Wine Making at TWABR is Somewhat Different From the Traditional Methods

Over the past centuries, the wine making process has not changed much. In the early 1600s, Virginia's first settlers tried cultivating grapes and followed a specific wine making process. Its only in terms of sophistication that the wine making process has changed these days, the basic process yet remains the same. As for the wine making process followed at TWABR, our grape stomping process is different from the one followed in the old days. We de-stem and then crush the grapes in our clean wine cellar. Further,we remove the stems from fruit and then place it in big size T bins. 

In these bins, the grape undergoes fermentation process and after some weeks, proper separation of skin and seeds occurs. Separated skin & seeds fall to the bottom of bin. After completion of this process, wine is clarified in a stainless steel tank and finally moved to the French Oak barrels where aging takes place. Its almost for a year that our Red wines age in the barrels. It simply means that the grapes harvested in a particular year are available for tasting the next year. When sufficient aging has occurred, the Red wine is ready for being bottled. Further, the wine is poured in attractive bottles carrying the TWABR logo. 

Merlot and Norton varieties of grape are extensively used for production of tasty wine. A wine grape used for varietal wines as well as blending, Merlot features a dark blue color. Wines made using Merlot are normally medium bodied and have hints of currant, plum and berry. Some of the most highlighted features of this grape are its softness and tendency to ripe early. Its on account of these features that Merlot is the preferred grape for blending with Cabernet Sauvignon, a later-ripening grape variety. As for Norton, this grape variety was grown for the first time in Richmond. Dr. Daniel Norton is credited with the development of this grape variety. 

Norton variety features a typical deep blue-purple color and red juice. Its naturally red juice enables making a wine that is jammy, fruit forward and has high content of anthocyanins. You will find our Norton wine to be quite rich & balanced in terms of taste & composition. Tastings are conducted on a daily basis in our nicely decorated tasting room. We charge a tasting fee of $12 that includes 9 tasty Virginia wines. Our winery is also the perfect site for arranging wine festivals in Virginia and so you have the liberty to participate in the organized festivals as per your convenience.