Mount Ida amazed me as soon as I visited. Tucked away in the hills south-east of Monticello, it commands a fantastic view of the surrounding farmland. It’s also a brewery, vineyard, wedding destination, and restaurant all on the same premise. “Mt Versatility” might be an apt nickname.
With 18 acres under vine, their wines are almost entirely estate (the remainder are all VA, mostly Monticello AVA). When I visited they were ‘only’ making 8,000-10,000 cases/year, but I’d expect that to rise as more vines mature.
They don’t have an on-site winemaker yet. That said, Joy Ting was an advisor in the wine making. I’ve had Joy’s wines before though, so this is a good thing!
Lucky for me, I planned my lunch here. As you would expect, everything on the menu had a suggested paring – I went with the oysters and Chardonnay, plus the gnocchi. But next time, I think I’ll go for the burger (made with beef from their cattle farm).
Anthony was my main server. For a young guy, this dude was ON POINT with his wines and tasting notes. I mean, future sommelier-level on point. If this is indicative of the level of service you get for your average visit, you’ll be well taken care of.
The wines I had tended towards dry, with only a few semi-sweet in the mix. What I tried:
15 Moonlight (white blend): Grassy notes
15 Blanc to Blanc (sparkling viognier): Very rich
15 Viognier: Not overly floral; subdued by Viognier standards. Made in steel
14 Rose: Great strawberry color, with strawberry also on the palate. Dry.
15 High Ridge (right bank style I think): Had JUST the right amount of French oak; I really enjoyed this one.
15 Cabernet Sauvignon: Herbaceous nose; baking spices on the palate
15 Chardonnay: Definitely my favorite of the bunch. Went well with the oysters.
16 Petit Verdot: Very smooth. I love PV so it’s hard for me to be impartial towards this grape.
Porty-style: Yummy! 95% tannat
Don’t forget to try the beer, because yes, they have a brewery as well as wines. I especially liked the “Wicket Cool” stout.
Wine Trails and Wanderlust 