Delaplane is one of our favorite small towns to visit in the Northern Virginia wine region.  The peaceful town offers great opportunities for hiking, country roads to get lost on and gorgeous mountain views to sit back and enjoy.  It also offers an opportunity to immerse yourself in Virginia viticulture with a handful of wineries clustered together off of Route 17.  Most recently, we’ve spent some time at Delaplane Cellars, a winery known for its bright tasting room, incredible views, adults-only atmosphere, and true Virginia wine (all fruit is from VA).

Delaplane Cellars rests on Lost Mountain overlooking the scenic and historic Crooked Run Valley. Owners Jim and Betsy Dolphin purchased the property in 2007 after years of experimenting with home winemaking.  Together, the Dolphin’s planted the vineyard, constructed the tasting room, and developed their philosophy of crafting single vineyard wines that reflect the unique terroir of each site.  They apply this philosophy in the vineyard by rarely interfering with the natural processes of the vines.  Each vine takes its own path resulting in an authentic and true reflection of the vineyard’s terroir.  When it comes time for harvest and production, the Dolphin’s are influenced by French winemaking techniques, only using pristine fruit and typically aging wines in French oak barrels.

Currently, Delaplane Cellars has six wines on their tasting menu including a Sauvignon Blanc, Vidal Blanc, Viognier, Rosé, and two estate Bordeaux-style blends, the Piedmont Station and the Williams Gap.  While all of the wines were quite enjoyable, Delaplane is known for (and Jim prides himself on) their estate red blends.  The Piedmont Station, a Cabernet Sauvignon based blend, was our favorite of the two as it provided darker fruit characteristics and more structure on the palate.  If you’re a fan of Cabernet Franc though, you’d probably prefer the medium-bodied Williams Gap, a blend of all five Bordeaux varietals with the Cab Franc front and center.

One of the other highlights for us (especially during the hot summer months) is the availability of three different Sauvignon Blancs– one estate, one from Springlot vineyard and one from Notaviva vineyard in Purcellville.  While the Notativa is currently the featured Sauvignon Blanc on the tasting menu offering bright acidic, lime and grapefruit flavors, the other two are available for purchase presenting you with an opportunity to experience the differences between the single vineyard site wines.

The next time you are craving a quiet afternoon away from the kids plan a visit to Delaplane Cellars.  They are open from 11am-6pm on Saturdays, and open Thursday-Friday and Sunday-Monday from 11am-5pm.  In addition to the traditional wine tasting experience, there is also a more extensive tasting experience available including the opportunity to sample special cellar wines, enjoy local charcuterie and private seating.

Whatever your wine preference is, the Dolphin’s are sure to have something to fit your palate and to accompany the breathtaking views of the valley.

Delaplane Cellars does not allow outside food (picnics) in the tasting room, however there is a picnic area available outside.  There are local cheeses, charcuterie platters and baguettes available for purchase in the tasting room.