Wednesday, June 28

Valentines Post Office

What's love got to do with it? You'll find out when we visit the internationally recognized Valentines, Virginia; home to the Valentines Post Office since 1887.

Criswell - Jakubowski Wedding

On Wednesday, June 28th at 8:30 AM on the front porch of the internationally recognized  Valentines' Post Office, Sandy Criswell and Steve Jakubowski will join in holy matrimony.

Be sure to witness and take part in this special occasion. Bird seed will be provided to those in attendance as the newlyweds ride off into the Virginia countryside.

Read Sandy and Steve's bio

Rosemont Vineyards

Rosemont has been in the Rose Family since 1853.  (The home place dates back to the mid-1700’s.) Over the generations, continuous farming operations have included vegetable farming (tomatoes, butter beans), a peach orchard, beef cattle, dairy farming and commodity crops (hay, tobacco, corn and soybeans).  Total acreage owned by family members is around 450 acres.   

In 2003 the journey continued with the initial planting of 16,000 grape vines.  Construction of a winery will begin in September, 2006 with wine sales projected to begin in the spring of 2008.

Vineyard Facts:

•21 acres of vineyard

•15 different varieties –Vinifera (European) grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah, Petit Verdot and Pinot Gris. -French/American Hybrids: Vidal Blanc, Chambourcin, Traminette, LaCrosse, Chardonel, Vignoles, Cayuga White –Native Grapes: Catawba, Norton, Delaware

•31,000 grape vines

•Trellis Facts –25 miles of trellis –4,500 posts –170 miles of wire –21 miles of drip irrigation

•Harvest amounts –2004 – 7 tons –2005 – 65 tons (1.7% of wine grapes grown in Virginia) –2006 projected – 90 tons

•In 2005, grapes were sold to eight wineries in Ohio, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina