Virginia back roads ... Foggy Ridge Cider

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtrbWPXq5lRwGjLLfuwX-gZMCUdrlr6diIN-_HUw3pjiT26fS8CHvYjKWoYjU8_b04Lpiglf7W_SBlVfMs9NRplcpN6Z_OCIB1mdn4nEWawo6RmQLfookqRizXPY-rn5JmBdy-biGJOBPU/s1600/46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtrbWPXq5lRwGjLLfuwX-gZMCUdrlr6diIN-_HUw3pjiT26fS8CHvYjKWoYjU8_b04Lpiglf7W_SBlVfMs9NRplcpN6Z_OCIB1mdn4nEWawo6RmQLfookqRizXPY-rn5JmBdy-biGJOBPU/s400/46.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">"It is indeed bad to eat apples. It is better to make them all into cider ."<br />--<i>Benjamin Franklin </i></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.foggyridgecider.com/">Foggy Ridge Cider</a> ... what a delightful discovery on the back roads of Virginia as we explored communities near the Blue Ridge Parkway! You've heard of Dugspur, right? <i>No?</i> It's a tiny little community tucked away off Rt. 58 in Carroll County, and that was where we were headed to check out this <a href="http://www.foggyridgecider.com/our-cider/our-cider.php">award-winning cider</a>. After all, September is apple season in the Commonwealth.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7fPlXYKEyjZHByw0GPKBN_o1Per6hR5hj8fuqpda54z-KhBqwWekO-eS1K0rUaJFtwvDXcWpLaaqDbKCaO44UwJBItEatz2rMk-KuwQFIqmgYMjb9lCxagoyq9nDhrAFjPkSAcg_czMaF/s1600/47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7fPlXYKEyjZHByw0GPKBN_o1Per6hR5hj8fuqpda54z-KhBqwWekO-eS1K0rUaJFtwvDXcWpLaaqDbKCaO44UwJBItEatz2rMk-KuwQFIqmgYMjb9lCxagoyq9nDhrAFjPkSAcg_czMaF/s400/47.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The <a href="http://www.foggyridgecider.com/">website</a> had an inviting greeting that intrigued me: "At Foggy Ridge Cider we value a rural life. Dirt roads, starry skies and plenty of wildlife are more important to us than WalMart, Hardees or a shopping mall. The surrounding three counties average 1.3 traffic lights and less than 20,000 people per county. This is a good thing.While we're not on the beaten path, we are easy to find and will greet all visitors with a warm and gracious welcome."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwosUG5V159cCPmGJKw1xq0vbcGEwX9ckPPCc8vxrACF14v96y0plEwoN-ps2U1J6uccUagb3y8E63w7RbqdzzyXr09Nu-PWiaLFL5Ksgcz6rvPHPOmjVTycfyDUwGphnWzDn_k-Iy3AOf/s1600/48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwosUG5V159cCPmGJKw1xq0vbcGEwX9ckPPCc8vxrACF14v96y0plEwoN-ps2U1J6uccUagb3y8E63w7RbqdzzyXr09Nu-PWiaLFL5Ksgcz6rvPHPOmjVTycfyDUwGphnWzDn_k-Iy3AOf/s640/48.jpg" width="529" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I like places that are off the beaten path so we set out in search of Foggy Ridge Cider, following Buffalo Mountain in the distance and the wildflowers along the roadways and the occasional brightly-colored tree signaling fall had arrived. It was late September and the weather was sunny and cool.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We arrived just in time for a tasting with two other couples. Lynn was our warm and friendly server and entertainer, providing an excellent presentation of artisan cider and story-telling that kept everyone laughing as they tossed out verbal observations after each offering. The comfortable feeling was of seven friends enjoying an afternoon drinking hand-crafted cider while overlooking the orchard with Buffalo Mountain in the background.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYQjlE5meeO-hRzuj9EGrcHgINJt8JP1vLu4Ck6M7E_VN76dGWt-RCQM0D23RC049dc-5NRSzB8aLTVywhBV9nSItNE30NF-7eAV1hhRbOB85WkJ3qLJaT1SQyPfxidkCSxNfkyBm6D6nh/s1600/45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYQjlE5meeO-hRzuj9EGrcHgINJt8JP1vLu4Ck6M7E_VN76dGWt-RCQM0D23RC049dc-5NRSzB8aLTVywhBV9nSItNE30NF-7eAV1hhRbOB85WkJ3qLJaT1SQyPfxidkCSxNfkyBm6D6nh/s400/45.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <a href="http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural_heritage/natural_area_preserves/buffalo.shtml">Buffalo Mountain</a>. It was said that in pioneer days, children were given permission to roam as long as they had Buffalo Mountain in their sights. It can be seen from a thirty-mile radius. It looms over the orchard at Foggy Ridge.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilFIduslGmeNWmUcwC42R3hpHIORwmM0QXprIPLKEEG8yaWuh3xM8S4kbWnc3HiSJ-qMC6MmuxaNqYPQ2asZIwxFVFN2sr-9rMnsz5epYM4hvPAEmZlU_ts5wRkkkjQaNT7B1fujbniQX8/s1600/49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilFIduslGmeNWmUcwC42R3hpHIORwmM0QXprIPLKEEG8yaWuh3xM8S4kbWnc3HiSJ-qMC6MmuxaNqYPQ2asZIwxFVFN2sr-9rMnsz5epYM4hvPAEmZlU_ts5wRkkkjQaNT7B1fujbniQX8/s400/49.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.foggyridgecider.com/our-cider/our-cider.php">Reviews</a> over the years have been numerous and glowing, as seen in the framed copies on the walls of the tasting room.</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY0-jROdD5xhW1YgNw7c5gAaUwS8gPhIllzACle420AGosnjRUf2I7wwZGRc-O0Ch1RiouiHgfKznaKFEJLySS3DD8Y5CB_9-Fl0uCz3AnjJ4MHV3Bj0KwXBeRV83rh7evKyg-VKjNiYtT/s1600/56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY0-jROdD5xhW1YgNw7c5gAaUwS8gPhIllzACle420AGosnjRUf2I7wwZGRc-O0Ch1RiouiHgfKznaKFEJLySS3DD8Y5CB_9-Fl0uCz3AnjJ4MHV3Bj0KwXBeRV83rh7evKyg-VKjNiYtT/s400/56.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioUHrWo2W7oAnN6RYLIse4osfCUbq4btiKEqBchBJf-WlE2GsWmuCXe1IAivfmam1mvepr87Dk0GX5C1WcTszpDuKe6KBno7m_wJiwrA09MJsvuM6iVfGAnCMmgPahjT3RP262WbXjNgF8/s1600/57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioUHrWo2W7oAnN6RYLIse4osfCUbq4btiKEqBchBJf-WlE2GsWmuCXe1IAivfmam1mvepr87Dk0GX5C1WcTszpDuKe6KBno7m_wJiwrA09MJsvuM6iVfGAnCMmgPahjT3RP262WbXjNgF8/s400/57.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Diane Flynt, owner and cider artist, wrote: "Simple is often best–think of a just caught whole fish brushed with fruity olive oil and grilled on a bed of fresh herbs. Or pasta topped with fresh tomatoes, basil and a syrupy balsamic vinegar. Simple is also best with cider. Foggy Ridge Cider begins in the orchard with apples carefully selected for their unique flavors and grown for taste, not appearance. In our cidermaking, we aim to put this fruit in the bottle with minimal manipulation."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqGYf-X9lM_p_66axOGYdlwp47KEnBjOO-B61XtEjhS8xt6cmWCCRtbGWPgb0_X76AxYcQLFNAOOC9J8SeuGB76vJrJkFxROMaT0DrQLhTsNF1ubX0XHl4CmFFBZM1AXvyPNu48qsRaMOR/s1600/60.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqGYf-X9lM_p_66axOGYdlwp47KEnBjOO-B61XtEjhS8xt6cmWCCRtbGWPgb0_X76AxYcQLFNAOOC9J8SeuGB76vJrJkFxROMaT0DrQLhTsNF1ubX0XHl4CmFFBZM1AXvyPNu48qsRaMOR/s400/60.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ5im9z6ma8-AQM7hbNpRYO_jrIWymvBYseCQHaxrVrSWgDPigecCVjKmbYU70arkkmuw2O1HtwnTmFiF1-_ut6neCEgng-6jkQOvLvGy1dNNnRprotIz0hHUjgHTASlziP6SMzNeHDoMi/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ5im9z6ma8-AQM7hbNpRYO_jrIWymvBYseCQHaxrVrSWgDPigecCVjKmbYU70arkkmuw2O1HtwnTmFiF1-_ut6neCEgng-6jkQOvLvGy1dNNnRprotIz0hHUjgHTASlziP6SMzNeHDoMi/s640/1.jpg" width="484" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">We adopted three bottles to take home for enjoying and sharing.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>First Fruit</b> cider blends early season American heirloom apples to create a rich fruity cider with lively acidity to drink, like Thomas Jefferson, on its own or with a meal.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> Foggy Ridge Handmade</b>, bottled in baby champagne bottles, is for sale only at restaurants, retailers, and at Foggy Ridge Cider Mill. This crisp cider made from Newtown Pippin apples has beautiful soft tannins and a delicate apple flavor with light pear notes.  </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXiTgJODnsteY5oOwSutBYdtCRNbXgS4UI5bO5n4x6C7PG5Ybh_3zIwChGprAeqxs3sBWveb49IN8f00ZNwVc_pLaJ6LTBPJX37SPsqUqcqypzJqgquFrIW4qMO1TFn0qV9phCH6ytRIYL/s1600/61.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXiTgJODnsteY5oOwSutBYdtCRNbXgS4UI5bO5n4x6C7PG5Ybh_3zIwChGprAeqxs3sBWveb49IN8f00ZNwVc_pLaJ6LTBPJX37SPsqUqcqypzJqgquFrIW4qMO1TFn0qV9phCH6ytRIYL/s400/61.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Award-winning medals.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhntd0lK-ED47zN7fAgYHUwuHM17iJn_FtS4cugbjOTs8rXLSf58EQ_bBNfg9oYXm9K979qK2dELwI-4OcrQblJJjEGnXVXBS66f_Zkq4n7IB-xD8r3AYWZm1OCw8WEi8wmCxgZAg_tX5GW/s1600/62.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhntd0lK-ED47zN7fAgYHUwuHM17iJn_FtS4cugbjOTs8rXLSf58EQ_bBNfg9oYXm9K979qK2dELwI-4OcrQblJJjEGnXVXBS66f_Zkq4n7IB-xD8r3AYWZm1OCw8WEi8wmCxgZAg_tX5GW/s400/62.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg36JW94rf2BOKMWDrPOrCS-g7XVCcKP6Sxbyu6c0Ls4hFqENJlrczVOFGiw7XdiJqFobHS_20oiQ_z2vrlCTQpSMp6TQAJpVbTsNg5mT0yLw25y3HbElE9D8Xbtg5cBx2DV7dp8ABnU3OF/s1600/63.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg36JW94rf2BOKMWDrPOrCS-g7XVCcKP6Sxbyu6c0Ls4hFqENJlrczVOFGiw7XdiJqFobHS_20oiQ_z2vrlCTQpSMp6TQAJpVbTsNg5mT0yLw25y3HbElE9D8Xbtg5cBx2DV7dp8ABnU3OF/s400/63.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZJJIDaW_JVs_1_FoqNgukxv4QtAwXZktwmxXrKnM_YVwvn2apWxdTLri10XoVzO5ksI2nNo_0zBVU2Sh5VIGMtkxpKaCMYa3kdghdCXdEYrt87hDuFJz7PJONqimv0_06TuwpeEALXj8H/s1600/64.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZJJIDaW_JVs_1_FoqNgukxv4QtAwXZktwmxXrKnM_YVwvn2apWxdTLri10XoVzO5ksI2nNo_0zBVU2Sh5VIGMtkxpKaCMYa3kdghdCXdEYrt87hDuFJz7PJONqimv0_06TuwpeEALXj8H/s400/64.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg77UHi9dUkvFMGPyl_h0kkqhGIaiDeIexXTyw4oV8gNk7xmE2cFaeWAYdaJaiqUsEXnqmTFgjLlWm5C7sjy5eIF3Ih0VCIft8y5FR-mr-vptvJj4daeH9fbJ79QIGMamWERzT4YeyXzx2D/s1600/65.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg77UHi9dUkvFMGPyl_h0kkqhGIaiDeIexXTyw4oV8gNk7xmE2cFaeWAYdaJaiqUsEXnqmTFgjLlWm5C7sjy5eIF3Ih0VCIft8y5FR-mr-vptvJj4daeH9fbJ79QIGMamWERzT4YeyXzx2D/s400/65.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB5Mv2hRtR3enQcMVhbXSEiTLo3WVImnGbC6dIXKWfrVWH9gblcw7A38hCi4qFzT61qr5GoYDtGd47Z5redTy9HJtIuWJakQggpkddJbI1r96v1z8F_7ndrMWkjdHYsD97A_IZIxbTca2c/s1600/66.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB5Mv2hRtR3enQcMVhbXSEiTLo3WVImnGbC6dIXKWfrVWH9gblcw7A38hCi4qFzT61qr5GoYDtGd47Z5redTy9HJtIuWJakQggpkddJbI1r96v1z8F_7ndrMWkjdHYsD97A_IZIxbTca2c/s400/66.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFieYlJynERiX8E1Lfc4mvdNQpTNk5U1Q0r8TJx5bIZsJuWrdyXgLFaNUj3mNIHK0KQuEcAxph3zpA_8m9rjYexBIwsuRlXXXYlv7JnmLNTP1_OCOw5u2OOj5YmHnmlnAqZod9TAJa8ie4/s1600/67.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFieYlJynERiX8E1Lfc4mvdNQpTNk5U1Q0r8TJx5bIZsJuWrdyXgLFaNUj3mNIHK0KQuEcAxph3zpA_8m9rjYexBIwsuRlXXXYlv7JnmLNTP1_OCOw5u2OOj5YmHnmlnAqZod9TAJa8ie4/s640/67.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Overlooking the apple orchards ... Buffalo Mountain is in the distance.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieEteSJ-26iwcz5IQKFx72p3bsK4HJAgBQTbJGKZnrAhjUNkt3HZNvOW8lHrdoiJoEjETa_vXQuGGGrDFBKmd_fT_nMBsphxQODCf09b8tRnrgBktHKqEPJ1JcHOfEAMrNZpzlrO0VPQPD/s1600/68.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieEteSJ-26iwcz5IQKFx72p3bsK4HJAgBQTbJGKZnrAhjUNkt3HZNvOW8lHrdoiJoEjETa_vXQuGGGrDFBKmd_fT_nMBsphxQODCf09b8tRnrgBktHKqEPJ1JcHOfEAMrNZpzlrO0VPQPD/s400/68.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmYNSo4NlAhTZw4Y3hufkB52HFBtzMnuL4tyRakVLL2jkouFBn2a0X11_rVZYfxckc7xopKRB_bbUyL6xbAvw1Z20w9-sfDC9vfJVIdn1zLQcAElPpnrVx0axac6lvLi3AiYe0qcisFKK-/s1600/70.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiILkK98Csepc34KyMt5gPUocWa2igRGqfkjxigS9KPtt_16EYvCCVWfFTheq46306ghzbVGRdtO1o6UOWm0zOqzTzOe51z9rmgF3YzymMyZWrx_VG31P24OyYoH1pESBhEPGjnloi-kiqL/s400/53.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSgxWLnkOxn4Wa-PWQDUAFMq0_zcK8jjvRDhiHq_pCeHUiO-nt8WA5rwcjxFRvGu8Hj5_fCBr5DveieL-0b1nyYtr3F4y2YPzGflCKEmLSpnTYTmJNqI9Cp_rLYt3xEwbdOcuCdo5LTh0g/s1600/54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSgxWLnkOxn4Wa-PWQDUAFMq0_zcK8jjvRDhiHq_pCeHUiO-nt8WA5rwcjxFRvGu8Hj5_fCBr5DveieL-0b1nyYtr3F4y2YPzGflCKEmLSpnTYTmJNqI9Cp_rLYt3xEwbdOcuCdo5LTh0g/s640/54.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1iRmr4nF30rplbdr_jKBorZtTnSKPhJNHpF-RoHrhkrYTOMy1mvX8JBQIkvaFr9FKOcZLOLa2R31t82oWXyPmq21kpIIS93eUKDyvediLfFxLCbGZBT6Falv5D-Tmu5j30qnTZQioH3JH/s1600/55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1iRmr4nF30rplbdr_jKBorZtTnSKPhJNHpF-RoHrhkrYTOMy1mvX8JBQIkvaFr9FKOcZLOLa2R31t82oWXyPmq21kpIIS93eUKDyvediLfFxLCbGZBT6Falv5D-Tmu5j30qnTZQioH3JH/s640/55.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZg56mkkhvH2o7iPA9PzrmzxWSZXlGNIHLwlTp7Ai8YTFRGSTvj2016vu2hKqOOBbtm94omjCupq_tOjmsOqpTprZunbRQguTLq4SBfggMBpsb9cG1npjT1KAOP4PNDbvthxI1P1TzeJb-/s1600/59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZg56mkkhvH2o7iPA9PzrmzxWSZXlGNIHLwlTp7Ai8YTFRGSTvj2016vu2hKqOOBbtm94omjCupq_tOjmsOqpTprZunbRQguTLq4SBfggMBpsb9cG1npjT1KAOP4PNDbvthxI1P1TzeJb-/s640/59.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sometimes the best treasures are found in the tucked-away corners of Virginia and beyond. Foggy Ridge is one of those treasures. Years ago I said there had never been a gravel road that I didn't want to explore and find out where it went. Thankfully, SWAC Husband indulges my free spirit and good-naturedly goes along with my curiosity which has resulted in a lifetime of special memories sharing the places we've traveled and the sights we've seen.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This was just one more stop on our September journey along the Blue Ridge Parkway as we continued south to North Carolina....</div><br />Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell<br />September 27, 2013

apple cider back roads of Virginia Blue Ridge Mountains Blue Ridge Parkway Carroll County Foggy Ridge Cider tourism Virginia Is For Lovers Virginia wine Virginia back roads ... Foggy Ridge Cider

"It is indeed bad to eat apples. It is better to make them all into cider ." -- Benjamin Franklin   Foggy Ridge Cider ... what a ...

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Charlottesville: Trump Winery's Eric Trump nominated as rising star

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaUHlpFC2tJxq4aoegFGXxCbqy63HQMHuoSlpStxvCr8gMQoJnNHNf72KxmwuYqVPKjx4aHv-ZjfxDo71_5-8oC9irM956hE43Q7BaAstABh9Mcyenvp2cO8iZfssRbD_UmOlcpRQpGHsw/s1600/Trump+wine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaUHlpFC2tJxq4aoegFGXxCbqy63HQMHuoSlpStxvCr8gMQoJnNHNf72KxmwuYqVPKjx4aHv-ZjfxDo71_5-8oC9irM956hE43Q7BaAstABh9Mcyenvp2cO8iZfssRbD_UmOlcpRQpGHsw/s1600/Trump+wine.jpg" /></a></div><br />There's celebrating going on at the <a href="http://www.trumpwinery.com/">Trump Winery</a>, located in the shadow of Mr. Jefferson's mountain outside Charlottesville, Virginia. Eric Trump, 29-year-old son of famed real estate mogul Donald Trump, familiar face from NBC's "The Apprentice," and president of the winery, is in no danger of hearing the words, "You're fired!" anytime soon. He's up for a prestigious wine industry award.<br /><br />Since acquiring the 1,300-acre vineyards in along the historic Monticello Wine Trail two years ago through the bankruptcy of Patricia Kluge, Trump Winery under the leadership of Eric has defined and perfected the art of marketing a Virginia wine. Distribution now covers twenty states and Trump wines can be found in such unexpected places as the Loft Mountain gift shop in Shenandoah National Park. They also export to three countries.  Along the way they have picked up gold medals and top awards at international wine festivals and even received the highest rating ever of a Virginia wine in early 2013.<br /><br />All that detail has not been missed by those in the industry. He has been nominated by <a href="http://www.winemag.com/"><i>Wine Enthusiast</i> magazine</a> for the 2013 Rising Star award to be presented in January 2014 in New York City.<br /><br />Governor Bob McDonnell, who was at Trump Winery for its grand opening in October 2011, and has been a big supporter of Virginia's wine industry, noted Eric's nomination:<br /><blockquote>“Eric Trump is truly a rising star in the global wine industry and could not be more deserving of Wine Enthusiast's Rising Star Award nomination.  We are very pleased that he and his family decided to invest in Virginia's wine industry.  It was clearly the correct decision for both Eric and the Commonwealth.  In just two short years, Eric has significantly expanded the distribution of Trump wines both nationally and internationally, while elevating the overall integrity of the wines.  I'm confident that Eric and the team at Trump Winery will continue to raise the bar for Virginia wines in the coming years.  I wish him good luck at the award ceremony in January.”</blockquote>Eric's plans are to continue building and widening Trump Winery's reach, <a href="http://www.trumpwinery.com/public/w6507/Press%20Releases/Eric%20Trump%20nominated%20for%20Wine%20Enthusiast%20Wine%20Awards.pdf">commenting</a> on the website:<br /><blockquote>"We're going to continue to grow; we are going to continue to plant vines, we are going to continue to expand our distribution. People love the Trump brand and our wines. They love what we stand for, what we're doing, and most importantly, we're having a lot of fun doing it. There is a lot more to come from Trump Winery."</blockquote>I've said it before and I'll say it again. It's good to have the Trumps in Virginia's wine country.

Blue Ridge Mountains Charlottesville Donald Trump Eric Trump Monticello Wine Trail Rising Star award Thomas Jefferson Trump Winery Virginia wine Wine Enthusiast magazine Charlottesville: Trump Winery's Eric Trump nominated as rising star

There's celebrating going on at the Trump Winery , located in the shadow of Mr. Jefferson's mountain outside Charlottesville, Virgin...

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