At Three Fox Vineyard, It’s Wine in the Vines
Photos and story by Peter Leonard-Morgan
There are numerous places to sip and relax at this Delaplane vineyard.
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Country Spirit • Fall 2018
Three Fox Vineyard near Delaplane in Fauquier County sits high above 50 lush and undulating acres, with excellent airflow and drainage for its 16 acres of vines. During their travels around the world, owners Holli and John Todhunter fell in love with Tuscany. They brought a little bit of that Italian ambiance back to Virginia when they created this delightful wine property, all of which is self-evident when sitting down to a bottle of estate-produced wine among the vines. To while away a few hours with good friends, sitting around a table between rows of vines is an unusual, thoroughly enjoyable and highly recommended experience. Close by is an outdoor, vine-side tasting bar and an open-sided tented area with a bar mounted on oak barrels, allowing guests to enjoy their favorite wines al fresco while still enjoying cover from sun and rain. The Todhnters acquired the property back in 2002, planting various grape varietals, including Cabernet Franc, Viognier, Nebbiolo, Merlot, Sangiovese and Pinot Grigio. Annually, they bottle some 3,000 cases of wine, with reds aged in Hungarian oak barrels between three and six months. All the whites are fermented in stainless steel tanks. With the exception of their “La Boheme” Viognier and “Alouette” Cabernet Franc, their labels have colorful Italian names such as Il Signor Reserve Sangiovese and Calabrese Pinot Grigio, magically transporting you in an instant to the Tuscan hills above Florence. Numerous awards have been bestowed on various Three Fox wines, including a gold medal for their 2014 La Boheme at the 2015 San Francisco International Wine Competition, a bronze medal for their 2012 Alouette at the 2015 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition and two bronzes at the 2015 Virginia Governor’s Cup for 2012 vintages of their Piemontese Nebbiolo and La Trovatella Merlot. Loyal customers can take advantage of the Three Fox Vineyard Connoisseur Club, essentially a “case club” where members sign up to purchase 12 bottles a year, on a quarterly basis. For that they receive healthy discounts plus complimentary tastings. For those wanting even more, the Three Fox Vineyard Vintner’s Circle offers Connoisseur Club benefits plus special events, a dedicated plaque on a panel of grapes in the vines, pre-release tastings and increased discounts in return for a modest initiation fee and annual membership fee. Families and dogs are more than welcome at Three Fox, with an adorable feature being a dog and cat of the month award. The winners are included on the vineyard website and a table is reserved for a month in the vines bearing the winner and winner’s owners. And what better venue for a wedding than here among the vines, with a resident civil celebrant ready to perform the nuptials, All in all, Three Fox Vineyard is a delightful destination for wine aficionados and anyone who enjoys spending time outdoors, soaking up the sun’s rays and witnessing glorious views. And bring the dog!