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52 reviews for Tarara Winery
52 reviews in English
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Review from Sarah A.
10/23/2011
I went wine tasting with friends recently and I have to say that Tarara had the best wines out of the three. Well, actually I should say two since one place never even served us wine (but that's another story).
We did the premiere tasting which was nice and I highly recommend. It was a Saturday and looked crowded downstairs so it was nice to be away from all that. We got to taste 3 whites and 4 reds (or close to that). We also got cheese, crackers, and hummus. The pours were also very generous compared to the other wineries. It was fun to learn a bit more about the winery and wines than you would in a normal tasting. They had one wine that wasn't for sale yet, but we could buy it since we did the premiere tasting. The tasting was done in the owner's dining room which is really cool and beautiful! We also saw someone getting married on our way out. They have tables outside and you can eat lunch, enjoy more wine etc. It was fun to sit outside on a nice day. The wines offered ranged from $15-$40 which was nice. They offer concerts during the summer which would probably be really fun on a nice night. -
Review from Ntochi K.
Germantown, MD
11/14/2011
My visit to Tarara was rather disappointing.
After viewing their website, I was ready to be impressed: they a larger, older winery, advertise summer concerts, and offer a premier tasting in a private room. Driving there you see the vines, orchards, and on a fall day vibrant colors. But, to enter the tasting room you have to park by what looks like the back of a restaurant, walk up numerous steep steps, and then go throw what feels like a basement tunnel.
Tastings are $10 (on the high end for the area) and wines $20 on average (one was $40). The wines we tasted were just ok but definitely not worth the cost. I walked away with 1 bottle (2009 Charval). There was a $40 bottles I liked but felt it was over priced and our server's manors encouraged me to not spend much there.
Our server was absolutely horrible. He never really greeted us and just said "how many tastings?". He was generally unpleasant, curt, and had to be prompted for information about the vineyard and wines--definitely killed the wine tasting experience. There's a perfect word to describe his demeanor but I can't do that here! The place was not at all crowded but he was also serving 2 other groups. The other server seemed bubbly, chatty, and friendly, so our party of four had serious server envy!
The vineyard is close to our home so there is an added disappointmen because we won't be going back. -
Review from Ji Y.
10/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
I LOVE wine and really love my California and Oregon wine but this has been my first experience trying out Virginia wine. Last year, one of my family members had mentioned she loved this wine and since the holidays were coming up, I thought i check this place out to stack up on some good wines for the upcoming family holiday gatherings.
The estate is beautiful, especially during the fall. I was able to hang out by the lake there and took wonderful pictures of my son with the beautiful changing leaves in the background. I went on a Tuesday afternoon so the crowd was minimal. The featured tasting is $10. They give six small samples of their featured wines. I didn't care for the white wines they offered. The cabarnet frac is fairly descent but the 2007 long bomb wine was good. Was not a big fan of the 2009 limited long bomb wine but ended up getting that too since they give a 10% discount if you buy three. The wines are about $20 and up, which I think it's kind of expensive for the wine you get.
It's no California Wine country experience but at least I can say I tried it once. At least I got to enjoy the scenery at the winery. -
Review from Jon M.
Updated - 12/31/2011
Based on the polite and sincere response to my review from Tarara, I am willing to give them another try. Once I do, I'll give a new review and score.
Listed in: The poop list
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/12/2011
Disappointing.
We went here over the fall hoping to enjoy a nice afternoon, but exceptionally poor… Read more »
Comment from Jordan H. of Tarara Winery 12/15/2011
Hello Jon M. My sincere apologies for your experience at… More » -
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Review from Chris D.
8/22/2011
I've been to Tarara four or five times, so it surprises me I haven't written a review before now. Actually, my most recent visit for a wedding and related rehearsal was probably my first visit since I started Yelping, so maybe it makes sense. I think if you read between the lines, you can surmise my feelings about the place - it's somewhere you go for special occasions.
My experiences have run the gamut, so I'll try and be succinct.
Wedding at Meadow Pavilion | 5 stars
-fantastic location
-fantastic staff
Chillin at One of Various Festivals | 4 stars
-good way to sample wine
-great way to hang out with friends
Picking Apples or Blackberries | 4 stars
-good way to show your sensitive side to a lady friend
-quality locally grown product
Tasting Room | 3 stars
-seems like someone's basement (pretty sure it is)
-the staff are knowledgeable with generous pours
Tour of Wine Cave | 2 stars
-basically just a room with some steel barrels
-large open bay door means tons of stingy things flying about
Taking all that into consideration, I end up somewhere between 3 and 4 stars. There is one thing, one ginormous thing, I haven't mentioned... the wine. I'm personally not a fan. Young wines, while not their only offering, are more prevalent than I'd like to see and their steel aging does not agree with my taste buds. I have sampled many of their varieties over the years and have yet to find something I'd seek out beyond the winery's fences. The one I considered buying recently was $40/bottle, but I didn't believe it to be worth that. Other Virginia wineries are making very good bottles for $20 (Gadino) and outstanding for $50 (Breaux), so I don't think Tarara can compete. It's because of this I'm rounding my overall rating down to 3 stars.
If you are looking to escape the Beltway, will drink anything with "the gals" or all your care about is the three most important rules of real estate when planning a special event, please ignore this rating and enjoy yourself.Listed in: Are you LoCo?, Grape Juice for Adults
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Review from Stacey S.
Richmond, VA
6/11/2011
I recently had the opportunity to attend one of Tarara's Premier Tasting Experiences and it was one of the best tastings I've had in Virginia. I love what winemaker Jordan Harris is doing with the wines here. I enjoyed every wine we tasted - even the chardonnay, which I'm not typically a fan of. The wines were all very well balanced - the acid, the mouth feel, the aromas. There was one wine which Jordan shared with our group that he referred to as a "mistake wine." It was super tannic - a little too so for me, but I loved that he put it out there and shared how that wine came to be the way it is. This was followed by tasting the subsequent vintage which was much smoother. I just love that he shared that as it was also educational for our group.
This special tasting experience is more expensive than the normal tasting room experience - I believe almost $30/person - but it was well worth it. The tasting takes place in a private dining room in the main house which has a great atmosphere and the benefit of a more intimate tasting with one of their "senior tasting specialists". The wines are served in varietal specific Riedel stemware - the glass alone makes a huge difference in the tasting. Plus, the tasting was paired with a very nice plate of locally sourced meats, cheeses, and bread. The name says it all - this is truly a premier tasting experience. -
Review from Jenn M.
Washington, DC
9/12/2011
My husband and I visited Tarara for my birthday last year and had an amazing afternoon drinking wine on their shaded balcony that overlooks a beautiful valley. The grounds are really exceptional and the tasting room offers a lovely selection of breads, cheeses, and meats that you can purchase a retail cost with a reasonable bottle of wine to take out onto their grounds to enjoy. Five stars for sure!
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Review from Elizabeth S.
Arlington, VA
5/9/2011
I really enjoyed this winery, but it is a more "commercial" experience than you get at some of the smaller wineries in the area. It was very crowded when we arrived and, although we got to try about 6 wines, we had to wait a long time in-between pours. That said, the wine here was also an incredibly pleasant surprise, and their reds are really excellent, particularly their red blends.
It looks like they have fun events in the summer. I would definitely recommend adding this winery to a tour of Leesburg wineries, and I would definitely come back, but I was glad that I included some smaller wineries on my tour, such as nearby Fabbioli Cellars. -
Review from Akera R.
Alexandria, VA
10/26/2011
For a wedding, I would give Tarara a solid three stars. There were several things that were not communicated to me, for example, fact that they will have a concert DURING my wedding. Another star is taken off because there isn't much by way of a plan "B" if it rains the day before.
Other than that, the grounds are beautiful and the wine is good! -
Review from Bill G.
Purcellville, VA
4/8/2011
Went out on a recent wintery day and was looking for a nice cozy place to warm up with my honey and a glass of good wine. But despite the impressive grounds and outside of the building, I found the tasting room to be in serious need of a makeover. It felt cafeteria-like and cold -- and despite the assurance over the phone that "we have a fireplace," there was no fire roaring when we got there. The overall feel of the Tarara tasting room, to me, was circa 1985. I just didn't "get it."
As much as these Loudoun wineries want to impress customers with the wine itself, they need to get some help on ambiance.Comment from Jordan H. of Tarara Winery 4/23/2011
Hello Bill G. Thanks for commenting about your visit here… More » -
Review from Megan M.
Richmond, VA
9/30/2010 2 photos
On a recent trip to Loudoun County, I'm sad to say my visit to Tarara was the low point of my day. We chose to do the regular tasting, not the premiere, since we were trying to visit several wineries in one day.
As we walked up to the winery, it looked promising. Big barrels, a pretty patio, lots of people hanging out. The tasting room was a real letdown, though. First, you walk into a kind of dark, basement like space and pay for your tasting. Then you are corralled over to one of two understaffed tasting bars. The staff members are trying to serve a ton of people at once, so you have to wait a loooong time between pours, and what pours you do get are done quickly with a short memorized speech that's quickly recited before they rush off to pour wine for someone else. On our visit, we happened to be a couple groups down from someone who was launching some sort of VA wine iphone app, so we got extra bad service while the pourer doted on this other person and passed our their business cards for them.
I'm not going to comment too much on the actual wines, as I feel like I had kind of a sour taste in my mouth and probably didn't give them a fair shake. My friend bought a bottle of Charval. I was considering buying a bottle of Long Bomb, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it after the bad service I received. None of the wines blew me away, that's for sure.
I really wanted to like Tarara as I met the winemaker at the Virginia Wine Expo and he seemed like a cool guy, but it just wasn't there. I've been told not to pass a final judgment until I try the premiere tasting, which is apparently a better experience, but I was so soured on this visit that it will be hard to convince myself to go back.Listed in: Virginia Wine
Comment from Jordan H. of Tarara Winery 12/14/2010
Hello Megan: Sorry it took me so long to catch this… More » -
Review from MacRae O.
Updated - 9/7/2010 10 photos
OK, Tarara. You are lovely to look at and your vino a pleasure to behold. But since friends of ours had such a sad experience trying to plan their wedding ceremony here, I couldn't give you the credit I wanted to give you.
However. Because your gracious manager, Jeremy, was swift to respond with many apologies to my review saying our same-sex friends had felt discriminated against when meeting with the wedding coordinator; because Jeremy also sent a PM and assures me it is not company policy to discriminate nor the way your winery wishes to present itself; because he swears he's appalled and generously offered to rectify the situation with our friends (disclaimer: no goods or services were exchanged for this more favorable review, mmmkay, Yelp HQ?) -- I award you the star I withheld earlier.
Oh, and also because last night husband and I broke out the bottle of Charval we bought there, and it was even better than I remembered from the tasting.Listed in: Beyond the Beltway, Wino Forever, Virginia Is for Lov-ahs
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/5/2010
Tarara is a beautifully situated 475 acres overlooking the Potomac in Loudoun County. The winery… Read more »
Comment from Jordan H. of Tarara Winery 9/5/2010
Hello MacRae O. Thank you very much for you kind words… More » -
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Review from Phoebe H.
Purcellville, VA
9/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
Good experience. The wines are are not what they used to be but we had a great time talking to the host. Check in on foursquare and get a free tasting!
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Review from Chris B.
Ashburn, VA
10/6/2010
This is probably one of the better wineries I have been to in the Leesburg area that wasn't operated out of some redneck's basement. I've been to Tarara on several occasions for tasting, but it also holds all sorts of events like weddings, music, etc. I've heard music coming from here before, but rest assured, it wasn't a banjo.
The land on which Tarara is located is beautiful (obviously why people have weddings there), and the building itself is pretty unique. I guess the most important thing I should be reviewing is the wine. This is difficult to do, as it really depends on when you go and what you like. For example, I prefer whites to reds, and sometimes the reds are more prominent than the whites and vice versa. Either way, it makes for a good time.
I think the next time I go, I'd like to check out the barrel tasting/tour, which is done in their cave. Oh yes, not only do they have their own cave, they make wine from it.Comment from Jordan H. of Tarara Winery 4/23/2011
Hello Chris B. Thanks for the comments. i just wanted to… More » -
Review from Lemon C.
Washington, DC
8/15/2010
I went there for a summer concert and was impressed by the large grounds. However I was disappointed that there was no wine tastings in the concert area. Isn't that why you come to a winery? So our group bought every flavor of wine to do our own tasting. They all tasted bland, no one was impressed.
Suggestions for owners:
The parking lot has a line of bushes and a black watering hose that runs along them. My friend didn't see it and tripped and fell right on her face. You might want to remove that for your evening events.
Porta potties can not be used in the dark unless you enjoy getting filth on you. There are cheap battery operated small lights that could be taped inside of them.Comment from Jordan H. of Tarara Winery 12/14/2010
Hello Lemon C.: Thanks for the comments. We are always… More » -
Review from Antonio M.
Arlington, VA
6/6/2010
Wow wow wow!
Pulling off of route 15 I wasn't expecting much out of a winery/vineyard that was still pretty close to the shopping madness that is Leesburg Outlet. As our mini van passed through the entrance of Tara Winery, all doubts were immediately erased.
The long gravel path that leads you from the roadway entrance to the wine tasting parking is a long and beautiful drive. I felt like I was home among the trees, the gorgeous lake all surrounded by beautiful green foliage. My emotions were mixed as I felt jealously for not owning such an amazing piece of property, joy for being in a place that appealed to my nature loving side and uncertainty as the sky looked like it was about to open up and rain down on our wine tasting excursion.
We parked the mini van in a gravel lot and headed up a path to the main wine tasting area. Before we reached the entrance, there were a series of wooden stairs that forced us to carry our two monkeys (strollers and all) up a few flights.
Finally reaching the entrance I marveled at the design of the building as it appears to have been built into the side of a hill. The outside of the wine tasting entrance had a large deck where patrons seated at tables overlooked a tall drop who's high elevation was masked by thick green trees. Just a beautifully amazing sight that said, "Nature is the setting while people and their building are just visiting."
We walked inside the door, down the hallway and were met by a cashier who greeted us with a big smile and showed us a listings of the wines that we would enjoy as part of the wine tasting. The wine tasting was only $10 which wasn't too bad for the price.
Once we started tasting the wine, we were happily surprised and gleeful at paying only $10 for the wine tasting. The wine was delicious and to date was THE best VA wine I have ever tasted. After enjoying some whites and reds we settled on buying a bottle of Charval white which was chilled and perfect for such a hot summer day.
Chilled wine in hand, kids in tow and a picnic basket slug on one of the kids' strollers we headed over to the man made beach on the Tarara property. The boys eagerly giggle in anticipation as they saw the small artificial sand beach at the edge of one of the lake's edges. The boys jumped out of their strollers and began frolicking in the water as the wife and I began sipping cold glasses of Charval wine.
The boys enjoyed themselves and we too had fun snacking on Manchego cheese and crackers as we continued to sip our tasty wine. Thankfully the rain stayed away and the cloudy skies passed by giving way to a hot intense sun. What an amazing view we had here on the Tarara property; a gorgeous lake in the middle of a green sanctuary with small fishes swimming around our boys' little toes.
This was the life and a perfect way to start off a weekend after such a Hellacious week of crappy contractors and a super-busy week. With each sip of wine and nibble of cheese the stress of the past week just fell away...washing off of us like the sand off of our boys' feet as the splashed in the water of Tarara's lake.
I fell in love with Tarara that day and knew that this would not be our only visit. The wife and I talked about coming back soon and knew we had to bring our other friends and my parents to this gorgeous place...and to taste their amazing wine.Listed in: Places guaranteed to get you…
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Review from Jon M.
Burlington, VT
7/30/2010
WARNING: BIAS ALERT
I got married at Tarara recently and from start to finish it was a first-rate venue. If you are in the market for gettin hitched, and want to do it outdoors at a great venue, call up Tarara and ask for Kerri Ford. She is phenomenal (if I could underline things on yelp, I would just now) -- repeat phenomenal. Kerri and the winery never said no to us one single time in the months leading up to the wedding, and we had a very hands-on customized event.
The countryside surrounding Tarara is very scenic, and it's a nice place to get away from the DC madness for an afternoon and try out some of their wine on the tasting deck. Sweet views of the Potomac and MD across the way. -
Review from Zoe T.
Arlington, VA
7/18/2010
This is a fantastic place to go out on a nice day, get a couple of wines and enjoy their patio area.
We went here to celebrate some friends of ours getting engaged. We called ahead to see if there was anything they could do for us to make them feel special as we arrived or that we could have set ahead of time before we got there. When we arrived they had 2 bottles of their most popular summer wines ready on the patio for us and a table setup overlooking the beautiful grounds. They congratulated the couple as sat down and went over and above helping us make the day special for them.
The long bomb was our favorite wine here. It's a big red that surprised us that it came from a Virginia winery.
Gorgeous grounds, great staff, very friendly, and they took care of us. Would definitely recommend for a nice day for the beautiful patio area and the location just outside of the mountains.Listed in: Good for Groups
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Review from Takaki K.
Arlington, VA
5/1/2007
Wow. Definitely the best reds I've had from Virginia wineries. If you like strong, dry Bordeaux-type red, try their reserve tasting ($10 for 5 generous pours). Their 2004 reserve Cab Sauvignon is excellent. They also have 'featured' tasting ($5 for 10) which is still pretty good. Their wines are not those Virginia wines that taste like honey (not that I don't like those either). Staff is friendly and knowledgeable.
Their large and beautiful property has 5 mile hiking trails, some of which go along Potomac. They also have festivals featuring local Jazz bands. I think next time I should bring picnic lunch and spend an afternoon there.Listed in: NOVA Wineries
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Review from Emily R.
Rockville, MD
9/6/2008 7 photos
I forget that farmland is not too far off from DC. Wineries do exist in our area!
I attended Tarara's Blackberry Days Wine Festival in early August. Yes, it was a bit of a drive but it was worth it. $15 included admission and wine tasting. For $5 more, you can try the reserve tasting as well.
Many vendors were selling food, crafts, and other products. I grabbed a chicken kabob with rice. We also came home with some yummy cheese spread from a stand selling Country Pride Cheese House.
Now for the tastings... it was incredibly busy for the festival so they had a large tent set up where tastings occurred. We squished in to claim a spot for the regular tasting. I found them all pretty mediocre. We gave our taste buds a little break and then came back for the reserve tastings. I highly recommend paying the extra $5 to try these. We came away with the Viognier, a delicious white wine I had never tried before.
The scenery is just lovely (see pics). Wish we had put some chairs or a blanket in the car, but we found shady spots to sit. Many people chose to buy a bottle of wine and walk around enjoying it on the property. The blackberries were abundant and I couldn't help but sneak a few before going home to washing them. -
Review from Andrew S.
One of my favorite wineries in VA. Both their reds and whites are very good, so good I decided to join their wine club.
If you're visiting, their tastings are only $5, but I would recommend spending the few extra dollars for the select wines. Their patio is great for picnics on a nice day, and the scenery is gorgeous.Listed in: Bars, Pubs, and the Like
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Review from Eileen O.
Alexandria, VA
9/2/2007
This winery seems to be a lot more commercial than many of the others in Loudoun County. I feel like the hype far exceeds the quality and taste of the wines.
I've never really had a great visit to the tastin groom. It feels like you're being herded through so that they can get the next group in. Sometimes when I'm there, there is scheduled tasting and other times, they say to just go find an open spot.
When they do have the scheduled tasting, they do the last one 1/2 hour before close. On one visit, I was with my family, and we had 2 guides - one said the tasting room was open until 5pm, and another said they were open until 6pm. We were told that the last tasting had started at 4:30, and that we couldn't taste.
I like to support the local wine industry, and I visit Tarara every year so that I can complete my Loudoun Wine Trail, but other than that, I don't visit. -
Review from Keri M.
Alexandria, VA
9/10/2008
Not my type of wine. All -even the whites- have an intense tannins flavor, Bordeaux-like, as Takaki said.
Aside from having to wait in their cave (where the wines are stored) for several minutes while they prepared for us, our group got great service during our tasting. Our server was a short, older gentleman who described the foods he cooks that work best with each wine. His foods sounded so good, we wanted to have dinner at his house. He also gave people a second serving if they requested. However, one of the tasters for our group wasn't as friendly and refused to give a second serving upon request.
Scenery here is ok - has lots of overgrown vegetation and a pond. It's hard to come after Hillsborough Vineyards. Our group got to hang out on the deck at Tarara, enjoying wine, cheese and crackers. Tarara accomodates a good time. -
Review from J C.
New York, NY
2/1/2009
Very tasty reds here, my favorite being the 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon. It is only $20/bottle and tastes of bitter dark chocolate and smoke. My friend preferred the Long Bomb, a Bordeaux blend, and the other star is the Meritage, though I found it overpriced. The smaller production Syrah wasn't available to taste and is only available by the case, which is a shame since it is delicious and made in a Northern Rhone style. At the tasting I would avoid the whites, which seemed comparatively limp and watery.
One of my favorite wineries in Virginia, though the one sore point is the tasting room, which is windowless and cramped. As long as you are there primarily for the wine, however, it's definitely worth a visit. -
Review from Gene W.
Washington, DC
7/6/2009
I agree with David R on the tasting experience. It was like an "assembly line." The service was average at best and the wines a little overrated. However, you could taste a couple of the same wines if you were on the fence as to purchasing them. The Rose and the Wild River were the favorites of the several my girl tasted. There were a few wines that were $20.00 and under. Most of the wines were very expensive. The scenery and the cellar are quite impressive though.
Shadow, the black lab has health issues and is no longer roaming the grounds. He is upstairs resting. He even has his own postcard (75 cents) in the gift shop. He's a good dog! :) -
Review from Scott S.
Arlington, VA
4/23/2009
Nice looking place, nice atmosphere, nice staff. Sub par wine. Not much flavor, although the tasting had a lot of options. I was waiting to be wowed, and it just never happened.
Consider this the Barboursville of Loudoun County. Except that Barboursville has a few good wines that justify a touch of the hype. Its like the McDonalds of VA wine, very commercial, warm place, but no substance to speak of. -
Review from John S.
Mount Airy, MD
8/1/2007
The wines here are good. What I have a problem with here is the scheduled tastings. The tasting room can get really crowded.
What I really like here is the hiking trails down to the Potomac, nice picnic area and pond. -
Review from Rob N.
8/14/2010
A nice enough winery that is very geared to events - concerts, weddings, etc. I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by the wines, especially the reds, since they showed good extraction and balance. Seeing that the winery seemed like a very commercial venue, they were pleasantly competent.
The Chardonnay would possibly have been a hit had it seen less oak - good fruit and acidity but too much new wood in the profile that overwhelmed with vanilla-spice (I'd give it an 83-84). The rose was the low point, with little aroma, awkwardness, and prominent alcohol that wasn't balanced with fruit, an 80-81 point wine. A white blend of Chard, Sauv Blanc, Viognier, and Pinot Gris was also aromatically challenged but was crisp with good acidity and floral/citrus notes that would have done well as a decent fish wine (84-85).
The reds were a surprise, as a lot of mid-Atlantic red wine is thin and bloodless. Here, they actually get good color and flavor extraction, though that color may come at the expense of a tannic attack some might find off-putting. The merlot was a pleasant medium red with American-oak spiciness, good backbone, and solid red fruit, 85-86 points. The Cabernet Francs (two were offered, a 2007 and 2006) were also decent - the 2007 offering more fruit, and the 2006 a more classic Cab Franc tomato-green pepper vegetable profile, both with restrained tannin, the 2006 with the mellower oak profile (solid 86). The Long Bomb blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot was a big Barossa-Valley-ish fruity wine, but finished amazingly tannic - mouth-dryingly so. Without the tannin attack at the end, this would have been a solid 87-point wine. Maybe age will mellow it, but it might also blunt the fruit that is its appeal.
Tastings are $10, which is a bit steep, and the wines are priced generally $20-30 a bottle, which is pushing it for wine in the mid-80-point range. We didn't buy anything there, but it was an interesting tasting that came off better than anticipated. -
Review from MARY T.
Falls Church, VA
5/17/2010
I wish I could rate the grounds seperately from the wines. The grounds are huge and open, and you could spend lots of time walking around here.
The wines are...ok. Just that. We've toured many of the Loudon wineries and know what to expect of Virginia wine. That said, we didn't buy any bottles while we were here.
The tastings were outside this weekend and went for $10/pp. The pours were heavy handed, I'll give them that, but we only tasted 6 wines. I guess they've got to pay for the grounds somehow! -
Review from Peter M.
Alexandria, VA
10/14/2008
Awesome wines, and they offer a great tasting room. This is a local winery that can well stand with Napa's finest wines. I highly recommend their wine club, as well as a cool day to visit their winery.
Bottom line: Worth the time, and mighty fine wine! -
Review from Amanda B.
Falls Church, VA
12/17/2008
Beautiful property! Lovely wines. Decently priced.
My only complaint was that we were herded through the tasting and I felt rushed to taste a few of the wines more quickly than I would have liked. Excellent pourers who make good recommendations about pairing certain wines with certain foods.Listed in: VA Wineries
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Review from Patrick C.
7/26/2010
Went to a wedding there and they did it up right! The spaces were nice, and it looked like they managed the set up well. Our friend's did all their own place settings and decorations so can't comment on all that stuff. The port-a-johns were really nice! They're worth an extra star. I thought the wine was a-ok.
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Review from Joanna S.
San Francisco, CA
9/16/2007
I know nothing about the winery building. We went to a music festival here that was sponsored by Tarara Winery, so of course there was a tasting. There was a flight of five wines, and I think they had them in a very odd order. The wine was ok. Nothing near that quality of CA wines, but not awful either.
We sat on blankets on the grass by the lake and listened to a very old cover band that was playing the songs of the 90s (my generation). Very nostalgic. Great friends, good food, and a beautiful atmosphere made this a really fun evening. -
Review from Paul F.
Washington, DC
7/14/2008
Went there for a wedding a few weeks ago. The lake there is very beautiful. The drive into the winery is incredible.
They had the Tarara wine at the wedding and I really enjoyed it. I had a few glasses of the Cabernet Sauvignon. I'm not a wine expert, and have never claimed to be, but I do know when something tastes good. It tasted good.
I'm not sure if they allow it, but this would be a great place to take a date for a picnic. -
Review from Doug W.
Alexandria, VA
4/23/2009
I've never visited a winery I didn't like... until now.
Almost every wine we tasted was very bland and the service was terrible. At times we waited 8 minutes or more between our samples.
I was impressed with the property when we pulled in but the tasting room is in a basement (they say cave but it's a basement). There was mold along the bottom of the wall that our tasting area was facing. I'm not talking about a couple of specks... it was all along the baseboard. I felt like I was in the basement of a friend's house who hadn't taken care to dehumidify the place.
The one positive note was the Long Bomb wine. I did buy one bottle of this but I won't be going back again. Sorry Tarara. -
Review from Galilaina L.
Chantilly, VA
8/21/2010
We ventured out to Tarara after a friend invited us to a summer concert event they held. We enjoyed the atmosphere, the wine, the music and the setting/grounds the concert took place in. Most of all we enjoyed the family friendly environment. For parents especially if you have young ones (ours is 14mo) it is always refreshing to be able to go out and not have to constantly worry about who around you may be bothered by your child's presence.
Thumbs up to Tarara and we will definitely be going back. -
Review from JuJu S.
Washington, DC
6/21/2009
I haven't been to many VA wineries but have gone to many other wine regions in the USA and abroad. I found this winery to be lovely. The setting is gorgeous, and I thought the $10.50 tasting was very generous. I believe you get nine tastes (2 whites, 1 rose and 6 reds), but our wine "pourer" added in two reserves. He was also very nice and knowledgeable but not a wine snob. You can bring a picnic here and sit on the beautiful patio, as well as take a cave tour. They also sell a small selection of food goods to make your own picnic.
I don't know if this is the "best" winery in Virginia, but I had a very nice experience here. -
Review from Frank O.
Woodbridge, VA
1/18/2010
The vineyard has a nice patio area where you can relax and enjoy a nice lunch. The inside is nice as well, but it was quite busy during our visit. I liked the jams they had on sale as well...that was a nice added touch.
The wines were average. The Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Cab Sav Reserve and Meritage were stand out wines that grabbed me a little more, but overall, the quality of the wines was fairly average. They weren't bad, just not incredible.Comment from Jordan H. of Tarara Winery 2/2/2010
Hey Frank; Thanks for your feedback. Our winemaker… More » -
Review from Sarah C.
Rockville, MD
7/8/2009 4 Check-ins Here
If you are coming to Tarara for the first time, I definitely recommend signing up for a premier tasting (which only happen on Sundays). Those who found their regular tasting to be a little too much like a 1920 Ford assembly line may appreciate the care and attention that they will receive. According to their website, the premier tasting is an "intimate, hour-long tastings of seven premium Tarara wines, including limited quantity and pre-release selections, in our board room overlooking orchards and Shadow Lake [. . .] Walk-ins welcome on a first come, first served basis. $20 per person". Steve was our guide and I found him to be quite knowledgeable about Tarara's wines and oenology in general.
I have also participated in a regular tasting--on a Saturday afternoon at the end of June--and found it to be pretty chill. M and I snagged a spot on the porch and were later joined by some friends. One of the of the staff actually came to our tables and gave us a semi-private tasting! It was a real treat.
While the wines in VA may still not be up to snuff with other wine-growing regions in the United States, I have found Tarara's wines to be consistently quite good. If you like Tarara's wines, sign up for their wine club...it's really a no-brainer. It's $240 per year and you can be charged quarterly ($60). We get three bottles of wine quarterly. Our last package included the D9, Rose, and Charval; the D9 alone is $50. So, it's a pretty good deal. Plus, you get 2 free tastings each time you visit the winery...not to mention discounts, 2 free passes to their summer concert series, and invitations to special events.
My favorite wines include:
Reds: D9, Long Bomb, and the 2006 Cab Franc Reserve
Whites: 2007 Viogner
And, as virtually everyone before me has mentioned, the property is absolutely lovely.Comment from Jordan H. of Tarara Winery 10/23/2009
Thanks Sarah for your feedback! So glad you enjoyed your… More » -
Review from Warren A.
Philadelphia, PA
10/8/2007
I like wine, but I'm no connoisseur. I visited Tarara this Summer for their Great Grape Wine Festival. I had a good time with my little company, though I did not get to fully enjoy the venue. It's a nice place to go with a special someone and wander the vineyards and around the lake. I brought home 3 of their reserve wines: 2 juicy reds and a chardonnay that were all thoroughly enjoyed.
