Each year since 2009, winemaker Matthieu Finot from King Family Vineyards, vintner Emily Pelton from Veritas Vineyard and Winery, and winegrower Jake Bushing from Grace Estate Winery have joined efforts to create ‘3’ — a limited-release blend of three wines from their respective vineyards.
The release party for each year’s ‘3’ has become a tradition for the Central Virginia wine community, and on the afternoon of Tuesday, March 3, you can head out to King Family Vineyards in Crozet for the annual release of ‘3’, featuring tastes of the wine, charcuterie and cheese, and an opportunity to buy a bottle (or three!) as well.
The blend represents the strengths of the winemakers’ separate wineries, with each contributing one-third of the wine needed for the blend. Each vintage is unique — a snapshot of that year’s harvest at each of the vineyards — and represents the possibilities of collaboration within Virginia’s growing wine industry. Each winery gets two barrels, or 45 cases, of the blend, which sells for $33.33 per bottle.
In 2014, Veritas Vineyard and Winery sponsored a story about ‘3’ in Our Local Commons—Charlottesville, Vol. II, which charted the history of this collaboration and the deep friendship between Matthieu, Emily, and Jake, who each came into their own as winemakers over the past decade, maturing as the commonwealth’s wine industry came into its own.
For the 2013 vintage that will be released on Tuesday, the three vintners conducted three tasting trials to craft the ideal blend, which ended up being Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc. According to the winemakers, the wine is “well-balanced” and has “bright red fruit on the attack and opens up to rich notes of dark cherry and blueberry on the mid-palate.”
As Virginia wine gains popularity and prestige, the story of ‘3’ reflects both where the industry has been and its great promise. Join us at King Family Vineyard next Tuesday to raise a glass to that success.
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Details
When: Tuesday, March 3, 3:33 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Where: The Barrel Room, King Family Vineyards – 6550 Roseland Farm, Crozet
The post Don’t Miss – ‘3’ Release Party! appeared first on Our Local Commons.