In the wake of the election and the start of the pre-pre-holiday season, it would appear there’s lots of tension in the air. As a little mental health day, I decided it would be best to take to Cross Keys Vineyard to wine about it all.

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     Located about 10 minutes outside of Harrisonburg, Cross Keys Vineyard is an oasis. I’ve written about their salsa nights before, but attending one of their wine tasting parties is an entirely different vibe.

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     I organized a group of about 26 girls to tag along, and it was surprisingly easy and affordable to accommodate us all. I told the vineyard how many of us to expect for a private tasting and bingo—a party fit for some queens.

The best part? A tasting of 12 wines and a monstrous cheese plate is only $15 a head. At a nicer place to eat you could be spending anywhere from $6-$10 on a GLASS of wine. Let alone 12 healthy pours.

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      In addition, the tasting came along with lovely staff who were extremely knowledgeable about all things wine. I kept a little note sheet as I was tasting them so I could slay family Thanksgiving with my knowledge of tannins. The notes might be covered in mouthwatering residue from sun-dried-tomatoes, but that’s just the way things shake out.

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     We scheduled our party for 4 P.M which was ideal. The sun was just starting to set making for some amazing golden hour pictures. It’s easy to see why this is such a sought-after venue for weddings in Virginia.

 

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     The property was huge. I think the best part is that almost feels hidden behind farms and back-roads. Depending on your degree of optimism this solitude could be relaxing. Or a little bit bone chilling after dark. With some of their wine running through your veins, I’ll assume the former.

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     The tables were elegant. They even had little stone placards with our party’s name on it. Simple touches, but they helped a bunch of 21 and 22-year old’s feel sophisticated. That’s something I appreciate considering we’re usually pigeonholed into a binge drinking stereotype.

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     We could appreciate the nuances of sophisticated wine culture. To prove it, here’s a few fun facts I learned during the tasting:

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• Virginia law states that wine made in the state can’t be more than a 14 percent alcohol content. Unless you want to pay a large tax that is.

  • Well, almost ALL of the wines at Cross Keys are over 14 percent and thus they’re willing to shell out the extra cash in order to maintain quality. After tasting their 2014 Ali d’Oro (17 percent alc) I can say it’s worth the price tag.

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• Not all red wine is created equal. I’m all for pulling a merlot right off the shelf for a date night, but a Petit Verdot is a more romantic choice. Why? Well, apparently, the tannins have a similar physiological effect on your body as sex. As our wine goddess aptly named it: the Netflix and Chill wine.

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• Some wine leaves your mouth feeling drier than others. This is the effect of a fuller bodied wine.

 

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     Suffice it to say I was in heaven. Learning and consuming wine at the same time? That was this nerdy wino’s dream. I would suggest anyone give this tasting a try. Male, female, big group or small. You could wow your friends at a cocktail party with your new-found knowledge. Or you could just eat some amazing cheese. Either way, I consider it a win.

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Address:

Cross Keys Vineyard Address:

6011 E Timber Ridge Rd

Mt Crawford, VA

22841

 

Phone: (540) 234-0505

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Website: http://www.crosskeysvineyards.com/

 

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