Virginia Wineries - 2010

Two years ago I blogged about several Virginia wineries we visited. We visited 3 different wineries on our trip this year and were not disappointed.

Our first stop was at Barren Ridge Vineyards as we were driving in. All of the grapes from their wines come from within a 25 mile radius of the winery. I was impressed with the quality of the wines. The one I was most impressed with was their Cab Franc, my wife liked their Viognier and Dessert wine. They have a nice area with a beautiful view to sit and enjoy a glass.

Just outside Gordonsville, VA we visited two different vineyards. Horton Vineyard has a long lineup, around 40 wines. The building itself was a site to see. Their wines had an average price below the other vineyards. They had many fruit and desert wines including ports in their lineup. The wine I was most impressed with was their chocolate wine called XOCO. It had a nice chocolate flavor and was not overly sweet. I had never tasted wine like this one before. They also sold Norton wine which I like but I must admit most people probably will not like Norton. It has a strong and unique taste and is on the dry side. It makes a great wine reduction sauce if you do not like it out of the glass.

Our favorite vineyard of the three was Barboursville Vineyard. The vineyard also has an Italian restaurant on site and we would like to try it on a future visit. We liked most all of the wines. As is usually the case in Virginia wineries I liked their Cab Franc. The also had a nice Cabernet Sauvignon. The wines were a higher quality with more complexity.

Manada Golf Club - PA

In our 2010 Memorial Day trip to Hershey, PA we wanted to golf without breaking the wallet. Hershey Resort had a few top rated golf courses that looked absolutely beautiful, but came with a high price tag. After a quick search we found Manada Golf Club. Does it compare to Hershey Resort courses? No! However my wife and I had a great time golfing here. They were running a promotion so it only cost us $50 with cart for both of us. I liked the course. It was a nice mix of open and hazards. Some holes you could swing away, others you had to pick the right club off the tee. If you like birds you will get a bonus playing here. They had birdhouses all over the course. Over all you should score well on this course but still feel like you were challenged.

Food - Hershey, PA

In our Memorial Day 2010 trip we found some great eats. Fire Alley is a local restaurant that rated high for us. My wife had Prime Rib that was awesome and did not break your dining budget. If you like good food at a reasonable price Fire Alley is your place. This will be a repeat visit for us on our next trip here. In our Bluegreen Resort there was a local pizza place that delivered, I will add the name once I remember it. They advertised that they had the best Stromboli. I agree that is was very good. I am not sure I have ever had Stromboli prior to this trip so I have no point of reference except to say yum!

Wine - Pennsylvania

Went to Hershey, PA over Memorial Day weekend 2010. We had a great time and as usual we stopped by a few local wineries during the trip. We did not find any real gems. The wines were more sweet to semi-sweet emphasis. None of the wines had long complex finishes so they were all on the low end of the price range.

Wine - Hilton Head

If you like wine, and find yourself in Hilton Head, then you have to visit Wine Times 4. This wine bar successfully specializes in serving over 72 wines by the glass due to its state of the art preservation system. You can purchase a taste, half glass, full glass, or a bottle. When you walk in you by a card that works like a debit card. You can then use the card to get the wine you want and the amount you want. If you run out of money on the card you can always add more, or tie it to a credit card. They had a nice blend of wine and a nice blend of price ranges. It would be tough to not find one you like. We found several we liked. Nothing like trying it before you buy it.

Wine Times 4

Free Christmas golf in Myrtle Beach

My wife and I spent Christmas in a condo in Myrtle Beach. The condo was in Sea Glass Tower which is one of our timeshare options to stay at. We both like this place because it has floor to ceiling glass walls facing the ocean, which makes for a nice view. It was a nice short getaway. We had hoped to spend Christmas with our kids and when that fell through we headed to the ocean. We both love the soothing sounds of the ocean.

One pleasant surprise I found out about was free golf at one of the golf courses in Myrtle Beach, Myrtlewood. They have opened their course up on Christmas day for many years now. No carts available so you must walk. I forgot to bring my pull cart so I ended up walking 18 holes and carrying my cart bag. I felt it by the end of the day but still well worth the price. Thank You Myrtlewood.

Hilton Head Golf

Got the opportunity to play two golf courses in Hilton Head in late January, 2009. The two courses, Crescent Pointe and Eagle's Pointe, have a sister relationship. We got discounts to both of them through our timeshare. The two courses are located on highway 278, just outside the actual island of Hilton Head.

I played Crescent Pointe first, not sure that was the best choice because it was the harder of the two courses. The fairways were narrow and there were many opportunities to put a high score on the card. The rough was mostly dormant so it was not as much of a penalty as it will be when the grass is thick and full. I would like to play this course again when it is in the growing season. Beautiful course with many scenic views, designed by Arnold Palmer.

Eagle's Pointe, designed by Davis Love III, is not as high a slope rating as Crescent Pointe. It has a nice mix of forgiveness and challenge. The course was better suited for my wife which is good since we played this one together. I liked this course and would love to play it again, pardon the pun.