Media chatter
Our Expansion
We are very excited to share with you our improvement in our facility.
Here is a sneak preview!!!!!
As you all know, we are, and will continue to be a small boutique winery. In that mindset, many of the rooms we are adding are for the operation of the vineyard, wine making area (paul is making some fun Cayuga Rye), storage which is huge for us as we have lots of our wine being stored off site, but we didn't forget about you....our customers.
We have expanded our space with a huge 5' fireplace where you can sit and sip on our fabulous wines. This space will allow for larger groups and some dining tables as opposed to our comfortable living room atmosphere. We think you are going to like our French Country Space with some lovely antiques to adorn the tasting room. Stop by to take a peak on where we are, follow our progress. Our completion should be with the next 30-60 days.
All the very best this holiday season.
Paul & Loretta Briede
Dec 4, 2024 at 4:03 AM
Permalink
Briedé Family Vineyards Achieves Remarkable Success at the 2024 Atlantic Seaboard Wine Association Competition
Winchester, VA – August 15, 2024 – Briedé Family Vineyards is thrilled to announce its remarkable success at the 2024 Atlantic Seaboard Wine Competition. As a testament to exceptional winemaking and an unwavering commitment to excellence using primarily hybrid grapes, three of Briedé Family Vineyards' exquisite wines have been awarded Gold medals.
To help identify the best of the best, the Atlantic Seaboard Wine Association (ASWA) holds an annual wine competition, the largest in the nation focused exclusively on the wines of the East Coast. The competition covers the 17 states from Maine to Florida that border the Atlantic, also including Vermont, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. The professional competition judges hail from all parts of the country and many facets of the wine trade.
Gold Medal Winners:
2023 Le Meilleur – this newly released wine is made primarily from the hybrid grape La Crescent with 10% Traminette added for a beautifully balanced wine with lovely floral notes.
2023 Riesling – As described by world-renowned wine critic Julie Harding of JancisRobinson.com, “Pure, scented lemon-and-lime freshness and a hint of mango. Sweet lemons all the way to the rounded, soft but balanced mouth-watering finish… acidity and fruit are excellent partners…impressive depth of flavour.”
2021 Stuurboord Port-Style Wine – a lovely Port-style wine made with Tannat and aged with Brandy for three years in French Oak Barrels.
These Gold Medal winning wines reflect not only the incredible work of our highly regarded winemaker, Nate Walsh, and the high standards of owners Paul and Loretta Briedé, but also our unwavering commitment to growing high quality and very versatile hybrid grapes.
In addition, two Briedé wines received “Best in Category” honors:
Other White Hybrid/NA Varietal – 2023 Le Meilleur
Port-Styled Wines – 2021 Stuurboord
Five Briedé wines received Silver medals:
2023 Arandell Special Reserve
2022 Chocolate Red
2023 Guthrie Cab Franc
2020 Sparkling Winchester
Another six Briedé wines won Bronze medals, totaling an impressive 14 medals overall.
Paul and Loretta expressed their excitement over this achievement: “Winning these awards is quite an honor, and a wonderful validation of our passion for making exceptional wines. Every bottle reflects our dedication to hybrid grapes and our desire to produce the highest quality wines. We’re also honored to play a small part in elevating the Virginia wine industry and, of course, our Shenandoah AVA.”
Briedé Family Vineyards invites all wine lovers to visit our scenic vineyards in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley and savor our many award-winning wines!
The complete list of ASWA 2024 medal winners can be found here.
Be the first to comment on this postVineyard tours by wheels
Come join us and visit our vineyard by wheels.
Too hot to walk, or maybe you want to sip on a glass of wine while the vineyard comes to you Please call 540-664-2048 to make your reservation for an up close and personal tour hosted by vineyard owner Loretta Briede. We can seat 3 people maximum, but can always take a second tour.
$15/per person. Club members are for free.
Lean about the vines, our history, taste the grapes, and experience a hands on tour of our vines. This makes a fun gift or outing. Book your reservation today.
We are an operating farm, and sometimes the vineyards tours are closed to the public, so please be sure to make your reservation by calling 540-664-2048 to book your ride.
Cheers
Aug 5, 2024 at 6:03 AM
Permalink
Veraison in the Vineyard
Veraison in the Vineyard
This gowing season started with a fair amount of rain. It has now moved to mostly dry. We have had about 1.1 inches in the past month. Normal would be about 3.5.
We planted an additional 600 vines (300 marquette, 300 Chambourcin) this spring. Thankfully we installed a watering system. After so many years of carting hoses around through the vineyard we decided to just install the irrigation system.
Due to late spring freezing our crop loads are down. Arandell picked up some Scale and now in recovery. We have treated the infestation and the vines are looking great.
With the expected hurricane season predicted to produce more hurricanes this year than ever, we do expect to see some bands of rain coming this way. Harvest is a time when you want little rain, dry concentrated fruit produces excellent wines. We shall see how the month of August developes.
Jul 18, 2024 at 4:49 AM
Permalink
Vineyard update
The vineyard had some early rains during the spring with a damaging freeze in April. The temperature dipped to 28 degrees. It seems typical every year that this low lying area gets hit with freezing tempatures during bud break. To respond to this issue we decided to add more grapes utilizing our back field which has a higher elevation. We planted 600 more vines. (300 Marquette and 300 Chambourcin). Chambourcin is new to our vineyard and we are excited to see how it does at our location.
It will take 3 years before we see fruit from this planting. We expect a yield of about 1 1/2 tons per varietal.
Jun 11, 2024 at 4:46 AM
Permalink
Julia Harding/Jancis Robinson reviews
We are very fortunate to have 6 of our wines reviewed by this world renowned wine critic. Your wine is being compared and evaluated on a World Stage. She has tasted so many wines and has an experience and value that not many have.. She is very well respected in the wine industry. These are Virginia wines. What better way to see how we are doing as a winery as a whole. We were thrilled to received a producer score of 16.3 (Superior to Distinquished)
Average producer score
Briedé Family Vineyards
16.3
Sparkling Winchester 2020 16.5 rating
Made from Cayuga White (a complex hybrid selected in New York in 1052 and released in 1972), traditional method, aged three years on the lees. Dosage just 2 g/l. pH 3.15.
The citrus, herbal and green-fruits aroma dominates the nose so that the yeasty autolytic character is subtle. It was quite frothy when first poured but settled down in the glass to a fine mousse and a much more obvious toasty character. There's a slight sweet-sour impression on the finish even though the residual sweetness is so low. Packed with fruit but it's in balance with the traditional-method complexity from the yeast lees. Impressive for a hybrid variety, which has benefited from being taken seriously in the winery, with the investment needed for long lees ageing. (JH)
Marquette 2022 16.0 Rating
Full bottle 1,140 g. This is the first time I have tasted Marquette, a complex hybrid created in 1989 in Minnesota. Aged 9 months in French oak.
Lightish cherry red and vibrant cherry and strawberry fruit on the nose. Just slightly herbal and delicately floral – nicely so. Light-bodied with lively red fruits and very gentle tannins. Fresh and refreshing. A really nice surprise with no really obvious hybrid notes except perhaps at the very end when there is something strawberry like. Excellent freshness on the finish. Juicy and mouth-watering. (JH)
Soleil d'Ovest 2022 16.0 rating
Full screwcapped bottle 1,151 g. Cool fermentation and ageing in stainless steel. This is a cold-hardy hybrid bred in Minnesota in 1988 and released in 2022. This interspecific hybrid includes 45% Vitis vinifera, 28% Vitis riparia, and less than 10% each of Vitis rupestris, Vitis labrusca and Vitis aestivalis.
Intense, ripe tropical fruits on the nose with a hint of roses giving it a floral aspect – smells a little like Gewürztraminer. Ripe on the palate, too, highly scented, with a citrus freshness balancing those tropical fruit flavours and rose-petal notes. Much higher acidity than on a Gewürz, which makes this easy and refreshing. Really nicely made to bring out all the attributes of this variety to give a refreshing yet flavourful white with intensity and surprising length. I can imagine this variety might also be good in a blend as it is quite intense. Not for keeping, though. (Though perhaps I will be proved wrong.) (JH)
Arandell 2020 16.0 rating
Full bottle 1,230 g. Arandell is a 1995 cross between two interspecific hybrid selections bred at Cornell University and released in 2013. Briedé Family are the only producers of a varietal wine, starting in 2017. Hand-harvested, aged in French oak. pH 3.75. 180 cases produced.
The colour of black-cherry skins. Subtle oak aroma along with the blackberry fruit, a touch of cedar and lead pencil reminiscent of Cabernet Franc. The acidity seems quite high and not fully integrated but it is just balanced by the fruit, and the tannins are really fine. Clean-cut fruit and a juicy, mouth-watering finish. (JH)
Speed of Sound 2019 16.5 Rating
Full bottle 1,256 g. 50% Tannat (Virginia grown) and 50% Arandell (estate grown). Hand-harvested, aged in French oak. pH 3.65. 27 cases produced.
Very deep crimson. A little hint of oak on the nose but smells richer and darker-fruited than the 100% Arandell 2020. Extremely moreish and better balanced that the Arandell, with the acidity more fully integrated and with deeper fruit flavours. A very successful blend. Harmonious, fresh, with definite yet smooth and refined tannins. I enjoyed even more very slightly cool. (JH)
Arandell 2019 16.5 Rating
his is a new variety bred at Cornell University and released in 2013 – too new to appear in Wine Grapes. According to the release notice, 'Arandell was developed at Cornell University’s New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, NY, from a cross between two interspecific hybrid selections. The cross was made in 1995, and 23 disease-resistant seedlings were selected and planted in 1997. Only one, originally called NY95.0301.01, was selected for propagation and further testing in 2001.' It has a high degree of disease resistance. Briedé Family are the only producers of a varietal wine, starting in 2017. They have 750 plants. Two weeks warm ferment before ageing 8 months in neutral French oak. This vintage was made by Nate Walsh, the head of the Virginia Vineyards Association. 2019 was a apparently a very good year in Virginia. The wine recently won a silver medal at California's international Sommelier Challenge competition. pH 3.65, TA 6.45 g/l.
Very dark cherry red. Attractive aroma of tangy dark-red fruits with a nice layer rather like stone dust. Smells fresh and lightly peppery with a touch of capsicum. Not unlike Cabernet Franc. Lively and fresh. Plenty of that juicy dark-red fruit on the palate and very well balanced. it is all about the fruit, the oak not really showing here except perhaps in the way it has rounded the tannins. Tannins are smooth but definite. Lively, pure and vibrant, with a long cherry-fruited finish but without the sweetness of cherry. Extremely impressive for a new, disease-resistant hybrid. Bravo! (JH)
Feb 20, 2024 at 1:57 PM
Permalink
Governor's Cup Results for Briede Vineyards
We had a limited number of wines that we could enter in the Governor's Cup. You must have 50 cases to enter. Because of these restrictions, there were 3 wines that fit that criteria. For us, since we are a small producer, most of our wines need to come to the tasting room to be sold. We do not have a huge inventory of wines laying around. We sell out. Especially the reds. While this is a very good thing.. (no complaints here)...when it comes to competitions, age gives wines complexity. So, given the fact that all of our wines in competition are no where near their peak, we are very excited to get these medals. Many of you may wonder why we didn't enter our Sparkling Winchester 2020. The answer is simple, we didn't have 50 cases left.
Soleil d' Ovest-Silver Medal
Bries Estate 22-Silver Medal
Arandell 2022-Bronze
Feb 20, 2024 at 1:24 PM
Permalink
Kenny Bumbaco
I also made my first visit to Briede Family Vineyards today. This very small winery (only about 1,000 cases annually) is located just to the north of Winchester. The winery name is pronounced “Brie Day” (that was my first question). I enjoyed tasting their Sparkling Winchester and Marquette at the Shenandoah Valley Wine Trail Cup event on Friday night. Although they do produce a small amount of vinifera such as Cabernet Franc and Tannat, their main focus is on hybrid grapes.
Loretta, their owner, guided me through their portfolio. The 2020 Sparkling Winchester is 100% Cayuga, made in the traditional Champagne method. The first disgorgement was zero dosage with lovely yeast aromas and a very bright finish. We had a lively discussion about Cayuga. Including the sparkling, they have 5 different styles available and have a Sauternes-style dessert version in barrel that will be bottled next month. The fruit and acid profile reminded me somewhat of Chardonnay, which is why it worked so well for bubbles. The skin contact version (Agathosune 2022) was also intriguing.
On the red wine side, the Marquette, a Pinot Noir-driven hybrid that is very popular in Vermont, Minnesota, and other places with a short growing season was very tasty at the Cup event. It hasn’t officially been released at the winery yet. They were offering both 2020 and 2022 vintages of Arandell. This hybrid grape was developed by Virginia Tech and Cornell. Briede was the first winery in the U.S. to produce a commercial version of this grape. The 2020 version was very complex with a red fruit nose and earth/spice finish that drank very much like Cabernet Franc.
They also produce La Crescent, a white hybrid grape that has done very well in the Midwest. I took a bottle home although I hadn’t tried it. It was a really informative visit featuring some delicious wines made with less traditional hybrids (for Virginia). Nate Walsh makes their wines.
By Kenny Bumbaco
Jan 28, 2024 at 5:45 AM
Permalink
Washington Post article
Briedé Sparkling Winchester 2020
Perspective by Dave McIntyre
Columnist, Food
January 11, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. EST
(3 stars)
Shenandoah Valley, Va., $53
Yes, we’re talking champagne prices here for what is essentially a novelty wine, but what a delicious novelty it is! This is made from cayuga, a hybrid grape developed in Geneva, N.Y., during the 1940s. In this sparkling version, made in the traditional champagne method of second fermentation in the bottle, it resembles riesling or grüner veltliner, with scents of white flowers and lemon curd. It’s dry with a minerally, chalky palate-cleansing texture that will leave you with a smile, ready for the next sip. ABV: 11.6 percent. BW: 900 grams (Heavy).
Prices are approximate. For availability, check Wine.com, Wine-searcher.com and the websites and social media feeds of the wineries, importers, distributors, and your favorite local wine store. You can also ask your local retailer to order wines from the distributors listed. Have wine questions for Dave McIntyre? Send them to Food@washpost.com.
Legend
★ Good: The wine delivers what it promises at a fair price. If it says chardonnay, it tastes like chardonnay.
★★ Excellent: A wine with character and added interest. May elevate your eyebrows at the first sip.
★★★ Extraordinary: An exciting wine that stands out from others in its class. Fist-pumping, table-thumping good.
★★★★ Sublime: Otherworldly. May have you thinking, “So this is what they were talking about.”
Jan 28, 2024 at 5:33 AM
Permalink
Recent Buzz About Briedé
Since the Shenandoah Cup Awards Event we’ve seen several excellent reviews on our wines, along with other outstanding wines produced in the Shenandoah AVA. While we are especially thrilled with the attention given to Briedé wines, we are also very proud of the recognition being given to the AVA as a whole.
World Renowned Wine Critic Julia Harding of JancisRobinson.com
We are thrilled to have recently had three of our wines reviewed by renowned, international wine writer and critic, Julia Harding. Julia is the senior editor and staff writer for JancisRobinson.com (website of the world-renowned wine critic of the same name), and she is co-author, with José Vouillamoz and Jancis Robinson, of the multi award-winning Wine Grapes – a complete guide to 1,368 grape varieties including their origins and flavors.
In reviewing three Briedé Family Vineyards wines, Ms. Harding notes:
Briedé 2020 Sparkling Winchester - made from Cayuga White, a complex hybrid released in New York in 1972, traditional method, aged three years on the lees, dosage just 2 g/l. pH 3.15.
“The citrus, herbal and green-fruits aroma dominates the nose so that the yeasty autolytic character is subtle. It was quite frothy when first poured but settled down in the glass to a fine mousse and a much more obvious toasty character. There’s a slight sweet-sour impression on the finish even though the residual sweetness is so low. Packed with fruit but it’s in balance with the traditional method complexity from the yeast lees. Impressive for a hybrid variety, which has benefited from being take seriously in the winery, with the investment needed for long lees ageing.”
Score – 16.5 (Distinguished, 17 = Superior)
Briedé Soleil d’Ouest 2022 – made from La Crescent, a cold-hardy hybrid bred in Minnesota in 1988 and released in 2022. Cool fermentation and aged in stainless steel.
“Intense, ripe tropical fruits on the nose with a hint of roses giving it a floral aspect, smells a little like Gewürztraminer. Ripe on the palate too, highly scented, with a citrus freshness balancing those tropical fruit flavours and rose-petal notes. Much higher acidity than on a Gewürz, which makes this easy and refreshing. Really nicely made to bring out all the attributes of this variety to give a refreshing yet flavourful white with intensity and surprising length. I can imagine this variety might also be good in a blend as it is quite intense.”
Score – 16 (Distiguished)
Briedé Marquette 2022 – a complex hybrid created in 1989 in Minnesota, aged 9 months in French oak.
“Lightish cherry red and vibrant cherry and strawberry fruit on the nose. Just slightly herbal and delicately floral – nicely so. Light-bodied with lively red fruits and very gentle tannins. Fresh and refreshing. A really nice surprise with no really obvious hybrid notes except perhaps at the very end when there is something strawberry like. Excellent freshness on the finish. Juicy and mouth-watering.
Score – 16 (Distinguished)
Note: Jancis Robinson OBE, ComMA, MW is a British wine critic, journalist and wine writer. She currently writes a weekly column for the Financial Times, and writes for her website JancisRobinson.com, updated daily. She has also provided advice for the wine cellar of Queen Elizabeth II.
In addtion, Sparkling Winchester has caught the attention of some pretty well-known wine writers recently:
Washington Post Wine Writer Dave McIntyre
On Sparkling Winchester 2020 – “…what a delicious novelty it is! …it resembles Riesling or grüner veltliner, with scents of white flowers and lemon curd. It’s dry with a minerally, chalky palate-cleansing texture that will leave you with a smile, ready for the next sip. ”
Behind the Cork™ – Marc Kirkpatrick
“From the Shenandoah Valley AVA, here is a wonderful sparkling wine! On the nose, this Briedé Sparkling Winchester has notes of green apples, pears, and a bit of yeast. On the palate its bubbles are consistent and small with nice complexity and a lengthy finish... This is a unique Shenandoah Valley sparkling wine that’s perfect as this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!”
Now and Zin – Randy Fuller
“2020 Briedé Sparkling Winchester Brut has a yellow straw color with a huge helping of white foam, which dissipates quickly to a frizzante appearance. It is wild while it's there, though. The nose offers beautiful aromas of green apples and apricots under an overlay of yeasty toast. The palate has a boatload of acidity and yeasty flavors of apples, and pears. Fun and tasty, too”.
Just a few more reasons to visit our tasting room and enjoy some truly lovely wines!
Jan 12, 2024 at 8:00 AM
Permalink