The end of June also means the end of Pride Month, and Loudoun County wineries participating in Pride in the Vines wrapped up the celebration this past weekend. I was out of town for most of June, but that didn’t stop me from visiting at least a few of the wineries participating in the fun program.
June is designated Pride month because of the historic Stonewall Riots that occurred in New York City on June 28, 1969. Pride marches organized by the LGBTQ+ community began the following year in American cities to commemorate the event. President Clinton designated June as Pride month in 1999, and since then, Pride month celebrations have become international in scope. This year, Washington DC was the site of World Pride in 2025. In 2014, Two Twisted Posts Winery launched the inaugural Pride in the Vines celebration, and a passport program was developed to encourage both wineries and wine consumers to join in the festivities. This year, 23 Loudoun County wineries participated in the program. Participants received a Pride in the Vines passport at the first participating winery, and the passport is then stamped at each winery on the passport. Once 10 winery stamps have been earned, the passport is left with the tenth winery. Passports are then entered into a raffle, and the winner receives prizes to include wine, tastings at wineries, and more.
I began my quest to collect stamps on my passport at the Two Twisted Posts Winery, the pioneer of this fun program. My other quest, though, was to seek out a wine that would pair with shrimp boulettes, the featured recipe on latest The Cajun Cooks video. I settled on the 2023 Vidal Blanc with its floral notes and tropical fruit characteristics. Its touch of sweetness, less than 1% residual sugar, provides the cooling touch required by spicy dishes. Along the way, I sipped samples of the 2022 Sur Lie Chardonnay, a fuller-bodied Chardonnay that spends 21 months on oak, and the lighter, crisper 2022 Unoaked Chardonnay. I would also recommend the 2020 Cabernet Franc for grilled fare, and its fruity palate presented flavors of black raspberries and dark cherries. Before I purchased bottles of my favorite wines, I made certain to pick up my passport and collected my first stamp.
From there, I headed to Walsh Family Wine as I was motivated to garner a second stamp! I sampled a flight of four wines here, and all were excellent. On a warm day, the zesty 2024 Sauvignon Blanc hits the spot with notes of lemon and freshly-mown grass. ABC-ers (Anything But Chardonnay) would be wise to give the 2021 North Gate Chardonnay a taste. Fresh, juicy apple hits the palate with a lovely, rounded mouth feel reflecting judicious use (eight months) of neutral oak barrels. If buttery Napa Chardonnays are not your thing, consider this one from Walsh Family Winery.
My flight at Walsh Family Wine continued with the refreshing 2022 Rose, a blend of Cabernet Franc (60%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (40%). Bright strawberry and melon notes here, and it’s destined to be enjoyed year round. The 2022 Bethany Ridge Cabernet Franc completed my flight, and I appreciated its flavors of dark seed berries and black currants. Buy now and appreciate with a grilled steak or savor later with heartier fare in cooler seasons. I tasted an extra wine that was also paired with shrimp boulettes. Which one did I sample? Watch the latest video of The Cajun Cooks to find out.
I met my friends Randy and Gregg for a tasting at Walsh Family Winery the following weekend, and the 2021 North Gate Chardonnay was the group favorite. What choice did we have but to enjoy a bottle with gouda cheese and charcuterie?
Armed with my passport and two stamps, I later headed to Zephaniah Farm Vineyard. I enjoyed a tasting outdoors on a warm but comfortable morning. I was most intrigued with the floral 2021 Adeline, a blend of Muscat Ottonel, Vidal Blanc and Petit Manseng and the 2022 Chelois, a grape not widely planted anywhere. Zephaniah Farm Vineyard is only the second winery in the Mid-Atlantic region to grow the grape, but it is delicious. Pinot Noir-esque is how I would describe Chelois. Bright and fruity with an easy palate, Chelois provides a unique option for those who prefer Pinot Noir but cannot find it at most Virginia wineries. (Read more about the Chelois grape here.) Its should also prove itself to be quite versatile with most menus, whether its light summer fare or Thanksgiving turkey with cranberry sauce. Cabernet Franc continues to be a red wine champion at most Virginia wineries, and a bottle of Zephaniah Winery’s 2020 Cabernet France came home with me—along with a third stamp on my Pride in the Vine Passport.
Stamp #4 came with a tasting at Williams Gap Vineyard this past Friday, and general manager Bridgette Smith guided me through my tasting. Williams Gap was the site for a Pride extravaganza on June 28 featuring LGBTQ+ vendors, food trucks, music, and great wines. Although I could not attend the Saturday fun, I did enjoy the excellent wines crafted for William Gap Vineyards by winemaker Rob Cox during my Friday visit. I’ve mentioned before that Petit Manseng has really caught my attention, and the playful 2022 Petit Manseng with notes of pineapple and tropical fruit was a favorite. It also seemed a bit leaner and drier on the palate than other PMs I’ve tasted in the past at other wineries. The 2022 Williams Gap White is a white blend also includes Petit Manseng, and its fruity palate and refreshing acidity heralds summer. Enjoy with cheeses and fresh fruit while on the beach! Readers looking for a lighter-bodied red to enjoy during the hot summer days should try the 2022 Mountain Valley Red, a blend of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Its juicy red berry flavors should pair well with burgers and a sunset. I finished my afternoon at Williams Gap Vineyard with a celebratory glass of the Blanc de Blanc done in the methode champenoise. Dancing bubbles in the glass and festive fresh apple flavors on the palate provided a fitting way to observe Pride Month in its closing days. (Oh, be sure to watch the next episode of The Cajun Cooks, because a white wine from Williams Gap Vineyard will be paired with my next recipe. Of course, you will have to watch to find out which one.)
I admit to running out of time to finish the Pride in the Vines passport program, but I did snatch a fifth stamp at 8 Chains North Winery. Winemaker Ben Renshaw may have been a pioneer in producing quality Sauvignon Blanc in Virginia, and the 2024 vintage was a pleasure to taste. Well balanced with a crisp finish, this vintage featured more tropical nuances rather than grassy notes typically associated with this variety. The 2022 Syrah, produced from Loudoun County fruit, was a treat with elements of raspberry and violet. Its soft, fruity palate is another pour suitable for grilled fare during the summer.
While I was not able to complete my passport, I was nevertheless able to celebrate Pride in the Vines in Loudoun County to some degree. (Note to self: start earlier than June since the celebration begins in mid-May.) Please visit the wineries mentioned in this post, and mention that Virginia Wine Time sent you.
I extend a heartfelt thank you to all wineries in Loudoun County for recognizing Pride Month. Other wineries that participated in Pride in the Vines included:
- 50 West
- 868
- Bleu Frog
- Bozzo
- Carriage House Wineworks
- Doukenie Winery
- Fabbioli Cellars
- Farm de Vine
- Good Spirit Farm
- Hillsborough Winery
- Kalero
- Mt. Defiance
- October One Vineyard
- Old Farm Winery
- Sunset Hills Vineyard
- Stone Tower Winery
- the Barns
- Wine Reserve at Waterford
