wine country – @foodfixxe

Summer is still kicking in Northern Virginia, and I’m not taking it for granted. Labor Day, the unofficial “last day of summer,” provided us with perfect weather to remain outside.

I don’t remember how, but I stumbled upon this hidden gem in Leesburg – Fleetwood Farm Winery. It feels secluded enough, but guess what?! There’s none of those winding roads or hills that I can’t stand!

They weren’t offering their standard food menu because of the holiday, but Paella Deliciosa was there to keep us satisfied, and believe me, it was truly deliciosa!

We tasted several reds and whites, and ended up choosing a glass of Riesling to sip on the patio with our paella. The scenery was beautiful, but not too far from the road, which is a definite perk for this city girl.

After two bowls of paella, we left the back patio and headed to the front patio, which contained a fire pit (obviously not yet in use) and a couple corn hole boards. We played one round, and I lost by a point.

As easy as this place is to get to, I’m already sure this will be a regular hangout for us throughout the fall.

(Note: This is an adults only winery, so you will need to make other plans for the under 21 crowd beforehand!)

Fleetwood Farm Winery
Wine and paella
Enjoying the vineyard scenery
Cornhole
Having fun on the patio!

But the beautiful weather didn’t stop there.

Last weekend, I visited another new winery for a team building event with some coworkers – Arterra Winery in Fauquier County. This winery was far and took a while to get to from Fairfax, but we had an amazing time.

It’s definitely secluded, but there are a lot of pick-your-own fruit farms right nearby. The owners also sell their beautiful art there. They don’t have food, but they sell a nice variety of cheese and chips to munch on while you sip.

Three of us ordered a bottle of sweet apple wine to share on the patio with our snacks. While I generally choose a red wine, I noticed that all summer I’ve been picking a white. I guess I associate a crisp, fresh white with summer, whereas I prefer to pair a spicier red with autumn.

Despite Arterra being a little further out than my liking, I have a feeling I’ll be back to visit regardless.

Team Building
The Vineyard
Wine tasting
Wine and snacks on the patio
Cheers!

Happy Winedown Wednesday! And happy National Red Wine day, by coincidence. Last month, during one of the hottest weekends of the summer, we decided to visit Greenhill Winery in Middleburg, VA. I’ve visited several wineries before, but had yet to check off a winery from my Northern Virginia to-do list. After reviewing as many as I could, I decided that Greenhill looked like the perfect match for me, and I was not disappointed!

I’m a city girl, so the windy, hilly roads that got us there were beautiful, but a little too much for me to handle. I prefer the straight and flat roads, which sadly contributes to the reason why I haven’t frequented more wineries. Nonetheless, this place is amazing! The views are beautiful, and I loved the summery flowers around the patio. Service was amazing as well. We ordered a baguette and cheese plate to go with our wine tasting flight.

After we tasted a nice variety, we selected our favorite. Normally I choose a red wine, specifically a Malbec, but that day I was in the mood for something bubbly. I decided on a glass of Blanc de blancs, and we headed out into the field to relax on the large wooden chairs. It was so peaceful and quiet – overall, a beautiful experience that I would recommend to anyone!

Important note: the winery is adults only, which really only adds to its charm. Be sure you make other prior arrangements for the 21 and under crowd!