Friends of the Farm
An online Almanac of BlackBerry Farm News & Notes
The guestbook has been a staple in each room at Blackberry Farm since before this remarkable place had a name. We invite you to carry on this special tradition by adding your thoughts to the guestbook below and share your own Blackberry Farm stories.
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Comments (21)
JoanB
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... I wish more was said on this site about the service. I can't express it enough. I arrived totally exhausted my first trip to Blackberry Farm, with a new Dr. as a husband, having just weaned my third child, all under the age of five. We had no matching luggage, snacks in disposable bags for the trip, and were totally surprised to have driven up, being greeted by name. How did they know our names? We checked in, our car was parked, are mis-matched bags were carried to our room, and a kind person escorted us to our room to freshen up before the most relaxing meal I've ever known. The pace, the kindness...I went to my room and cried it was so refreshing from the first two hours. I could have gone home then and felt like I'd had a vacation. We woke to the smell of fresh sausage cooking under our room, and the site of a dogwood just blooming with mountains beyond. I went with a book to a stream and read and wrote. I learned to play guitar. It was a gift of a life-time. |
Steve
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... One of my favorite Bllackberry memories joining my wife on a sun-drenched afternoon in the game room solving one of the vexing jigsaw puzzles with a terrific glass of wine. It's memories of times like this that Blackberry creates all on its own that last a lifetime. |
David Wierman
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... My Blackberry is all about friendships and memories…old and new. Blackberry is the perfect place to rekindle old friendships and to build on new ones. Some of my fondest memories have taken place at Blackberry Farm. Each time I depart, I reflect on wonderful times with family and friends, and I look forward with much anticipation to my next adventure at Blackberry Farm. |
Amelia and Zach Kilpatrick
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... Whilst at Blackberry Farm last summer, during our anniversary celebration, we indulged in the tasting menu beautifully prepared by Dustin and company. Andy and company put together a tasting flight that included samples Cote Rhotie and Crozes Hermitage. To top things off, a nightly sip of a 1922 vintage Madeira. We can't wait to come back. |
Michael and Laura Kantner
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... Our first visit to Blackberry Farm was for the Sine Qua Non/Little Nell (E&M Krankl and Ryan Hardy) wine event. I had just moved to Maryland and my wife was still working in California. We met at the Knoxville airport after I had driven 9 hours from Maryland. With of the stress of relocation, weekly trips across country, and a new job, we needed a break. Our Rhone-inspired activities included the Rhone varietals (syrah, grenache, rousanne, etc.) in Sine Qua Non wines and daily cycling, a common pasttime across France. Instead of "just another nice weekend away," we had our most memorable vacation in years. The trip was wonderful and we made the drive from Maryland a few more times before we moved back to California. There are other Rhonely memories, though our first visit is the one we will remember longest. |
Eric Pruitt
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... I'm not sure what a "Rhonely" memory is . . . but my favorite Blackberry memory is from my last visit over the July 4th holiday last year. My wife and I stopped by the Hickory Club Room to check our email after we checked out on Sunday afternoon. One of the emails we received that day was a notice that we had been selected to adopt our daughter (and our first child) who was born less than two weeks later. What an incredible way to end a great Blackberry weekend! |
Kurt Schulz
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... My wife and I came to Blackberry Farm to celebrate our Anniversary a couple years back. I planned a special picnic lunch for her, and it was an amazing memory for the both of us. It was too cold to have a picnic outside when we came, so I searched for a romantic, warm spot for our festive lunch. I was able to arrange our picnic in the facial room at the Spa. The service table was removed and replacing it was a picnic blanket right next to the fireplace. We enjoyed a delectable personalized lunch paired with a Rhone wine. Having sampled them before, I chose it to be a Rhone wine because I knew they are special. Not sure as to which of the Rhonely varieties they carried, I asked Blackberry to choose one that was as delicious as it was unique, and they came through with it. After our lunch I had 2 massage chairs brought in and we relaxed even more while getting a head, neck, shoulder, back massage. Wow, what an afternoon. We will never forget that Rhonely Memory! |
Meredith Terranova
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... How could someone just have one fond memory of food and drink at Blackberry Farm. Some of my fondest food and wine moments come from my dinners at Blackberry Farm. I can close my eyes and taste the match of each glass of wine that Melinda selects to match each course of my meals. Deep body reds with delicate vegetables fresh from the gardens, dry whites to match the most incredible rustic roasted chicken I have ever had, and if that wasn't enough my all time best memory is of a glass of syrah to match a bison filet. Hands down the best match I have had in my life. The memories that I have created at Blackberry Farm stand alone. Honestly, the food and the wine pairings have created family moments for us that have and will last a lifetime. Obviously, any chance to try to have the possiblilty to go back and experience even just an ounce again is more than priceless! |
Harry Morse
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... On my families first visit to the farm we were delighted to discover a white Chateauneuf du Pape, which we had been told in the South of France, was unobtainable in the United States. My children, all adult, were able to enjoy a wine that my wife Mary Louise and I thought was wonderful with you good people. We all knew then that we had come upon a treasure in the Blackberry Farm. |
Mary Borecki
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... Let others rhapsodize about great rhed Rhones - my peak Rhone experience at Blackberry was a Guigal Condrieu "La Doriane" that Andy introduced us to as part of our ongoing exploration of older great French white wines. IMHO, the French make the best white wines in the world, hands down, and this wine was one of the very best I have ever had. Now we have a dilemma when we dine at Blackberry - to have another bottle of this fabulous rare wine, or to try something else wonderful. What a dilemma to have! |
Gina Cook
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... We visited the Farm in early December 2008 and had the best venison tenderloin and a Guigal St-Joseph wine. Unfortunately I don't recall the year. The entire evening experience was refined yet relaxed as well as the wine - balanced but with a subtle spiciness that complimented our dinner & evening wonderfully. |
Mike "Rathead" Riley
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... Submitted by Mike “Rathead” Riley: My wife, Linda, and I returned to Blackberry Farm in early January for the 2010 Southern Foodways Alliance “Taste of the South” weekend. We shared this amazing event with old and new friends alike and, as always, were welcomed like family by every member of the staff at Blackberry Farm. This year, the Blackberry crew pulled out all the stops and indulged us in the most exciting and engaging get-together ever. In a word, “Taste of the South” was incredible, dishes up in a five star atmosphere of one-of-a-kind service and incomparable hospitality! March 1, 2010 |
Jeannie Scott
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... We always enjoy our stays at Blackberry. This time we stayed over New Years Eve. Fabulous food, wonderful service, fireplaces roaring and snow coming down. It was a great time. |
Bill
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... We've been blessed to stay at Blackberry Farm during several seasons and are looking forward to the upcoming stay and the Taste of the South. Each stay has been wonderful, and we look so forward to the next. We are counting the days. See 'ya next week! Hunts |
Jeannette
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... I have fond memories of my trips to Blackberry Farm--each to attend one of the cooking schools with a special guest chef. Delightful! While sitting at breakfast one morning, I asked our server if it was possible to have just the delicious stoneground grits. His reply sums it all up... "At Blackberry Farm, anything is possible!" I dream about my next visit! |
Timothy
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... My wife Elizabeth and I had our Honeymoon there during the Christmas Holiday Season. It was an amazing "once in a lifetime" experience! We can't wait to return.. Tim & Elizabeth King |
Jackie
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... Blackberry Farm is a special magical place. I can't wait until our next visit. The only thing missing is a basset hound :) |
Missy
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... I wrote part of my book sitting in one of the Blackberry Farm rocking chairs. Who could not be inspired in that blissful environment! |
Mary Kathryn
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... Steve and I look forward to our next great visit to Blackberry Farm. We cannot wait to visit with John and all the wonderful folks that make Blackberry Farm so special. Thank you for such a wonderful place to relax, enjoy amazing food and soak in what Mother Nature has created. |
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Sunset:7:54 PM
Farm for Thought:
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The Larder at Blackberry Farm houses the Creamery, Preservation Kitchen, and Charcuterie.
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The Laurel Dining Room in the Main House used to be a screened in porch when the home was originally built. When you walk into the Laurel Dining Room for breakfast, you will notice the original stone flooring from the porch.
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All crops harvested in the Garden are from heirloom seeds without the use of chemical pesticides and commercial fertilizers.
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The truffle puppy litter has grown! We now have 6 Italian Lagotto truffle dogs living at Blackberry (Tom, Lucci, Rolla, Lea, Bruno and Rico), with more expected this summer. With Truffle Season beginning this month and lasting through February, our truffle dogs have an exciting winter ahead of them!
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The Laurel Dining Room in the Main House was originally a screened-in porch when the home was first built. Walking into the Laurel Dining Room for breakfast, you will notice the original stone flooring from the porch.