With the back-to-school season upon us, this is a good time to go back to “wine” school and get down to basics; to go back to the root of your wine enthusiasm. Whether you drink wine for sport or edification, it always enriches the experience to get down to the roots. Going back to basics is always a good exercise, to not only enhance your experience, but to refresh the mind and awaken your palate to new experiences.

As of June 21st, at 4:57PM, we entered into summer and experienced the longest day of 2023. The term solstice comes from the Latin "sol," meaning sun and "sistere," meaning to stop. This reflects the slowest-growing daylight period at this time of year. This astronomical phenomenon takes place when the sun is farthest from the equator, coinciding with the maximum period of daylight on Earth in the northern hemisphere. Most years, the longest day is on the 21st, sometimes it is on the 22nd, due to slight variations in the Earth’s orbit..

This weekend we celebrate and drink a toast to the important men in our lives, whether you are a father, are a partner to a father or have a father to honor. To cheer on those wonderful men, here are some wines to consider sharing.

The Shenandoah Valley is quickly developing in to an attractive, respected area to grow grapes. This location has shown to be prosperous with European wine grape varietals. The rolling hills create great drainage, and cool air, which help with producing sweet grapes, while protecting the vineyards from frost. Not to mention some of the prettiest countryside in Virginia that creates the perfect destination for wine tasting and touring. Bluestone Vineyard is in the center of a beautiful valley, named after the "bluestone" (a type of limestone) that is a main component of the local soil.