Chrysalis Vineyards- Middleburg, VA
Virginia has exploded with wineries in recent years. Some produce a decent product, some are just a pretty place to spend the day. Even mediocre wine is enjoyable when paired with a fancy tasting room and a stunning view. I have yet to find a Virginia wine I love, but I have been to several tasting rooms I would return to. Boasting an expansive bedecked building, bucolic views, and ample shaded sitting spots, Chrysalis Vineyards in Middleburg is one of them.
Virginia is clearly not the first state that comes to mind when you think of wine. Nor should it be. However, eons of erosion have produced a rich granitic soil, which when coupled with good drainage and a long growing season produce some pretty good wines. In fact, some grape varieties thrive in mid-Atlantic conditions, including Viognier. Considered somewhat rare worldwide, the Viognier grape can be persnickity; often afflicted with low yields and vineyard diseases, it can be a tricky grape to grow. Chrysalis Vineyards, however, has been growing the grape since 1997, and has consistently produced a quality product. It has won several prestigious awards over the years, and it is what you should be drinking when you visit.
But first, a bit of background about wine in the Commonwealth. Growing grapes in Virginia in nothing new. In fact, a 1619 law required each male colonist to cultivate at least ten grapevines, in hopes North America could provide Britain with wine. That didn’t quite work out. Even Thomas Jefferson couldn’t make grapes grow at Monticello, and he could do just about anything. However, through trial and error, and a lot of research, by the 1980s the Virginia wine industry finally came into its own. Today, there are over 250 wineries scatted throughout the state, with over 24 located in the Middleburg area alone. Choosing a winery given this volume can be overwhelming; however, with excellent grounds and great grapes, Chrysalis is a solid stop.
They may be known for the native Norton grape, but given we visited on a scorching summer day, we limited our tasting to their whites. We sampled their 2015 Viognier, Albarino and Albarino Verde. The stand out was the Viognier, which was fruity, dry, and cold. Armed with a reasonably priced bottle, we headed for one of the many shaded tables, and watched a storm form off in the distance. There are certainly no shortage of sitting areas, and all offer excellent views of the countryside and surrounding mountains. All told, it was a wonderful way to spend an afternoon. One day we will return for their reds.
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