Bluestone Vineyard
Find Us:
  • Visit
  • Wines
  • Events
  • Press Club
  • Weddings
    • Meeting House
    • The Manor and Vineyard
    • Host an Event
  • About
  • Contact
  • BLOG

Bubbles Blog

10/17/2019

Comments

 
Picture
​“I love bubbles, everybody loves the bubbles,” said the first sommelier we ever met while we were on a trip out in California on a Tuesday morning while we were enjoying our tasting. That sentence has stuck with me ever since and every time we open a bottle of sparkling wine I always think of that encounter. 
​

Now, I know not everyone loves bubbles, but there is a lot of truth in the fact that sparkling wine is rather popular and has been for a long time. By now I’m sure you’ve come to the conclusion that bubbly wine is the theme of this weeks blog. There are a lot of different routes I could take this blog, but I’m going to stick to a few key things and also share an upcoming event that will be taking place at the vineyard soon, so read on!

Picture
Some of you may be asking yourself at this point, why is she using terms like sparkling or bubbles rather than use Champagne? I’m glad you asked! While it is common to use the term Champagne for all sparkling wine, there is actually a difference. All Champagne is sparkling, but not all sparkling wine is Champagne. You can only call a sparkling wine Champagne if it was made in Champagne, France, which is 90 miles northeast of Paris.
​

There are other types of sparkling wines found all over the world. Some examples include Cava from Spain, Prosecco from Italy, Cremant from various regions throughout France and even American Sparkling from the good ole US of A. Most of these are very affordable alternatives to true Champagne, especially if you just want to open up a bottle for no other occasion other than you want a glass (or two) of bubbles. 

Which brings me to another point. Sparkling wine does not have to just be for special occasions! It can be for any day of the week. It is also an extremely food friendly pairing option with its high acidity and crisp flavors. Or when in doubt if you don't know what to pair with a dish, pair it with bubbles! I speak to the last point from experience (on more than one occasion).

Picture
Oh and did I mention that all of the types of sparkling wines mentioned above are made with different grapes depending on where they are from and different ways to make sparkling wine? Now, remember the upcoming event I mentioned earlier in the blog? On Sunday, November 3rd the vineyard will be hosting a Sparkling Wine Seminar in the Meeting House led by our winemaker, Lee Hartman. At that seminar attendees will learn more about sparkling wine and how it is made as well as try six styles of sparkling wine. Tickets are available by calling the vineyard. Reservations are required for this event, so don’t miss out, secure your tickets!

Thanks for tuning into this week's edition of Out of the Barrel. Cheers

Comments

October is Virginia Wine Month!

10/3/2019

Comments

 
Happy Fall everyone! That sounds like a cruel joke considering the first 3 days of this month have all been 90 degrees plus, but cooler weather is on the way! Do you know what is special about this month, regardless if it feels like the middle of summer? October is Virginia Wine Month! 

According to virginiawine.org, this year Virginia Wine Month is celebrating 31 years since it was officially established in 1988. There are close to 300 wineries and 7 established American Viticulture Areas (or AVA for short) in Virginia. The wine industry in the state has changed drastically over the last four decades and so has the quality of wine. With twenty-four different varietals that grow in Virginia, there is no shortage of new wines to try!
What’s so special about Virginia Wine Month? Other than another reason to go and explore Virginia wine country, October is a magical time of year to see the fall foliage throughout the rolling hills of the state. As harvest is coming to a close for many vineyards, the leaves on the vines will also begin to show the changing of colors, which adds additional beauty to the vineyards and surrounding scenery.

Now, what are you waiting for?!? Grab some friends and go exploring! Along the way, be sure to stop and visit the crew here at Bluestone. The view is always beautiful on top of the hill, but there is something about visiting the vineyard in October that makes the trip a little extra special. 

Thanks for tuning into this week's edition of Out of the Barrel. Cheers!
Comments
    Photo of Ranee Bartley

    Author

    Raneé Bartley 
    Tasting Room Manager 

    ​Raneé started at Bluestone Vineyard in August 2015.  She thinks writing a blog about wine will be a fun and educational addition to Bluestone Vineyard. Her passion for wine has grown over the years and she is currently in pursuit to become a Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers. While at Bluestone, she enjoys sharing about wine with guests in the tasting room. 

    Archives

    August 2022
    January 2022
    March 2021
    December 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019

    Categories

    All
    Tasting Room

    RSS Feed

CONTACT

Open Daily 
Monday-Thursday 11:00 am - 6:00 pm
Friday 11:00am-8pm
Saturday 11:00am-6pm
Sunday 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm
​
4828 Spring Creek Road 
Bridgewater, VA 22812
Get Directions

​(540) 828-0099
​rc@bluestonevineyard.com

MORE INFORMATION

About
​Accessibility Statement

Bluestone at Home Tastings
Employment Opportunities

​News
Wine List
​Toast the Weekend


​

NEWSLETTER

    Don't miss out on what's happening around the vineyard! Sign up for emails and stay up-to-date on specials, events, and more! 
Subscribe
Bluestone Logo

​Facebook
Instagram
​Twitter
​YouTube

COPYRIGHT ​Bluestone Vineyard 2020. All Rights Reserved.