In BURKA'S Wine Notes ( August 1988 - " Maryland Soil, Davis Trained, Vin Gris Called Blush ) & WineFest Summer 1985 " Sekts& Violins Issue " I Reconnect With Rob DeFord & His BOORDY Winery, With Chris Smith, Too

I used to be the wine-buyer at Burka's Fine Wines with Randy Wayne Danneman back in 1988. I wrote a store newsletter that we mailed out to our customers. I will quote here from that as well as the First " Introductory Price : normally $3.50, this one's on us WineFest issue of Summer 1985, Editor and President Christopher C. Smith of Golden Crescent Vintures, Inc. P.O. Box 42514 Washington D.C. 20015. Both Chris and I wrote about Rob DeFord's wines of the BOORDY Vineyards in Hydes. Maryland. Hope you enjoy going back with me on this rediscovery of so many years ago when things were just starting, and where there was some excellent wine to talk about, taste and to sell and enjoy with meals, family and friends. Cheers! ... ... ... ( Andrew Stover took this photo here at my home recently in early March, 2013 when I invited Jim Stutsman, Andrew Stover and Katarina Zubber to come over and taste some wines with me. Jim brought this BOORDY Chardonnay that he bought years ago from Rob DeFord , it was his last bottle from the case, and he was generous enough to share it with us. Thanks Jim, as you already know we all really liked it. Cheers , TONY ) ... ... ... ... It's great to support local wines : close to home, one's own backyard, community, neighborhood, county, people dependent on one another to keep body and soul and livelihood all healthy, bright, strong and thriving when possible?!? I like all of that, always have. That's why I have always followed and worked closely with Chris Smith and enjoyed helping him with his Golden Crescent wines that included wines from up and down the East Coast. What a brilliant and novel idea that was! WOW. Love it. ... ... Chris Smith starts on Page 11 by writing : ... ... U.S. Chardonnay ... ... To be honest, I've been put off and pretty bored with a majority of the California Chardonnays that I've had over the last 4-5 years. There have been a number of good ones, to be sure, but way too many 14+ alcohol, lots of grass and oak, very low acid ( flabby ), etc., ... ... So in the Summer 1985 Introductory Offer WineFest Chris Smith and his team of equally dedicated and professional personnel wrote about local wines - U.S. Chardonnays : 1) ALLEGRO Vineyards 1983,York County, Pennsylvania Chardonnay, $10 , ... 2) CHADDSFORD Winery 1982 " Stargazer's Vineyard, Pa. , ... 3) HERMANN J. WIEMER 1981, Finger Lakes, N.Y., ... 4) Ingleside 1983, Virginia - " This wine has gotten national attention, and deservedly so ... ". , ... ... And then Chris Smith wrote about other grape varietals/hybrids that are local ... ... 1) Vin Gris 1983 Maryland, from BOORDY Vineyards, Price : $4.79 : OVERALL : " Typical " blush " style now in vogue, well-made, fruity. A number of panelists noted they don't prefer this style of wine. For light sipping, aperitif, picnics, etc. Pleasant, not serious . " ... ... 2) Vidal Blanc, Semi-Dry 1983 Maryland, BOORDY Vineyards , Price : $4.79 - OVERALL : " Lively and forward, likeable and fruity, this variety and style expands the horizon for Chenin Blanc and regional German sippers. Best as aperitif, or with cheese, fruit, desserts." ... ... 3) Vidal Blanc, Semi-Dry 1984 Maryland, BOORDY Vineyards , Price : $4.79 OVERAL : " See what happens when you yank a wine out of its barrel/tank for sampling before it's ready? This will round out jes' fine, and might ultimately have a better texture than the '83. Well made. " ... ... I will continue this later but will post it now " as-is " to get the conversation started. Hope you have enjoyed this , and stay-tuned as I will finish it shortly. Cheers, Anthony ( TONY ) Quinn