Dinner in Delaplane
We were lucky enough to be invited to dinner a couple of weekends ago in lovely Delaplane, Virginia. We dined on cucumber soup, fresh trout and homemade coconut sorbet at the lovely estate of Ashley Farms in the company of politicians, playwrights, dancers, doctors and dentists. It was an awesome mix and a night to remember with its setting the stuff of dreams.
Delaplane came to my attention about a year ago when we made the day trip out to do some tasting. Both RDV and Linden are close by, both recently lauded by wine expert extraordinaire, Jancis Robinson. She describes RDV’s wines as “sweet and seductive. Monumental and enormous”. Wowzers Virginia- makes me proud to call this state my new(ish) home. She also stated that RDV wines “stand a good chance of putting the state on the world wine map”. Double Wowzers. Another added bump for these VA. wines- the wine director at Bryan Voltaggio’s Volt recently told me that RDV was his favorite Virginia wine and good enough to play with the old world big boys.
RDV- yes, this is really what it looks like. What!?
But back to our dinner at hand. Only about an hour’s drive from DC, once we got about halfway out to Delapane, our shoulders literally dropped. Surrounded by emerald green rolling hills and horses galloping freely across the Virginia grass, it’s kind of unbelievable beauty. A few images from the stately estate:
If you’re headed to DC anytime soon, put a day in Delaplane with tastings at RDV and Linden on your hit list. Stay overnight and dine at The Ashby Inn in Paris, VA. (don’t you love that!)- a destination restaurant with its chef, Tarver King, on the short list for a James Beard nom. It’s the new Inn at Little Washington- go now before it gets bonkers.
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