"Follow me to the Tides Taste of Spring Festival on April 22". . . Frank Britt   
Vol. XII, Issue No. 3                                                                                              March 28, 2017   
   
            
 

Dear Wine Lover Friends,   
   
April is Virginia Vineyard Month .  Let's take the time to tour a vineyard and recognize the people who grow the grapes that make fine Virginia wine!

After a long winter, it's time to get outdoors, and what better place for a weekend excursion than the  Tides  Inn in Irvington , Virginia's foremost resort and a favorite of wine lovers.   The Tides is a gateway to the Chesapeake Bay Wine Trail and the Virginia Oyster Trail. 

The photo above was taken on the Tides Golden Eagle golf course. The car belongs to Tides GM Gordon Slatford.  It's a 1949 MG TC roadster with a 1250cc twin carb engine. Sweet!
 
The April calendar includes popular spring festivals as well as events and activities at wineries, breweries and distilleries around the state.  Be sure to get advance tickets for the following featured festivals:  

Hops, Wines & Swines Festival: April 1
Clarksville Lake Country Wine Festival: April 8
Vino Inferno Wine Festival:  April 22
Tides Inn Taste of Spring:  April 22
National Harbor Wine & Food Festival: April 29-30
 
James River Cellars in Glen Allen is our Winery of the Month. You'll enjoy a spring visit to James River, both for the excellent wines they produce and the Tasting Room hospitality. The winery was singled out by our subscribers for a 2016
Visitor's Choice Award.
 
Cheers and Happy Spring!      
Frank C. Britt
Publisher    

IN THIS ISSUE 
 
 
 April 8: Clarksville Lake Country Festival

April 22:  Vino Inferno

April 29-30:  National Harbor 

The Tides Taste of Spring
James River Cellars
  

Sponsors

 
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APRIL 8, 2017
ANNUAL CLARKSVILLE LAKE COUNTRY WINE FESTIVAL festivalofweek 
 















 
 
 
 
J ust like wine, this festival gets better with age.  Now in its 10th year in historic downtown Clarksville, the event features 16 Virginia wineries, selection of craft beer, live music by 
Jeff & Brian, Uncorked & Jared Place; great food from local restaurants and hand-selected artisans and local merchants. Seating will be available but feel free to bring your own lawn chair.  Festival begins at noon, but plan to arrive early for the Seaplane Splash-in.  Check 
out Events page on the website for all related activities.
 

APRIL 22, 2017 inferno
VINO INFERNO WINE FESTIVAL


 
















This is an exciting new wine festival in the Richmond area.  Sponsored by the Chesterfield Professional Firefighters Charitable Foundation, Vino Inferno is set for Saturday, April 22 at historic Malvern Farm in Powhatan. Hours are 11 am to 6 pm, and the event will go rain or shine.
  
 

APRIL 29-30, 2017 harbor
9TH ANNUAL WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL
On the Waterfront at National Harbor

 



















A world-class, waterfront, culinary event that brings together world-renowned chefs, 
artisanal craftsmen and culinary pioneers. The festival features over 150 different international and local wines, beers and spirits in your all-you-care to taste souvenir glass.

Some of the area's hottest restaurants and food trucks will offer a variety of great food 
to taste and to buy. There will be a craft beer tasting Bier Garten and the Cooking Kitchen will feature hands-on demonstrations and wine pairings.
 
 

APRIL 22, 2017eventofmonthnew
THE TIDES TASTE OF SPRING
The Taste of Spring in Irvington is a great season opener where you can regale your  friends with tales of your wintertime adventures. Make sure you let them know you will be attending the festival by sharing your ticket purchase on social media! Taste of Spring is a celebration of the local cuisine of Virginia's Northern Neck along with craft beers, ciders and wines, unlimited beer tastings, a commemorative glass, live entertainment and a special  "Taste  of Sailing" activity sponsored by Premier Sailing.
  
READ MORE  

 

JAMES RIVER CELLARSWINERYofmonth
Glen Allen, Virginia
'It started as a Hobby and grew out of control!"                  

Literally, James River Cellars started as a hobby. Ray Kazarchic was on the hunt for the perfect Virginia Gewürztraminer and decided that it might be easier to just make his own! 
So, he planted a vineyard on 20 acres of his farm in Montpelier.
 
No longer a hobby, the winery opened to the public in 2001 and is now owned and operated by Ray's daughter, Mitzi, and her husband, James. With Mitzi's PhD in biochemistry, and James' degree in finance, it could not be more fitting that Mitzi runs the business while 
James makes the wine! Ray now spends more time enjoying James River Cellars' wine 
and messing around in the flower beds.
 















APRICOT CHICKEN & SNOW PEAS   
newrecipe                                                     
Recipe from James River Cellars
Pair with James River Viognier


etceteraapril
GROWER OF THE YEAR
Ruth Saunders of Silver Creek Orchards in Nelson County has been named 2017 Grower 
of the Year by the Virginia Vineyards Association.  Ruth and her husband John raise cattle and grow apples and a variety of other crops, including wine grapes which they first planted in 1999.  They are among the largest independent growers in the state, with more than 75 acres in grapes which produce award-winning wines for many Virginia wineries.

BOGATI CHARDONNAY EARNS 90-POINT RATING

Vintage 2013 "Black Label" Chardonnay, by Bogati Winery in Round Hill, has received a 
90-point rating in the latest edition of The Wine Advocate, one of the world's most presti-gious wine publications. "Showing good concentration in the mid-palate, a fresh feel and a crisp edge, this has plenty to recommend it. If there is a quibble, there's a certain metallic nuance on the finish. That said, the finish is also wonderfully juicy and very tasty, the fruit lifted by the acidity and slammed home."  Read the full review at robertparker.com
READ MORE


BEST AMERICAN SINGLE MALT WHISKY
February was a really big month for Virginia Distillery Company in Lovingston.  Their flagship Virginia Highland Malt Whisky won "Best American Single Malt Whisky" at the World Whiskies Awards in New York in February.  Two weeks earlier, the distillery took home two medals from the American Craft Spirits Association.  www.vadistillery.com

   
HOW TO DRINK LIKE A BILLIONAIRE
Mark Oldman reveals how to drink wine like an insider while cutting through the pretension and geekiness that still surrounds much of wine. It will have you approaching wine with the shrewdness, style, and unapologetic joy of the one percent. Available wherever books are sold. READ MORE

SELL YOUR WINERY.  CALL US.
If you want to sell your winery (or vineyard), or you are in the market to buy a winery (or vineyard), or looking for land to plant a vineyard, we may be able to help you.  Contact
Frank Britt at frank@brittmarketing or call 434-385-0600.  READ MORE 


CHECK FUTURE FESTIVALS EACH MONTH 
FOR DATES AND OPPORTUNITIES
TO PURCHASE TICKETS AT EARLY BIRD SAVINGS.

To Select Festival and Follow Link to Purchase Tickets.

aprilevents
April 1:  Nebbiolo Vertical Tasting
Breaux Vineyards (Purcellville)
T hree-course lunch paired with various vintages of Nebbiolo.  Educational, interactive 
and fun event.  Reservations.
Website

April 1:  Black Wine Glass Tasting
Fox Meadow Winery (Linden)
Test your palate and learn the art of tasting a wine blind and deciphering what it is.  
Tastings on the hour. $20.

April 1:  Vertical Cabernet Sauvignon and Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Tasting
Gray Ghost Vineyards (Amissville)
Candlelit, black-tie optional evening featuring and comparing past vintages.  Heavy 
hors d'oeuvres and discussion. SOLD OUT.
Website  

April 1:  Hops, Wines & Swines Festival
Olde Dominion Agricultural Complex (Chatham)
Taste and purchase from seven wineries and 80 craft beer varieties.  Local BBQ 
and food vendors, live music and craftsmen.  
Website
April 1:  Step into Mystery!
Narmada Winery (Amissville)
An interactive game of Clue.  Find out who did the crime, why and how for chance to win the Super Sleuth Award.  Reservations.
Website

April 1:  Stuart Wine & Food Festival
Stuart Rotary Club Bldg (Stuart)
Virginia wineries offering $10 tastings along with variety of foods.  Rain or shine.
Website

April 1:  Spring Season Opening
Lovingston Winery (Lovingston)
Spice Sea food truck with famous surf & turf dishes that pair beautifully with Lovingston wines.  Meet the owners over a glass and a crab cakes.  Admission free.
Website

April 1:  JB Winemaker Series
Veramar Vineyard (Berryville)
Winemaker Justin Bogaty talks about the new line of premium wines and will pour 
2016 JB Petit Manseng in the tasting room, 2 to 4 pm.
Website

April 1: "Sour Grapes" Murder Mystery

Potomac Point Winery & Vineyard (Stafford)
Join in the "Annual Vineyard Owner's Ball" for a funny and unforgettable adventure 
rom Murder Mysteries Will Travel.  Reservations.
Website

April 1-2:  Barrel Tastings
Paradise Springs Winery (Clifton)
Sample 6 to 8 wines from the 2016 vintage in the Barrel Room.  Light fare.  Tastings start every 20 minutes. $25 first come, first serve.
Website

April 1-2:  April Fool's Festival
James River Cellars (Glen Allen)
Tastings from Heart of Virginia Wine Trail wineries, live music, food trucks and local 
vendors. Tickets available on website:
Website

April 2:  Riedel Seminary
Bluestone Vineyard (Bridgewater)
Compare different flavors and aromas of Riedel and average wine glasses.  Includes 
four glasses of wine and set of 4 Riedel wine stems.  Light fare.  $65; reservations.
Website


April 2:  April Uncork'd

Potomac Point Winery (Stafford)
Fun day of sipping wine and painting party with Uncork'd Art who will guide you 
step-by-step as you create your own masterpiece.
Website

April 2:  Cider Loves Chocolate Returns!
Blue Bee Cider (Richmond)
Guided tastings of five pairings of local cider and Gearharts handcrafted chocolates. 
$25; reservations.
Website

April 2:  Barrel Tasting
Virginia Mountain Vineyards (Fincastle)
Pack a picnic and join in the barrel tasting in the tasting room with a sneak taste of the 
wines to come.  Music by Rag Top.
Website


April 2:  French Crepe Day

DelFosse Vineyards and Winery (Faber)
Freshly made, chef prepared selection of savory and sweet crepes paired with salad and glass of wine.  Also homemade soup and fresh bread. Let them know you're coming.
Website

A pril 2:  Calligraphy Workshop
Early Mountain Vineyards (Madison)
Hands-on tutorial by Jen Maton of If So Inklined. Popular event; space limited.  
Reservations.
Website

  April 1:  Dinner Theatre Series
  Stable Craft Brewing (Waynesboro)                      
  Interactive dinner experience.  "Who Killed Cpt. Kirk?" Murder Mystery.  Themed menu 
  paired with Stable Craft beers.  Adult event.
  Website

  April 1:  Pop-Up Virginia Brewers Collaboration
  Devils Backbone Brewing Company (Roseland)
  Pack release; try samples of the new all-Virginia brews.  Brewers available to meet and 
  answer questions.
  Website

  April 1:  April Fool's Day Party
  Brew Republic Bierwerks Tap Room (Woodbridge)          
  An epic party in the tap room with all fools invited for crazy things that may or may not  
  actually be happening, like driving golf balls all the brewery roof.  Don't miss!
  Website

  April 4: Trivia Night
  Brew Republic Bierwerks Tap Room (Woodbridge)
  Put your knowledge to the test.  Drink some beer.  Have some fun and if the odds are 
  in your favor, walk out with major awards.
  Website

About Events: As our information comes from many sources, we recommend you verify dates and times, as well as costs and reservations that may be required. (We are not responsible for incorrect or inaccurate information.)
 
If you would like to submit an event, send details (what, where and when, as well as contact information) to info@vawinelover.com no later than the 10th of the month prior to the event.

sponsors* CLICK HERE  for 15% Discou nt. Promo Code: FRANK 15


MARCH 8-12, 2017 / RICHMOND, VIRGINIA
VIRGINIA WINE EXPO
The Virginia Wine Expo is now firmly established as the premier event in the Mid-Atlantic region. We joined wine lovers and foodies who converged by the droves for the opportunity to learn about, taste and purchase Virginia wines, to meet the winemakers and mingle with friends.
 
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