Naked wine, fruit-infused moonshine and beer made with local blackberries are glasses to watch as the weather warms.
2016 Petillant Naturel – Rose of Syrah
Early Mountain Vineyards
Virginia finally can get its hands on a native bottling of petillant-naturel, known by wine-lovers as pet-nat or dirty sparkling.
Pet-nat is a low-intervention method of winemaking where the juice is topped with a crown cap—like what you’d find on a soda or beer bottle—before fermentation ends, yielding bubbles in the bottle. It’s a nod to the current movement of a more hands-off approach to winemaking.
Early Mountain enologist Maya Hood White led production of two fizzy wines in 2016, a white blend and this cloudy, unfiltered syrah rose. Even though it’s of limiting bottling—only 11 cases were made, and each bottle was hand-capped by White and her mom—don’t hold onto it or even chill it for too long. Pet-nats are the first wines available after the harvest, so enjoy the earthy, grapefruit notes now. // 6109 Wolftown-Hood Road, Madison
Strawberry-Rhubarb Infused Moonshine
Market Table Bistro
Mixologist Colt Taylor oversees dozens of infusions at Market Table Bistro, and this moonshine blend made with Catoctin Creek Distilling Company’s Mosby’s Spirit was inspired by his grandmother in Michigan, who sends him strawberry rhubarb jam each year. // 13 E. Broad Way, Lovettsville
Birthday Saison
Spencer Devon Brewing
The Fredericksburg brewery will celebrate its second birthday next month with a saison made with blackberries from nearby Snead’s Farm. // 106 George St., Fredericksburg
Philosophy 2014
Green Hill Winery & Vineyards
The Virginia winery celebrated opening its expansive new tasting room, wine club lounge and cellar space in January by releasing the latest iteration of its flagship full-bodied Bordeaux blend. // 23595 Winery Lane, Middleburg
