Issue 28       August 2007

In This Issue:

Our Latest Adventure:
Central Virginia

Upcoming Winery Adventures 

What's new at the Winery Adventures website
August Wine Recommendations Have Been Posted

Feature Article:
Ontario Winery Undergoes Major Renovation

Area wine events

Featured businesses:

Wellington Inn Bed & Breakfast A meticulously restored landmark in Traverse City, Michigan www.wellingtoninn.com

Vinifera -  The Inn on Winery Row Near more than 45 award-winning wineries in Grimsby, Ontario www.viniferainn.ca

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Our recent visit to Central Virginia
Our July visit to the Charlottesville, Virginia area was absolutely wonderful. We spent three full days visiting this region's wineries and couldn't come close to seeing all of them. I'm sure we'll need to schedule another trip to Charlottesville in the future. We were able to stop by twelve while we were there and tasted some fabulous wines. Virginia wines have come a long way in the past couple of years and the mountain scenery is always gorgeous. Gary and I were "wowed" by the wines and atmosphere at both Oakencroft and First Colony...and we sampled some incredible wines at Barboursville and Horton...just to name a few.  We are in the process of writing all the reviews, so watch the Virginia Wineries page for our latest postings. Pictured: Sharon and Gary sample wine at First Colony Winery in Charlottesville, VA. 

Historic Lodging in Charlottesville, Virginia
The Inn at the Crossroads
While on our latest trip to Virginia, we found wonderful lodging in North Garden (just south of Charlottesville at The Inn at the Crossroads. The inn was originally built in 1818 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Place. The front porch was the site of a 1936 campaign speech by Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The main inn offers five guestrooms and a larger summer kitchen cottage is also available on the property. Our room for three nights was the Americana Suite - which featured a comfortable king bed, separate living area with sofa-sleeper and a spa shower. The grounds are beautifully landscaped and provide plenty of seating areas for quiet and relaxing evenings in the Virginia countryside. The Innkeeper, Jim Stern, is a gracious host and we looked forward to conversation with him over breakfast each morning. The gourmet breakfasts were so delicious (peach pancakes, stuffed french toast, coconut waffles) and were always served with various breakfast breads, fruits and juice and coffee. We found it to be the perfect location for our home base with visiting the area wineries. Check out their website for more photos and information about the accommodations they offer. Pictured: Sharon stands at the entrance of The Inn at the Crossroads in North Garden, Virginia. 

Feature Article:
Hillebrand Winery Renovation
3-million dollar winery transformation celebrated

     Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario (July 2007) - On a July afternoon, under sunny skies, Hillebrand Winemaker Darryl Brooker hosted growers, neighbors and community leaders who joined together to celebrate the completion of the winery's five-month renovation. Hillebrand's desire to constantly evolve has led to the enhancement of their winemaking facilities and visitor experiences, once again helping to position Hillebrand as a leader in the Niagara wine industry. 

     Inspired by the surrounding vineyards, features such as the Wiarton stone on the new two-story Winemaker's Lookout and the copper roofing, work together to capture the essence of Niagara's wine lifestyle in a stunning and stylish environment. The architectural detailing and extensive landscaping are enhanced by the new natural color palate, blending together to create the perfect backdrop to an unforgettable experience. 

     The Hillebrand Winery Restaurant underwent a dramatic transformation, including the addition of a 1,000-bottle glass wine cellar, cork flooring and carefully chosen artwork by Ontario artists now featured on the labels of Hillebrand's recently released Artist Series wines. Guests dining on the restaurant patio now enjoy an infinity fountain, adding to the incredible view of the Backyard Vineyard and Niagara Escarpment. 

     A new underground Trius Red Barrel Cellar, including one hundred oak barrels and a 2,250-litre foudre barrel, sets the backdrop for wine tastings and intimate dinners. Winemaker Darryl Brooker is pleased with the winery transformation. "The renovations felt like a natural progression for Hillebrand as we continually are refining our winemaking and visitor experiences to engage our wine lovers."

     Hillebrand Winery has just completed a $3-million winery renovation, providing guests with a new stylish and energetic wine and culinary experience. Hillebrand Winery is one of Canada's most honored wineries, with more than 450 medals from national and international competitions. With more than 200,000 visitors each year, Hillebrand Winery has become one of the premier destinations for visitors to one of Canada's most beautiful regions. For more information on Hillebrand products, its popular Hillebrand Jazz and Blues at the Winery and the many other wine related activities, call the winery at (800) 582-8412 or visit www.hillebrand.com.

Area Wine Events:

August 3 & 4
Vintage Ohio at the Lake Farmpark
in Beautiful Lake County.