One of the hardest parts of my job is when people ask me to come drink wine in the middle of the day and then write about it.

Wine sampling.

I sat down with several of the ladies from the Virginia Arts Festival, the host of this year’s 6th Annual Vineyards by the Fountain, the Newport News Wine Festival. The festival, which will take place this Saturday, September 24, from 3-7pm, will feature wines from around the world, the option to buy a beer ticket (if your stomach or your tastebuds make you less inclined to spend the money on a wine tasting ticket), food and wine for purchase, and live music by Lewis McGehee and Matt Thomas.

I was welcomed at the Virginia Arts Festival building by Kelly, Cynthia, and Mary Ellen. We lined up our plastic cups and poured tasting amounts of each, starting with the lighter whites and working our way through to the heavier reds. As we sniffed each wine, Mary Ellen read the descriptions to us, giving us hints of the notes we should search for in our sipping. Most of the wines we tried were delicious, so here are the findings of my little wine tasting:

LaDoucette Sauvignon Bland 08 (France): This sav blanc is tart, with an intense grapefruit flavor that leaves an acidic punch in the mouth. The wine is described as “pale golden in color [which it is], with an expressive nose of grapefruit and cirtrus with floral aromas. Lively acidity on the palate [no joke]. Plenty of body, richness, and roundness.”

Sartori Ferdi 09 (Italy): This wine is described as a “voluptuous super white [that] offers enticing aromas of pears and apricots with subtle floral notes. It’s rich and flavorful on the palate witha  long finish.” The Ferdi is made from 100% Garganega grape from northeast Italy. This wine is subtle and the apricot is the main star of this wine, with its flavor the most prevalent. A highly enjoyable choice (which all the ladies agreed on).

Barboursville Barbera Reserve 08 (Virginia): This wine is described as “elegantly earthy with raspberry and cherry notes.” This particular wine makes me wish I could still consume red wine. I could easily drink several glasses of it, the end result of which would be a good solid wine buzz and the feeling that my stomach were bursting into flames. For those who haven’t abused their stomachs as I have, this wine is light and a little sweet, a versatile choice.

Campo Viejo Reserva 06 (Spain):  This wine is described as having “aromas of ripe berries, clove, pepper, vanilla, and coconut. Smooth and balanced on the palate with an elegant long lingering finish.” I couldn’t detect coconut, I could just barely detect the aroma of vanilla, but what I did find was the hint of pepper. That flavor sticks on the tongue to finish with the feeling of having just had some serious red wine. This is the type of wine that transports me to a big leather chair, cigar in hand, with a roaring fire nearby. I say witty things when I drink this wine. I think deep thoughts. There’s pepper involved.

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As a final treat, the ladies brought out a bottle of Philip Carter Chardonnay (2010, Virginia), a chardonnay that is described as “bright and crisp with nose of lemon zest and citrus. Subtle hints of vanilla. Complete with malo-lactic fermentation [that] leaves mid-palate creaminess with finish of apples and pears.” Fun fact:  malo-lactic fermentation is the process whereby malic acid is converted into lactic acid for a rounder, fuller mouthfeel. Malic acid is said to taste of green apples, where lactic acid tastes more smooth and buttery. (Thank you, Wikipedia!) The Philip Carter Chardonnay was my favorite of the day. I usually don’t like chardonnay – there’s something too oaky or buttery about it, something I can’t identify that makes me prefer any other white – but this chardonnay was unlike any I had tasted before. This wine could make me forget I’m drinking wine (and then get me in trouble). Fruity and light, it’s not your usual chardonnay.

The Newport News Wine Festival features wines from Virginia and abroad. Most of the wines are available in your local wine stores, and any wine store in Virginia should be able to order the featured wines (if they’re out of stock). One important detail to note is that bottles will be available for sale at the festival, but many of them must be consumed on site. Snack early, snack often, and enjoy the festival.

For more information on the Newport News Wine Festival, visit the VA Arts Festival website.

Make sure you check out AltDaily Food on Facebook as we’ll be giving away two FREE tickets to the festival on Thursday.