Bree Ann Moore combines expert skill and innovation in running Loudoun Valley Vineyards. Photo courtesy of Loudoun Valley Vineyards.
Virginia continues to grow its place in the wine world as several new wineries open each year and competition medals mount. But female winemakers here continue to be rare. That’s something Bree Ann Moore, co-owner and winemaker at Loudoun Valley Vineyards since February 2008 and one of only a handful of women winemakers in the state, hopes will change in the coming decade.
“I would love to have more women making wine in Virginia,” Moore said, noting that 70 percent of wine purchasers are now female and women are widely regarded to have superior palettes for understanding and appreciating wine. In California, where Moore studied viticulture and enology at the famed UC Davis program and interned as a chemist for Beringer, many women work on the scientific side of wine. But few appear to be as drawn to the nation’s fifth largest winemaking state as Moore was when she and her husband, Cameron, moved to Virginia in 2002 after her graduation. She first worked with Rappahannock Cellars during the 2003 harvest as an assistant winemaker, moving on to become Unicorn Winery’s full time winemaker the following year and establishing herself on the global competition circuit before she and Cameron purchased Loudon Valley.
Since taking over the winery two years ago, Moore has “had a blast” organizing events and gotten the vineyard involved in community outreach to promote the new ownership and the winery’s offerings through word-of-mouth marketing. The biggest hit so far has been Saturday soups, where from noon until approximately 4 p.m., guests can enjoy a glass of wine and a cup of soup that is made by one of the Moore’s friends — who is also a Loudon Valley investor — for $12. Moore and the soup-maker rate the offerings to see which ones are most popular and the phone rings from November through March with people checking on the weekly menu, which is also featured on the winery’s website.
February highlights include French onion, Italian wedding, avocado chicken and bean soups. The winery offered hot air balloon rides this fall; in January began to feature performances by local musicians on the weekends in the tasting room; and will host a Valentine’s Day dinner in February.
Loudoun Valley Vineyard hosts events all year round. Try "Saturday Soups," which take place each Saturday afternoon. Photo by Jessica Strelitz.
During the 2009 holidays, Loudoun Valley worked with local groups to help sponsor a charity drive for the Good Shepherd’s Alliance, a non-profit based in Ashburn. Guests who brought donations for families in need received free tastings. They were also one of three local wineries to participate in the annual Rt. 9 Barrel Tasting in January, and will take part in the second annual Bark and Wine event to benefit the Loudon County Animal Shelter in the spring. Moore says that private events such as wine dinners, weddings and corporate gatherings are also going strong, and she and her husband expect to begin expansion of the space this winter — but will keep the tasting room open during renovations. “The wine business has been incredible, especially in the last few months. Sales are steady and we’re not feeling a big impact from the economic downturn,” Moore said. Guests enjoy samples of about 10 wines during a tasting, including several white varietals and blends, a Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, the award-winning Dynasty red blend and two dessert wines — including one called Legacy, a port-style Touriga Nacional named for the Moore’s son, Cameron Davis.
Loudon Valley, which produces about four to five thousand cases of wine per year from its twenty acres of vines, is mostly focused on European varietals. The winery doesn’t have a distributor for its product, but instead focuses on local restaurants and small wine shops to help grow the business outside of the winery. Moore said that this year’s harvest “was incredible,” producing less overall tonnage due to weather issues, but resulting in amazing flavors that will lead to robust and exciting future wines.
“The grapes this year are very similar to 2007, which was a great year for color and flavor,” Moore added, referring to the harvest widely regarded as Virginia’s best in the last decade. This winter, the winery is bottling several new wines, including a red table wine, a Vinifera white blend of Chardonnay and Viognier, and a new Chardonnay that uses both barrel and steel elements. Moore says they will start a vintners club during the 2010-11 season and offer its members a chance to break down components of blends and to bottle them. The ultra-low production of these wines, including Petit Verdot and Pinot Noir grapes, will only be available to club members. They are sure to be cellar classics of the future.
Loudoun Valley Vineyard is open six days a week. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday: Noon to 5:00 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Loudoun Valley Vineyard: 38516 Charles Town Pike, Waterford, VA. 20197; 540-882-3375; www.loudounvalleyvineyards.com
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