Fork and Cork - Wine Festival

Over this weekend, I attend the Fork and Cork here in Blacksburg. The weather was nice, there were plenty of wineries to try out, and overall I had a good time. First, here are seven wines that I tried and enjoyed:

1. Ramulose Ridge Chardonel

Me waiting in line at the Peaks of Otter
Winery where "I kissed the Devil"

Varietal: hybrid variety of Chardonnay and Seyval Blanc
Price: $18
Winery Review: N/A
My Review: Nose- grassy and pear; Palate- dry, light, refreshing, pear flavors

2. Ramulose Ridge Cabernet Franc
Varietal: Cab Franc
Price: $18
Winery Review: N/A
My Review: Nose- blackberry, Palate- blackberry, velvety, dry, very good

3. Peaks of Otter Chili Dawg
Varietal: Apple wine with chili pepper wine
Price:$15
Winery Review: N/A- 97% apple blended with 3% chili pepper wine, tastes like a pepper jelly
My Review: Nose- chili, peppery, spicy, Palate- as it smelled, spicy, chili, peppery, definitely hot

4. Peaks of Otter 'Kiss the Devil'
Varietal: Light chili pepper wine
Price:$15
Winery Review: N/A - Made form 30 varieties of peppers, including ghost, better for basting than tasting, super hot
My Review: Nose- peppery, spicy, Palate- Peppery, spicy, hot! 1-2-3-WHEW!!

5. Horton Cellars Lot 11 Eclipse Red
Varietal: Zinfandel
Price: $12
Winery Review: Red garnet colored, semi-sweet wine loaded with cherry and tropical aromas and flavors. White Zin with an attitude
My Review: Nose- cherry and tropical fruit, palate- semi sweet and tropical

6. Horton Cellars Peach Fruit Wine
Varietal: Peach and Viognier
Price: $12
Winery Review: N/A - Peach with a small blend of Viognier
My Review: Nose- peach and sweet, palate- peach, sweet, light

7. Lexington Valley 2013 Traminette
Varietal: Traminette
Price: $18
Winery Review: Like its parent Gewurztraminer, this great German hybrid is a semi-dry white, with a bold fruity taste. Great with Asian cuisine, chips and salsa, pork dishes, or Fettuccine Alfredo
My Review: Nose- fruity, floral, Palate- semi-dry, fruity taste, light body

Barbecue sandwich and chips from Bull & Bones

Food Paring:  I had eat at some point, so I grabbed a barbecue sandwich with chips from Bull & Bones and had a glass of 2009 Cabernet Franc from White Rock Vineyards. On its own, the wine was aromatic in dark cherries and subtle hints of vanilla. On the palate, it had a rich mouth feel and the dark cherries came through as well. Subtle hints of oak were present as well. Pairing it with my barbecue sandwich, I think the two went fairly well together. I think the mouth-feel of the wine enhanced the savory flavor of the beef, leaving a juicy coat on my palate. I think the smokey chips brought out some more of the oak in the wine which I wasn't use to. I've never really met the "oak monster" before. Overall, this late-afternoon meal was a delight.