The Virginia Wine industry has grown by leaps and bounds in the last 15 years. Today we have more than 140 wineries, and only California, New York, Oregon and Washington can claim more (in the U.S.).
Chances are, you have visited quite a few of our local wineries. When I was living in the Shenandoah Valley, I was lucky enough to be only a 30 minutes drive to many wonderful vineyards– you really can make an entire day trip out of it.
A little over a year ago, Jason and I discovered one of our very favorites- Barrel Oak Winery in Faquier County. It was actually a brand-new winery– they had just opened in May of 2008 and it was October of that year when we went there. Many vineyards close their doors at 5 or 6pm on the weekends, but not Barrel Oak- on that Friday night, we were hanging out in their upstairs loft, in a cozy “theater” made of big leather couches and a very large flat screen. I believe it was actually Halloween, and we were in for a night of Young Frankenstein and the Rocky Horror Picture Show, fresh smores, popcorn, and of course great wine.
Most of the wineries I had been to were not open late on the weekends, so I thought it was such a great idea to be open later. The owners, Sharon and Brian, were so incredibly welcoming; I felt as if I were a guest in their very own home. They truly opened their winery to the community, hosting charitable events, bringing in musicians, had movie nights, among other events. It’s the perfect place to bring a picnic lunch or dinner, and even to bring along a board game. They want you to stay as long as you want! Don’t just taste and leave- make a day out of it! So, needless to say, Jason and I became quite the regulars at Barrel Oak and introduced many out-of-town friends to it.
Barrel Oak Winery's Tasting Room
We watched Barrel Oak become incredibly popular. Being situated between DC and the Valley, in was a perfect destination, just off of 66. Come summertime, they added on to their outdoor seating area (which I thought was already very large and even had fire bowls for cool nights under the stars) and built an outdoor tasting bar. The last time we went there, it was so crowded you could hardly find a seat!
Another reason for their popularity (besides the wines- which I will get to next) can be found in their initials– BOW. They LOVE dogs and have 2 Golden Retrievers (Barley, and Justice the Wonderpuppy) and welcome their guests’ dogs with open arms.
Original outdoor area- they've since added to it!
So now– the wines! They have a large tasting menu that does change often, depending on their availability and season. One of my very favorites is the Chocolate Lab. One of their dessert wines, it is a red wine that is infused with essences drawn from coco beans. It’s sweet, but not syrupy sweet like a lot of dessert wines.
Now, I do tend to like the sweeter/lighter wines. So for me, my next favorite is their BOW-Haus White, which is actually their best-seller. It’s reminiscent of a Reisling (one of my general favorite varietals). Theirs is actually a blend of Vidal Blanc and Savignon Blanc. Nice, crisp, perfect wine for all preferences.Honestly, all of their wines are great, so I can’t possibly review them all here. So why not take a trip up there yourself, and tell them that Jenny sent ya 
Visit online at www.barreloakwinery.com
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