Rappahannock County

[babka]

newby query from a month-long lurker?

Through the most lovely combination of events, I am going to the Inn at Little Washington for dinner on Friday night in a convertible that I don't have to give back until Sunday night--and there is supposed to be SUN all weekend!!!

We're booked into nearby B&Bs for both Friday and Saturday night, and I'm feeling overwhelmed with the long, long, long list of farms and vineyards within toodling distance. Every time I try to research a particular spot, I add two more.

I know quite a lot about farming vegetables, some about meats and cheeses, and very little about wine, so I'd like to take advantage of the time and the car to learn lots about wine, some about meats and cheeses, and eat a couple of tomatoes off the vine. Has anyone had any experiences with the agra-tourism in the region and have any suggestions to make?

[Joe H]

Rucker Farm for goat cheese. On the road that runs by Four and Twenty Blackbirds.

[sextons]

I second the Rucker Farm Goat Cheese - definitely worth a taste. Sunnyside also has a new market open in Sperryville - I haven't stopped in yet, but it looks great and I've heard good things. That's probably your best bet for tomatoes. While you're on your way to Rucker Farm, keep heading down the road to Farfelu - cute little winery with good wines. Farfelu and Rappahannock Cellars are definitely my top picks of wineries in the county. Skip Oasis unless you just want to see the views - the service is practically nonexistent and the wines aren't all that. Unicorn and Gray Ghost are also nice - decent wines, nice locations. Ummm . . . catch a sunset on the terrace at the Bleu Rock Inn if you can - fabulous views. And if you don't have dinner planned for one of your nights - try either the Public House or 4&20 in Flint Hill (like there are so many other options in the county - but I've also had good experiences at both. Enjoy!!

[Malawry]

The Sunnyside market is nice but doesn't carry nearly as much produce as I'd hoped it would. They do carry a number of local cheeses and plenty of fixings for a country picnic, plus lots of bottles and jars of schmancy condiments and snacky things. Their farm gave my class at L'academie a tour and I learned a lot about their produce from it; I don't know if they offer tours regularly but they have a hayride truck so they probably offer some sort of hayride-tour in peak seasons. Worth calling and asking.

[Tweaked]

Malawry,

were you/are you enrolled in the professional program at L'Academie or was this some other class you took. If in the professional program, how do you like it?

Thanks

I actually just e-mailed you with the same question to your yahoo account.

Thanks

Edited September 11, 2003 by Tweaked (log)

[babka]

thank you so much!

unfortunately, my partner in escapism just came down with the world's worst cold, so our weekend away is off until early October--have dutifully copied down your kind suggestions, though, and will content myself with cold pastrami tonight instead.