Winery Visit to Chateau Morrisette, April 6th

On Friday, April 6th, 2012, three of my friends and I went to Chateau Morrisette to do a wine tasting and eat at the restaurant. I have done wine tastings before at Zeppoli's or the Vintage Cellar but I have never been to a winery before so this was an exciting experience. Chateau Morrisette is in Floyd, Virginia and is a nice hour-long drive on a nice day, however since I was driving it took us an extra hour since we got lost. It was a beautiful day though and I didn't mind the extra time it took to get to the winery.

Our wine tasting consisted of 6 wines, one of which was a table blend. The first wine I tasted was the 2011 Dry Rose. It is Chateau Morrisette's newest wine made by separating juice from the grapes prior to fermentation, resulting in this lovely rose-colored wine. It is made from 100% Chambourcin grapes and pairs well with ham, roasted poultry, sweet Italian sausage, and any savory, non-spicy foods. It is 12.5% alcohol and $17.99. The nose smelled of strawberry and it was very tart, acidic, and dry. I did not really enjoy this wine that much.

The second wine I tasted was the 2010 Chambourcin and I absolutely loved it! With aromas of blackberry and plums, this wine was silky smooth and had notes of dark fruit like cherries. It was 12.5%  alcohol and cost $17.99. The grapes used to make this wine were light-skinned and therefore the wine has low tannic structure, which Roberto our sommelier told us.

The third wine I tasted was The Black Dog. It was a blend of Chambourcin, Cabernet, Merlot, and Petit Verdot and was 11.7% alcohol and cost $10.99. The nose smelled of cherries and berries and tasted of spice. It was very good and I learned it is the same wine they sell as the Hokie Red but they price it higher, at $12.99.

The fourth wine I tasted was the 2010 Frosty Dog. As a sweet wine person, this wine was right up my alley. It is sold as a split at $19.99 and has 11.2% alcohol. It smelled and tasted of honey and was actually a little too sweet for my taste. It was smooth and creamy and a little thick. I think I would only be able to have one glass of this, and only as dessert.

The fifth wine I tasted with the Blackberry Wine sold at $10.99 and with 12% alcohol. I was really excited about this wine because I have never had wine made out anything but grapes. The wine had a bit of sediment in it, which Roberto said was because of the small seeds in blackberries. It was sweet and smooth and (surprise!) smelled and tasted like berries! It would be excellent chilled and served alongside grilled or spicy food. I enjoyed this wine so much that I bought a bottle to take home.

The last wine I had was a table blend Roberto individually tailored to whatever our own personal tastes were. Because I enjoy dessert wines, he made my blend 50% Chambourcin and 50% Blackberry Wine, two wines I enjoyed immensely on their own. The table blend was the perfect balance of sweet and dry. I have never thought to blend wines so I may try this on my own at home now.





Our waitress, Marisa, openning our bottle of Our Dog Blue

After the tasting, me and my friends visited the restaurant and sat out on the terrace and ate appetizers and drank a bottle of their Chateau Morrisette's Our Dog Blue, a Riesling. We ordered fried green tomatoes, wild mushroom galette, and a fruit and fromage platter. The sweetness in the wine paired with the savory dishes was a perfect combination. The best part of eating at the restaurant, I felt, was the view! It was gorgeous sitting out on the terrace, although a bit windy, and looking at the Blue Ride Mountains in the distance.



I had so much fun visiting Chateau Morrisette, despite getting lost along the way, and I intend to visit again before the semester ends with a picnic basket in tow!

Eric and I outside of the Chateau Morrisette restaurant