Two Twisted Posts Winery Review

Address: 12944 Harpers Ferry Rd. Purcellville,Virginia 20132. email
Phone Number:
Tasting Hours: 2nd and 4th weekends of each month: Sat-Sun 12:00-4:00

Region: Virginia
Reviewer: Anthony Marocco
Review Date: 6/14/2014
Reviewer: Anthony Marocco
Rating: 4

The Review

I hate to say it, but as of late it has been increasingly difficult to bring myself to visit Loudoun County with the sudden explosion of new wineries popping up around the county. The good, established wineries are becoming outnumbered by people that are more interested in opening the newest Northern Virginia Wine Country hot spot than they are in producing quality wine. However, after I learned that Two Twisted Posts’ 2012 Chardonnay was included in the 2014 Governor’s Case, I had to see what all the buzz was about. Based on my visit to Two Twisted Posts, I’ve had to alter my opinion and admit that the drive to produce quality wine definitely isn’t limited to Loudoun County’s established wineries.

After purchasing property nestled in the valley along Harpers Ferry Road in Purcellville in 2008, Brad and Theresa Robertson were looking for a way to provide a winery where people can get away from the city to truly relax, take a deep breath, and enjoy some wine. The couple had some orchard farming experience and decided to give growing wine grapes a try. They initially planted 3 acres of vines along their property and are expecting to add a couple more acres this spring. Currently, they grow vinifera on the property including Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and the hybrid Traminette. The attention to quality is one that they are familiar with as they use a dense planting system to reduce stress on vines, as well as cane pruning for disease prevention and to control vigor and balance. Chemicals are kept to a minimum, and natural fertilizer is used to stimulate high quality grapes. Theresa has been the primary winemaker and works closely with consultant Tom Payette.

As we pulled up to the property, we were instantly reminded of a small winery that you would come across in Sonoma or Paso Robles. The gorgeously inviting and meticulously manicured vineyard is flourishing with hope as it begins at the mouth of the dirt driveway. The path brings visitors up to the dirt parking lot through the vineyards and to the side of the under construction tasting room. When the Robertsons entered their Chardonnay for the Governor’s Cup, they were simply looking to see how well their wine would hold up against some of the other Virginia wineries. When they received word of their success, they began to scramble to throw together a temporary tasting room, while they continue to build their permanent tasting room, since Governor’s Cup entries must have a public tasting room. The family put together a tasting tent with a hay-lined floor, two temporary tasting bars held up by wine barrels, wine trinkets and wine bottles for purchase, wine racks and refrigerators, and, of course, the smiling faces of the tasting tent staff. The winery and staff are all family and close family friends.

When we arrived, we were able to taste with Noelle, Theresa’s granddaughter, and we also met the rest of the family that was working that day, including Theresa herself. We quickly hopped into the tasting with a few dollar fee to cover the pours. After all of the Governor’s Case recognition, I was anxiously awaiting a taste of their Chardonnays. We began with the 2011 Chardonnay ($23) (the Non-Governor’s Case version), which, in my opinion, stood out as my favorite wine of the day. Smooth apple mingles with tropical aromas backed by creamy nuances that lead to a velvety smooth palate with vanilla undertones and toasty notes showing well. With a near perfect balance, this wine finishes fresh and leaves the palate coated with gorgeous creamy notes without that buttery quality. We then moved onto the 2012 Chardonnay ($23), which is the Governor’s Case winner and another crowd pleaser. Rich and creamy pear collides with tropical fruit flavors showing an elegant texture that finishes clean and crisp with hints of vanilla and toasty oak that coat the palate much like the 2011, but boasts a richer structure. There is really no mystery as to why this wine holds the accolades that it does. From the whites, we continued into the 2011 Cabernet Franc ($18) that bears all of the qualities many Virginia Cabernet Francs lacked in the 2011 vintage. Spice and dark fruit lead the charge on the nose while spice and light, peppery notes line the palate and carry in some soft, fine tannins with hints of dark berry. Subtle hints of cherry and toasty oak notes linger on the smooth, soft finish. The end of the tasting here is a little different as they structured it from dry to sweet rather than white to red. We moved from the Cabernet Franc to the 2011 Sweet Life ($17), which is a blend of Seyval Blanc and Chardonnay. Citrus aromas waft upward while Granny Smith apples carry most of the palate and add in some citrus zest that finishes clean and crisp. A perfect wine for the not so serious wine drinker or for someone looking for a quick thirst quencher.

Many Virginia wineries in 2011 forced the red wines that probably shouldn’t have been forced, but hey you have to pay the bills, right? Wrong answer for Two Twisted Posts! What Theresa did with their 2011 Don’t Call Me a Cab Cabernet Sauvignon ($17) is stop the fermentation process to produce an off-dry wine. It is smooth and gentle in all regards and best served slightly chilled. Keep in mind this wine is not sweet-sweet. Cherry and spice lead the charge on the nose while smooth gentles tannins mend the fence with juicy plum and cherry notes finishing smooth with a touch of milk chocolate and oak. Surprisingly pleasing. To finish up our tasting, we tried the 2011 Vidal Blanc ($18) that boasts a modest 1% residual sugar. Floral through and through, this wine adds in some crisp apricot and honeysuckle on the palate and finishes clean with a touch of sweetness that is balanced by notes of tart citrus and a crisp acidity. All of the wines we tasted were great, so we had to grab a bottle of the Sweet Life, Cabernet Franc, and the 2011 Chardonnay. The 2012 Chardonnay was great, but my preference was the 2011 by a small margin.

If you are looking forward to a quiet, relaxing setting with great wines and a not too serious approach, Two Twisted Posts is where it’s at. This winery breaths new hope into the over populated Loudoun County winery scene and almost seems to carry it.