I was excited to try this new winery because it offered an interesting twist. A recognized chef cooks food from the farm and local resources that get paired with their wines, a farm to table (including the wine) experience. It is always fun to go to a winery and sip their contributions to the nectar of the gods. Often times these vineyards and wineries are in stunning location that are often a long drive off from anything else. After a time of tasting and learning about the different offerings, comes the natural desire to mate the wine with food. Most wineries have nothing except some prepackaged cheese or peanuts that can be purchased. Having the meal to accompany the tasting made it more of a complete outing and there was something appealing about it all being off the farm/vineyard. The place was very well set up in a country French style, the vista spectacular, the staff was accommodating and pleasant. The drive there was beautiful down a long country road with driveways that clearly lead to large estates, as well as simple old, well restored and maintained farm houses.
The tasting was $6 and you got to pick your choice of any 4 wines on the list (including sparkling and dessert). The pours were steeper than most tastings. The outdoor porch was a great place to visit with friends and the espressos and other coffees helped to keep sobriety of the designated driver before hitting the road again.
After the tasting I enjoyed a very nice sparkling rose wine (and bought a bottle to take to friend) that was perfect for a very hot day. It is a venue that can be rented out. It looked like there was going to be a wedding there later that day. Unlike Veritas Winery (see write up Veritas Virginia Winery visited by Lorre White, "The Luxury Guru". http://bit.ly/18P4GgJ ) , Pippin Hill was successful in feeling like a small vineyard/winery that happened to host events, instead of a mass feel of a event venue with the marketing gimmick of a winery.
The staff seemed to take more of a real interest in their work and that comes across to the guests as a more genuine experience and the key to preventing the "churm 'em and burn 'em" feel of a mass market. The wines were good, but not the best of all the wineries in the area, but the combination of all the other factors, I give it high marks. It is a place that I plan to visit again.
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FORBES says "Lorre White has a following that includes Royals and Billionaires"
Lorre White, has been a international luxury marketing expert for 2 decades and is the founder of White Light Consulting an international luxury marketing consulting firm working with luxury brands to reach the worlds wealthiest 1%. She is the founder of a luxury blog with an exclusive UHNW followingwww.LuxGuru.Typepad.com and the only internationally recognized luxury media personality “The Luxury Guru”. Lorre frequently contributes to luxury magazines globally, including having had her own monthly column in Portugal’s #1 rate luxury magazine. For more information just Google her.
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Links To Virginia Winery Articles by Lorre White, "The Luxury Guru"
Afton Mountain Winery: Lorre White "The Luxury Guru" visits Afton Mountain Vineyard in Virginia. http://luxguru.typepad.com/lorre_white_the_luxury_gu/2013/10/lorre-white-the-luxury-guru-visits-afton-mountain-vineyard-in-virginia.html
Barboursville Winery: Lorre White, "The Luxury Guru" says Virginia's Barboursville Winery is a 'Must See' http://luxguru.typepad.com/lorre_white_the_luxury_gu/2013/10/lorre-white-the-luxury-guru-says-virginias-barboursville-winery-is-a-must-see.html
Barren Ridge Winery: Lorre White "The Luxury Guru" visits Barren Ridge Winery in the Shenandoah Valley. http://luxguru.typepad.com/lorre_white_the_luxury_gu/2013/10/lorre-whit-the-luxury-guru-visits-barren-ridge-winery-in-the-shenandoah-valley.html
Cardinal Point Winery: Cardinal Point wines were terrific says Lorre White, "The Luxury Guru" http://luxguru.typepad.com/lorre_white_the_luxury_gu/2013/10/cardinal-point-wines-were-terrific-says-lorre-white-the-luxury-guru.html
Early Mountain Winery: Steve Case, the Ambassador for Virginia Wines by Lorre White, "The Luxury Guru" http://luxguru.typepad.com/lorre_white_the_luxury_gu/2013/11/steve-case-the-ambassador-for-virginia-wines-by-lorre-white-the-luxury-guru.html
Flying Fox Winery: The Flying Fox Wines get a good review from "The Luxury Guru", Lorre White http://luxguru.typepad.com/lorre_white_the_luxury_gu/2013/11/the-flying-fox-wines-get-a-good-review-from-the-luxury-guru-lorre-white.html
Glass House Winery: Lorre White "The Luxury Guru" says Glass House Winery On The Monticello Wine Trail is wonderfully quirky place and a must visit for wine enthusiasts. http://luxguru.typepad.com/lorre_white_the_luxury_gu/2013/11/lorre-white-the-luxury-guru-says-glass-house-winery-on-the-monticello-wine-trail-is-wonderfully-quirky-place-and-a-must-vis.html
Jefferson Winery: Lorre White, "The Luxury Guru" rates the Jefferson winery as a SKIP. http://luxguru.typepad.com/lorre_white_the_luxury_gu/2013/10/lorre-white-the-luxury-guru-rates-the-jefferson-winery-as-a-skip.html
King's Family Winery: Lorre White visits King Family Vineyards in Virginia. http://luxguru.typepad.com/lorre_white_the_luxury_gu/2013/09/lorre-white-visits-king-family-vineyards-in-virginia.html
Pippin Hill Winery: Pippin Hill Winery in Virginia gets good marks from Lorre White,"The Luxury Guru".http://luxguru.typepad.com/lorre_white_the_luxury_gu/2013/10/pippin-hill-winery-in-virginia-gets-good-marks-from-lorre-whitethe-luxury-guru.html
Pollack Winery: "The Luxury Guru", Lorre White, Give A Neutral Review To Pollack Winery In Virginia.http://luxguru.typepad.com/lorre_white_the_luxury_gu/2013/11/the-luxury-guru-lorre-white-give-a-neutral-review-to-pollack-winery-in-virginia.html
Trump Winery: Virginia's Trump Winery reviewed by Lorre White, "The Luxury Guru"http://luxguru.typepad.com/lorre_white_the_luxury_gu/2013/10/virginias-trump-winery-reviewed-by-lorre-white-the-luxury-guru.html
Veritas Winery: Veritas Virginia Winery visited by Lorre White, "The Luxury Guru". http://luxguru.typepad.com/lorre_white_the_luxury_gu/2013/10/veritas-virginia-winery-visted-by-lorre-white-the-luxury-guru-.html
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