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July 2007 Newsletter
If you'd like to translate this newsletter into French, Spanish, German, Japanese or more than twenty-five other languages, please visit Babel Fish Translation. You simply copy the text and paste it into the translator. It's not perfect, but it's a good approximation. |
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| Melissa's Message |
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by Melissa Stephan |
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July already! We all hope you're staying cool wherever you are. If not, one of the best places to be is here. We have our newest release, Cuvee Blanc, for sale and it is the perfect wine for a steamy day. It's crisp, lightly sweet and oh-so-refreshing! Of course, you may have a hard time choosing between that and our house-made Sangria. It's the perfect blend of red wine, fruit juice, simple syrup and fresh citrus slices. We serve it over ice by the pitcher and it's a heat remedy that's hard to beat! We've also got the newest bottling of "Fletcher's" Chardonnay and our always delicious Viognier available. The Vidal Blanc is almost sold out so, if that's your summer favorite, better hurry!
For us, the most fun to be had here last month was at our "Taste of the Islands" Winemaker's Dinner. The food was an incredible array of exotic salads, fresh vegetables, coconut rice and tangy meats. Reggae and Jimmy Buffet were playing in the background, tiki torches were blazing, everyone was dressed for fun and the wine was flowing! We finished things up with some flambeed bananas and a conga line. OK, there was not conga line but that would have been the perfect end to a festive evening under the stars. Maybe next year!
Our next Winemaker's Dinner is August 4th and is all about Spain. Did you know that Spain has more acres planted in wine vines than any other country in the world and has a five thousand year history of wine making? Fletcher, who is particularly passionate about Spain and her bounty of food and wine, will guide us all through this special evening. We will dine on a variety of Tapas, including classics like Patatas Bravas and Paella, all paired with wines imported from Spain. Check out the complete menu with the wine pairings on our "Happenings" page. This is sure to be a special and informative evening, we hope you all can make it.
Sadly, Fletcher is leaving The Winery at La Grange at the end of the month. He'll continue his involvement with the wine industry and will likely focus on importing the latest and greatest Spanish Wines so that we all get the chance to experience them here. I told you he has a passion for the stuff! Thanks Fletcher!
Fletcher is a huge part of our family here and we will miss him like crazy. He makes us laugh, he teaches us and he is a friend we can always count on. Here's to you Fletcher, thank you for everything you've done for each of us (including Monet) and for everything you've done to make The Winery at La Grange the special place that it is!
See you all at the winery! |
| Viticulture and Enology Series Classes |
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Looking for something to do this year to increase your knowledge of wineries, vineyard management or just enjoying wine!! Northern Virginia Community College and Lord Fairfax Community College are offering classes at local Northern Virginia wineries.
- Canopy Management, Breaux Vineyard in Purcellville on July 28th - 9am-1pm
- Wines of the World, Winery at La Grange in Haymarket on August 22nd 6:30-9pm
- Fundamentals of Wine Grape Harvest, Pearmund Cellars in Broad Run on September 26th 8:30am-12:30pm
- Wine Etiquette, Veramer Vineyard in Berryville on November 14th 6:30-8:30pm
See our Happenings page for cost, contact and class description. |
| Job Openings |
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The Winery at La Grange is looking for a Full Time employee who has experience or wants to learn wine production and sales.
Interested individuals need to contact George McDonald at Pearmund Cellars, email to george@pearmundcellars.com or call at 540-347-3475. |
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NGWI Brings Grape Sectors Together |
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July 10, 2007
Compiled By Staff (California Farmer) |
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Producers and processors of grapes and grape products in the U.S. have taken the first step toward working together on health-related research during an inaugural meeting in Watsonville.
Under the auspices of the National Grape and Wine Initiative, scientific experts representing the table grape, juice, raisin and wine sectors, gathered together to develop strategies for expanding the research on and increasing awareness of the health benefits of grapes and grape products among consumers and health influentials.
Participants included representatives from the California Table Grape Commission, the California Raisin Board, the New York Wine and Grape Foundation, the National Grape Cooperative as well as senior researchers from major privately-held juice and wine companies.
"Grapes and grape products are known to contain an array of bioactive constituents that research indicates may be beneficial in maintaining health and possibly reducing the risk of certain diseases," says Tom Davenport, NGWI Board Chairman. "The goal of this meeting was to determine how, working together, we can focus and leverage our efforts in uncovering and truly defining that potential, so that consumers and industry can benefit from this knowledge."
A number of strategies for accomplishing this goal were outlined. One such initiative may involve showcasing the current science on grapes and grape products through a scientific symposium.
NGWI has identified five priority areas in which to focus research:
- Improving product quality.
- Exploring and promoting the health benefits of grapes and grape products.
- Enhancing technologies for improved vineyard and production systems.
- Improving environmentally friendly and sustainable farming and processing practices.
- Ensuring industry member awareness of and access to grape and grape product research findings.
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| July Specials at the Winery |
Be sure to stop by La Grange soon to enjoy our Summer Specials!
We are currently offering cooling pitchers of Sangria on Saturday and Sunday for $19.00. Order it with one of our tantalizing food baskets (we are now offering a Mexican-themed basket) for only $15.00 a pitcher!
Our Red, White and Blue Summer 3-Pack is a delightful selection of 1 bottle each of our award-winning Vidal Blanc, our New Cuvee Blanc and a bottle of Claret for just $45.00. | | |
| Vote for your Favorite Winery |
Virginia Wine Festival is conducting a "People's Choice" poll and will crown the winning winery at the Virginia Wine Festival! The "People's Choice" winery will be awarded a really big plaque for their tasting room wall and will be entitled to all of the bragging rights they can muster!
Vote soon, ends August 15th.
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Winery Staff
The Winery at La Grange
703-753-9360
Opened Daily 11am to 6pm
4970 Antioch Road - Haymarket, VA 20169
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