Loudoun Business | PAGE 7
AUGUST 2012
SNEAK PEEK: SALAMANDER RESORT & SPA Guests at the first lady's reception, hosted by Sheila Johnson, were given a tour of the long-awaited resort in Middleburg. Artist renderings helped guests envision the warm
Sheila Johnson, above, hosted Gov. Bob McDonnell and First Lady Maureen McDonnell at her Salamander Resort & Spa, where they unveiled new road signs to be installed in the region. Below, the first lady with Corcoran Brewing's Kevin Bills and Jim Corcoran.
their award-winning tasting room and event facility. Their showcase of wines included their 2011 Viognier paired with lobster beurre blanc with roasted cherry tomatoes and crisp shallots; the 2011 Sunset White paired with braised pork carnitas and citrus mashed yucca; and 2009 Cabernet Franc paired with grilled veal and pork terrine, grilled leek, roasted shiitake caps and a wild mushroom reduction. Fusions Cuisine catered the event, providing international small bites that complemented the wines. The next stop took place at Corcoran Vineyards in Waterford, where winemaker Lori Corcoran greeted the group with a tasting of her apple wine, prompting the first lady to exclaim, “It's better than my grandmother's!” The wines that followed, including Corcoran's Rose, Cabernet Franc and Chambourcin, were accompanied by Monk's BBQ brisket, pulled pork and chicken, mac and cheese, and beans. Monk's owner Brian Jenkins won diners over not only with the meal, but with his accompanying sauces, such as the Raspberry Chipotle Merlot, that incorporate Corcoran wines. Jenkins, whose day job is director of business strategy and research at Visit Loudoun, has cultivated a following at Corcoran where he smokes and barbecues meat on the weekends. With time to spare before the next stop, Jim Corcoran took the opportunity to open his brewery and introduce the first lady to brewmaster Kevin Bills' libations using hops grown on the property. Among the offerings on tap that day was the Round Hill Root Ale, a grown-up version of root beer
that incorporates alcohol. Maureen McDonnell's final stop on the tour also was in Waterford, where 8 Chains North winemaker Ben Renshaw prevailed upon his sister, Mom's Apple Pie owner Avis Renshaw, to create the sweet and savory treats he paired his wines with. Guests made quick work of the fresh asparagus quiche while sampling his 2011 Sauvignon
Blanc and a blackberry tart paired with his 2009 Merlot, made entirely with grapes from their Furnace Mountain Vineyards. Butter crust lemon bars accompanied the 2010 LoCo Vino, a blend of Traminette and Vidal Blanc cold-fermented in stainless steel tanks, while a dark chocolate brownie complemented the 2009 Furnace Mountain Red, an unrefined and unfiltered blend of all five Bordeaux reds. In thanking the wineries for the efforts, Maureen McDonnell noted that she has joined their ranks in overseeing the planting of 10 Chambourcin grapevines in the garden of the Executive Mansion. The grapes from the micro vineyard will be used to create a wine in celebration of the mansion’s 200year anniversary in 2013, she said.
and elegant interior, which will feature sumptuous finishes and details. The resort is scheduled to open in 2013.
Photos by Therese P. Howe/Loudoun Business