Was doing - you guessed it - a Bike Virginia and one of the rest stops was a fairly new Chateau Morrisette. Just to make it really bizarre a couple had their wedding there and the honeymoon was the bike trip, she comically wore a (trailing?) veil while riding her bike.

Well, they had a couple of black labbies there one of which was "the Black Dog." I probably patted it on the head or gave it a scratch. Went back there after the bike ride was over and had dinner, sitting at one of the other tables was the wedded couple. The food was really terrific with these buns that had a crust that was thin as an egg shell: things that you remember. Learned later and the guy opened a restaurant somewhere, get conflicting answers Roanoke? or somewhere in NC? But I digress

Saw them a few times at wine festivals bought a bottle or two and also was on their mailing list which was more of a blog of how things were going at the winery, new wines etc. Finally got the one that mentioned that the Black Dog has passed away but he said he still feels it lying in the sun by the door. (I wish I had the exact quote, very touching and you could believe he very viscerally felt that)

Anyway, I wouldn't be surprised if CH has been bought and sold a couple times and the Black Dog is just a trademark now, but there really was the Black Dog. Maybe they still remember us, a black dog riding a bicycle on the wine bottle label.

PS Floydfest is close by there, I believe they use some of the CM property for parking and of course their wines have been served there.








[Post edited by `lag at 10/26/2020 7:52PM]