Spring has sprung and the vines are growing like weeds.  We are having a great time seeing old friends at the tasting room and meeting all the new visitors too.  The big news at Flying Fox is that we now have a shipper's license for the state of Virginia.  So if you can't make it to Afton, check out our webpage to order wine and we can send it off to you.  The 2007 Viognier and 2007 Rosé are available now. 

 

 

     We will be enjoying Michael Brookings' art for a few more weeks.  Paintings that have been sold are being replaced with new pictures, so the view inside the tasting room continues to change.  Our favorite is still available....

 

 

 

     To celebrate our spring re-opening we have a special on our 2005 Merlot.  $153/case of 12 (regular price $204) and $77/six bottles (regular price $102).  This wine continues to get better in the bottle and continues to be our wine of choice for dinner at home.  Pick it up at the tasting room or ask us to ship it to your doorstep - this wine will be an excellent addition to your wine cellar.

 

     On Saturday, May 24th we will be at the Wintergreen Performing Arts Festival of Wine, at the Evans Center - Wintergreen Resort in Afton.  The festival runs from noon to 5:30pm and there will be several Virginia wineries pouring their wine.  Enjoy an afternoon of wine, jazz, light fare and the cool mountain air. Admission to the festival is $20, including a souvenir glass. Proceeds support Wintergreen Performing Arts' extensive performance and educational activities.  Hope to see you there.

 

 

 

     Many of you have asked about the small demonstration vineyard at the tasting room.  We have planted Corot Noir, a new hybrid wine grape developed by Cornell University.   This is  is a complex interspecific hybrid resulting from a cross made in 1970 between Seyve Villard 18-307 and 'Steuben'.  It was released for sale to growers last year.  Corot Noir is described as a mid- to late-season grape.  The wine has a deep red color and attractive cherry and berry fruit aromas. Its tannin structure is complete from the front of the mouth to the back, with big soft tannin feel. Wines are free of the hybrid aromas typical of many other red hybrid grapes, and can be used for varietal wine production or for blending.The vine is moderately winter hardy and moderately resistant to fungal diseases. 

 

     We planted this variety for two reasons.  First, we wanted to evaluate the grapes as an option for blending with our vinifera grapes.  And secondly, we wanted a vine that was resistant to the many diseases grapevines growing in Virginia are susceptible to - in order to reduce the need to spray pesticides.

 

     Like the vines in our Flying Fox Vineyard down the road from the tasting room, shoots are elongating and flower clusters are present.  We will include photos as the season progresses, so you can follow the growth and maturation of our vines and grapes this year.

 

TIME FOR FARMER'S MARKETS

 

     In addition to the Staunton Farmer's Market on Saturday mornings,  Flying Fox Wine is now also available at the new Waynesboro Farmer's Market on Wednesday afternoons, 3-7:00pm in the Pavilion at Constitution Park.  A great place to pick up local wine to go with your local produce for a weekday meal.