Winemaker’s Choice Flight

Sparkling Riesling- Blanc de Blanc

This wine recently won a gold medal in the 2024 Virginia Govornor’s Cup!

This sparkling white wine was made using the Charmat Method.

100% Riesling estate grown at Cave Ridge Vineyard, Mount Jackson, VA. The grapes were picked on September 19, 2022. All grapes were harvested by machine, and yielded 13.1 Tons of grapes.

Harvest Information: Ph: 3.15 Acid: 9.5 gm/L Sugar: 17.3 Brix

Aromas and appearance: Color is clear and bright with a hint of citrus, otherwise distinct aromas are subdued. Small bubbles are indicative of the natural fermentation process.

Flavors: Pronounced green apple flavors finish with a zesty dryness with the 1 gram per liter of residual sugar present in the wine.

Pairings: This sparkling wine does not need food, but fresh fruits such as apples and strawberries provide an enjoyable combination. Shellfish: Any shellfish, but oysters are an amazing pairing. Asian dishes such as sushi will work well with this wine.

2023 Chardonnay

The harvest had fewer grapes than in previous years, but that usually means higher quality. That holds true for this Chardonnay. It has very good acid balance (not flabby from too little acid) and the sugars were perfect. This was harvested by our harvest machine then aged in French Oak for 8 months. The barrels are three years old, and that provides good oak integration without too much oak character. The wine went through complete malolactic fermentation, a bacterial fermentation that primarily reduces malic acid in the wine. This gives the wine a smoothness and some additional complexity .

Flavors: Subtle buttery notes. Pairings: Pairs well with seafood, grilled chicken, veal, and creamy pasta dishes.

Winemaking and Harvest Notes

Harvested: 9/12/21 Tons: 5.57

Weather in the Vineyard: July: slight moisture. August: Dry. September Dry

Sugar: 22.8 Brix

Alcohol: 12.5-13 ABV (alcohol by volume)

2021 Red Silk

This is the 8th Red Silk Label Vintage we have produced. The first was in 2006, and the purpose is to highlight certain vintages of Cabernet Franc that are noteworthy. We first planted Cabernet Franc at Cave Ridge in 2001, and have since added several acres.

Every vintage is different, so every Red Silk label is different to reflect elegance and to celebrate different cultures and ethnicities. The 2021 Red Silk illustration was painted by wine club member, Donna Tizol, and portrays a Japanese woman in a traditional kimono.

Winemaking: Fermented for approx. 10 days in open-top bins to dryness. Aged in new French and Hungarian Oak for 14 months.

Residual Sugar: .02%

Aromas: Fruit: Red fruit
Spice-sweet: cinnamon
Spice-pungent: White Pepper
Oak: Vanilla, toast

Flavors: Fruit: Red Fruit, Cherry and Plum
Spice-sweet: cinnamon
Oak: Cedar