Posts Tagged ‘Virginia Wine Country’

It may be winter, but the award winning Virginia wineries in the Shenandoah Valley are keeping some limited hours. It is a great time to visit the Virginia Wine Country…no crowds, cozy tasting rooms, cheese and wine and the solitude of the winter vines. We recommend some of our favorites Vineyards that are open: Delaplane Manor, Linden Vineyard, Barrel Oak, Fox Meadow, Rappahannock Cellars, Boxwood, and Veramar. We can still pack you a great picnic to enjoy while you enjoy a nice respite from the crowds of the crush.

Check out a little history of the Virginia Wine story. There are 210 wineries in Virginia and so little time. Come and cozy up to a fire in one of our cozy rooms or suites and enjoy a repast dinner delivered to your room at our French Country Inn & Restaurant, a Northern Virginia Bed and Breakfast, at the end of your day, complete with a bottle of local Virginia wine.

Visit our award winning wineries

We are not sure they will be driving their Ferraris but on Sunday, August 5, 2012, we are going to Italy for an afternoon gathering of fine food, fine wine, and fine conversation at our Virginia Wine Country Inn.

These Ferraris were lined up in Monaco just roaring to get to L’Auberge Provencale, our French Country Inn and Restaurant for our Al Fresco dinner. Chef Benedict Zappone and his team are creating Italian family recipes paired with fine wines from Italy presented by Jason Bise of the Country Vintner.

As one patron told us yesterday, “I have been to wine dinners a lot, but yours is so different. The food is terrific, the best, and the wines are paired perfectly.”

Our recent wine dinners this summer have been quite a hit, and you may want to reserve early for this event as it is booking up fast. (Winey and Cheesey think as fast as a Ferrari.) It is a great way to spend time with family and friends gathering in the Shenandoah Valley for a leisurely afternoon. Life at it’s best. Come join us…there is no passport required.

To whet your appetite, here is the menu for the afternoon in Italy..

An Afternoon Gathering in Italy

Sunday August 5, 2012

On the Table:

Bruschetta

Our Garden Tomato, Mozzarella, Basil, Balsamic Vinegar

Nino-Franco ‘Rustico’ Prosecco,    Veneto

First Course:

Proscuitto and Garden Melon

Fields of Anthenry Beef Carpaccio- Mache, Capers, Pecorino Romano, Truffle Vinaigrette

Coreggia Roero Arneis 2011,   Piemonte

Arepe Rosso di Valtellina 2009,    Lombardia

Second Course:

Grilled Summer Vegetables from The Inn Garden-Eggplant, Zucchini,

Yellow Squash, Red Peppers, Olive Oil, Balsamic

Wild Mushroom Lasagna with Mushroom Cream Sauce

Massone ‘Masera’ Gavi 2011,   Piemonte

Sperino ‘Uvaggio’ Lessona 2008,     Piemonte

Third Course:

Pan Seared Bronzini and Herb Gnocchi-Shiitake Mushrooms, Fava Beans, Lemon Butter

Risotto Alla Piemontese- Meat Broth, Nutmeg, Parmesan, Truffle

Contratto Brut 2007,     Oltrepo-Pavese

Vajra ‘Albe’ Barolo 2007,    Piemonte

Fourth Course:

Rabbit Cacciatore Over Soft Rosemary Polenta, Tomato, Olive, Peppers, Red

Pollo Potenza-Braised Chicken, Tomato, Onion, White Wine, Pepperoncino, Basil

Parsley, Pecorino

Venica Pinot Grigio ‘Jesera’ 2011,        Collio

La Giaretta Amarone della Valpolicella 2008,    Veneto

Fifth Course:

Lamb Osso Bucco with Pappardelle Pasta, Lamb Jus

Veal Valdostana-Veal Cutlet with Ham, Fontina Cheese, Lemon Butter

Elena Walch ‘Kastelaz’ Merlot Reserve 2001,    Alto-Adige

Vie di Romans ‘Flor Unis’ Bianco 2009,    Friuli

Dessert:

Tiramisu- Biscotti, Peach Sorbetto

La Spinetta ‘Quaglia’ Moscato 2011,      Piemonte

Call to make Your Reservation at our Italian Wine Dinner: 800.638.1702

Come out to our romantic Virginia restaurant to celebrate the one who means the most…your MOM! We will be serving brunch and dinner on Sunday, May 13th at our Virginia Wine Country bed and breakfast inn.

Brunch will be served from 11:30-2:30; Dinner 2:30-8:00 pm. The Mother’s Day Menu will feature local produce, local procured meats and seasonal ingredients. What a time of year to feast on Fresh foraged greens, Morels, Asparagus, Rhubarb, French radishes, and great greens and herbs from our own gardens and farms of the Shenandoah Valley. And don’t forget our secret house-made Bloody Mary Mix served with Peppered Vodka or perhaps a Provence Royal…Rose Petal Champagne.  For Dad, we have a great selection of microbrewery beers and 98 Scotches and Bourbons.

You may want to stop by Blandy Farm, the State Arboretum, for the Mother’s Day Plant Sale and Garden Fair. The weather is supposed to be beautiful on Sunday and a stroll through the Arboretum and perhaps purchasing an indigenous plant from our great state of Virginia makes the day complete.

Give us a call and we will be happy to secure your reservation! We will have Al Fresco dining available that day, weather permitting. Experience a day in France just minutes away. If the kids aren’t in town we still have a few rooms left. Why not rekindle the romance and enjoy at getaway with the love of your family life at our Virginia Wine Country inn!

It’s never a quiet day here at L’Auberge Provencale, there’s always another crazy project on the books! Our latest adventure (coming soon…) has been a year-long endeavor to design a video that captures the essence of our Virginia Bed and Breakfast and the full guest experience.

Produced, directed and edited by Madame Borel, no expense was spared to portray the full vision. The shoot started in February and wrapped in June; the seasons were captured at their worst and best.

We started with food, food and more food. Shot from the garden to the dining room, the film recreates the inner workings of the kitchen, the chefs and the talent that goes behind every plate and bedroom.

It doesn’t stop there! Celeste dragged the patient videographers all over the Shenandoah Valley to capture our guests’ favorite activities. From the shops in Middleburg, the Vineyards and Wineries in Delaplane, the Old Mill in Millwood, views from Skyline Drive and even an impromptu flying lesson with Alain in his airplane We’ve got it all on film! Please enjoy a sneak peak of pictures from our shoot and stay tuned for the final production to be posted later this summer.

L’Auberge Provencale was thrilled to team up with Linden Vineyards last year on June 23^rd, 24^th & 30^th for Linden’s Annual Barrel Tasting.  The talented culinary team at L’Auberge Provencale paired the cuisine to complement the latest wines available from Linden.  The Kingfish stole the show and went outrageously well with Linden’s Sauvignon Blanc. No one could resist the Lamb chops as they sipped on the 2008 Hardscrabble Chardonnay. This amazing event drew in over 750 wine enthusiasts from the area who visited the winery over a three-day spree. Mother Nature was on our side and the weather was as good as it gets in the Shenandoah Valley.  The food and wine was flowing as spirits ran high, and we were delighted to be able to take part in such an event.

If you missed the Barrel Tasting, but love Virginia wines, we invite you to visit our Virginia Inn and Restaurant and partake in one of our self guided or chauffeured wine tours.  Our Virginia Wine Country Tours include other local vineyards and wineries including Delaplane, Three Fox, Veramar, Barrel Oak, Pearmund Cellars (who won the Governor’s Cup this year), Philip Carter, La Grange, Naked Mountain and so many more. All of these fantastic Virginia Wineries are just a quick ride from the inn. After your complimentary tasting certificates are used, head back to L’Auberge for our Prix Fixe 5 Course Menu or 6 Course Tasting Menu with our exceptionally selected wine pairings.  Our wine pairings feature wines from not only the vines in the Shenandoah Valley and all around the world, but of course we pair the Kingfish with Linden’s Avenius Sauvignon Blanc. It’s that good!

If the barrel tasting sounded like your kind of event and you’re sorry you missed it, mark your calendar for a Special Wine Dinner at L’Auberge Provencale on June 26^th, hosted by Jason Bise from The Country Vintner. Call us for details!