Issue link: http://winesandvines.uberflip.com/i/62409
WineEast have preferred, and they have had some problems with late spring frosts. The first grapes at Barrel Oak Winery were planted in April 2007, and today the Roeders have 22 acres of vineyard with nine varieties in production including Traminette, Vidal Blanc, Seyval, Chambourcin, Chardonnay, Viognier, Petit Manseng, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Before the winery opened, Sharon Roeder worked at both Pearmund Cellars in Broad Run, Va., and The Winery at La Grange in Haymarket, Va., essentially interning for free in order to learn how to make wine. She also attends every Virginia Tech seminar and winemakers roundtable to hone her craft. Today she makes wine at Barrel Oak Winery with co-winemaker Rick Tagg, and their wines have won three best-in-show awards at state and national competitions. Gathering place Delaplane, Va., is a small town that doesn't have much going on during evenings or setback—as the seasons pass and the winery continues to grow. Most of the sharing occurs at the winery, but the Roeders recognize the potential power of an online presence. They use their website to reflect the welcoming nature of the winery experience and to feature the people- and dog-friendly aspects of Barrel Oak Winery. Every week Brian sends an email to A more than 10,000 friends of the winery fans in order to keep people involved with the activities going on with the Roeders and Barrel Oak. Occasionally, even their dogs participate in expressing their points of view about vineyard and winery life. Brian, who writes an occasional blog himself, recognizes the influence ccording to Brian Roeder, he and wife Sharon want to share their dream—and even the occasional Marketing Reaching out with social media Sharon and Brian Roeder use social media to attract visitors to the winery. that bloggers can have, and while the winery was still under construction, he invited a group of bloggers to come visit, taste the wines and walk through the unfinished winery. L.J.M. AS GOOD AS IT GETS. Natural Corks Champagne Corks Twinline Corks Bartops VISION® G-Cap® Wine Stopper Screw Cap Sales Representatives Chris & Liz Stamp info@lakewoodcork.com Lakewood Cork 4024 State Route 14 Watkins Glen, NY 14891 lakewoodcork.com 607-535-9252 607-535-6656 Fax 156 Wines & Vines JAnUARY 2012