It’s not too often anymore that we get out (without the kiddos) to have a good ol’ fashioned winery day with friends. Luckily a few months ago, we got one on the books with a couple of my nearest and dearest. The hubs and I were so excited and praying that nothing would ruin these plans!! Good news, nothing did! And we spent the day catching up, eating yummy food, laughing hysterically at each other, and probably drinking a little bit too much.
Me and the hubs. This picture is a keeper, and so is he. 🙂
First stop was Blue Valley Vineyard & Winery. This place is seriously beautiful and had close to 20 different wines for us to sample. I had visited a few years ago and they only had rosé on the menu. This visit, they were completely out of rosé, but we sampled several whites and reds. The rosé is a top seller in case you are also a fan. The tasting room is very open with large windows that let in tons of natural light. They also have two huge patios that overlook the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah Valley in the Spring-Fall months…….worth a visit if you like good wine with a view! Oh! And they also had a local chocolatier giving samples of infused chocolates and fudge. That was actually my first stop before the wine!
Gorgeous! And I need one of these wine barrels in my house!!
“Let me tell you ’bout my best friends” :). These girls are my ride or die and I can’t even put into words how much I love them or the fun times we’ve had over the 20+ years I’ve known them!
Next up was the Maidstone Meadery. I kinda already knew that I wasn’t a huge fan of mead (honey wine), but I was along for the ride and wanted to give it another try. Well, that tasting just confirmed that I in fact do not like mead wine. Between the eight of us, I’d say about half liked them, and the other half not so much. But that’s okay. The wine wasn’t our favorite, but we have a few stories to reminisce on from that 30 min stop…so it was well worth it!
A day of wine tasting calls for snacks! Good thing my friend came prepared with Sunchips and protein cookies! 7-11 for the win! Haha. After we settled the debate on the best Sunchip flavor (which was NOT Original by the way!) we proceeded to eat the entire bag in route to the next winery. Side note–I think the Lash Boost I’ve been using is finally working!!
We saved the best for last and headed to Barrel Oak Winery. This is one of my all time favorite local wineries for several reasons. 1- they are kid and dog friendly! 2- their wines are good and they now offer beer as well! 3- the atmosphere is so much fun, especially in the warmer months when you can sit outside. They have food trucks, corn-hole, live music, and are just a short drive off of Rt. 66. Again, one of my favorite spots so if you have not yet been—check. it. out!
Barrel Oak Winery (BOW) has branded their business around dogs. I mentioned they are super dog friendly–dogs were everywhere! They hold adoptions and fundraisers for dogs all the time. And even name some of their wines after their pups. I love it! That picture is one of the owners with who I think is their dog, Justice.
The crew! Can we do this every Saturday, friends? 😉 Okay, maybe not evvvvery Saturday, but more often, mmkay.
We ended the days shenanigans with dinner at Hunters Head Tavern in Upperville. It’s a cozy spot with a delicious menu full of seasonal dishes with locally sourced ingredients. Tasty, handcrafted cocktails and the most amazing fresh bread you’ll ever eat. I could easily handle an entire loaf solo with no shame whatsoever. It’s an all around a good family friendly spot to get some good eats in a chill atmosphere.
I can’t think of a better way to end a day of drinking than with fried chicken and mashed potatoes. Am I right?
As if Saturday wasn’t exciting enough, on Sunday we headed to brunch to celebrate the housewarming of some of our good friends. Good as in we go way back to elementary school and I love her like a sister! I couldn’t be happier for her and her family on buying a brand new house last year. (And for her most recent first trip to Homegoods–Ha!) This was my first visit there so it was extra special. Great food and even better company!
This girl is one of the best people I know. Simply stated…a great mama, beautiful soul and someone you just want to be around.
Typically you’ll find us like this….
But mostly like this. 😉 Which is the absolute best way to be!
I ended the day with family time and a mani/pedi with my girlfriend as we gear up for a trip later this week!
All in all, the weekend was busy, but much needed. Alone time with my husband, time with friends, and celebrations of milestones of those near and dear are so important to make time for. The past 48 hours have brought new memories that I will cherish forever. As some say….the time is now. You don’t get this time back. So live it, enjoy it. Make the plans. Drink the wine. Eat the entire loaf of Hunters Head bread. 😉 Make your family and friends a priority. Life is too short to not live in the moment and make these memories while you still can.
One final thought….I’d also like to mention that for a blog named after one of my favorite wine varietals, I can’t believe this is my first blog post involving WINE! First of more to come for sure. And for anyone wondering, my absolute favorite wine is Pinot Noir.
Cheers friends! Thanks again for reading my blog!
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