Along the Blue Ridge Parkway: highlights of Boutetourt County

Along the Blue Ridge Parkway: highlights of Boutetourt County

By Pamela O’Meara

Owner of Fincastle Vineyard and Winery sets up a wine tasting.‏

Boutetourt County, VA Is where English Lord Boutetourt once owned the land as far west as the Mississippi River, including all or parts of seven present-day states. It borders the Blue Ridge Parkway, includes part of the Appalachian Trail and is home to the headwaters of the James River just north of Roanoke. ­The mighty river, which is known for good canoeing and kayaking, begins in the area and winds its way through the Allegheny and Blue Ridge Mountains to Chesapeake Bay. A 14-mile stretch has been designated a Virginia Scenic River.
The scenic countryside includes miles of hiking trails, including the Appalachian Trail, and the small, historic towns of Fincastle, Troutville and Buchanan. Established in 1772, Fincastle was one of the first settlements west of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Lewis and Clark set out on their famous expedition west from here, and after returning, Clark married a local resident. The red brick courthouse was designed by Thomas Jefferson. Other historic sites and restored homes are fun to drive past.

Near Fincastle, Ikenberry Apple Orchards, have been­ family-operated for 112 years. The limestone in the soil helps make

Wine is available for sampling.

the apples sweet, said Gwen Ikenberry. The 21 varieties of apples were beautifully displayed and I discovered a new variety grown only in that area – the Mutsu. As I ate one, savoring every bite, the sweet juice ran down my fingers. It might be even better than my favorite Honeycrisp apples back on Minnesota. The orchard sold 20,000 bushels of apples last year. Gwen suggested coring an apple, adding butter and cinnamon, and baking it in the microwave for a good, healthy treat.
Pomegranate Restaurant in Troutville is the fulfillment of former school teacher Diana Dixon¹s dream, as described in the Wall Street Journal. She started it in an abandoned wine warehouse and put her personal stamp on it with delicious, unique food, and she invites jazz and bluegrass bands to perform.

In these hills, the Wine Trail of Botetourt County features the Blue Ridge Winery, Fincastle Vineyard and Winery and Virginia Mountain Winery. All three welcome visitors and offer tastings but have different characters and different wines. Fincastle Winery is small, and its old farmhouse is now a small but comfortable bed and breakfast. It used to be a cattle farm until mad cow disease ended that. A state official suggested wine. Grapes are harvested at night there when the bees go home. We sampled several wines.

A few grapes are still on the vines at Virginia Mountain Vineyards.‏

The Virginia Mountain Vineyards in Fincastle are on a hill with a view from the patio of rows of grapes. Specialty wines are gewurtraminer, riesling, traminette from grapes developed especially for the area, cabernet franc and pinot noir.

At Blue Ridge Vineyard in Eagle Rock, co-owner Barbara has been growing grapes for about 29 years but making wine for just six years and winning gold medals. She said they are close to organic as possible – nearly chemical-free. Weddings and other special events are held on her large patio complete with chandeliers and overlooking the mountains.

Wine bottles are set up for sampling.

Visitors are invited to picnic on the grounds and enjoy summer Sunday concerts.

Virginia is the fifth largest wine-producing state in the nation after New York, California, Washington and Oregon. In addition, the state was named one of the top 10 wine travel destinations for 2012 by Wine Enthusiast magazine.