Rain! Rain! Go away! June has provided us an unnerving amount of all-day-long thunderstorms. It has slowed progress in the vineyard slightly and the disease pressure spiked. Freddi has been putting some long hours in on the tractor spraying for downy mildew. While shoot thinning and training is still underway, the crew is looking to the Norton.
Read MoreWhile things have slowed down a bit in the cellar, the production crew is beginning to feel the pressure of the approaching 2020 harvest; signaling that it is time to begin our extensive cleaning and preparations for it.
Read MoreWith a bit of planning and some new rules our staff was able to provide a safe environment for everyone to finally get outdoors and enjoy some great wine, delicious food and fresh air. Our large lawn area and great weather also helped. After months of stuggling to keep going, it really lifted everyone's spirits to see a lawn full of happy customers.
Read MoreJune is dairy month! 2020 marks the 83rd annual celebration of this nutritious and delicious category of products! Dairy products including milk, yogurt and CHEESE provide important nutritional benefits through high-quality proteins, vitamins A and D as well as minerals such as calcium to keep your bones strong and healthy. Did you know that there are 8 grams of protein in just ONE, 8 oz cup of milk? Not to mention milk is the freshest product you can buy at grocery stores near you, from farm to store in just 48 hours!
Read MoreThe vineyard has sprung to life and bloom is not far away. With the abundance of rain lately the vineyard is pushing shoots ranging anywhere from 6 -12 inches. It is wonderful to see the vigorous growth of a new growing season, but constant care is always required. Before bloom the crew focuses on shoot thinning. We select the healthiest, strongest shoots to encourage quality fruit development. Once shoot thinning is finished the crew turns their attention to training the new shoots through the various catch wires.
Read MoreHello from the Little River Bakehouse up here on Tasting Room Hill. I just wanted to thank everybody that has come out and gotten a pizza or loaf of bread and helping to support us through all of this. We are entering phase 1 of reopening which fills me with very nervous excitement, as we try to adjust to the changes please help us out with your continued patience and adaptability. Some of the safety precautions we are taking are daily wellness checkups of our staff, implementing mandatory face masks while on-premise, and constantly and fastidiously sanitizing and cleaning.
Read MoreSince we only have a short time before the July bottling, we turn our attention to evaluating the red wines. After the racking process, we give the wine a few more weeks in barrel before tasting them again. As always, we assess wines for quality and profile. While it’s much too early to bottle the 2019 Norton Locksley Reserve, Jason and I will begin working on candidate blends. The Norton Locksley Reserve is Chrysalis Vineyard’s flagship wine and requires very careful consideration of every component from the barrels used; to the exact percentage of Tannat, Petit Verdot, and Norton.
Read MoreWe're here seven days a week to continue bringing you the best local products, so go to our website, call in your order or just stop in! We appreciate your business, so please continue to support local, support agriculture..... support US!
Read MoreBoy!...What a difference a month makes! Last month we were anxiously awaiting the arrival of spring and now many of us are sequestered at home doing our best to stave off the spread of the COVID-19 virus. These are difficult and uncertain times to be sure, but I've also seen some good things in the midst of this tragedy. Rather than bustling past in crowded spaces without acknowledging each other, people are passing 6 feet away and giving a nod or saying hello. This is what it means for our operation here at the Ag District:
Read MoreLocksley Farmstead Cheese is excited to announce that our cheeses have been recognized among those of the Virginia’s Finest products. You will now notice a gold and black or red, white and blue sticker seal with the Virginia’s Finest checkmark of approval on the top right-hand side of our labels. The Virginia's Finest trademark signifies that agricultural food products have met quality standards established by industries and approved by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. We are very excited as we continue to work hard in producing high-quality milk and in turn crafting delicious artisan cheeses.
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