I Thought it Would Be a Quick Stop at Hark

When presented with a chance to meet up with one of the insta-famous Virginia Wine posters, you gotta do it. And so it was that I met up with Kenny and his friend Sarah at Hark on a Saturday afternoon. It was cooler than it has been for a bit, and the breeze was blowing, so it was a lovely day to be outside as long as you were in the shade. I arrived and the Oeno Camp group was finishing a tasting with the winemaker, so I grabbed a glass of 2021 Rosé and took a seat under the tent where I could be shaded from the sun. It was not crowded (this time of year EVERYONE is on vacation and it was still a bit on the hot side, so it was not too people-y).

Little did I expect that once Kenny arrived, we would be joined by Kathy Wiedemann and winemaker AJ Greeley, toting a bunch of bottles that had been opened for the Oeno Camp tasting but not finished. The game was on! We went from 2021 Rosé to 2023 Rosé to 2022 Roussanne to 2023 Pinot Gris and so on and so forth. It was just an amazing afternoon. I have dreamy recollections mixed in of 2021 Cabernet Franc Reserve, 21 Petit Verdot and 21 Merlot too. It was a whirlwind tasting and was just so.much.fun.

It was SO amazing that I actually messed up getting home on time to grill burgers for hubby, but that’s for a different blog and venue.

Anyway, I’m super excited about what is happening at Hark right now. The 2022 Roussanne was just stunning. This is a wine I don’t see a lot of in Virginia, with Arterra being one of the primary producers I’ve loved and an occasional other producer that I stumble upon. Hark’s version, like Arterra’s, is unoaked and shows up as a refreshing and lovely wine. On this hot summer day in the shade, it was simply perfect, and it paired wonderfully with the Manchego cheese that Kenny brought. The flavor profile gives you some honeysuckle, and while some I’ve tried overwhelm you with it – it’s more subtle in this one. Roussanne is a grape that I think is like Albariño in Virginia, people are getting to it a little late. We need to discover and plant more of it, because Virginia can make some really great vintages from this grape. Albariño is taking off and becoming extremely popular in Virginia, and I think Roussanne would follow suit. Mark my words, you heard it here first, folks.

Likewise the 2023 Rosé is gorgeous. It’s bone dry and has gorgeous acid in it – the simple sharpness of this all Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé hits you right off the bat and brings a warm smile to your face on a hot day. I adored this from the first sip – and I think it’s their best Rosé yet.

If you haven’t been to Hark in a while, there is a ton of change underway – the biggest example of which is the new tasting room under construction and from the drive in, it’s gorgeous – I cannot wait until it finishes. I will 100% be back for the opening, and I really think it would be a great stop for an Out and About winery visit after it’s open. Planning mode engaged.

I’ve never had the chance to chat much with AJ, and she is really a great, fun person too. While she serves as President of the Virginia Vineyards Association and clearly knows her craft, she is also down to earth and talks about anything and everything from her time as a teacher (my people!) to her thoughts on the vineyard and climate change. She talked through some of the wines we were tasting with us and we talked at length about the different blocks in the vineyard and how they are doing. She even walked us through the blocks of Vidal Blanc and Pinot Gris, which is entering veraison right now. She’s a winemaker I’d 100% come back to do a longer interview with and get to a better understanding of her philosophy and approach. It’s clearly working well at Hark since there is a good bit of their wine in my basement right at this moment (the 2019 Merlot will go pretty quickly this fall, so swing by if you’re looking to share that).

I thought I’d only be there for a little bit but ended up there nearly three hours. Hark has such a comfortable and welcoming environment – friendly staff, great setting and good wine. I had an amazing time sipping and chatting with Kenny and his friend Sarah, Kathy and AJ. This was what the doctor ordered for this afternoon after a long week.

If you’re TL;DR’ing this post, here is the gist: Go to Hark. Buy Roussanne. Beg for the 2023 Rosé which has entered my personal Hot 100 at #1 with a bullet (does that reference date me? Do people even remember what that was?). These wines are sharp, fresh and perfect in the heat. Once their inventory gets low, you’ll be fighting me for some.

Don’t fight people for T-shirts though. Just buy one for you, and grab one for a friend for good measure. They’re all on sale here.