Chateau O’Brien at Northpoint

(Been there, checked it!)

Chateau O’Brien strongly believes that the quality of our wines begins in the vineyard. Our wines embody the unique and enduring characteristics of the soil and climate. The steep slopes and rocky soil provide excellent drainage and trace elements that contribute to our wines. Our vineyard is currently 15 acres with a planned expansion to 25 acres. Our rootstock was imported from France and grafted with American rootstock. The vines were hand selected for intensity of flavor and true varietal character and are nurtured through natural viticulture approaches. In addition to this acreage, approximately 25 exclusive acres are owned at two other farms (Sycamore Springs Vineyard and Seven Oaks Vineyard) in different parts of Virginia due to the variety of microclimates.

Thursday – Monday 11:00am – 5:00pm; Open Year-round CLOSED: New Years Day, Easter, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve Day (Dec 24th) and Christmas Day (Dec 25th). There are two tastings: The Classic Wine Tasting at $5 per person and the Cellar Collection Tasting at $10 per person. (The Cellar Collection tasting is available only on Saturdays and Sundays.)

We visited Chateau O’Brien on 21 August. Here’s a link to Nancy’s post on our visit. We heard about Chateau O’Brien’s fantastic Tannat from the sommelier at the perennial Washington-area favorite, L’auberge Chez Francois. Tannat – the “national grape of Uruguay” according to many – is showing up with increasing frequency in Virginia’s wineries, though mostly as a blending grape that adds great color and richness, such as in Old House’s Bacchanalia (Cab Franc, Tannat, and Chambourcin), Paradise Springs’ Rose (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cab Franc, and Tannat), and Potomac Point’s Cab Franc (Cab Franc, Tannat, and Merlot).

All photos from this winery

We don’t claim any particular wine tasting expertise; our raison d’etre in developing the Virginia Wine in My Pocket app is to help people find the winery experience they seek as they travel Virginia’s wine trails. And – though wine makers may pout when we say this – the wine itself is only part of that equation.

However…we do enjoy a nice glass of wine, so we made Chateau O’Brien our first stop of the day. Our taste buds were primed and ready. We opted for the reserve tasting at $10 each for 5 pours, all reds, ranging in price from $29 for the ’07 Cab Franc to $69 for the ’07 Tannat and the ’07 Late Harvest Tannat. And we left happy (and in possession of the $49 ’07 Vintner’s Reserve).

Before we left, we checked out the rest of the renovated old house – the polished 14” pine floors, the cozy lounge with leather couches flanking a stone fireplace, the gorgeous wide views from the covered deck. The adorable dog. Photos on the winery’s web site don’t really do it justice. The owners have worked hard to make this a special place, and it shows.

Things to know: no kids, no pets, no RVs (you’ll never make the tight turn across the railroad tracks heading up the winery’s drive), and no AT&T signal.

At the “Cellar Collection” tasting bar: Cabernet Franc Cellar Collection; Northpoint Red Cellar Collection; Vintner’s Reserve (red blend); Tannat Cellar Collection; Late Harvest Tannat. At the “classic” tasting bar: Padlock Red (blend of Cab Sauvignon, Cab Franc, and Petit Verdot); Buddy’s Bistro Red (Cab Franc); Northpoint White (blend of Pinot Grigio, Viognier, and Petit Manseng); Virginia Chardonnay; and Virginia Apple Wine.

Note: Our iPhone had no AT&T cell signal at this winery, so make sure you have your GPS or directions fired up before you go!

Take I-66 West to Exit 18 (Markham). Make a left at end of exit ramp and continue across State Road 55. At the stop sign make a left and then just past the winery sign make a right onto Rail Stop Road.