Behind the Cork™ - Bluestone Vineyards Wines

Bluestone Vineyard is named after the "bluestone" (a type of limestone) that is a main component within the local soil. It is a family owned and operated vineyard and winery in the Shenandoah Valley AVA.

Curt and Jackie Hartman began planting grapes in 2003 to make wine for personal use. In 2007 they decided to make the vineyard a business. Their two sons are running the winery with Lee Hartman as Winemaker and General Manager and RC Hartman as the Operations Manager. Today, Bluestone Vineyards is producing about 5,000 cases annually. 

Each of these two red wines from Bluestone Vineyard recently tied for fourth place in the 2023 Shenandoah Valley Cup.

2021 Bluestone Vineyards Estate Merlot ($26)

This Bluestone Merlot is produced from 100% Merlot grapes that are Estate grown. It is deep garnet in color with aromas of plum, cherry, dried herbs and a hint of smokiness. On the palate, this medium-bodied wine has medium tannin and acidity with flavors of black cherry, white pepper and cedar with a soft-chocolate finish.





2021 Bridgewater Crimson Virginia Red Blend ($26)

The Bridgewater Crimson red blend is made in collaboration with nearby Bridewater College.

This Crimson red blend is a traditional Bordeaux blend of Petit Verdot (50%), Merlot (33%) and Cabernet Franc (17%). It is deep garnet in color with bright red fruit aromas. On the palate, this full-bodied wine has good complexity with rich red fruit flavor and peppery notes. It finishes with spicy notes.

The Shenandoah Valley AVA is producing a bunch of great wines and these are two fine examples from Bluestone Vineyard. These award winning wines are a great value and a great fit as this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wines of the Week. Cheers!

Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received these samples at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Media Samples Provided by Bluestone Vineyard via the Shenandoah Valley Wine Growers Association and Donna White Communications

Behind the Cork™ - Jump Mountain Vineyard Borderland Red Blend

2019 Jump Mountain Borderland Red Blend ($27)

From the Shenandoah Valley AVA, Jump Mountain Borderland red blend is an award-winning wine having received 1st place in the Shenandoah Cup Awards!

Approved in 1982 as Virginia’s first American Viticultural Area, the Shenandoah Valley AVA is located in the Appalachian region of the eastern United States covering the land along the western edge of Virginia and spilling into the easternmost portion of West Virginia.

Bounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains to the east and the Allegheny Mountains to the west, these two ranges create a specific mesoclimate for the valley between them, which itself ranges from 500 to 1,800 feet above sea level, protecting it from storms from the west and rain-bearing winds blowing in from the Atlantic coast, 100 miles east.

Protected by the sandstone knob of Jump Mountain, the micro-climate and soils found at Jump Mountain Vineyards create conditions conducive to growing vinifera grape varieties.

This Jump Mountain Borderland red blend is produced from 50% Tannat, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Cabernet Franc. It is deep ruby in color with big aromas of rich dark fruit. On the palate, this blend has wonderful flavors of cherry and raspberry with medium tannin and a balanced soft finish. The three ‘big’ red grapes used in this blend might typically need a good hour or more in the decanter but the 2019 Borderland was great right after pulling the cork.

Being a 1st place wine, and only having produced 50 cases, this Jump Mountain Borderland red blend may be tough to find. But if you are able to find it, pick up a couple - it’s super! And, at the price, it’s definitely a perfect fit as this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!

Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Media Sample Provided by Jump Mountain Vineyards via the Shenandoah Valley Wine Growers Association and Donna White Communications

Behind the Cork™ - Jump Mountain Livia Red Blend

2021 Jump Mountain Livia Red Blend ($27)

From the Shenandoah Valley AVA, Jump Mountain Livia red blend is an award winning wine having tied for 3rd in the Shenandoah Cup Awards!

Approved in 1982 as Virginia’s first American Viticultural Area, the Shenandoah Valley AVA is located in the Appalachian region of the eastern United States covering the land along the western edge of Virginia and spilling into the easternmost portion of West Virginia.

Bounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains to the east and the Allegheny Mountains to the west, these two ranges create a specific mesoclimate for the valley between them, which itself ranges from 500 to 1,800 feet above sea level, protecting it from storms from the west and rain-bearing winds blowing in from the Atlantic coast, 100 miles east.

Protected by the sandstone knob of Jump Mountain, the micro-climate and soils found at Jump Mountain Vineyards create conditions conducive to growing vinifera grape varieties.

This Jump Mountain Livia Red Blend is produced from 60% Refosco, 20% Cabernet Franc, 15% Lagrein and 5% Sagrantino. This wine is deep ruby in color with aromas of red fruit, some smoke from the Lagrein and Refosco and a bit of earthiness. On the palate, this full-bodied wine has nice juicy fruit flavors of red cherry and raspberry. The 2 gm/L of residual sugar give the fruit flavors a pop. The fruit flavors on the finish are quite nice. Overall, this was a surprisingly good red blend!

Jump Mountain Vineyards states that this wine is named for Livia Drusilla Augusta (58 BC - 29 AD), wife of Augustus Ceasar, who proclaimed that Refosco was her favorite wine!

This is a really nice red blend at a very affordable price and this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!

Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Media Sample Provided by Jump Mountain Vineyards via the Shenandoah Valley Wine Growers Association and Donna White Communications

Behind the Cork™ - Villa Gemma Montepulciano D'Abruzzo Riserva

Masciarelli (Mass-shee-ah-RELL-ee) Winery is located in the Abruzzo region of Italy on the eastern coast, just east of Rome on the Adriatic Sea. It was established in 1981 from the entrepreneurial intuition of Gianni Masciarelli. Today, Miriam Masciarelli (Gianni’s daughter) works with her mother, Marina Cvetić Masciarelli, to run this fabulous family winery that now has 22 labels and seven product lines all sourced from 60 vineyards in all four provinces of Abruzzo. One of their product lines, Villa Gemma, honors the modest family home where Gianni Masciarelli was born.

2018 Villa Gemma Montepulciano D’Abruzzo Riserva ($98)

The grapes for this wine come from the original 12-acre Colle Cave home vineyard dating back to 1930 that is located above and behind the family home in Chieti. Today’s vines are around 30 years old and planted in dense guyot rows to limit yield. They only produce this wine in the best years. 

This Masciarelli Villa Gemma Montepulciano D’Abruzzo Riserva is produced from 100% Montepulciano grapes that are fermented in stainless steel. The wine is then aged in French oak barrels for five to six year before being bottled.

This wine is deep ruby in color with a medium nose of rich red fruit. On the palate, this full-bodied wine has rich and complex flavors that include red fruits, dried fruit, pepper and cocoa. It finishes with rich fruit flavors.

Abruzzo is now among the fastest growing regional economies in Italy and Southern Italy’s single most prosperous region. They are also producing some amazing wines. Check out all of Masciarelli’s wines on their website. And, when you can find this wine, splurge! This wonderful Villa Gemma Montepulciano D’Abruzzo Riserva is this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!

Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Media Sample Provided by Masciarelli Winery