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DuCard Vineyard-Local Charlottesville, Virginia Realtor, Fulton Gaylord, Gives Top Marks!

By Fulton Gaylord

Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Realty

December 06, 2011 05:23 AM

DuCard Vineyard
Local Charlottesville, Virginia Realtor, Fulton Gaylord, Gives Top Marks!

Sponsored by: Charlottesville MLS Listings

O.K., if you're not one for openly gratuitous and seeminly salacious hype, then you might want to skip this entry.

I will, in deferrence to my regular readers, make this disclosure, as well as apologize for filling one of my blogs with hype and advertisement.

But, you know? In these trying economic times where it seems we have overdrafted our humanitarian sensitivities with daily calls of victim behavior and regression into self-absorption--I want you to know about DuCard Vineyard and its owner, Scott Elliff--as a symbol of local beauty, this winery shines, and as the friendly, honest entrepreneur that Scott is, he stands as testament to the type of person we should all aspire to be.

As many of you know, I do not drink, anymore. So what's my take on winery visitations? And how could I expouse with any credibility upon the merits of one over another?

Well...I take others. In this case my father and my lovely wife. And, while it's true, my involvement was mostly with my visual senses (the scenery is GORGEOUS!), both my companions for the day enjoyed the tastings, and then a full glass, later, with offered locally baked artisan bread and homemade cheeses!

The staff working the tasting bar were fantastic! They were personable, knowledgeable, and fun to be around! From the moment we entered the tasting building, and were greeted, we knew--we could FEEL-- that this was going to be fun. And, after visiting another, larger, more commercial outfit just weeks before, we knewDuCard Vineyard was more to our liking.

The tasting room was built with warm colored woods, with a sitting area around a large fireplace. The stand-up tasting bar was clean and well kept. Even the bathroom had a homey feeling (my father thought it was cute that there was a shower in the bathroom, adding to more of a feel of a home than a business).

And just outside there is a slate patio with comfortable metal chairs and tables from which we could basque in the sun and take in sweeping views up the mountainside.

The proprieter, Scott Elliff, and his partner wine-maker, Julianne, came out and greeted the visiters with warm handshakes, smiles, and entertaining conversation. He even volunteered to take us out into the actual vineyard for a quick wine-making lesson, but we had to take a 'wine check' because we were a little short on time.

My recommendation?

Put down what you're doing, right now. (You can come back later and look at pretty houses with my unique Charlottesville 1st Access Club MLS Search Tool).

Get in your car, drive the 30+ minutes north, up to Madison, and visit Scott at his DuCard Vineyard. The drive, especially the road leading from Madison town center up to Sperryville, is spectacular! And when you're there, do the complete wine tasting tour ($5), which includes several whites and reds. Take your time, visit with the wonderful staff, maybe sit by the fire, read some wine afficianado mags. Then, choose a glass of your favorite, order a loaf of their bread and cheese, and retire outside on the patio and "drink" it all in.

And, be sure to say hello to Scott, from me!

DuCard Vineyard Web Site

Grape vines View up DuCard Vineyard property