Blue Ridge Life, Issue #170

MAY 2019 NO. 170 PRICELESS (FREE!)

THE VINEYARD KIDS 10

• THE SWEET SPOT 21

•

PIPE DREAMS MAY 2019 Blue Ridge LIFE271

We will Meet or Beat Most Cash and Prescription Plan Prices.

Approved Provider of Piedmont Community Health Plan Prescriptions Independent Distributor 16076491

STONEY CREEK PHARMACY

2831 Rockfish Valley Hwy, Nellysford, VA M-F 9-6, Saturday 9-2 Closed Sunday and Holidays.

24 hour prescription refills: 434-361-0370

With a heart for serving the community he loves, Bob Ladd is here to help manage your health.

Visit us on Facebook to reserve your spot in one of our exciting classes on how to live your best life!

Keep that healthy glow!

Your skin is your body's largest organ. Take care of it with the help of your local dermatologists!

Now booking new patients in our Afton office.

540-885-4500

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Blue Ridge LIFE

MAY 2019

Nelson County… it’s a lifestyle!

Nelson County

Wi n t e r g r e e n R e s o r t

3224 Old Stoney Creek Road Head to the mountains and get off the grid. This cabin is located on 10.56 acres in the back country section of Wintergreen. By covenants, no electric service is allowed, and this cabin is outfitted with appliances and equipment using propane for many upscale camping and living comforts. Heat with the woodstove is more than adequate. Two creeks offer a wonderful sound to enjoy from the deck, the screened porch or the fire pit. The hiking is endless through the mature forest, and the long-range mountain view is wonderful. As a Wintergreen property owner, the owner facilities are available to use. This is a special place to enjoy these wonderful mountains. $99,500

910 Devils Knob Loop Spectacular views, ample room for family and friends, totally updated, tastefully furnished and turnkey, in Wintergreen's most coveted location! Unsurpassed views of the Blue Ridge and Blackrock Village ski slopes from every room. 6 BR, 5 BA, bonus room, 2-car garage, paved drive and 1000 feet of breathtaking outdoor decks, and ideal for entertaining.

Garage, bonus room and 1st floor master added in 1992 and recent updates include interior painting, main floor flooring, new kitchen, and tasteful furnishings , window replace and repairs, lighting and much more. $849,000

1089 Beech Grove Road Own a charming home in the middle of Beech Grove on 2.27 acres with mountain views, mature landscaping and a private back yard. The main residence has 3 BR, and 2.5 BA with a stone fireplace, gourmet kitchen and tile floors.

The great room has a cathedral ceiling and opens to a covered entertainment area. A large shop building in the back of the property has a 2 BR, 1 BA apartment. The shop has a huge amount of storage space. Minutes to the Devils Backbone brewery, cideries, Wintergreen Resort, the Farmers Market and shopping and services in Nellysford. $325,000

Patrick Henry Highway parcel Just over 55 acres with over 400 feet of road fronting Route 151 in Roseland. Minutes to Wintergreen, Nellysford, Stoney Creek and a number of breweries, wineries, and more. The land is a mix of gently rolling wooded acreage and several elevated building sites which could offer stunning mountain views. There is an old spring box on the property.

Close to the Devils Backbone Brewing company, Blue Ridge Parkway and the Appalachian trail. $205,000

Williams Creek Lane parcel Ten beautifully wooded acres in a gated community of fine homes in Afton. Minutes from Charlottesville, Waynesboro and I-64, these 10 acres offer plenty of room to build. Gentle covenants guide your planning.

A bold spring issues on the property and forms a charming stream as it flows off onto Lot 1. Nestle your home in near wooded privacy and selective clearing will provide views out toward Afton Mountain. Not a drive-by and cannot be seen from the state road. $249,000

175 East Catoctin Drive Unique location with both Shenandoah Valley and golf course views! Renovated kitchen and baths, two master suites, hardwood floors in the living area, 2 stone fireplaces and more. Open concept in the living area for entertaining, and the bonus room and bedroom layout make it perfect for extended family and friends. Large rear deck with firepit overlooking the 12th fairway of the Devils Knob course. Enjoy the views and all the other features this immaculate five bedroom home has to offer. $399,000

17 Pitcher Plant Lane Great 5 BR, 3BA retreat for large group or for an investor wanting 10+ sleeping capacity as an income-generating resort rental.

Level parking and ground level entry deck. Entry level has the kitchen, dining, BR/BA and great room with floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace, vaulted ceilings, and skylights. Upstairs is a master suite with BR/BA and private balcony and optional 5th BR or sitting area. Lower level has 2 BR/BA and a family room with stone fireplace. Privacy, seasonal mountain views, and nearly 1,000 square feet of decking. Priced below assessed value! $249,900

1191 Devils Knob Loop This attractive 3 BR, 2 BA home is located within walking distance to the Spa, The Nature Foundation and The Highland Express and also on the 16th green. Mahogany steps, front door and door trims and it has expansive glass. Large wrap-around deck with access door to the kitchen and living room area. Play area for the kids in the back. Some seasonal mountain views.

Property is on private rental. (VRBO). A great value! $299,900

449 Three Ridges Condo Easy walk to ski slopes and Mountain Inn shops, restaurants, and activities! Ideal location with minimal steps to access this 2 BR condo and one of the least expensive dues. Many extras include open floor plan, master bedroom with private bathroom, owners closet, wood burning fireplace, and walk-out deck. Excellent rental potential. Priced below assessed value! $97,500

(800) 361-5155 • (434) 361-2440 • www.MountainAreaRealty.com

2788 Rockfish Valley Highway • Nellysford, VA 22958

MAY 2019

Blue Ridge LIFE

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Custom Homes | Major Additions | Renovations 434.316.0090 RMGantt.com

License Class A - (BLD) 32216A

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Blue Ridge LIFE

MAY 2019

Looking For A Primary Care Doctor?

Augusta Health Primary Care, Stuarts Draft is now accepting new patients.

Call (833) AHC-HLTH

to schedule an appointment.

John A. “Jay” Snyder, DO, FACP Sylvia Le, MD Victoria Tomlin, FNP-C 2570 Stuarts Draft Highway, Suite 101 augustahealth.com/find-a-provider

MAY 2019

Blue Ridge LIFE

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Editors & Publishers Yvette Stafford, Tommy Stafford info@blueridgelife.com

a mom & pop since 2005

Blue Ridge Life magazine (formerly Nelson County Life) is published monthly by The Afton Group, LLC and is distributed free of charge. No portion of this publication may be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the publisher. Copyright 2013. All rights reserved.

Advertising deadlines are the 15th of every publishing month. For advertising information, download our ratecard at BlueRidgeLife.com or contact us at info@blueridgelife.com.

Views reflected by our advertisers do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher or the company.

Blue Ridge Life Magazine, published by The Afton Group, LLC is pledged to the letter and spirit of Virginia’s policy for achieving equal housing oppotunity throughout the Commonwealth. We encourage and support advertising and marketing programs in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status, or handicap.

All real estate advertised herein is subject to Virginia’s fair housing law which makes it illegal to advertise ‘any preference, limitation or discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status, or handicap, or intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination.’ This magazine will not knowingly accept advertising for real estate that violates the fair housing law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this magazine are available on an equal opportunity basis.

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Blue Ridge LIFE

MAY 2019

Contributors Linda Crowe Victoria Beecher Godfrey Stephanie Gross Kate Simon Advertising sales@blueridgelife.com Address: The Afton Group, LLC P.O. Box 455, Wintergreen, Virginia 22958

434.361.0104

Have a story idea? Email us at info@blueridgelife.com

may 2019

10

,

d

e h s i n fi t u n t s e Ch

Pork!

the vineyard kids Goats are having a moment right now.

So is Virginia wine.

We are a small family farm that sources its chestnut tree stock from nearby growers.

Our orchard will soon mature and begin producing tasty Nelson County chestnuts like the ones our pigs feast on. A new batch of pastured pork is coming soon. Price sheet available now at Tuckahoe Antiques in Nellysford.

Maple Brook Farm ROSELAND, VIRGINIA

21

the sweet spot Behold the photographic evidence that Woodruff Store’s pie crusts are hand rolled.

27

pipe dreams Rejected at the dump, this cast iron pipe became a brewer’s yard art.

inside

basic necessities ................. 9 cover story...........................10 ask the dr. ......................... 22 at home with marlo ......... 23 brain builders ..................... 30

on the cover Photo credit: Stephanie Gross This group of goats calls Afton Mountain Vineyards its home. Story starts on page 10.

fromthepublishers And just like that, we have a cat!

We had noticed a clump of fur gathering on one of the porch chair cushions. The furbearer was apparently couch surfing at night while we slept and gone by morning. Until one day I looked out the window and spotted the feline.

Peyton was up and I told her we had a kitty on the porch.

“Can we keep it?!” she squealed.

I assumed the sound of the door knob turning would be enough to make the cat jump its seat but it didn’t. Instead, it sluggishly lifted its head and let me pick it up.

I felt like a labor and delivery nurse handing over a baby to a new mother as I passed the cat over to Peyton’s waiting lap. The bond was instant.

The kitty didn’t much care for the bowl of water we set out but it pounced on the dish of dog food Tommy presented.

“Omigosh!” said a groggy Adam.

“Is that our cat?”

As much as we wanted to play Spring Santa, we explained to the kids we had to do our due diligence to see if anyone claimed this animal.

We called our neighbors, spread the word on the book of faces, and let

the local authorities know. Lucky for us, no one claimed her and we took the cat to the local Feline Planned Parenthood.

But even before we had done that, the kids had already decided on a name. “Ashley” was a contender until Adam declared that cats cannot and should not share the name of their owner (Ashley is Peyton’s middle name). So they dropped a consonant and a vowel, deciding on Ashy.

And with that, Adam threw Ashy over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes and marched up the stairs.

We have a cat. Actually, the cat has us.

Enjoy!

Yvette and Tommy Stafford MAY 2019

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We are excited to have Chris Jack back as our Execuuve Chef! Here is a sampling of our new Chris Jack inspired menu in Nellysford: Fried calamari with banana pepper medley, bleu cheese crumble and a honey cilantro butter.

k c a j S I R H C

Roasted poblano and goat cheese fritters with pico de gallo and a smoked tomato sauce.

.

RK AT ITS BEST

FARM~TO~FO

! s u o i c i l De

PANY’S REWING COM WILD WOLF B EF EXECUTIVE CH

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND! Brewed with over 120 pounds of REAL peaches in a 15-barrel batch. The peaches add amazing flavor to the tropical and fruity nose from the NEIPA yeast. Nothing says warm weather better than peaches and beer!

6.7 ABV | 48 IBU

2461 ROCKFISH VALLEY HWY • NELLYSFORD, VA WILDWOLFBEER.COM 8

Blue Ridge LIFE

MAY 2019

basicnecessities

By Kay Pfaltz www.basicnecessities.com www.kaypfaltz.com Springtime Pairings There was a restaurant in Paris where the master sommelier, Enrico, let diners choose the wine then matched food to wine, not the other way around. As springtime fledges fully from its more dormant earlier states, we’ve been experimenting with Enrico’s tactics. But first, in order to match food to wine, what’s growing in the garden? Well, there are Asian greens, lettuces and carrots just ready to pull. Spinach is looking nice. Some people have collards and kale; I do not. Or rather, I did, but a plump groundhog thanked me while waddling away.

Ponzi Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley, 2017 (sustainable) – Although in a class of its own, Oregon Pinot Gris has more in common with the unctuous Alsatian Pinot Gris than the great majority of Italy’s Pinot Grigios, where grapes are often picked early, never developing the richness of which Pinot Gris is capable. The Ponzi family consistently makes top quality wines, and this Pinot Gris, with fragrant aromas of honeysuckle,

Spring is a Great Time to Tour the Best of Wintergreen

jasmine, and daphe odora is no exception. On the palate look for the juicy succulence of nectarine, orange, and kumquat. Pair with a lightly grilled salmon and those tender greens from the garden. $18.99 Domaine de la Mordorée, La Dame Rousse, Côtes du Rhône, Rosé, 2017 (organic) - Perhaps Mordorée needs no introduction, but I include it here simply because...what’s in the back field garden? The mordorée, or woodcock! Not that I intend to eat this adorable bird whose antics for finding a mate have to be admired (or on Comedy Central). If you think there’s a loud duck, or huge insect outside, it may be no more than the woodcock doing his sterling best to attract a mate. “Beent, beent, beent,” he goes, then suddenly spirals up over 150 feet while chirping and twittering, and spirals back down.

That ought to attract the ladies.

La Dame Rousse, (“the red lady,” a reference to the woodcock) is refreshing, yet equally rich and full.

Sweet-tart notes of blood orange, strawberries and cherries. Pair springtime picnics with this rosé:

MLS# 586359

$355,000

salads, smoked fish, cheese, grilled veggies. $14.99 Monsecco, Pratogrande, Colline Novaresi, 2014 (sustainable) – Ninety miles northeast of Alba, tucked into the base of the Italian Alps, is the region of Alto Piemonte, literally “high Piedmont.” While many taste buds are well-versed in Barolo and Barbaresco, the wines from the Alto Piemonte offer exceptional quality with affordability. From the D.O.C. Colline Novaresi, Monsecco Pratogrande is made from the noble Nebbiolo, same grape as Barolo, without the noble price tag. The vineyards sit just outside D.O.C.G. Gattinara and Ghemme, and the Zanetta family meticulously farms just a few hectares of Nebbiolo, Vespolina, Uva Rara and Croatina vines. Look for a perfumed, yet delicate violet nose. This wine changes in the glass over time, offering a salvo of sweet cherry flavors, anise, white pepper, combined with earthy, complexity, a slight tannic tang and a long, persistent finish. Match with sautéed mushrooms or asparagus risotto, and those first tentative ramps.

Cellar or drink. $24.99

MLS# 388517

$355,000

14 Trails Edge

764 Shamokin Springs Trl

Custom, A-frame home built in 2005. 4BR, 3.5 BAs with attached 2-car garage. Floor to ceilings stone fireplace. Furnished.

4BR, 3BA home built in 2007. Two master suites. Spring on property and seasonal mountain views.

Furnished.

Café Wine and Cheese Shop A taste of Europe in the Blue Ridge!

Wine tastings offered on Wednesdays and every other Tuesday. Call for more information.

Mon 10am-4pm Retail Only Tu-Th 10am-6pm Fri-Sat 10am-10pm Sun 10am-3pm Reservations advised for weekend dinner and brunch.

2226 Rockfish Valley Highway Nellysford, Virginia ph: 434.361.1766 www.basicnecessities.us

Friend BASIC NECESSITIES Visit us on Foodwaze Review us on Trip Advisor and Yelp

MLS# 587932

$389,000

1818 High Ridge Ct Condo Luxury top floor condo with 4BR, 4 BA and a den. Open floor plan.

Spectacular mountain and valley views. Furnished.

Dima Holmes 434.962.2252 DimaDHolmes@gmail.com

MLS# 585420

P.O. Box 747 Nellysford VA 22958 WintergreenResort.com

$415,000

MLS# 588521

$529,000

MLS# 581657

$890,000

1735 Blue Ridge Drive

629 Lakeland Ln

752 Devils Knob Loop

Luxury home on golf course.

Many recent upgrades. Attached garage. 4BR, 3.5 BA plus an office and a den. Great outdoor space.

Luxury, energy efficient home located on private 3 ac lot in picturesque Lakeland community.

2-car attached garage. Generator.

Frank Lloyd Wright-style home with breathtaking mountain and valley views. 4BR, 4 BA, generous outdoor entertainment space.

MAY 2019

Blue Ridge LIFE

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AFTON

[ nelson county ]

STORY by LINDA CROWE PHOTOGRAPHY by STEPHANIE GROSS

VINEYARD KIDS Afton Mountain Vineyard celebrates 40 years of vines, 30 years of wine, 10 years of the Smiths, and year 1 of goats.

Elizabeth Smith relaxes in a comfortable chair, at long last. Outside through the window behind her, customers laugh and talk, soaking up the warm April day, glasses of red wine and white wine sparkling in their hands. As backdrop to it all, new growth paints the Blue Ridge mountains in a mist of green, framed in the calm of a torii gate. It’s spring time in the Appalachians and Afton Mountain Vineyards is in celebration mode.

A customer interrupts to inform her that a new kid has been separated from the rest of the herd of goats they keep at the vineyard. Baby’s bleating, the adults are bleating. Upset ensues. Suddenly the song, “Red, Red Wine,” emanates from her purse. It’s her ring tone and Damien Blanchon, AMV’s winemaker, is on the phone, putting a quick rescue operation in place. She settles back in her chair.

Both Smith and her husband, Tony, grew up in Albemarle County and attended college at the University of Virginia. After school, they lived and worked in the Tidewater area where they raised their family. It was during that time that they developed an interest in viticulture. Twenty years later, they moved home and began to explore the idea of a winery.

They began by taking classes in viticulture (the science of growing grapes) and oenology (the science of making wine) at Piedmont Virginia Community College. Their five-year plan went something like this: Find the best land. Plant the grapes. While the grapes are maturing, build a winery. Followed by a tasting room. A nice leisurely slide into the wine business.

People plan. God laughs. During their search for the perfect property, the Smiths visited Afton Mountain Vineyards – an established winery – and Elizabeth says, “We went from a 5-year plan to a 6-month plan.” Boom.

“One thing that a lot of people don’t think much about when it comes to wine,” she says, “and that is that we’re farmers. You have a bad year and you can’t order up more ingredients. That’s it for the year.” To improve their harvest and invest in grapes they want to produce the wines they’re most interested in making, they recently removed three out of 25 acres of grapevines. Gewürztraminer and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes had to go. They were older and were not producing well on the soils at AMV. This acreage will lie fallow for the next year, planted in cover crops designed to improve the soil by removing excess potassium and adding nitrogen. Then they’ll be replanted with new stock. continued on page 12

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Blue Ridge LIFE

MAY 2019

SATURDAY, MAY 11TH | 11AM-6PM | . . . . .

live music & food truck

Tours and Tastings daily 299 eades lane lovingston, Virginia 22949 www.vadistillery.com | @vadistillery

UPCOMING EVENTS AT OUR FARM IN AFTON Equine Partnering Creativity Workshop June 9th & July 6th Equine Partnering Leadership Workshop June 15th

TEAM BUILDING LEADERSHIP CREATIVITY HEALING

Down on the Farm Visits the 2nd & 4th Fridays of the month 5:30 -7:30pm

Contact us to schedule a private session or workshop Louise Goodling 434/941-6485 louise@equinepartnering.com www.equinepartnering.com continued on page 12

MAY 2019

Blue Ridge LIFE

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continued from page 11

Much thought goes into the decision of what to plant.

This part of the country is prone to fall hurricanes. So they might consider growing a grape with a thicker skin that can hold up better in strong winds, or possibly a grape that ripens a bit earlier, avoiding the late-season storms altogether. Maybe, Smith says, none of that will work. They’ll review page after page of varieties, keeping the specific soil type and climate of this particular vineyard in mind. And while the grapes’ ancestry is rooted in Spain or Portugal, or perhaps the Bordeaux region of France, the vines they select will be grafted onto all-American root stock, taken from resistant wild grapes.

After careful consideration, they’ve settled on Albariño and Cabernet Franc grapes, which will go in the ground in 2020. It will be 2025 before they see bottles in retail from that endeavor. “It’s an exercise in delayed gratification,” she says with a soft laugh.

A high priority for AMV is being good stewards of the land. “We are really focused on making this a wellbalanced farm. And it’s not just growing grapes and making wine,” she says. “It’s 160 acres of what are we doing and are we doing it in the best way possible?”

Enter Damien Blanchon, the aforementioned winemaker who has been with the vineyard since 2011. He comes from a family of winemakers in the Beaujolais Villages region in France. After studying viticulture and oenology in his home country, he experienced both the itch to move to a new region, and the desire to become fluent in English, the language in which most wine business is conducted.

Blanchon is leading the initiative to limit chemical spraying and move the vineyard toward more organic practices. Toward that goal, AMV is in the process of going glyphosate-free, which means finding alternatives for weed control. That’s where the goats come in. Last fall, AMV started with a herd of six adults. Now they’re up to 15, including tan, white and chocolatecolored curious kids which peer around the shed to see

who’s approaching, then prance and leap to catch up with their mothers. They may be adorable, but they’re here to work. These animals will be clearing land which will save on labor, fuel, carbon emission and pesticide application. Using movable fencing, the goats can clear areas that even equipment would have a hard time reaching, meaning less fuel consumption and fewer toxic sprays, as Blanchon explains in excellent and charmingly accented English.

The goats help and where possible, Blanchon uses herbal teas as fungicides and pesticides on the vines.

The decoctions and infusions can serve different purposes. For example, some can stimulate the vines’ own immune system to ward off attacks from pests.

Oak bark tea, rich in tannins, is beneficial in combating certain harmful fungal growths. In addition, AMV is working with major research universities to find other ways to grow grapes using less chemical input in what is increasingly a warm, wet region. continued on page 14

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Blue Ridge LIFE

MAY 2019

IT’S HOP STRINGIN’ TIME...

...& We Need YOUR Help!

FRIDAY, MAY 3 11 AM - 5 PM

BLUE MOUNTAIN BARREL HOUSE

495 Cooperative Way, Arrington, VA

BREWERY

HELP STRING HOPS AND YOUR LUNCH IS ON US! WWW.BLUEMOUNTAINBREWERY.COM

SAUNDERS BROTHERS

FARM MARKET SINCE 1915

Farm Animal Day: May 25 &

Pick-Your-Own Cherries: June 7-8 & 14-15

Opening for the Season May 24, 2019!

Mon-Sat 9-6 (closed Sunday) 434.277.5455 x.37 Bring this ad in for 10% off saundersbrothersfarmmarket.com MAY 2019

Blue Ridge LIFE

13

Pick Your Own and Pre-Picked:

Strawberries: Mid April - June Cherries & Blueberries: June Mother Nature determines when our Cherries and Berries will be ripe !!!

Please call to confirm availability !!!

Come enjoy ice cream as well as our farm-raised beef and pork!

From Amherst: Take 29N to 56W, go 1

Hours:

– Friday mile, turn right onto Roseland Road. Watch Monday 8am to 7pm

for signs. From Lovingston: Take 29S to 56W, go 1 mile, turn right onto Roseland Road. Watch for signs.

Saturday 8am to 4pm Sunday 12:30pm to 5pm

For more information call

434-277-8130 continued from page 12 www.seamansorchard.com

continued from page 12

An abundance of colors and varieties of locally grown flowers, perfect for your upcoming wedding, party, corporate event or, as a gift. Buckets of flowers are also available for the DIY bride.

Please email or call today to place your order.

See our website for tour information and future events.

NELSON COUNTY, VIRGINIA

www.PharsaliaEvents.com

434-277-5231 14

Blue Ridge LIFE

MAY 2019

Among Blanchon’s favorite award-winning AMV wines is Tradition, a Governor’s Gold Cup winner, because he says, “it showcases the Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot grapes that were planted in 2012.” Blanchon especially likes the VDN (Vin Doux Naturel). This naturally sweet wine reminds him of growing up in the south of France, where it was aged out of doors.

Good vines, great wines, gracious tasting rooms, spectacular view. But topping the list of the Smiths’ accomplishments is the AMV team. “We are all invested in making premium wine, and we sell 95% of it right here,” she says. “so our customer experience has to be excellent.” They have four technical staff, a tasting room manager and 15 part time people. “Hire good people and let them do their work,” is her human resources philosophy and it’s working. There is very low turnover among the staff. “Coming to work every day is a pleasure,” she adds.

All that, and “at the end of the day, you still have to sell your wine,” Smith says, her voice serious.

“Retail is hard. And retail with alcohol is harder.”

Saturday afternoons at 4:00 can be tough on the staff. But AMV makes it look easy.

“There is no one playbook that says ‘this is how you be a winery’,” she continues. Some places host a lot of weddings and events. Some are only open Friday through Sunday. It’s about what works best for your vineyard, she says. With only 25 of 160

acres committed to vines, AMV has the ability to grow more grapes. Currently the winery produces 5,000 cases, and that’s where they plan to stay. They only use grapes grown on the property and they don’t plan to expand grape production to sell on the outside. All of that would divert attention away from what’s going into the wine they make and sell, as well as the customer experience they provide. For AMV, it’s about a beautiful experience that’s not too crazy. For that reason, reservations are advised, particularly on weekends.

In April, Afton Mountain Vineyards celebrated three significant anniversaries: 40 years of vines in the ground, 30 years of wines and 10 years of Smith family ownership. Oh, and little something else – their alma mater just brought home Virginia’s first Men’s NCAA Basketball Championship. So after a weekend of anniversary events at the vineyard and a couple nail-biting games, Smith is looking forward to relaxing for a couple of days before it’s back to work.

Now row after row of bare vines march over the rolling fields. But spring is racing toward summer and soon those rows will transform into a profusion of green. And if all goes according to plan, by summer’s end, those same vines will be heavy with clusters of juicy ripe grapes.

In the meantime, there are goats to move, customers to welcome, wine to pour. And toasts to make to the next forty years. BRL

6:30-9:30PM

6:30-9:30PM

1997 – 2019

Come Celebrate with us !

22 years of supporting local farmers NELSON Farmers Market

Season is Here

SaturdayS 8– 12 may to october

IN THE HEART OF NELLYSFORD MORE THAN 50 VENDORS

Live Music

May 4 HAYES BRANCH May 11 THE CAROL MCAVOY PROJECT May 18 BOB and CAROLYN May 25 JASON BURKE TRIO SPONSORED BY

Nelson Farmers Market Cooperative www.NelsonFarmersMarket.com

MAY 2019

Blue Ridge LIFE

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Mountain Homes for Your Outdoor Lifestyle.

MOUNTAIN HOMES AT WINTERGREEN

$339,000

MLS# 585862

$349,900

MLS# 587054

MLS# 586864

$72.500

38 Hickory Spring Road

19 Chestnut Lane

774 Laurelwood Condos

Gorgeous 3BR,3BA home, centrally located, offering terrific features: Soaring ceilings and a large wall of glass. Two of the BRS are private master suites. Stainless appliances & Granite counters. A trail behind the home leads to a beautiful overlook & the Appalachian Trail.

Mountain charm and sunshine await you & your family for both summer and winter seasons. This home has exceptional rental potential; it generated $30,985 gross income in 2017 & generated over $22,500 in gross revenue in 2018 during a limited rental period.

Renovated 1BR, 1BA condo, near all amenities and ski slopes in the lower Village. Condo is tastefully furnished & decorated, turn key condition. Wood burning fireplace in living room.

Private pool for owners & guests. On a private rental program & generates steady revenue.

$499,000

MLS# 583638 141 Hemlock Drive

$855,000

MLS# 586852

205 Crawfords Edge Panoramic views from this one of a kind custom home. Great room with cathedral ceiling, 6 fireplaces, including all 4BRS and 2 family rooms. Large custom kitchen with a great design for entertaining friends. Hot tub, pool table, & bar in 2nd family room.

434.361.0500 / 800.325.2200

Blue Ridge LIFE

MAY 2019

MLS# 587731

$549,000

17 South Forest Drive

Beautifully furnished & decorated, this 5 BR home has been well cared for. Main level master, hardwood floors, central heat & air, granite counters & custom cabinets. Seasonal views of the Shenandoah Valley. Quiet area with hiking close by and not far from amenities.

16

CONDOS AT WINTERGREEN

An Investor’s Dream! This turnkey rental property has a record of over $50K+ per year in rental income! Situated on the 14th Green of Devils Knob Golf Course, this spacious 5BR, 4BA, features an expansive great room with a gorgeous stone fireplace & expansive decking.

MLS# 577045

$1,199,000

MLS# 584653

$129,900

2046 Stone Ridge Condos One level 3BR, 3BA condo overlooking golf course. Renovations include wood floors, updated baths & new kitchen appliances.

Convenient to the Spa and Aquatics Center, Devils Grill, golf, tennis & Nature Center. Gas fireplace in living room. Patio & landscaped area.

MLS# 587106

$249,000

21 Indian Point Trail

938 Diamond Hill Condos

One of the finest homes at Wintergreen!

Updated with significant upgrades, this 5BR, 5BA mountain home is a great combination of elegance & comfort. Over 5,000 sq. ft of finished space. Beautiful reclaimed barn wood floors on 1st & 2nd floors, stairs and railings.

Enjoy spectacular views and ski slope access.

This remodeled chalet has upscale finishes: stone fireplace, wood floors, remodeled kitchen & bath, enlarged breakfast bar, fresh interior paint, improved deck and entry, mini fridge/ bar. Ideal for ski season or enjoy year-round.

WintergreenRealEstate.com

To Learn More, Contact Us Today!

434.361.0500 / 800.325.2200 STONEY CREEK AND NELSON COUNTY

MLS# 586697

$109,500

MLS# 571228

$112,500

$519,000

MLS# 586948

2038 Stone Ridge Condos

905 Diamond Hill Condos

118 Stoney Creek West

Cozy & cheerful 2BR, 2BA villa with golf fairway views. Nice & spacious floorplan for vacation or a full-time resident. Gas log fireplace (gas furnished by association). Villa is nicely furnished and conveys in move in condition. Spacious deck overlooking the golf fairway.

Reduced!! Rare WALK OUT ski slope condo.

Furnished and ready to enjoy! Granite counters, stainless appliances, full kitchen, wood burning fireplace to relax by. Hot tub on patio! Great location for rental too. Walk to restaurants, shops and lower village activities.

Relax on the front porch of this gracious Southern home. Like new and has just been refreshed with new flooring, new paint inside & out & new kitchen cabinets. Spacious main level master suite and two guest BRS on the upper level. This home sparkles and is move in ready!

MLS# 587475

$134,500

179 Mountain Inn Condos One of the best combinations of location, floor plan and views offered from a Mountain Inn villa.

The interior has been completely and beautifully renovated and condo conveys turn key furnished.

The condo is on the resort rental program with strong rental revenue.

MLS# 585445

$335,000

MLS# 584536

$137,500

1438 Highlands Condos

265 Black Walnut Drive

Enjoy easy living in this beautiful one-bedroom condo with spectacular views of the mountains and ski slopes. Full kitchen with granite counters, washer and dryer, wood burning fireplace in family room. Fully furnished and part of the Wintergreen rental program.

MLS# 587625

$549,000

MLS# 568647

$339,000

Large 5BR home on the golf course. Generous decking, flower beds, stream & bridges along property line. Unique spiral staircase reminiscent of a “lighthouse”, gives access to 4 guest BRS, 2 baths & a bonus room. The 3rd level is a tower sunroom with a “widows walk”.

$699,000

MLS# 576857

1562 Vistas Condos

1524 Cliffs Condos

1261 Crawfords Climb

Magnificent views over the Black Rock Village Center, ski slopes, and the Rockfish Valley.

Positioned on the top two levels of the building, cathedral ceilings, two master suites (one on Level 1 & one on Level 2 for privacy). Oak floor in great room, granite counters in kitchen.

Spacious 3BR, top floor condo with spectacular panoramic views. Wonderful kitchen with SubZero fridge, cherry cabinets, built-in wine cooler, & granite counters. Two master suites, 1 on the main level & 1 on the upper level. Has a gold ranking on the resort rental program.

Custom, private home rests atop Crawfords Climb. A dramatic wall of windows allows abundant light into the home. Decks offer panoramic views. A soaring stone fireplace and vaulted ceilings. Paved driveway, stone walls & entry columns create an elegant statement.

3079 Rockfish Valley Highway, Wintergreen Resort VA 22958

MAY 2019

Blue Ridge LIFE

17

asktheDr.

By Dr. Charles Cole Afton Family Medicine Dear Dr. Cole, I keep hearing about measles on the news. What’s going on?

CALL US TODAY!

434-263-4500 8535 Thomas Nelson Hwy Lovingston, VA 22949

FOSTERFUELS.COM PROPANE • GAS LOGS • TANKS • HEATERS • GRILLS & MORE

In 1912, the US made measles a nationally reportable disease. At that time about 6,000 people in America died each year from measles. Prior to the development of a vaccine in 1963, essentially all children got the measles by the time they were 15 – about 3-4 million cases per year. Since measles vaccination started, the rate of infection has plummeted and in the year 2000, measles was eliminated from the US as an endemic infection.

Measles outbreaks since then are linked to travelers coming from other countries where there are large outbreaks. However, the first few months of 2019 have been especially bad with over 465 cases of measles confirmed in 19 states and the number is expected to grow.

Measles is very contagious – up to 90% of non-immune people exposed to a person with measles will become infected. Symptoms begin about 7-14 days after exposure. Early symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose and red and watery eyes. 3-5

days later the rash begins: flat red spots that start at the hairline and then spread downward to the neck, chest, abdomen, arms and legs. With the onset of the rash, the fever may spike as high as 104°F. Common complications include diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration, and ear infections that may lead to hearing loss. More severe complications include pneumonia and encephalitis (brain infection). About 1 in 4 people in the US with measles will be hospitalized and for every 1000 people with measles, 1 or 2 will die.

Measles is a very contagious and a potentially deadly infection. The best protection against measles is the vaccine which is given as part of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine series. It is 97% effective in reducing the risk of measles. Measles vaccination helps prevent measles from becoming widespread and helps protect our children.

Dr. Charles Cole is a licensed medical doctor based in Afton. This column is provided as a service to readers of Blue Ridge Life Magazine and it does not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers of this magazine.

If you have a question about your personal health, please consult your doctor.

S E N TA R A A F T O N FA M I LY M E D I C I N E

DISCOVER WHY PEOPLE TRUST SENTARA AFTON FAMILY MEDICINE OFFICE HOURS: Monday - Friday 8:30am-5pm 10950 Rockfish Valley Hwy (SR151), Afton, VA For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit sentara.com or call (540) 456-6710.

Follow us on Facebook @MarthaJeffersonHospital, and Twitter @MarthaJefferson.

18

Blue Ridge LIFE

MAY 2019

athome

Market Ups and Downs A Nelson County real estate summary for Q1 2019

withMarlo

By Marlo Allen Marlo Allen is a licensed Realtor residing in Nelson County

The first quarter is historically a slow quarter for Nelson County residential sales. Q1 2019 sales were down by 22% from Q1 2018 and down by 38% from the previous quarter of Q4 2018. While the number of sales dropped, price rose. Here is a quick residential market summary for Nelson County. *Sales figures were pulled from the Charlottesville Area Association of Realtors (CAAR) Multiple Listing Service (MLS).

Q1 Countywide Overview. 53 residential properties sold in Q1 of 2019 which represents a 22% decrease from the same time period in 2018 when 68 properties sold.

Q1 Statistical Comparison. Q1 2018 recap: 68 sales, median $217,000, average price $259,615, average price per sq ft $131.63, average DOM 151, median DOM 120, average cumulative DOM 169. Q1 2019: 53 sales, median $245,000, average price $279,319, average price per sq ft $137.43, average DOM 207, median DOM 97, average cumulative DOM 227.

It is pretty typical to have fewer sales at the start of the year; last years strong start was an exception.

The slower start may be a result of less inventory/options making some buyers hold out and continue to search for the right property. There are currently 201 homes on the market (13% fewer) than 2018 when there were 230, which was also down from 2017 with 268. Inventory is dwindling, providing the opportunity for prices to rise in pockets of the market; inventory still remains high at Wintergreen. Q1 2019 only encompasses 53 sales compared to a full year with 296 sales in 2018. The price is up for the Q1 comparison, but average price and price per sq ft are still lower than the year-end figures. A slight uptick in price should not mislead anyone looking to sell in 2019. Setting a market driven price at the time of listing remains important. 51% of the Q1 2019 sales sold in less than 100 average days on market. Others lingered, thus

Marlo Allen

pulling down the average days on market. Seventeen percent of the Q1 2019 sales took a cumulative period of more than 1 year to sell, with 4 of those sales actually taking 2.25 to 5.75 years to sell; before attracting a buyer, all had price reductions.

Selling tip - Be encouraged by the price starting off the year in a positive direction, but don’t be fooled into having unrealistic expectations… unless you have plenty of time to kill.

Q1 Sales Summary by Locality.

Nelson County sales encompass 3 main markets, Wintergreen (mountain) with 27 sales, Stoney Creek (valley) with 8 sales, and all other non-resort or county properties with 18 sales. When comparing Q1 2019 with Q1 2018 sales, all localities experienced a decline in sales. Wintergreen saw the most significant reduction with 27% fewer sales. Stoney Creek sales fell 20% and the county/non-resort sales dropped by 14%. Another notable statistic is within Wintergreen and

434-996-3525

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28% of all 2019 sold and pending sales in Stoney Creek were listed by Marlo.

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Stats pulled from CAAR MLS on 4/15/19.

Marlo G. Allen

Associate Broker Cell: 434.996.3525 Web: InsistOnThatGirl.com Email: Marlo@InsistOnThatGirl.com

Insist on that girl!

the distribution of sales. Historically condos account for 65-70% of sales in recent years. The Q1 2019 market was more balanced with sales at 52% for condos and 48% for detached homes. County (non-resort) sales were more concentrated in Lovingston and Shipman with the two localities accounting for 50% of all Q1 county sales. Distressed sales (foreclosures and/or short sales) are still present in the marketplace. Within all of Nelson County sales, 9.4% were distressed sales in Q1 2019 compared to 7.4% in Q1 of 2018.

Variables such as location, views, acreage, condition and features can affect values. For further explanation and comparison relative to a property you want to sell or purchase, contact a real estate professional.

Marlo Allen, frequently referred to as “That Girl,” calls Nelson County home. In fact, she grew up in Nelson County and helped found Hill Top Berry Farm & Winery of Nellysford. Marlo provides real estate services in Nelson and surrounding counties.

InsistOnThatGirl.com

Stoney Creek – Custom with Privacy!

472 Cedar Meadow Dr; #588058; $549,000

Anything but cookie cutter! Tectonics built contemporary situated on a level double lot for enhanced privacy. Easy entertaining home with bright, open flow and multiple gathering spaces inside and out. Enjoy nature from the 1,000+ sq ft of outdoor living space - decking, covered front porch, and back screened porch overlooking the frog pond. Step inside and be welcomed by the cathedral ceiling, floor to ceiling stone fireplace, hardwood floors, and custom windows. Live on one level and have guest quarters upstairs. Move-in ready with nearly 70k in recent renovations. 30 minutes to Charlottesville!

Marlo is a top-producing agent throughout Nelson County, Stoney Creek and Wintergreen.

MAY 2019

Blue Ridge LIFE

19

Your Nelson County experts!

Standing: John McKeithen, Dondi Brandon, Meredith Jackson, Pam McKeithen, Marlo Allen, Hunter Price, and Charlie Wineberg.

Sitting: Sara McGann, Chastity Morgan, Julie Bendle.

Demand is up and inventory is down!

Contact us to find out what your home would sell for in today's hot market!

Call us at 7 days a week or e-mail us at

marinfo@mountainarearealty.com.

(434) 361-2440 Visit our website at www.MountainAreaRealty.com

2788 Rockfish Valley Highway • Nellysford, VA 22958

20

Blue Ridge LIFE

MAY 2019

AGRICOLA

[ amherst county ]

STORY & PHOTOGRAPHY by YVETTE STAFFORD

Sweet Spot Fresh made pies baked with

history.

Mary Woodruff is a small woman peeling a big bowl of apples with a long knife. The blade is much longer than your standard paring knife but when you’re 102, you can do whatever you want.

“I had a little grocery business,” she begins, her drawl leaning hard on the first syllable of the word “business,” “They were buying cigarettes and drinks for a long time.” continued on page 23

MAY 2019

Blue Ridge LIFE

21

Experience the sunrise side of the Blue Ridge.

From milepost 0 of the Blue Ridge Parkway to the mighty James.

Wear yourself out at our wineries, breweries, cideries, distilleries and eateries, then hit the sack in a cozy cabin or bed & breakfast. Learn how to

relax. nelson style.

nelsoncounty.com/50-years-of-love/ 800.282.8223

nelson county VIRGINIA

We are currently buying old barns, sheds, cabins, and houses for salvage. have one to sell? call us.

Meade Shirley 540-241-9075 elkmountaincontracting.com 22

Blue Ridge LIFE

MAY 2019

continued from page 21

The year was 1952. Mary’s father-in-law, Walter, gave she and her husband, James, the money to start the store in rural Amherst County on Elon Road. Walter was the son of a freed slave, Wyatt, who had used the pension he had earned as a Union soldier serving in the 15th Colored Infantry to start a blacksmith shop just up the road. The store was in operation for 30 years and Angela Woodruff Scott grew up in it.

“My sisters were twin babies when my mom opened it in 1952 — they were born in 1951. So they grew up in a playpen there while mom was running it. But oh my gosh, it was a bustling place. I remember doing a lot of things when I was really young, if I had to hand somebody something.”

Because back before stores were self-service — where shoppers pushed carts and carried baskets — if you wanted something from a store, you had to ask for it. Angela was one of three little girls at Woodruff fetching things for you. Today she is in the back of the store in the kitchen, hovering over a pie pan, gently wielding a knife with the skill that surely came from her mother.

“Just rolled out the pie crust, crimped it, and I’m now cutting the edges off,” she says.

These pies are baked with family secrets and some things that aren’t secrets such as flour, water and Crisco. Tuesday is baking and prep day, which means the front of the store is closed to the public but the back is busy buzzing with bakers.

“Somebody asked me one time, ‘What was more important, the filling or the crust?’ And I couldn’t answer that question for nothing because they’re both important. At that point, the filling was more important. People loved the pies we were making and as we became more popular, I knew I had to make my own crust.”

That reality hit Angela after she had already re-opened the store in 1988. She had gone to a family reunion in the ‘90s — her mother was a youngster in her 80’s then — and was overwhelmed with a sense of nostalgia and perhaps — my words, not hers — the weight of a legacy beared by a descendant of a slave who literally fought for the freedom now enjoyed by his progeny.

“I realized my family history was just ... I mean with the blacksmith’s shop and my parents running the store ... People always came here .. it was like a …”

“It was a sanctuary,” Angela’s husband, Larry says, as he ladles a cream filling into a pie shell.

Angela nods. “It was a sanctuary for a lady running from her husband who was abusive. She would come and momma would take her in. We had some alcoholics down the street. I mean, it was just a place that people came for help.”

WOODRUFF COLLECTION

Woodruff’s Store first opened shop in 1952. Mary Woodruff (at right) ran it with her late husband, James Woodruff, up until 1982. Daughter Angela Woodruff Scott re-opened the store a few years later, adding homemade pies as a main element of the business. Tuesday is when the kitchen preps and bakes pies.

Doors are open to the public Wednesday to Saturday from 10 AM to 4 PM.

WOODRUFF COLLECTION

continued on page 24

Photo: Norm Carter

Rockfish River Gallery Fine Art and Exquisite Crafts from Virginia Over 70 artists, artisans, writers and musicians – We are unique!

Part Of Our Mission Is to Allow As Many As Possible Local And

Join us for the Run & Remember 5K Saturday, May 11 | 8 a.m. | Keswick Club Register Today! hopva.org/5K

Extended Local Artists And Artisans To Display Their Work and to Promote Art in the Community at Large.

Rockfish Valley Community Center 190 Rockfish School Lane, Afton, VA 22920 We are open all year Weds. through Sat. 10 AM to 4:30 PM. Check our website for info, map and news. www.RockfishRiverGallery.com 434-294-4668.

Thanks to our generous sponsors!

MAY 2019

Blue Ridge LIFE

23

ANTIQUES

TuckahoeAntiques.com Rt. 151 Near Wintergreen

Pack A Picnic!

MAC’S Country Store FRIED CHICKEN The Best Around

CovesvilleStoreAntiques.com Rt. 29 south of Charlottesville

Conveniently located near Crabtree Falls, the Appalachian Trail, Wintergreen, & The Tye River Featuring a deli, homemade foods, Virginia products, local wines, seating for 14.

7023 Patrick Henry Hwy, Roseland

434-277-5305 VeronaAntiques.com Rt. 11 north of Staunton

If you are ready for a faster internet connection, you are ready for Exede Broadband.

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Good hair doesn’t happen by chance.

It happens by appointment!

Beech Grove Salon 434-361-1810

910 Beech Grove Rd (Rt. 664) Roseland, VA

24

Blue Ridge LIFE

MAY 2019

continued from page 23

Because of how country stores operated in those days — nearly every community had one — most of Woodruff ’s regulars were locals and here in this part of Amherst, that meant people black and white.

“Everyone helped one another. When it was hog killing time, my dad had a farm while their store was opened — he had chickens, his, cattle, a garden. So when it came time to kill the hogs, all the neighborhood and their families would come in and help my dad.”

Most people had small farms and gardens back then. So along with the gas, the store sold feed for livestock. Woodruff was farm to fork before it was a thing.

“My mom sold milk. Back then you could do that. Milk the cow and then bring the milk on up and sell it.”

In some ways, 1952 doesn’t seem that long ago. But it is worth mentioning that the Commonwealth was itself a different place culturally in those days. To put things in perspective, Loving vs.

Virginia — the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that struck down all state laws banning interracial marriage — was decided in 1967, 15 years after Woodruff opened. On the flip side, try to sell uninspected milk from your cow at the local store in 2019, and you’re asking for a regulatory smackdown. And if you were an able-bodied child whose parents owned a store, you worked in that store.

“I helped my mom count inventory. I remember my grandfather sitting in there, he was in a wheel chair then. There was an old potbellied stove. The guys would come in and sit and talk to my grandfather. It was kind of a neighborhood place where people would gather. Especially on Fridays, families would get paid and come in and get their groceries and talk to my grandfather a while. There’d be bench in there all the time. They’d play checkers.”

An alarm goes off and it’s time to slide a pie out of the oven and add it to the cooling rack. Over in the front of the store, Mama Mary peels away.

Your "Staycation" awaits!

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NORTH BRANCH SCHOOL presents

BandFair XVII

Sunday, May 19, 1-6PM Cardinal Point Winery

Local bands!

Local foods ] Cardinal Point wine Children’s activities ] Wine raffle Silent Auction ] Cake Walk ] Lip Sync Contest Advance tickets: $10 adults/$5 students/$30 family.

Call 540-456-8450 for more information.

“I’m preparing them so that when the girls come and need them, they will be all ready. I won’t have to do it after they get here. I’m getting ahead of them!”

Any which way you slice a Woodruff pie, whatever this family cooks up is worth sharing. BRL

Proceeds benefit North Branch School.

Sponsors include: Blue Ridge Life, Little Planets, Skyline Tent Company North Branch School does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color or income & actively seeks minority students.

MAY 2019

Blue Ridge LIFE

25

Acclaimed Nature Photographer and Author is Featured Presenter at This Year’s Event Robert Llewellyn to discuss his stunning images of nature

Friday, May 17 & Saturday, May 18 at The Nature Foundation Robert Llewellyn has been a professional photographer for over 40 years. His detailed images of nature have been featured in numerous art exhibits and more than 35 books. Llewellyn’s book Washington, The Capital (1981) was an official diplomatic gift of the White House and State Department.

For more information about the Spring Wildflower Symposium please call 434-325-8169.

Thank you to The Horwitz Family Fund, Farfields Farm and Nursery and The Community Foundation of the Blue Ridge for their financial support of this event.

434-263-4881

434-946-5059

What’s on YOUR mind this Spring?

Do you have a boo-boo?

May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month We can amend your 2016, 2017 or 2018 tax returns to correct reporting errors.

Call us today for your free initial appointment.

Free Nexgard Sample ($22+ value) when your dog is combo tested for heartworm and lyme disease during their appointment.

C e r t i f i e d P u b l i c Ac c ou nt a nt s

Providing Quality Tax Services for Individuals, Trusts, Estates, and Small Businesses 2741 Rockfish Valley Hwy • Nellysford, Virginia • 434.361.9650 www.R-CPA.net

26

Blue Ridge LIFE

MAY 2019

MASSIES MILL

[ nelson county ]

Eat, Drink and Be Merry!

STORY & PHOTOGRAPHY by YVETTE STAFFORD

PipeDreams This spring we’ve brought back your favorite dining specials and added some new ones.

I’m staring at Jason Oliver, the guy who has brewed beer at Devils Backbone since its beginning. We’re at his turn-of-the-century bungalow along the Tye River, and Jason is clutching a can of spray paint in his hand. A clear and overt escalation of the edgy brewer aesthetic.

So, the inevitable question: Brewmaster or artist?

“That’s an excellent question. It’s not mutually exclusive, you know.”

Brewing is an art and …

“So is taking old things and re-purposing them. All this is about repurposement, renewal, and hope.”

And apparently about being turned away by a reluctant trash attendant who said Jason’s hulking piece of septic pipe could break the compactor.

“It’s not trash, literally. After they told me I couldn’t throw it away I felt, ‘Yes. I cannot throw it away. There’s a reason I should do something with it.’”

Shake, shake, shake goes the can of spray paint. continued on page 28

Sundown on the Veranda at Stoney Creek Bar & Grill It’s your Wednesday pick me up with live music and entertainment, drink specials and an appetizer buffet.

Friday Night Lights Join us at Stoney Creek Bar & Grill the last Friday of every month for great live music and a dinner buffet.

Sunday Brunch There is no better spot to enjoy Sunday brunch than at Stoney Creek Bar & Grill.

Dine alfresco and enjoy the view!

Visit WintergreenResort. com for details and eat, drink and be merry.

Stoney Creek Bar & Grill: 434-325-8110

855.245.5011 wintergreenresort.com

MAY 2019

Blue Ridge LIFE

27

TAYLOR MADE BUSINESS SERVICE, LLC Offering Bookkeeping, Payroll, Personal Finance, and Notary Services. p: 434.361.2208 • f: 434.361.2131 TaylorMadeSvc@gmail.com

continued from page 27

BECERRA LAWNCARE Call to schedule your mulch and chipping job!

Contact: Carlos Becerra

434-962-3266 Firewood • Debris Cleanup • Wood Chipper Mowing • Weed Eating • Pruning/Weeding Tree Trimming • Planting/Fertilizing • Mulching Spraying Weeds • Raking Leaves • Much, much more ...

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434-361-2445 or 800-361-5155

28

Blue Ridge LIFE

MAY 2019

If you don’t know Pierre Constans, you’re about to. He’s not the only man that scoots around Nelson County in a little red truck but he’s the only man who’ll get out of one greeting you with the thickest of French accents.

“Blue, blanc, rouge!” he exclaims. “It’s emblem of the — um, mon dieu — the French Revolution!”

The buds are now huddled over one of the original kegs used to hold beer at Devils Backbone Brewery in Beech Grove. Pierre is leaning up against his little red truck as Jason aims at the vintage — and arguably cringe worthy — Backbone bumper sticker, spraying the first streak of Rustoleum enamel white over the metal keg.

Cautious to not inhale too much of the airborne particles, the paint job is happening outdoors. Pierre’s hairy little dog, Nacho, is sniffing daffodils. The artist takes a break.

It’s time for a walk, and a little show and tell. Jason and I don’t go far, just up to the road where the not-trash art is positioned. An amalgamation of cast iron and PVC, the three-legged pipe rests like a tripod greeting cars that drive by.

“I’m a vessel for this movement,” Jason says, crouching down over the patriotic pipe. As I peer into the top of it, which is uncapped, all I see is a nasty black abyss.

“I see unlimited possibility and potential, just like this country of ours,” Jason counters. “I wanted to remind people [that] we are all Americans. It is very divisive right now in this country and first and foremost we’re all citizens. We’re all brother and sister citizens out there.”

Citizens out there. This art installation is definitely “out there.”

“I wanted to show that no matter what side you’re on, we are all United States citizens.”

Pierre begins rambling about plans to launch fireworks out of the pipe on the 4th of July. And there’s a part of me that wants to see a charismatic Frenchman do that on an American holiday, and there’s a part of me that wants to shy away and huddle back into my hollow.

But here I go, and take a swig of some stout coffee in a town still basking in the afterglow of its Final Four win. We are in the land of Jefferson and college students around me are huddled over books and

Brady S. Nicks Attorney-at-Law,

Get in the Swing Come Play at Wintergreen!

Counselor, and Officer of the Court, serving Citizens of Nelson and Surrounding Counties in Matters before the Courts, Civil or Criminal, or between Parties.

Consultations are Confidential and Free.

434-263-4141 All Client calls returned within 24 Business Hours.

Office Located on the Courthouse Grounds, Lovingston. nicksatlaw.com

laptops, logos on their sweatshirts hinting at their course of study.

And back out in the country, by a river where an American and a Frenchman waste an afternoon, there’s a story that — no matter how silly it sounds — is worth sharing.

Brewer/junk artist Jason is a history buff, having majored in it in college. Maybe the history of the home he bought and later renovated is what drew him to it. Built in 1916 as part of the Blue Ridge Railroad, which had a spur that came up Massies Mill, the home was built for the station master. In fact, if you look at its long eaves, you might guess the man who built the train depot built this home, for the architectural signature is unmistakable.

“I like to geek out over historical stuff,” Jason admits. “In 1949 my mother’s family came through Ellis Island and through the Statue of Liberty. Considering that, everyone is welcome here.”

Even — and perhaps especially Pierre — who has become a little more animated.

“Blue blood, white aristocracy, red the people,” Pierre adds, a Parisian’s interpretation of the color scheme chosen for the septic pipe. It’s not exactly the first time a Frenchman has come to America with artistic endeavors.

“Think the Statue of Liberty,” Jason beams. “In some ways it is not as tall or as grand but there is still just as much feeling behind that, just as much as the Statue of Liberty, in my opinion.”

Pierre punctuates that declaration by dropping a very French “Definitely!”

When you speak with a smile so wide, it’s hard to tell how firmly that tongue is implanted in your cheek.

“I decided to put as little time and effort into [my art] as possible to bring out the emotion, the pure, raw spirit behind it,” Jason explains, his voice now rising.

“So the next project is taking one of the original kegs we used at Devils Backbone and I’m going to be painting it red, white and blue, and I’m going to be making a stool out of it. Every fellow citizen is welcome to come and sit on it.”

I checked the tape and he did say “sit.” If anyone offers you a seat, you take it. BRL

ANTIQUES

TuckahoeAntiques.com Rt. 151 Near Wintergreen

CovesvilleStoreAntiques.com Rt. 29 south of Charlottesville

Combining 45 holes of golf with two completely different course layouts, Wintergreen offers a unique golf adventure.

Devils Knob is Wintergreen’s Member and resort guest exclusive mountaintop course.

Defined by tree lined fairways, speedy and undulating greens and perfect playing conditions, Devils Knob, at 3850 feet, offers the ultimate mountain golf experience.

Just a short drive down the mountain, Stoney Creek course boasts 27 holes of championship golf. The Rees Jones designed course provides challenge and opportunity using the Blue Ridge Mountains as its backdrop.

Whether you are looking for a day outing or an affordable overnight package, we invite you to come and enjoy the unique golf experience Wintergreen offers.

855.245.5011

VeronaAntiques.com Rt. 11 north of Staunton

wintergreenresort.com

MAY 2019

Blue Ridge LIFE

29

BRAIN BUILDERS

ANSWER KEY

30 30 30

Blue Ridge LIFE Blue Blue Ridge Ridge LIFE LIFE

NOVEMBER 2018 MAY MAY 2019 2019

,

ed

h s i n fi t u n t s e h C

Pork!

We are a small family farm that sources its chestnut tree stock from nearby growers.

Our orchard will soon mature and begin producing tasty Nelson County chestnuts like the ones our pigs feast on. A new batch of pastured pork is coming soon. Price sheet available now at Tuckahoe Antiques in Nellysford.

Maple Brook Farm ROSELAND, VIRGINIA

,

Yolks for Folks

Eggs picked daily by humans, laid by hens that enjoy a life on pasture, and nest on fluffy piles of hemp.

Sold by the dozen at Tuckahoe Antiques, Rt. 151 in Nellysford.

Maple Brook Farm ROSELAND, VIRGINIA

Where in my talent contract do I get royalties for use of this photo?

#hensonhemp MAY MAY 2019 2019

Blue Blue Ridge Ridge LIFE LIFE

31 31

InsistOnThatGirl.com

Marlo Allen

434-996-3525

#1 in Nelson County Marlo is selling more property in Nelson County than any other agent.

Pricing and marketing consultations are FREE! * Sales volume pulled from CAAR MLS from 1/1/19 to 4/15/19

EN

Welcome Home

E GR R E T

N

WI

Achieve your dream of homeownership with The Zemon Team at Waterstone Mortgage.

1001 Devils Knob Loop; 5Br/4.5Ba; #585693; $699,000

Luxury home blending contemporary architecture with a mountain lodge. Custom design provides new meaning to bright, open flow living with vaulted ceiling, floating stairwell and walkway, and floor to ceiling windows. More than enough space for multiple families, large gatherings and easy entertaining with a great room with stone fireplace and antler chandelier, a billiard or rec room with fireplace, built-ins, and office nook, and a family room with fireplace providing bunk space and optional 6th bedroom. Extras: More than 1000 sq ft of decking with golf, valley and mountain views, 2 master suites with private balconies, spacious kitchen with double ovens and refrigerators, and more ‌

ANDY ZEMON NMLS #208916

TheZemonTeam.com 434.529.8434 Subject to credit approval and program guidelines. Equal Housing Lender. Waterstone Mortgage Corporation (NMLS #186434) is a wholly owned subsidiary of WaterStone Bank SSB (NASDAQ: WSBF). State of Virginia Licensee Exempt.

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1211 Blue Ridge Dr; 582237; $374,900

Tectonics construction with privacy and golf course access and views! Great mountain getaway or income producing property; sold turn-key. Extras: cathedral ceilings, stone fireplace, open flow, spacious kitchen, two master suites, second family room, 800+ sq ft of decking; 4Br/4Ba

Livebeautifully in Nelson County Marlo G. Allen, Assoc. Broker 434-996-3525 InsistOnThatGirl.com

434-996-3525 Blue Ridge LIFE

Marlo Allen

InsistOnThatGirl.com MAY 2019