Shenandoah Cup Gala 2021

The big dogs had a big night out last Friday night….

It seemed fortuitous that Bluestone Vineyard hosted the 3rd annual Shenandoah Cup on a night when Wyatt was having his best friend Gus over for a sleepover. We knew that Mom (Stephanie Pence to the rest of you) had spent months coordinating this event with other folks on the Shenandoah Valley Wine Trail (SVWT) along with the judges who volunteered their time to judge the wines for the yearly event. 

On a completely unrelated note, has anyone heard of a need for a treat-tasting judge? If so, I might know a pup or two….

The Shenandoah Cup was designed to celebrate the wines and ciders produced in the Shenandoah Valley AVA. We have 22 wineries, three vineyards, a cidery, and a meadery on the Trail. Members of the SVWT are really excited about the delicious wines, ciders, and meads being made in the Shenandoah Valley, and this night was designed to celebrate everyone who makes our industry possible. 

Hosted by Bluestone Vineyard, the evening showcased some of the 65 wines and ciders that were entered into the judging process. In order to be entered, 85% of the grapes in the wines had to be grown in the Shenandoah Valley AVA, and the wines had to be produced by a member of the SVWT. Our two-step judging was completed by a panel of experts guided by Frank Morgan. Wines were divided into flights and scored on the Wine Spectator’s 100 Point Scale. 

When all of the judging was done, there ended up being 11 gold, 37 silver, and 14 bronze medals. In the gold medal category, there was a wide range of white, red, sparkling, and dessert wines represented. 

Lee Hartman of Bluestone Vineyard received the honor of the evening: his 2017 Houndstooth took the Shenandoah Cup. The judges described his wine as “mouth-filling, bold, complex, layered, well-balanced, fresh, and vibrant”. He was honored to have his wine chosen, and he shared a bit of his journey from a boy working in the garden to the award-winning vintner he is today. His parents made their first garden variety wine when he was just 17. Since those days of experimentation in the garage, the Hartman family has enjoyed the journey. Lee emphasized that winemakers are elevated by others in the industry and that nobody in this room could be where they are without everyone else in the room. 

Mom even invited a guest to talk about how awesome the wine industry is here in the Valley. Richard Leahy, an author and consultant in the wine industry, was impressed with the diversity and quality that our terroir produces. He loves Chambourcin and appreciates that it is a staple varietal here in the Shenandoah Valley. 

Frank Morgan couldn’t be at the event, but he did make a video appearance. You can watch that here:

Here are our two favorite quotes from the video:

“Early mornings in the vineyard and late nights in the cellar continue to pay off in the bottle.”

“The sweat equity of our founders is rewriting the next chapter of the Shenandoah Valley wine story.”

We had to keep a pretty low paw-file for the evening. Mom didn’t buy us tickets, so we definitely didn’t want to get kicked out. Since we had to watch from the windows, we weren’t able to snack on any of the delicious food that they were serving the humans. Despite this, we have to say that we really enjoyed ourselves!  It was so much fun to see everyone dressed up, and it was even more fun to see Mom in action as she spoke to the crowd. She does a great job taking care of all the things – but especially of me!

 

Of Maids and Men

We’ve all been to weddings where the bride and groom have attendants: this number can range from one to multiple bridesmaids and groomsmen. There doesn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason to the number, other than the desire of the happy couple to include family and friends who have supported and loved them throughout their relationship and, oftentimes, their individual lives. Anyone who has been a bridesmaid or groomsman knows they play an integral role in assisting and providing companionship to the happy couple in the months and weeks leading up to their special day including the wedding day itself. It is hard to imagine a wedding without an accompanying wedding party, but this tradition didn’t always exist and certainly not in the capacity it does now. 

The tradition of incorporating bridesmaids and groomsmen into a wedding ceremony dates all the way back to ancient Rome. Not only did the ancient Romans have a law that required exactly ten witnesses be present at the wedding, five bridesmaids and five groomsmen, but they were also quite superstitious. These superstitions lead to their tradition of bridesmaids and groomsmen wearing matching attire to the bride and groom, respectively, to confuse any evil spirits lurking that might cause harm to the happy couple. The thought process was that if they were all dressed the same then the demons would not be able to target the bride or groom specifically. Their primary function, other than serving as witnesses, was to protect the duo and mainly the bride. In fact, the groomsmen would accompany the bride to the celebration in order to protect her from any thieves who might try to steal her dowry. 

As time progressed, concerns about evil spirits and safeguarding the dowry faded. Eventually bridesmaids were not required to dress exactly like the bride. This was probably a relief during the Victorian era when wedding gowns featured corsets, bustles, full-court trains, and long veils. In those days, the bridesmaids were expected to wear a somewhat simpler white dress with a short veil. 

Today, the responsibilities of bridesmaids and groomsmen are much more relaxed and not bound to any of the original expectations or traditions. Brides typically use their personal fashion sense to determine the style and colors that their bridesmaids wear. Groomsmen responsibilities are much less serious now with them no longer protecting the life and wealth of the bride. They are enlisted to plan the bachelor party, usher wedding guests to their seats for the ceremony, and escort bridesmaids down the aisle. 

 

Perhaps there is a part of us that still thinks about keeping bad vibes away on the wedding day, and this might explain why today’s brides and grooms continue to have several close confidants by their sides when they say, “I do.”

 

Photos courtesy of: http://j-ellisphotography.com/; http://www.jessryderphotography.com/;    https://berkleytodd.smugmug.com/

Source: simplepleasureswedding.com

Vine Balance: A Competition in the Vineyard

A few weeks ago, Mom and I were curled up in the living room watching the Olympics. We were both watching Simone Biles do her balance beam routine. Naturally, when I heard that Jesus and Martin were headed to perform some vine balance on the Chambourcin, I was pretty excited. Was I going to have an Olympics-worthy gymnastics routine in my very own vineyard?

Spoiler alert: I wasn’t.

You can’t imagine my disappointment when I sauntered to those vines and found the guys steadily cutting grape clusters and dropping them on the ground to rot. They were letting food go to waste, and I couldn’t even eat it – grapes are toxic to dogs. I was completely confused, but I didn’t want anyone to know. 

I came back to the house to do some thinking and investigating where nobody else could see me; you can’t imagine my surprise when I found out that vine balance actually refers to having the proper balance of vegetation and fruit on the vines. 

Here is a picture of our Vidal Blanc vines. You can see that they are hanging heavy with fruit, but they have a vigorous canopy to support them.

Next, you can see our Cabernet Franc grapes. They have a smaller canopy, but they also have a smaller berry load. Smaller canopies are often desired on Cabernet Franc, as exposure to sunshine can help to decrease the number of pyrazines (the enzyme that gives the vegetative or green pepper notes).

Finally, you can see our Chambourcin is a prolific fruiter – as this French-American hybrid is known to be. The lighter canopy doesn’t provide enough energy to properly ripen the grapes if the bunches aren’t thinned. 

 

 

Jesus and Martin dropped (a common vineyard term for thinning clusters) about a third of the fruit load.

 

 

 

 

 

This is an important maintenance task as veraison is taking place. Veraison is the time in the grape life cycle when berries begin sweetening up and changing colors/translucence – you can read more about it here. As the vines sweeten, you will see us cover them up with white netting. This keeps them safe from birds and other creatures who might eat them.

I hate to rush out of here, but Simone is about to do an interview about her two puppies: Lilo and Rambo, and I can’t miss it!

A Confectionery Tale

The wedding cake, wreathed in hand-crafted sugar roses and fresh florals, is sometimes as much of a symbol of the marriage ceremony as the bride’s dress.  Modern cake designs range from subtle (icing patterns that mirror the embroidery on the bride’s dress) to outrageous (cakes resembling activities, things, or places the happy couple shares).  There are also weddings where multiple confectionery treats like cupcakes, donuts, ice cream sandwiches, and candies are available for guests and a smaller tiered cake is reserved for the bride and groom’s cake-cutting ceremony.  Some wedding cakes can even be as tall as the bride!  Whatever the design choices, there is one thing in common: the cake is deliciously sweet. Despite this sugary presence, the wedding cake has a very different – but decidedly sweet – origin.

Elegant and formal

Wedding cakes have their roots in ancient Rome, where marriages were sealed when the groom smashed a barley cake over the bride’s head for luck and fertility.  The new husband and wife would nibble on a few crumbs together as one of their first unified acts as a married couple.  By the medieval days, the English stopped with the plain ole barley cake and started stacking spiced buns, scones, and cookies as high as possible – a precursor to the tiered cakes of today – and the bride and groom would try to kiss over it.  Legend has it that if they smooched successfully without the whole thing toppling over, they’d have a prosperous future.  

The first known official wedding confection comes from a 1685 recipe for Bride’s Pye: a pastry crust filled with an assortment of oysters, sweetbreads, and other food oddities along with plenty of spices to mask the not-so-appetizing flavors.

By the late 17th century, wedding cakes started replacing bridal pies.  Since most homes didn’t have an oven, bakers would bake two pastry crusts on the hearth, then put currants between them like a sandwich, and sprinkle sugar on top.  Some couples waited until reaching their new home to dig into these wedding cakes.  The bride would take a bite, then toss the rest over her head like the bouquet toss today, so she and her new husband would get everything they want out of life.

When refined sugar started becoming more common (and cheaper!) in England, a bright white icing became the topping of choice for wedding cakes. The more refined the sugar, the whiter it was.  In those days, white was considered a status symbol and display of wealth.

Smaller and personal, with multiple confectionery treats for guests.

Supposedly, tiered cakes got their official start in the late 18th century, when the apprentice of a London baker fell in love with his boss’s daughter. He wanted to create an elaborate cake to impress her when he proposed.  Formal wedding cakes became bigger and more elaborate through the Victorian age.  In 1947, when Queen Elizabeth II (then Princess Elizabeth) married Prince Philip, the cake weighed 500 pounds.  Princess Diana’s cake was 5 feet tall and adorned with marzipan Windsor coats of arms.  It was so vital to the royal union that two cakes were made, the extra serving as a stunt double in case of an accident.  There are all kinds of fun, historical, and outlandish wedding cakes to research for inspiration.

Even though it’s just dessert and disappears with the guests, your wedding cake will most certainly be a highlight for those with a sweet tooth and a memorable part of your special day.

 

Sources: Reader’s Digest, Smithsonian Magazine

Photographs courtesy of: Ryder Photography and J Ellis Photography

Something old, something new

Weddings have so many fun traditions tied to them. We always find it interesting to find the impetus behind some of these traditions and to explore their relevance today. We shared a few fun traditions in an earlier blog https://www.brixandcolumns.com/wedding-traditions/, we thought it would be fun to focus on one from back then.

“Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue” is a traditional wedding rhyme that you’ve probably heard at one time or another. Almost everyone has heard this rhyme, but almost nobody knows where it came from and what it means.

According to several sources, the rhyme originated in England during the Victorian Era and symbolized luck for a bride on her wedding day.  It identifies four good-luck objects (plus a sixpence) that a bride might want to include somewhere in her wedding outfit or carry with her on her wedding day.  Each ‘something’ is usually a small token of love that a bride’s mother, sister, relative, or attendants will give the bride on her wedding day. The bride can even give them to herself! These tokens can carry over to grooms and bridesmaids, too.

Something Old represents the tie between the bride’s past and her family.  It can be any object that has ties to the bride’s past, such as a piece of jewelry or small article of clothing either worn independently or sewn into the dress.

A mother’s wedding gown, modernized and worn again.

Something New represents optimism for the new chapter in the bride’s life and the future she will spend with her spouse.  It is used as a token of hope for the happy couple’s long future together and can be the exchange of rings or even the wedding dress itself.

Wedding bands are a wonderful something new option.

Something Borrowed represents the sense of happiness that will transfer over to the bride and bring good luck to the happy couple for years to come.  It is also representative of the level of support that the happy couple will have from their family and friends.  Common items include jewelry, a garter or a trinket to add to the bouquet or headpiece.  Grooms might choose to borrow their grandfather’s cuff links.

A cake topper used for generations

Something Blue represents love, purity, and faithfulness which are all key qualities for a solid marriage.  The traditional ‘something blue’ was often a blue garter worn beneath the bride’s white dress.  But there are other ways to incorporate blue, like wearing a blue piece of jewelry or including a blue element to the bridal bouquet.  Some brides might place a little note written on blue paper, from a family member or friend, in her shoe! Grooms can sport blue ties, socks or cufflinks.

Lovely blue bottles as a centerpiece feature

And a Silver Sixpence in Her Shoe.  This last segment of the poem is often forgotten but is one we fully embrace here at the vineyard, as the name of our farm is Six Penny Farm. This name came about because of our last name, Pence, and because we have six in our family.  This Victorian Era British coin is meant to represent prosperity for the couple as they start their lives together.  Although the sixpence was officially decommissioned in the U.K. in 1980, it can still be obtained for those sticklers to detail or can be replaced with a penny (oftentimes with a memorable date).  As a memento to remember your wedding day at our vineyard, we provide an actual sixpence along with a frame-worthy version of this traditional rhyme to all couples that book a wedding with us.

A silver sixpence in her shoe.

This wedding rhyme can be an entertaining tradition to follow at your wedding in a way that works best for you.  Borrow a bit of this timeless tradition as you put those finishing touches on your special day.

 

Sources: danversport.com, theknot.com

Photos courtesy of:  Tall and Small Photography; Ameigh Photography; J Ellis Photography; Pinterest

Fun Facts about the History of White Wedding Dresses

If you are planning a wedding, chances are you’re thinking about what your dress will look like.  With options like length, formality, and color, the choices are almost endless.  You’ve likely pictured the color being some shade of white or ivory, even though some light pastels and bolder undertones have been making an appearance in recent years. Did you know that wedding dresses weren’t always white or ivory?  

In the Middle Ages, weddings were considered less of a romantic ideal and more of a political union between families, especially among higher social classes. As a result, the bridal gowns of that time period were meant to reflect a bride’s social standing and were tailored of lush fabrics in rich colors, even black.  If a bride didn’t belong to a noble family or one of higher social standing, she would simply wear her best dress on her wedding day since her family couldn’t justify the expense of a dress only to be worn for one day.

Wedding Gown c. 1740s.

Princess Philippa of England was the first documented princess to wear white on her wedding day in 1406. She was followed by Mary, Queen of Scots, when she was married in 1559.  Despite the appearance of white in royal weddings, white bridal dresses did not become popular among the common people until after Queen Victoria married Albert of Saxe-Coburg in 1840.  In order to show her support for the artisans who made lace in her area, Queen Victoria chose a large piece of English handmade lace for her bridal gown and the rest of her dress was designed to showcase that lovely lace.  Victoria’s wedding portrait was widely published, and this inspired brides around the world to seek out white bridal dresses. Since then, shades of white and ivory have been prominent colors in bridal fashion.  

Queen Victoria 1840

Since then, white has continued to be the color of choice for traditional bridal gowns, even though the styles have followed popular fashion trends. Shorter dresses went by the wayside in the 1940s when longer bridal dresses with fuller skirts gained popularity.  A longer bridal dress style, hailing back to Victorian times, continues to some extent today.   

Whether your dress is long or short and white or another hue, we know that you took pride in choosing the exact right dress for you, and we can’t wait to see you walk down the aisle!

 

Sources:  weddingshoppeinc.com, bellatory.com, Pinterest, Berkley M. Todd photography, Ryder photography

It’s Trendy

Weddings are personal celebrations that showcase your individual style and ambiance. While each is unique, there are trends that influence how couples spend their energy and money. There are a few common trends that we’re seeing for 2021. 

Intimate Ceremonies – These are also referred to as micro, intimate, or petite weddings. There has been a decrease in the number of guests on the guest lists, primarily due to Covid-19, and these smaller gatherings will likely continue. The micro-wedding movement tends to have a smaller guest list (up to 25). Keeping it romantic and intimate can be formal, informal, traditional, modern, or a fusion of different styles. We are now offering all-inclusive petite wedding packages.

Intimate fireside ceremony

 

Close family and friends

Picturesque Backdrops – Photo worthy backdrops are a fun way to share your personality and style. At Brix and Columns Vineyards, we offer a variety of options to suit your taste and theme. We offer a gorgeous outside wedding ceremony pergola that overlooks the Blue Ridge Mountains. Our luscious vineyards and stunning sunsets provide beautiful backgrounds. The Jeffersonian-style home, with a stunning spiral staircase and grand columns, provides an elegant structure for intimate photos. These, along with other picturesque settings at the venue, will provide ample opportunities to creatively record your wedding day memories.

Stunning spiral staircase

 

Beautiful vineyards

Weekday Weddings – This is a popular choice for both 2021 and your wallet! Many venues have limited 2021 weekend availability due to postponed dates from 2020. A weekday wedding increases the likelihood that your dream venue and preferred vendors will be available. Weddings on the weekdays are also typically more cost effective than weddings on the weekends, and your wallet will surely appreciate that!

Fashion Forward – 2021 is sure to provide some noteworthy fashion trends. From dresses for the brides and bridesmaids to suit choices for grooms and groomsmen, we’re seeing everything from formal to informal and color choices that coordinate versus match. A detachable train gives a bride the opportunity to show different styles for the ceremony and reception. Some fashion publications are showing puffy, billowing sleeves and shorter above the knee dresses. Hairstyles and headpieces also provide a creative way to showcase personal style. A formal updo, textured half-up half-down, tiaras, sparkly barrettes, or flowers all add a statement. Wedding bands are also a fantastic way to allow the happy couple to showcase their personal style by choosing from a variety of metals and estate type designs. Let your imagination take you on your own fashion journey!

Classic meets modern

 

Gorgeous braided up-do

Colorful Choices – Vibrant colors are seeing a comeback. Opportunities to introduce vibrant color can be everywhere from décor, floral bouquets, shoes, ties, and table settings. Being creative with color is just another way to add that personal touch to your special day. The bright, cheerful hues put a smile on guests’ faces and add an element of fun for everyone. 

 

Bold and bright bouquets

 

Coordinated and colorful

Sustainability – Efforts around sustainability are becoming increasingly popular. To focus on moving in this direction, pay special attention to the elements that can do double duty. One way you can do this is by allowing your place cards to double as wedding favors. Taking centerpieces to a local nursing home and donating leftover food to a shelter that could accept them are awesome ways to use your wedding day to give back to your community. You can use recycled-paper or digital invitations instead of ones printed on specialty paper. Setting up a wedding website and having virtual celebrations (especially with guest size constraints due to Covid-19) are also becoming popular and sustainable options this year. In this trend, it truly is the little things that make a difference.

While there are many interesting trends popping up this year, we thought these would be fun to focus on. Let your imagination be your guide to set the tone for your perfect wedding day. Which trends are you incorporating into your own wedding day? 

 

Sources: Virginia Living magazine, wedinspire.com, brides.com

 

Suit Yourself

When we imagine a wedding, we picture a day of celebration of two people meeting their soulmate and choosing a lifetime of happiness together.  We see the bride walking down the aisle, in her beautiful gown, to meet her groom patiently waiting for her at the altar.   Even though the main focus of this vision is on the bride’s dress, the groom’s attire is an important part of the wedding day fashion portfolio.

While wedding outfits for both grooms and brides have an interesting history, we’re focusing on grooms in this blog.  According to several sources, way back in the mid 1600’s men’s wedding attire was breeches and frock coats. That trend made its way out, and in the late 1700’s grooms were dressed just as extravagantly as brides.  Grooms from wealthier families would wear silks, velvet, pearls, furs, silver, gold, and even precious gems during this fashion period.  Their clothing was a lavish exhibition of their wealth.  Not everyone could afford to dress like this, so those who couldn’t dressed much more modestly, just wearing their best everyday clothes.

Source: sites.udel.edu

The wedding of Prince Albert to Queen Victoria, in the 1800’s, brought a significant change. The prince chose to wear his Field Marshall’s uniform which continues as tradition today for royal weddings. Prince Albert also wore a morning suit, that day, which takes inspiration for its cut and tails from the Field Marshall uniform.  From that moment on, there was a change from flashy ostentation to the clean lines and precision that Albert demonstrated on his wedding day.

10th February 1840: Queen Victoria (1819 – 1901) and Prince Albert (1819 – 1861) on their return from the marriage service at St James’s Palace, London. Original Artwork: Engraved by S Reynolds after F Lock. (Photo by Rischgitz/Getty Images) Source: Wikipedia

The morning suit became the traditional menswear attire for weddings during this time.  It provided an alternative to the decadent apparel of previous generations.  This was also a time when weddings primarily took place in the morning, so the groom and his groomsmen naturally wore their morning wear.  The formal evening tailcoat was only worn for other special occasions and formal events held in the evening.

Fast forward to the twentieth century where a variety of styles became mainstream.  The Stresemann style suit was created in the 1920’s and quickly became a popular choice for grooms.  It was around the 1930’s that the tuxedo came onto the scene.  This British creation quickly grew in popularity and became the picture of presentability.

Stresemann & Morning Suit Source: Pinterest

Classic Tuxedo Source: Pinterest

From there, different shapes, cuts, and colors became fashionable: wide-peaked lapels in the 1940’s, bell-bottom trousers in the 1960’s, and the double-breasted suit in the 1980’s.

Today, while the options are endless, we have seen a trend towards the classic tuxedo in colors that complement the bridesmaids and wedding theme.

Photographer: Kara Leigh Creative

 

Photographer: Ryder Photography