Heritage House B&B in Pearmund Cellars December Newsletter!

News for December 2006

"Let us celebrate the occasion with wine and sweet words." 
-- Plautus

Our Events & Tastings
Here We Come A-Wassailing! $4.50 Saturday, December 16th, 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Pearmund Cellars and Winery at La Grange Reservations (10+ Guests):  540-347-3475 or Email	Bleu Rock Wine Dinner, $75 + tax & tip, menu Friday, January 26th, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. Blue Rock Inn, Washington, VA Reservations: 540-987-3190
Private Tastings - Social or Corporate - Up to 50 Guests, details Our Festive Barrel Room Reservations:  540-347-3475 or Email
Our Products
At Pearmund Cellars, our garlands are hung and our tree is trimmed. We're anxiously awaiting the arrival of friends and family to help us celebrate this magical season. Whether you want to relax after shopping at the mall or ignore the mall altogether and just shop at the winery, our staff is ready to make your day peaceful and joyous. Just stop by the tasting room to sample our holiday flight of wines and enjoy our holiday spirit. We have embroidered wine apparel, Wino Xing signs, and wine-themed paraphernalia to please all the discerning wine afficionados in your life. We even offer festive gift wraps! It's hard to pick a favorite wine at Pearmund Cellars, but our winter visitors seem to enjoy our Petite Verdot and our Vin de Sol. With blackberry aromas and a smooth finish, our 2005 Petite Verdot is earthy, warm, and rustic. Our 2005 Vin de Sol tastes like a handful of fresh roasted almonds! This "sun kissed" apertif, made like an old-world sherry, is comprised of 100% Late Harvest Viognier. Both wines are guaranteed to take the chill out of winter days ahead. Buy several to enjoy by the fire or share as holiday presents for your loved ones. Our Celebrate the Season! Three-Pack (2003 Ameritage, 2004 Cabernet Franc, 2005 Viognier) is back by popular demand. At $40, this special package makes a great gift and pairs well with your favorite holiday treats. Of course, we also have gift certificates if you want to include a romantic wine dinner or other winery services with your three-pack. Just pick any denomination from $10 to $10,000.
Our Process
The vines are dormant, and we put our lawn mower away for the winter. Inside the winery, we are washing all the lugs, carboys, bins, and other equipment used for winemaking. Other winter tasks include topping off barrels, bottling dessert wines, making table tops, and finishing many other tasks that were put aside during the harvest season.
Our People
Here we come a-wassailing!  On December 16th, warm up with the staff of Pearmund Cellars and the Winery at La Grange. We will be offering piping-hot wassail and La Grange will be featuring fragrant mulled wine for $4.50 per serving. Experience the tradition of sharing holiday cheer, enjoying tasty treats, and listening to holiday carols. Any festive singing is up to you! Here are some words if you want to start practicing:  "Love and joy come to you, And to you your wassail too; And God bless you and send you a Happy New Year."
Our Partners & Retailers
Partner:  Do you have bottles of wine with no idea about when they will reach maturity? How can you find out without tasting a bottle every year?  WineAging.com provides the following information on many vintage wines: how long they should be held back, when they are best to consume, and when they should be drunk because have surpassed their maturity. Find your favorite wineries by country and check your favorite wines from Pearmund Cellars. Wine Store:  Since 1836, the Locke Store has served the local community as a meeting place and reliable source of quality goods. In 2002, Juliet Mackay-Smith purchased the historic store and expanded its culinary offerings to include full-service catering, fine foods-to-go, carefully-selected wines, bi-monthly tastings, farm-fresh produce, and organic meats. The country store's service-oriented, friendly, and knowledgeable staff will make your shopping experience pleasant and satisfying. We know this first hand:  they catered last month's Beast Feasts! Restaurant: After cutting their teeth at the Inn at Little Washington, three friends started Foti's Restaurant in Culpeper, Virginia. Chef Frank Maragos provides the artistic, culinary inspiration while Sue Wilson hosts the excellent dining service, and Tyler Packwood manages the growing wine cellar. Providing contemporary American cuisine with a Mediterranean touch, Foti's uses the best local ingredients to create flavors and textures that remind people of their favorite home-style meal. Try their rack of lamb with your favorite Pearmund Cellars wine. Inn:  Built in 1837, the Heritage House served as Confederate headquarters for General Jubal Early. A gracious bed and breakfast since 1985, the antique-filled house boasts five themed guest rooms, private baths, delicious breakfasts, and a superb location in the beautiful foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Bring back a bottle of Pearmund Cellars wine from your Inn at Little Washington dinner to enjoy while relaxing in your comfortable room.
Our Industry
Dominion Power and Allegheny Power want to build 125-foot transmission towers every 1000 feet to carry 500,000-volt power lines from southwestern Pennsylvania to northwestern Virginia. The Virginia portion of this power corridor would cut through Warren, Fauquier, Prince William, and Loudoun counties. WeWontGlow.com states, "Whether these power lines affect your home and property value directly or not, the many issues in this battle, including the precedent of private entity condemnation powers, preservation of conservation areas and scenic vistas, and the protection of sensitive wetland areas and historically significant property, have a profound impact on every citizen of Virginia and the Country.  To join the thousands who have already signed the petition in opposition to the powerlines, click here."  The comprehensive website tells how to get involved and where to write local officials. It also provides articles, websites, and a mailing list to stay informed.