OUR VIEW: Wine on the mind of many this week

Staff Editorial
Published: October 3, 2008

» SUMMARY:  Leave it to the sweet, delicious nectar that is wine to bring Culpeper closer together with our Korean brothers; there’s reason to whine when our wine aficionado leaves his shop.

Ever since the Korean Embassy took a shine to Culpeper County after being alerted to our very own “Korea,” a bond has been forming between the county and the country. And that bond may be solidified by grapes.

That’s right, Virginia wine has the Koreans interested in exporting one of the hidden gems of the county — our amazing vino. William Won Hwang, chairman of the Korean-American Association and wine exporter, was so impressed with our wines after a tour of area wineries last week that he even called the Culpeper grapes “more unique” than Napa Valley wines. Take that, Arnold. We’ve got better wines than California.

This brotherhood could open up vast opportunities for our vineyards and wineries, and we hope that the Koreans are able to export and market Culpeper’s vintages.
Hopefully, people a world away will have an opportunity to sample our jewels of the Piedmont.

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MOVING ON:  Speaking of wine, there may be a few tears in our glass this week, if just because of the departure of a dear friend to downtown, Monroe Baisden. No, Monroe didn’t leave us permanently; he just left for a little more scenic view — if you can get more scenic than our majestic Blue Ridge. He’s packing up a few of his favorite bottles of wine and heading farther south.

Monroe left his shop, Chateau du Reaux, earlier this week and is headed down to Corolla, N.C.

Monroe was always a smiling face on East Davis Street, greeting friend and stranger alike with a hearty “hello.” He was always willing to talk wine, and educated many of the Culpeper townsfolk on which bottle of Pinot Grigio goes best with a chicken dish.

We’ll miss his passion for wine, but his shop will not close. Instead, it will be taken over by Kim Kelly, a former wine distributor who has worked with Monroe in the past. We’re sure she’ll continue his tradition of hospitality.