On Friday, April 4th I visited the Attimo Winery in Christiansburg, about 15 minutes away from Virginia Tech.
I went with a group of friends from school. The reason we wanted to check it out was because a few friends of mine had visited it a few weeks before and said they had really good wines and a cheap tasting tour.
What I noticed the most once we all got to Attimo was how much smaller it was compared to the Williamsburg Winery. The building was pretty but quaint, being fairly small and rustic in design. The vineyards didn't occupy a great deal of acreage. They also were still fairly sparse because it was March so most of the vines really hadn't started to grow yet. While small, I still think it looked like a nice spot to visit for an hour or two.
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| Attimo Winery (front) |
We did the basic wine tasting for $5 and also decided to try the extra reserve wines they had for $1 each. Since the actual winery was so small, they didn't really have a tour to take but instead our hostess just gave us a general background on the history of Attimo. It was started by two former VT students and opened to the public in 2011. In addition to the vines at the winery, they also lease some in other places around VA like Charlottesville. Very unique for a winery is the fact that they grow large amounts of blackberries and raspberries on site in addition to the grapes. The inside of the winery was very pleasant, with wood furnishing forming a dinning room with a large fireplace and mantel on the far right of the room. Views of the vineyards could be seen through all the windows in the dining area. We got to sit at a table and relax while our server brought each wine out one at at time. Below are some pictures of the room.
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| Dining Room Entrance |
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| Dining Room Overlooking Vineyards |
Now to talk about the actual wine \tasting. We tasted 15 wines overall. Every single wine we tasted was an award winning wine. They are listed from lightest in body to heaviest.
Yesterday's Song (Chardonnay)
"Dry white, crisp, lightly oaked, pear notes." The smell reminded me of apple with just a little bit of pear. The wine tasted of apple, honey, and vanilla but was dry and very light bodied.
Masquerade (Chardonnay)
"Dry white, smooth and oaked." This was the reserve Chardonnay. It smelled of butter and apple, with flavor notes that were actually well balanced between the two. Quite smooth and rich.
Masquerade (Chardonnay)
"Dry white, smooth and oaked." This was the reserve Chardonnay. It smelled of butter and apple, with flavor notes that were actually well balanced between the two. Quite smooth and rich.
Sonnet 98 (Vidal Blanc)
"Semi-sweet white, tropical fruit flavors and floral aromas." This was the first vidal blanc I have ever tasted. The aroma was very floral and green. The taste was crisp and light. I can only really describe the taste as spring; the flavor you get in your mouth when you walk around in May on a sunny day right after the grass has been cut. Very interesting wine.
Blaze (Vidal/Traminette)
"Dry, noble white (orange) wine. Fiery and tannic." This was the first "orange" wine I have ever had before. It really was quite orange colored. The skins of the white grapes are left on longer during the wine making process. It smelled strongly of perfume, but in a pleasant way. The taste held notes of flowers and orange/citrus fruit. The wine was quite tannic with a burn that was noticeable toward the end. Glad I tried this one.
Off-the-Cuff (Riesling/Chardonnay)
"Semi-Sweet white, fruity with mineral & citrus notes." Aromas of mango and clover. The taste is a mix of melon and citrus with a little bit of earthiness and mineral to it as well.
Off-the-Cuff (Riesling/Chardonnay)
"Semi-Sweet white, fruity with mineral & citrus notes." Aromas of mango and clover. The taste is a mix of melon and citrus with a little bit of earthiness and mineral to it as well.
Just Kissed Blush (Vidal/Raspberry)
"Semi-sweet blush, fruity; distinct berry flavors." Just like the description, this well smelled strongly of red fruit, particularly raspberry. The taste followed suite with ripe red fruit, raspberry, and currant flavors. This wine was one of my favorites.
After Midnight (Merlot/Blackberry/Zinfandel)
"Semi-sweet red, fruity flavors; velvety texture." My favorite semi-sweet wine I have had so far. The smell was straightforward with huge notes blackberry. The taste was a mix of blackberry and raspberry along with other more subtle notes of red ripe fruit.
Bull Frog Symphony (Bordeaux Blend)
"Dry red blend, peppery, eclectic." I found this wine very similar to an old world style red. Smells of black pepper, oak, and earth were very prominent. The taste followed very much the same profile, with maybe a little more of a fruit aspect on the initial taste. The finish was long and tannic. A good wine, but not really my style of wine. Server suggested it with Italian food.
Deep Silence (Cabernet Franc)
"Dry red blend, peppery, eclectic." I found this wine very similar to an old world style red. Smells of black pepper, oak, and earth were very prominent. The taste followed very much the same profile, with maybe a little more of a fruit aspect on the initial taste. The finish was long and tannic. A good wine, but not really my style of wine. Server suggested it with Italian food.
Deep Silence (Cabernet Franc)
"Dry red, intense berry flavors and light smoky pepper finish." The aroma of this wine was cherry and smoke centered. Strong hints of cherry on the taste faded quickly to notes of earth, pepper. Ok, not my favorite.
Aviator (Cabernet Franc)
"Dry red, rich distinct mocha flavors with oak." Another of the reserve ones. The smell was woody with strong aromas of saddlebags and leather. On the taste, a dry oakiness immediately comes across with notes of fruit. It was very tannic. The aftertaste was strong and carried notes of coffee/chocolate that I really enjoyed.
Vertex (Cabernet Sauvignon)
"Dry red, rich with black currant flavors and French oak notes." This wine was a reserve wine. Strong notes of blackberry and oak on the nose. The taste leaned more toward red and black currants rather than blackberry with a large presence of wood/oak.
Aviator (Cabernet Franc)
"Dry red, rich distinct mocha flavors with oak." Another of the reserve ones. The smell was woody with strong aromas of saddlebags and leather. On the taste, a dry oakiness immediately comes across with notes of fruit. It was very tannic. The aftertaste was strong and carried notes of coffee/chocolate that I really enjoyed.
Vertex (Cabernet Sauvignon)
"Dry red, rich with black currant flavors and French oak notes." This wine was a reserve wine. Strong notes of blackberry and oak on the nose. The taste leaned more toward red and black currants rather than blackberry with a large presence of wood/oak.
AD 325 (Chambourcin)
"Dry red with bold flavors and cherry undertones." The smell reminded me of fresh, ripe cherries. When I tasted it, the cherry was present but it faded to a more earthy, almost limestone like quality. the texture was smooth and velvety with a medium tannin structure.
Sweet Berry Sunset (Raspberry/red blend)
"Sweet red, intense berry and fruity flavors." This wine was a dessert wine but it was awesome. The nose smelled like I was about to sample pure raspberry juice. The flavor followed very closely; it was almost like drinking an extremely watered down raspberry syrup. All I wanted to do was pour it on some ice cream, matter of fact I might in the future.
Sudden Downpour (Apple/white blend)
"Sweet, apple wine with bourbon notes and earthy tones." The smell of this wine is almost like an extremely aged chardonnay; huge notes of apple and butter with a hint of cinnamon. The taste was better than the smell. Notes of cinnamon apples cooked in butter come first but then fades to a more bourbon enhanced apple.
Seduction (Tinta Madera/Touriga Nacional/Souzao)
"Dry red with bold flavors and cherry undertones." The smell reminded me of fresh, ripe cherries. When I tasted it, the cherry was present but it faded to a more earthy, almost limestone like quality. the texture was smooth and velvety with a medium tannin structure.
Sweet Berry Sunset (Raspberry/red blend)
"Sweet red, intense berry and fruity flavors." This wine was a dessert wine but it was awesome. The nose smelled like I was about to sample pure raspberry juice. The flavor followed very closely; it was almost like drinking an extremely watered down raspberry syrup. All I wanted to do was pour it on some ice cream, matter of fact I might in the future.
Sudden Downpour (Apple/white blend)
"Sweet, apple wine with bourbon notes and earthy tones." The smell of this wine is almost like an extremely aged chardonnay; huge notes of apple and butter with a hint of cinnamon. The taste was better than the smell. Notes of cinnamon apples cooked in butter come first but then fades to a more bourbon enhanced apple.
Seduction (Tinta Madera/Touriga Nacional/Souzao)
"Sweet, fortified red, ruby port style wine. Distinct raisin flavors with hints of cooked fruit." This port wine smelled very strongly of brandy and raisins. On the taste, it came across as very fruity and sweet with a distinct raisin element that I really didn't actually like (probably because I don't like raisins). Overall, a pretty decent port made from grapes imported from Portugal.
I will definitely come back to Attimo for their wine again.
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