bottle, it will be a great match for heavier meats and game.

My Review: I did not enjoy this wine due to the full-bodied tannins that it had. It had a spicy, cinnamon, tobacco aroma which gave me the impression that I was not going to enjoy the wine. There was no surprise when this wine gave a spicy, tobacco finish. I agree with the winery when they say that it should be paired with heavier meats. I feel the meat will help cut the spice of the wine and make it more enjoyable.

Food: N/A

 
Name: 2011 Merlot
Varietal: 100% Merlot
Region: Hamilton, VA
Country: U.S.
Year: 2011
Price: $24

Winery Review: A medium bodied red with fresh red fruits and a touch of oak. Balanced with a combination of raspberry, cherry and red current notes. Ten months in French and American oak have added volume and richness. Made in a more approachable style, this wine is a good match for meats and pasta.

My Review: This wine has a sweet aroma. Although it smelled sweet and knew that it had berries in it I couldn't depict a certain scent that was strong. The wine seemed relatively average and did not necessarily leave me wanting more. It had soft oak flavors on the palate and gave a long finish.

Food: N/A


Name: 2011 Cabernet Franc
Varietal: 100% Cabernet Franc
Region: Hamilton, VA
Country: U.S.
Year: 2011
Price: $24

Winery Review: Bright red fruit aromas of strawberry, cherry and cranberry that are complimented by soft oak notes. Gently extracted in order to make this a fresh, young drinking style of Cabernet Franc, the wine exhibits supple tannins, fresh red fruits and good balance. A great summer red wine that will pair well with a wide variety of dishes, from grilled tuna or pork chops to pasta.

My Review: This wine had a very strong vanilla and cherry aroma. It was delicious and made me excited to try the wine. It was light and had soft tannins which made it pleasant to drink. It was very balanced and left a long, light finish on the palate. A red wine that I would definitely enjoy again.

Food: N/A

Name: 2011 Chardonnay
Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
Region: Hamilton, VA
Country: U.S.
Year: 2011
Price: $24

Winery Review: This classic barrel fermented style has nicely integrated flavors that blend with the apple and pear nuances to produce a full bodied wine. A great match with grilled poultry and heavier seafood dishes.

My Review: I found it interesting that this wine was fermented in three different barrels. It was first fermented in two different oak barrels and the completed in a steel barrel.  I thought that because of this the wine would have a strong oak taste but I didn't seem to notice it. It had a refreshing, crisp apple aroma with a hint of butter. It was crisp and light on the palate without a strong dry taste. It finished with soft tannins and I truly enjoyed it.

Food: N/A

After the tasting we decided to get a glass of wine and sit on the patio. I got a glass of the Bank Barn White and my mom and friend each got a glass of the Cabernet Franc. Walking outside, it was hard not to fall in love with scenery. The balcony is made of wood and rod iron and has about 15-20 sets of tables and chairs. When looking over the railing you can see the many acres that the winery is located on. 

View from the Balcony

Vines

Below the deck is another seating area and to the left there is a fire pit. In the distance there is a pond and cows walking around on the hills. Although my mom and friend were wonderful company it was entertaining to watch the children run to the pond. It showed how family oriented this winery is and I would never hesitate to suggest that someone have their wedding there. I'm actually hoping that I will be able to get a job here over the summer as part of the tasting staff. Even if I don't end up working here over the summer, I know that I will be back many times over this summer.