Notaviva Vineyards Blog
September 22, 2011Thirteenth Spray of the SeasonCabernet Franc and Petit Verdot Blaufrankisch Posted by Stephen at 12:10 PM 
September 2, 2011Twelfth Spray of the SeasonWhites and Blaufrankisch (August 30th) Cab Franc and Petit Verdot (September 2nd) Posted by Stephen at 12:08 PM
August 17, 2011Eleventh Spray of the SeasonWhite varietals: Red varietals: Posted by Stephen at 1:06 PM
August 3, 2011Tenth Spray of the SeasonWhite varietals: Red varietals: Posted by Stephen at 9:04 PM
July 28, 2011Atlantic Seaboard Wine CompetitionWe're proud to announce that three of our wines won medals in the Atlantic Seaboard Wine Competition! "Johann" 2008 Reserve Petit Verdot - GOLD Posted by Stephen at 1:08 PM
July 20, 2011Ninth Spray of the SeasonGetting caught up on some old blog entries... :o) Carbaryl - 2 qt per acre Posted by Stephen at 8:58 PM
July 11, 2011Alliance With Crooked Run OrchardOn Monday, 11-July-2011 the following letter was sent to Mayor Robert Lazaro and the Purcellville Town Council in response to their actions against Sam and Uta Brown, owners of Crooked Run Orchard. Additional background may be found here: http://crookedrunorchard.com/2011/05/03/sam-brown-determined-to-save-family-farm-legacy/ http://crookedrunorchard.com/no-road/ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- July 11, 2011 Mayor Lazaro, Purcellville Town Council Members: I am writing to inform you of our alliance with Sam and Uta Brown, owners of Crooked Run Orchard in their efforts to preserve their farm. For some time now, we have followed with mounting disappointment and ire the news reports of their ongoing battle with the Town of Purcellville. Perhaps, like many others in the community, we held high hopes the issue would somehow "sort itself out" and that the Browns would prevail in their campaign. And perhaps, like many others in the community, we also held high hopes that their rights as citizens, rural business owners, and landowners would be preserved. We reacted with shock as we learned of the Town's aggressive tactics in removing the injunction preventing the seizure of the Brown's property, and your subsequent acquisition of their land. In our opinion, you have violated a sacred American right, and we find it unconscionable that the Town of Purcellville has engaged in such actions. Your quick-take was our tipping point, and we have committed ourselves to assisting the Browns in any way possible. In the short time we have known Sam and Uta, we have found them to be intelligent, passionate, honest and wise - stewards of the land with agricultural knowledge far surpassing our own. Such wisdom should be treasured, nurtured and preserved for Loudoun's future generations, not abused like some inconsequential aggravation. It is a grave sign of Purcellville's societal and political priorities that this situation has deteriorated to this point. Through business collaboration, awareness campaigns, social media, and professional networking, we shall bring every resource at our disposal to their aid. To that end, we have established a Virginia ABC remote license at Crooked Run Orchard and have begun conducting tasting of Notaviva wines on their property each weekend. Our license allows visitors the legal right to enjoy open bottles and glasses of wine as they sit under the trees enjoying the rural vistas, though inevitably the question arises "what are those stakes over there...?" We have very much enjoyed the passionate response from customers as we advise them of the situation, the Town's actions, and the many ways in which they can help. This collaboration has brought Crooked Run into the DC's Wine Country family, and we have begun advertising Crooked Run as a remote Notaviva Vineyards wine tasting facility. In addition to our remote tasting operation, we will be producing our first fruit wine this month with fresh produce harvested from Crooked Run. We find it hypocritical that the same Town who created the Loudoun Grown Expo is now endangering not one, but two rural small businesses. Our ability to source high quality local produce is paramount to our winery production capabilities and our continued success. Loudoun wineries depend on a reliable network of dedicated suppliers, as our industry growth has far outpaced our ability to quickly establish our own crops to meet demand. Not only will Notaviva Vineyards products be available at Crooked Run, we will begin offering many of their Loudoun grown products, such as fresh produce and Christmas wreaths, in our tasting room. These interdependencies between rural enterprises are critical to the sustainable goals of our Western Loudoun economy, as well as the preservation of our open spaces. A long-time dedicated servant of community and small business interests, I was recently elected to the Board of the Virginia Wine Council, a Richmond-based organization tasked with furthering the rights of the wine industry. I am President of the Loudoun Wineries Association, and through the LWA we have a direct and open dialogue with both Loudoun Department of Economic Development and Visit Loudoun. I also serve on the Loudoun Economic Development Commission and the Rural Economic Development Council, the EDC Marketing and Business Retention Committee, and we are members of the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce. Though this correspondence does not endeavor to speak on behalf of any of these organizations nor imply their involvement in any way, I have copied each of them so they may be advised of our intentions and commitment to these matters. I will continue to seek their advice and support as we proceed down this path. In addition to the above organizations and legislators, I am also copying local media channels; the complete list of recipients appears below: Senator Jill Vogel I implore you to cease your malicious activities and your intent to destroy the Brown's rights, property, crops and business. It is my understanding that the SCR is not funded, not engineered, and mired in lawsuits. Therefore any destruction of the Brown's property under the mantle of quick-take eminent domain may be construed as nothing more than a thinly-veiled pro-development land grab; how could it be perceived otherwise? These activities are a scar on the history of Purcellville, of Loudoun, and of Virginia. It is our understanding you intend to construct a fence to bar the Browns from their property. Should you commence with this initiative, we will organize a benefit concert to raise funds for the Brown's legal defense. This will be held adjacent to "town property" at Crooked Run and will engage a comprehensive social networking and media strategy. If you feel there is no chance for further negotiations and that the Town's position is firm, then our destiny is aligned with that of Sam and Uta's. However, if there may be any possibility of the Town reconsidering its present course of action, we would gladly donate usage of our facility to bring all parties back to the table to re-establish a constructive dialogue. We do not believe the destruction of Crooked Run Orchards is a foregone conclusion, and will continue to work tirelessly to ensure its future. I would welcome an opportunity to personally hear your responses to this correspondence; therefore I have a video crew standing by to meet us this Sunday, July 17th at 10 AM at Crooked Run. We are prepared to film you speaking in front of the 25-year old orchard, the 80-year old boxwood hedges, the previously working barn and the wide swath of private property you are intent on destroying. I would like to film you standing in front of the stakes you have placed delineating your unfunded roadway, as well as the stake you placed at the entrance to the Brown's barn. Further, we would like to film you reading aloud the condescending letters and lease offer you have submitted to the Browns. I believe it is critical for the community and our future generations to bear witness to this debacle - if we do not study our history we are doomed to repeat it. Bear in mind every word of your response will be included for release to YouTube, agricultural, environmental and heritage association websites, and any other media channel interested in carrying the piece. Please reply to all and let us know how many of you will attend the video shoot so we may plan accordingly. We look forward to filming you this Sunday at 10 AM. Regards, Stephen Mackey Notaviva Vineyards, LLC Posted by Stephen at 6:25 PM
July 7, 20112011 Virginia State Fair Wine CompetitionWe're pleased to announce our 2009 "Cantabile" Cabernet Franc won a silver medal in the 2011 Virginia State Fair Wine Competition! Check out the complete results here. Posted by Stephen at 7:30 AM
July 6, 20112011 Wine & Music Pairing ResultsThanks to everyone who came out for the 3rd annual Wine & Music Pairing Experience. I've compiled all the votes and the results are in! "Vincero" Viognier 2010 "Calor" Chardonnay 2009 "Cantabile" Cabernet Franc 2009 "Celtico" Chambourcin 2009 "Johann" Petit Verdot 2008 Thanks to the team at www.CellarBlog.org for the great write-up!!! Posted by Stephen at 11:51 AM
July 3, 2011Eighth Spray of the SeasonPristine - 10.5 ounces per acre Went for the good stuff this round, as we're just at bunch closing on the Viognier so wanted to ensure we were completely clean inside the bunches. All the hedging is done (Zack finished up the Sauvignon Blanc yesterday) as well as the latest round of herbicide application, and we're beginning on the leaf pulling now. Posted by Stephen at 12:37 PM
June 23, 2011Seventh Spray of the SeasonBelay - 3 oz per acre Posted by Stephen at 7:03 PM
June 12, 2011Sixth Spray of the SeasonActually did the front block last night, then the rear block this morning! Kumulus DF - 4 lb per acre Posted by Stephen at 10:22 AM
June 2, 2011Fifth Spray of the SeasonKumulus DF - 4 lb per acre Posted by Stephen at 11:21 AM
May 31, 2011First Bottling - 2010 VintageToday we bottled the first of our 2010 vintage. It was an incredibly smooth day, both the crew and the bottling line functioning like clockwork. Special thanks to Jeff Blake at Breaux Vineyards for his hard work and unyielding attention to detail. Shannon and I spent a lot of time blending the new "Vincero" stainless steel-fermented Viognier. The past three vintages have been 100% Viognier, and we felt it was time to evolve the wine a bit. After trying blends with barrel-fermented Viognier, Chardonnay and Vidal Blanc, we were both a bit surprised to find we loved the blend with the Vidal. The Viognier has a wonderful lemony aroma, different than the bright pink grapefruit in years past, and the addition of the floral Vidal has created a completely new identity for this wine. This was my first-ever tank fermentation, and I had a tough act to follow as the previous two years were produced by consulting winemakers Mark and Vicki Fedor over at North Gate. Pretty sure we got it right! Stainless steel Viognier 88% / Barrel-fermented Vidal Blanc 12%. The new "Celtico" Chambourcin is the best yet! A combination of fruit from our grower Ed Reeve and some more we picked up from Breaux, the 2010 is showing intense berry on the nose, and a touch more body and tannin on the palate than in previous years due to an increased addition of Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Lightly filtered with a "rock catcher" filter to allow some of the large particulate through, this wine remains the perfect complement for pizza, pasta and brats on the grill. 92% Chambourcin / 4% Merlot / 2% Petit Verdot / 2% Cabernet Franc Posted by Stephen at 9:21 PM
May 23, 2011Fourth Spray of the SeasonApplied the fourth spray of the season this weekend, front block on Saturday night and the rear block on Sunday night: T-Methyl 70W WSB (Topsin M) - 1 lb per acre for black rot and powdery mildew Posted by Stephen at 8:42 AM
May 16, 2011Third Spray of the SeasonTotally got a break today, had a nice window of sunny weather to get in a spray before several days of rainy weather, which is ripe for mildew breakouts. Applied the third spray of the season this morning: Microthiol Disperss - 3 lb per acre The herbicide we put down under the vines has taken effect, and Zack and I were shoot positioning yesterday. Seems right when we think we're caught up now it's time to mow and repair some trellis catch wires. Seve and the crew will be out on Saturday to do the suckering and help out with shoot positioning. Found a timber rattlesnake in the vineyard shed and now have to clean through the whole thing to make sure we don't have a nest in there. The good times are never ending!!! :o) Posted by Stephen at 6:13 PM
May 8, 2011Second Spray of the SeasonApplied the second spray of the season: Microthiol Disperss - 3 lb per acre Posted by Stephen at 9:39 PM
April 29, 2011First Spray of the SeasonApplied the first spray of the season: Microthiol Disperss - 3 lb per acre Posted by Stephen at 9:37 PM
March 10, 2011Road TripHad a great road trip yesterday. Notaviva wines are now in Market Table Bistro and will be in Travinia next week!!! Driving all around Loudoun reminded me of the scene from Tommy Boy: Richard: All right, now it's sale time, so remember, we don't take no...? Posted by Stephen at 7:31 AM
March 6, 2011Winery ConstructionAs always, we're trying to find more space to make more wine. We're in the process of building a huge office / playroom / guest suite in the upper reaches of the winery that way we can clear out some more production space. Going to be a great "clubhouse" for the boys and a perfect area for Shannon to keep them "penned in" so she can get her work done as well. We've just about completed the floor, next steps will be the electrical installation then we'll begin on the drywall. Zack and Jeff also consolidated the 2009 case goods, opening up a lot more space, which we'll need in a few weeks as we begin to bottle the 2010 whites. We have so many concurrent projects going on right now, we're just sort of moving from one to the next, keeping them all moving in the right direction! Posted by Stephen at 7:33 AM
February 20, 2011Vineyard ChoresSuch a great feeling to wake up from the winter hibernation and get back out in the vineyard! We're working on a few projects at once, doing rough pruning of the front block and also moving forward with the last of the trellis installation on the rear block. Looks like final pruning is scheduled for March 24, and then we'll just have to complete the trellis H-brace construction before the season gets into full swing by late April. Also have some fence repairs to tend to, as well as the typical machine / equipment maintenance that we didn't get to after harvest season. Still it's great to be outside working again! Posted by Stephen at 7:38 AM
February 9, 20112011 Virginia Governor's CupWe are pleased to announce we entered two of our reds in the 2011 VA Governor's Cup (Reds) and received two new medals! 2009 "Cantabile" Cabernet Franc = SILVER Congratulations to our fellow Loudoun wineries who also took home medals. Full details here: http://www.vawine.org/news/govcup_red_winners.pdf Posted by Stephen at 12:44 PM
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Contact Info
Notaviva Vineyards, LLC
13274 Sagle Rd
Purcellville, VA 20132
Tel: (540) 668-6756
All Rights Reserved
Copyright © 2007-2011 Notaviva Vineyards, LLC
NOTAVIVA® and WINE PAIRED WITH MUSIC. POUR. LISTEN. BELIEVE.®
are registered trademarks of Notaviva Vineyards LLC.
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