Whether you embrace winter’s chill or are already counting down the days to spring, wineries on the Chesapeake Bay Wine Trail have the perfect wine and wine cocktails to warm your body and soul.
Cozy up by the fire at Good Luck Cellars (GLC) inside the tasting room or by the fireplace outside on the porch. There are also patio heaters available on the wraparound porch. GLC offers wine flights, by the glass or bottle, AND on Sundays they offer freshly-made sangria (available most Sundays year-round). During the winter, the winery features a warm, seasonal-sangria (aka mulled wine or Gluhwein); it’s a different, seasonal recipe each week and features one of their red, white, and sometimes rosé wines.
Rivah Vineyards at the Grove is serving mulled wine every weekend in December and January. The spiced wine is made from the winery’s Chambourcin, aged in French and American oak with dark fruit, such as black raspberries and dark plums greeting the palate, followed by a succession of leather, coffee and chocolate.
As soon as the weather turns chilly, General’s Ridge Vineyard (GRV) releases its eagerly-anticipated mulled wine: the winery’s Merlot crafted with spices. This season, GRV is offering a “Make Your Own Mulled Wine” kit to take home. The kit includes a bottle of Merlot, spices, and one of the winery’s mulled wine recipes.
General’s Last Call, a unique blend of American Brandy and Chambourcin, is a popular wintertime Ruby Port-styled after-dinner/dessert wine. GRV’s sparkling wines are a favorite during the holidays, especially New Year’s. Sparkling Semper Fi is a blend of Chardonnay, Chardonnel, and Vidal Blanc; The Flying Leathernecks Sparkling Rosé is a blend that features the Touriga grape.
Jacey Vineyards has three new dessert wines, perfect for the season: a Chocolate Red wine, an Almond and Fruits Red Wine, and an Espresso Bean Red wine.
Trail winery Caret Cellars has several new releases available this season: Bay Blu, a white wine made from Vidal Blanc, a hybrid blended with Italian Trebbiano Toscano grapes; Syrah, with aromas and tastes of violet, plum, blackberry, blueberry and peppercorn; Tannat, with aromas of black currant and red plum, and subtle notes of licorice and savor, smoked meats; Nebbiolo Rosé (a blend of Nebbiolo and Rkatsiteli); and Rivah Red (95% Chambourcin, 5% Niagara).
Debunking the myth that white wine is only for summer, Ingleside Vineyards is participating in Virginia Wine’s 2024 Winter Whites promotion. Now through February 16, 2025, Ingleside is offering a discounted Winter Whites Bundle, consisting of four of the winery’s white wines: Albarino 2023, Chardonnay Reserve, Coastal White – Lot 21, and October Harvest.
Freshly-brewed cider on tap is available at Trail winery Monroe Bay Winery. The tasting room of Ditchley Cider Works is closed for the season, but cider and meat products are available via the cidery’s online store.
The Dog and Oyster is closed for the season, but wine from its microvineyard is available at the winery’s sister property Hope & Glory Inn.
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