Wine at the beerfest

Out of the many brewery tables at last weekend's Northern Virginia Summer Brewfest, there was one booth sampling that other fermented beverage.

Representatives of Kluge Estate Winery and Vineyard had driven up from Charlottesville, Virginia to pour three delicious wines: Albemarle Viognier, Albemarle Simply Red (a Bordeaux-style blend), and Albemarle Rosé. All three wines had been aged in oak; the last, a French-style rosé, showed a bright berry fuitiness and dry tannic finish. A great bone-dry summer refresher: I went back for seconds.

The winery representative told me that several festival goers had told her how happy they were to find wine at a beer festival.

I smiled. At wine festivals, I feel the same way, but in reverse. The contrast proves refreshing.

More about the Northern Virginia Summer Brewfest:

• Festival website (including information on the autumn festival)
• My photos from the weekend
• Bob Tupper at the Festival (as in Tuppers Hop Pocket Ale)
• Good review of the Festival from David Turley's Musings Over A Pint