The Father of Virginia Wine — Gabriele Rausse — Teaches Us About Jefferson's Passion
Pour yourself a lovely glass of vino and sit back and relax as you watch this Grateful American TV video starring Gabriele Rausse, who has been dubbed “The Father of the Modern Virginia Wine Industry.”
It is with good reason. Rausse has been involved in the startup of numerous wineries, including his own, since he first came to Virginia from his native Valdagno, Italy.
Today he is Monticello’s Director of Gardens and Grounds, and joined Monticello as assistant director of gardens and grounds in 1995. During his time at Monticello, he has worked to restore Thomas Jefferson’s vineyard, located just below the vegetable garden.
The Northeast vineyard was replanted using several Jefferson-related European varieties, grated on hardy, pest-resistant native rootstock. The Southwest Vineyard was replanted entirely with the Sangiovese grape, a variety documented by Jefferson in 1807 and the principal ingredient of Chianti. Rausse oversees the production of wine as well as the care of the restored vineyards, which continue to serve as experimental gardens of unusual varieties of vinifera.
In this interview with David Bruce Smith and Hope Katz Gibbs, Rausse answers these questions:
1. Jefferson is known as an agricultural experimenter. What crops did he try to grow on the surrounding plantation?
2. What plants did he experiment with growing in his Kitchen Garden? What were some of his favorites and how did he like to eat them?
3. Jefferson, a wine lover, also experimented with growing grapes. What varieties did he try to grow?
4. How did all of Jefferson’s agricultural experimentation fit into his vision for America and its place in the world?
5. How do we know so much about what Jefferson grew?
Watch the video now! And be sure to check out more fascinating facts and interviews at
Here's to restoring enthusiasm in American history for kids, and adults!
Quièvremont Winery: Fine Virginia Wine
We invite you to Quièvremont Winery! Estate-grown grapes, classic winemaking, delicious wines... all in beautiful Rappahannock County, Virginia.
For more information on Quièvremont Winery, visit us online:
Virginia Wine - Wines of Virginia Vineyards - Winery Tours
Virginia vineyards will have you swept away by their romance and beauty. A local wine maker shares his passion in this video. Fulfilling the vision of forefather Thomas Jefferson, wineries now spot the lush countryside of the lovers state. The October harvest brings wines to rival any region. Plan your Virginia wine country RR today!
Ep 293: Afton Mountain Vineyards Proves Why Virginia Wine is So Unique
Virginia, on the east coast of the United States, has much history with grape growing, but not all of it was good. Today, however, exciting producers have mastered their microclimates and are making some of the freshest, most nuanced, terroir-driven wines in the United States.
This week I sit down with Elizabeth Smith of one of the top wineries in this lovely state, Afton Mountain Vineyards. We discuss everything from Virginia history with grape growing, to terroir obsession, to the European flare of the region, and why the wines are so darn good. If you don't know much about VA or you're an obsessive this podcast will be equally fascinating!
Elizabeth and Tony Smith both grew up in Charlottesville and had lifelong ties the Blue Ridge Mountains. After working and raising a family in coastal VA, and even trying their hands at grape growing there (not quite the right terroir!), they decided to move back to their hometown for their second act – winegrowing and making. They bought Afton Mountain Vineyards in 2009 and in this show, Elizabeth shares their story and how they came to make some of the best wine in Virginia.
Elizabeth shares her background and how she went from investment management to property management to winery management (and rocked them all!)
Elizabeth gives us a true education on the Monticello appellation – what matters to quality wine, what is challenging in growing grapes here, and why she and Tony selected the most westerly site in the Monticello AVA to make their elegant wines
We dork out on microclimates, what makes Virginia so unique, and why elevation, and extremely attentive (obsessive) vineyard management is the only way to make great wine in Virginia and why sustainable viticulture is better than organic in a dicey climate like that in the Monticello area.
Elizabeth answers the question: Why does Damien Blanchon, their French winemaker, and so many other French winemakers find themselves in Virginia, and decide to stay (hint: challenge without restriction!)
We talk about the varietals that do well for Afton Mountain (Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, and Albariño for the whites, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Tannat, and Sangiovese for the reds) and the flavors they yield from this land. We have an interesting side bar about how Petit Verdot can really suck if not handled well!
We wrap with Elizabeth talking about how far Virginia wine has come in the last 10 years and a BIG teaser on a project Afton Mountain is starting this fall!
Find out more about Elizabeth and her wines at aftonmountainvineyards.com and come to the Underground Wine Event on 11/9/19 in Washington D.C. to meet her and taste her beautiful wines!
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Coravin
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Virginia’s Wine Country Rivaling The Napa Valley
There are few states that can compare to the massive success California's Wine Country enjoys, but that's changing. Napa Valley has long held the status as the wine enthusiast's go-to for vineyards and wineries in the United States. California’s wine mecca boasts expansive acreage and exceptional growing conditions. Two East Coast states are ranked among the top five in wine production in the U.S.: New York and the less-touted Virginia. Vineyard owners in Virginia are not copying what California is making, but focusing on the land they have and staying true to the native grapes of the region. They are planting high quality seeds and producing high quality wine that is made for Virginia.
This video was produced by Wochit using
High End Bottles from Virginia Wineries
Exotic Wine Travel: Recapping our week visiting Virginia wineries. Cabernet Franc and Viognier are becoming the signature grapes of Virginia. Discover rare wines and unique wine regions with us!
Wines featured in this episode:
- Three Fox, La Boheme Viognier, 2015
- RdV, Lost Mountain, 2012 - Blend of Cabernet Sauvingon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot
- Early Mountain, Novum, 2013 - Blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot
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Tasting wine at the vineyard of a USA President
Thomas Jefferson was the 3rd President of the USA. History will remember him as being the chief author of the Declaration of Independence, but politics wasn't his only passion.
In Charlottesville, Virginia you can see where Jefferson's first vineyards were planted in 1774. Virginia is one of the top up and coming wine destinations in the world and since replanting the original sites in 1981, Jefferson's Vineyards now produce some of the state's finest wines.
These days you needn't be leader of the free world to tour the vineyards. Wine lovers from all over the world descend on Charlottesville to sample the produce. In this video you can see just why people make the trip, and also see the following wines being tasted and analysed.
Chardonnay reserve 09
While at first showing crisp mineral aromas, the nose is quickly enveloped in bright citrus, apple and lemon peel. The palate shows intense fruits, underpinned by crisp minerality and balanced by tingling acidity and a broad rich mouthfeel. 2010 Lodi Wine Awards - Gold Medal
Viognier
Aromas of honeysuckle & apricot lead to similar flavors lifted by polished acidity & an underlying minerality. This cuvee will age gracefully the next 1 to 2 years. Serve only to your immediate family & closest friends & with any lighter foods. 2009 San Diego Int'l - Gold Medal
Meritage 08
Shows palate saturating red and black fruits from the first taste through the finish. With notes of cassis, espresso, chocolate on the mid-palate and Provencal herbs on the finish. This wine will bring handsome rewards if cellared for the next decade. 2010 San Diego Int'l - Gold Medal
October is Virginia Wine Month
October id dedicated to viniferous passions! Virginia is a wine destination unlike any other, with more than 200 wineries surrounded by lavish scenery, breathtaking views, quaint small towns and monumental historic sites. Discover your local Crush
VIRGINIA WINE TRAVEL GUIDE | Oysters, Wine, Williamsburg!
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Virginia Winemakers: Luca Paschina, Barboursville
Luca Paschina winemaker at Barboursville in Charlottesville, Virginia interviewed by Christopher Barnes.
Virginia Wine Industry as compared to other Wine Regions
Chris Pearmund certainly can hold your interest (if you are a wine geek that is!). Chris hosts an educational tour of Pearmund Cellars with First Lady of Virginia, Maureen McDonnell.
The Holy Grail of VA Wine - Best Virginia Wine at Pearmund Cellars
Chris Pearmund is in search of the Holy Grail of Virginia Wine…
We had a few interns at Pearmund Cellars one day, everything went haywire. I lost it, went and sat on the hillside to calm down and think how I could instill passion into the interns. I wanted to teach them how important attention to detail is in winemaking.
One of the interns followed me out, and began to ask me: “What drives you? Why are you here? Why are you spending time with us? “ Then it hit me.
I went up to my house, and grabbed a bottle of 1975 Chateau Latour that my Dad had given me. I brought it back down to the winery, along with a lot of data and wine notes. In the middle of wine crush, we had a ½ hour talk on what a great wine is. We tasted, we leaned. I explained, Virginia Wine will never ever be this good, but, we aren’t going to give up trying. I want everyone to understand how important every detail is.
Has the best wine been made? The best music been created? No. Curiosity drives us, what else is possible. Life is not short, it’s pretty long. There’s a lot of great wine still to be made in Virginia.
Chardonnay Wine Tasting: Oregon vs. Virginia
Chardonnay Wine Tasting: Oregon vs. Virginia
This was fun and a little bit odd, but I decided to do a blind tasting on camera between two chardonnays. While we were out a wine shop we saw a 2013 Stoller Chardonnay and bought it pretty much because we wanted to see what their style of chard was. And we had visited Stone Tower winery in May and, based on Sarah's thoughts, picked up their 2013 chard.
Seeing as these two wines were sitting in my wine rack not going anywhere, I thought it made a lot of sense to do a blind tasting of them both and see which one I liked better.
I don't often do blind tastings. We did a couple of them in wine class and I wished we did more. Why? Because it forces you to focus on what's in your glass and allows you to forget about any outside influences that might make you think you're tasting something that isn't there.
There are a number of studies that talk about subjective bias in wine. Some studies claim that people are incredibly susceptible to outside influences that in turn shape how they perceive wine. For example, if I told you that the wine we were tasting was a $200 red Burgundy and I talked up how great it was, you're more likely than not to perceive the wine as excellent even if that wine was (in reality) a pedestrian $5 pinot noir.
I saw this a little bit in practice in wine class. When someone had in front of them the name of the varietal, region, producer and year combined with their text book that stated the types of aromas and flavors you should experience, interestingly people created incredible tasting notes that really hit all of the characteristics spot on. The times that we were forced to put all that away and just focus on the glass, our class somehow struggled to come up with the 15 different aroma characteristics that they usually experienced in each glass.
Anyway - so in the spirit of seeing which wine I liked better, I thought it was a great idea to do a blind tasting, if only because I wondered how much I was biased myself to things that were produced in Oregon.
Sarah poured the wines in marked glasses and I had no clue what was what until after I had done tasting notes for each wine.
Before we get to the wines, I'll take a minute to chat about chardonnay. I have not in my wine history been a big chardonnay drinker. For the most part I've been relatively ambivalent about white wine until the past couple of years. But what I do know is that it seems to be trendy to hate chardonnay. So many people that I speak with always take shots at how bad California chard tastes. After going through wine class, I kind of laugh at the people who hate chard out of hand because it's one of the few wines that runs such a large gamut of styles and profiles.
Chard can be crisp, acidic, light and lean. And it can be big, unctuous, oakey and over the top. In between lithe and robust, there are many styles. Which is something that makes chardonnay such an interesting wine. If someone says they hate chardonnay, they just haven't had the right style for them yet.
How did my tasting go? Well I was surprised on one hand and not surprised on the other.
Oregon was the clear winner. The Stoller chard was a solid wine and one that I'd get again. The Stone Town 'Wild Boar' chard was pretty much undrinkable for me. The nose was vegetal and the flavor profile was just really off-putting - unripe, unshucked cord is about all that came to mind. Which isn't anything that I wanted to drink.
I'm not surprised that Oregon won, given how great Oregon wines are in general. But I am surprised at how much I didn't like the Stone Tower wine. We were at Stone Tower in May and tasted their Chardonnay. Sarah liked it better than me and wanted to get a bottle of it and we ended up picking one up to take home. I was surprised to have this kind of reaction based on the fact that I didn't have that kind of reaction previously.
Overall, I think this blind tasting was a success because I got the opportunity to just focus on the wine and whether or not I liked it, shutting out any bias from what was on the label or how much the bottle went for.
Hope you enjoy the show above that we shot for this and let me know your thoughts!
Happy 4th of July everyone!
~Cheers!
Blenheim
Lou and Mike taste the terrific 2013 Roussanne and 2013 Grenache from one of our favorite Virginia wineries, Blenheim.
Cate Magennis Wyatt Takes Us on a Journey Through Hallowed Ground
Bringing visitors to the hallowed ground where the Founding Fathers and Mothers lived is the focus of most of the Grateful American™ Series. So it is pleasure today to be with Cate Magennis Wyatt, founder and president of the Journey Through Hallowed Ground Partnership.
This is a National Heritage Area running from Gettysburg, PA, through Maryland and West Virginia, to Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello in Charlottesville, VA. The historical land, stretching 180 miles long and 75 miles wide, includes nine presidential homes and birthplaces, more than 10,000 sites on the National Register of Historic Places, and sites from the Revolutionary War, French-Indian War, War of 1812, and the Civil War. This historic region is home not only to beautiful homes, charming towns, and battlefields, but also to 13 of the nation’s 400 national parks.
Grateful American™ Radio Show hosts David Bruce Smith and Hope Katz Gibbs took a trip to the heart of the Hallowed Ground to interview the organization’s president, Cate Magennis Wyatt.
In this podcast you’ll learn:
-Wyatt’s background has been dynamic indeed. After being the youngest vice president within both Xerox Realty and Weston Capital Corporation, she left the private sector to serve in the public sector as the secretary of commerce and trade for the Commonwealth of Virginia within Gov. Doug Wilder’s Cabinet. She later was appointed co-chair of the Defense Conversion Commission with Gen. John Loh. And, after serving in the Cabinet, she created Remington International, where she created businesses in London, Moscow, and Kazakhstan. What made her take a leave of absence to create the Journey Through Hallowed Ground Partnership?
-Since then, her nonprofit, four-state partnership has been dedicated to raising awareness of the unparalleled American heritage in the region. Why did Cate Magennis Wyatt feel the necessity to create the organization? And what are her mission and goals?
-She is now adding to that greenery. As a living tribute to the 620,000 Americans who died during the Civil War, the nonprofit Living Legacy Tree Planting Project will plant 620,000 trees along the National Scenic Byway, commemorating the lives lost from both armies. Learn more about that project — and more!
Virginia Farming: Dirt to Fine Wine
Virginia Farming explores the rapidly growing wine industry, which has expanded from just one winery in the 1970s to nearly 300 wineries today. We meet with intriguing characters amid gorgeous scenery all across Virginia's wine country.