The city of Chesapeake, Virginia might not be the first place one thinks of when talking about wineries. Unlike the wine country of California, there are no gently rolling hills filled with the fruit that will one day be wine. Instead, there is Carafe Wine Makers, what the company calls a "micro-winery.''
Located, surprisingly, in a mini-mall, this fully licensed winery selects grapes from all over the world with which to make their 30 or so signature wines. They offer a weekly wine tasting as well as specialty services such as personalized labels and even the opportunity to create your own wine.
In addition to the regular weekly wine tasting, Carafe Wine Makers can also host your small private event. Customers can choose either a simple private wine tasting or a five course dinner complete with a selection of wines that will complement the meal perfectly.
From a wine education standpoint, it is of note that visitors are able to get a first hand look at all of the ingredients that go in to wine. Unlike those California wineries, the Chesapeake micro-winery makes wines with grapes blended from all over the world. This allows guests to purchase and create unique wines that are blended specifically for their tastes. One visitor noted that not only was the staff very knowledgeable, but that she was also able to get more wine for the money at Carafe Wine Makers.
The option of personalized labels are an obviously good choice for weddings or corporate gifts, but since the specially made wine can be purchased in small batches of just 30 bottles, it also could make great Christmas gifts or be great to have on hand for dinner parties at ones home.
A trip to this small winery can be of interest to both novice and experienced wine lovers. For the novice, it is a chance to learn the basics of wine including how wine is made, how it should be stored and what wines pair well with certain foods. For the more experienced wine connoisseur, it allows them to take their knowledge of wine and, using grapes from all over the world, create selections that suit their tastes perfectly.
Carafe Wine Makers has been covered by USA Today. The reporter, Michael Felberbaum, wrote, "But the micro-winery's retail storefront still gives wine-lovers a unique experience by allowing visitors to choose their own custom blend and complement it with their own label.''
Whether a visitor needs a special wine to serve at a wedding, a corporate gift or just a nice wine to serve with dinner, Carafe Wine Makers offers a wide selection of wines for all occasions.
