Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/744999
w w w. v w m m e d i a . c o m N o v - D e c 2 016 | V I N E YA R D & W I N E RY M A N A G E M E N T 2 9 Established in 1976 by Silvana and Gianni Zonin of Gambellara, Italy, Barboursville Vineyards occu- pies an expansive, historic estate in the Virginia Piedmont, which has been at the forefront of Vir- ginia agriculture since the 18th century. Eight min- utes south of James Madison's Montpelier and 20 minutes north of Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, the estate preserves the landmark ruins of the mansion Jefferson designed for then-governor James Barbour, featured on the winery's label. Now in its 40th year, Barboursville Vineyards has evolved as a distinctive estate of wine, cele- brating a gracious agricultural way of life in elegant, historic accommodations in the 1804 Inn and Cot- tages, James Beard-acclaimed dining at its Palla- dio Restaurant and daily tastings of classic vinifera wine varieties of international distinction. Wine tastings at Barboursville are framed by the Blue Ridge Mountains to the west, the South- west Mountains to the east and 182 serenely roll- ing acres of vines maintained by Fernanado Franco (viticulturist) and Luca Paschina (winemaker), who've both been recognized as being on the lead- ing edge of contemporary winegrowing. Two tasting environments take place in an aging cellar devoted to the estate's leading wine, Octagon: the Tuscan tasting room for sampling contemporary vintages daily and, on weekends, Library 1821 for older vintages in vertical or diver- sified tastings with house-made culinary accompa- niments. Guided tours are available on weekends and provide an engaging way to learn about the estate's history and winemaking practices. Guests are also encouraged to explore the property or even bring their own picnic to enjoy with the wine on the expansive lawns. www.bbvwine.com A visit to Biltmore is more than a simple wine tasting experience — it's more along the lines of a vacation that's rich in history, beauty, adventure and delights. Let's start with the house (shown here). Known as the largest home in the Unit- ed States, it was completed in 1895 by George Washington Vanderbilt III (Richard Morris Hunt was the architect). Its interior floor space is equivalent to about four acres, with 250 rooms including a bowling alley and indoor pool. Guests can embark on a self-guided tour or reserve a guided tour at an additional cost. The estate as a whole encompasses 8,000 acres, 150 of which were first planted to vine- yards in 1971. The home's surrounding gardens (there are six), conservatory and 250-acre plea- sure park (think carriage rides, bike rides, fly fish- ing and beyond) are open to visitors, as are all sorts of guided experiences among them. Antler Hill Village, opened in 2010, is the new- est addition to Biltmore. It's where Biltmore Win- ery is located (which opened in 1985), as well as a bandstand, casual inn, restaurants and more. Winey visitors can enjoy complimentary tastings of the winery's 20+ offerings or reserve a more intimate experience (choices include winery tours, a vineyard tour, wine and chocolate pair- ings and more; some require reservations). Those who don't feel they can (or want) to experience everything in one day can reserve a room at the luxury inn, cottage or more casual Village Hotel. www.biltmore.com Biltmore A s h e v i l l e , N o r t h C a r o l i n a Barboursville Vineyards B a r b o u r s v i l l e , V i r g i n i a Photo courtesy of The Biltmore Company