Fox Meadow Winery
- At the furthest edge of Western Fauquier County, in the town of Linden, up in the hills. Dan and Cheryl Mortland purchased the site, part of then Freezeland Orchards (the name Freezeland appears on some of the wines), and opened the winery in 2006. This is a small farm winery. Look for the “Wine a Bit: You’ll Feel Better” banner. Sold in 2022 to new owners Amanda and Whiticar Darvill; winemaker Tom Payette is staying on.
- Wine. Among the Top 40 wineries of Northern Virginia, and the Top 100 wineries of the state. The 2019 vintage Cabernet Sauvignon (a grape foten hard to manage in Virginia’s climate) was awarded a gold medal at the 2022 Virginia Governor’s Cup state-wide win competition. The 2019 Petit Verdot and Le Renard Rouge blend received silver medals at the event. Fox Meadow’s 2021 Chardonnay was voted “best Chardonnay” at the 2022 Atlantic Seaboard Winery Association competition; their 2020 vintage Chardonnay received a silver at the same event, while the 2019 Petit Verdot and Le Renard Rouge came away with bronze medals. Fox Meadow’s Meritage and Pinot Grigio were awarded silver medals at the 2021 Virginia Governor’s Cup. Back in the 2011 Governor’s Cup competition, their Renard Rouge (a Bordeaux blend modeled on Stag’s Leap from California) was selected the best red wine in Virginia. Wines are almost entirely from estate-grown grapes.
- Setting. Two stars. Beautiful views from the Fox Meadow balcony over the fields and the Blue Ridge Mountains. The higher elevation than most Northern Virginia wineries (1700 feet) adds to the view. Cheese and snacks available, and one can do a food pairing with the wine tasting.
- Stories. Virginia’s Country Stores – The Apple House. For centuries, The Country Store has played an important role in the Virginia countryside. A place for obtaining essential supplies for local farmers and for travelers passing through, and a place for getting news about neighbors and the distant outside world (like the next County), the County Store was essential to the fabric of rural life. As shopping malls and now mail-order businesses proliferated, many found it hard to stay open, or continue as tiny shops with no reason to stop. An exception is the Apple Store, located in the western end of Linden. People come a long way and wait in line for breakfast and lunch here, or just to carry away a dozen or two of their renowned apple cider doughnuts. The country store part of the Apple House sometimes seems like a sidelight of the restaurant, but it is chock full of local crafts, food products, and even a selection of Virginia wines. A great stop in between wineries, or to prepare the way for some serious afternoon tastings.