Virginia Apple Picking & Wine Tasting

This weekend Mr. Sweet Pea and I ventured to Markham, Virginia (after battling an hour of traffic) and an additional hour of normal driving to visit Stribling Orchard and Philip Carter Winery (formerly known as Stillhouse Vineyards).

Unfortunately, by the time (in the season) we arrived, most of the good apples had already been picked, leaving behind the less desirable, brown-spotted, not-delicious apples on the trees. There were plenty of people picking apples, but what they were picking, we know not. We couldn't find ANY! But we had time for a photo-op. (I'm actualy sitting on a branch in the tree and the camera was positioned on the stump of a branch of the same tree. It was the perfect little tripod, I tell you. Thank you self-timers.)

Mr. Sweet Pea was also able to take a couple landscape shots, too. Fall in Virginia is beautiful -- I love this state!

Afterward we ventured to Philip Carter Winery for a short tasting as they were celebrating their 2008 harvest with pony and carriage rides and live music on their patio.

Take a look at those grapes. Aren't those delicious? Don't they look divine? (Get it? Ha ha, just kidding.)

The wine we tasted was actually pretty good. You can tell it's younger, but not bad for Virginia. Their 2007 Chardonnay was a little sweet but still dry - a hint of apple, too, which was nice. They also had pretty good dessert wines. The 2006 Late Harvest was a great not-over-the-top dessert wine. I thought of it as a good compromise for my mother and me as she prefers sweeter dessert wines and I like something a little more subtle. Their Sweet Danielle was also a good dessert wine - red - so less sweet than the Late Harvest, but fruity and sweet just the same.

They also just added a patio and another tasting room (upstairs they were sampling mulled wine and Sangria). So this would be a great venue for a smaller, casual, rehearsal dinner or even wedding photos if they'll let you. The views from the vineyard are gorgeous.