Vol. XIII, Issue No. 4                                                                              April 3, 2018    
   

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After a long winter, spring has finally come to Virginia and along with it, Virginia Vineyard Month.  It a great time to plan a weekend getaway, see the sites, visit the wineries and sip some wine.  

There's no end to festivals and special activities this month, many of which are listed in our Calendar of Events.  April Festivals of the Week are the annual Clarksville Lake Country Wine Festival on April 14 and National Harbor Wine & Food Festival on April 28 and 29.  Many upcoming festivals are listed in the Future Festivals section where you can order tickets in advance at discounted prices.

Winery of the Month is Ingleside Vineyards in Virginia's Northern Neck, one of the state's oldest and largest wineries.  Ingleside was selected by Wine Lovers as one of their Favorite Winery Tasting Rooms.  Be sure to sign up below for a chance to win an Ingleside Tour and Tasting for four.

Apologies to Lucie Morton and Gordon Murchie.  The correct name of the honor she received in February at the Governor's Cup Awards is the Gordon Murchie Lifetime Achievement Award.

Happy Spring and Cheers to Wine Lovers!  
(And, Happy Birthday on April 24 to the Bowtie Man.) 

  
J une Britt
Editor
 
       FORWARD TO A FRIEND  
         
 

 
ENTER APRIL SWEEPSTAKES!   CLICK HERE

 WINE LOVER TOUR & TASTING FOR FOUR 
AT AWARD-WINNING  INGLESIDE VINEYARDS 


 
INGLESIDE VINEYARDSingleside
Experience exceptional wines along with the rich history
and natural beauty of Virginia's Northern Neck.
www.inglesidevineyards.com

Founded in 1980, Ingleside Vineyards is one of Virginia's oldest and largest wineries and the first on the Northern Neck peninsula.  The historic and picturesque estate has been in the Flemer family since 1890 and functioned as a dairy farm for the first 50 years.  It evolved into Ingleside Plantation Nurseries and later Ingleside Vineyards when it was discovered that the location and conditions were prime for growing high-quality wine grapes.  They are part of the Chesapeake Bay Wine Trail along with eight wineries in the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula.  

 
 

There are any number of "firsts" for Ingleside, including the first Virginia winery to produce a mèthode champenoise sparkling wine in 1980. They were also first to bottle a varietal Petit Verdot and recently won "Best Petit Verdot" at the prestigious San Francisco International Wine Competition.  They continue to explore unique grape varieties, finding success with several Italian and Spanish varietals, including Albarino and Sangiovese.  Ingleside is a three-time winner of the Virginia Governor's Cup, awarded to the top scoring wine in the Commonwealth.  They received two Golds in the 2018 Governor's Cup Competition for Bordeaux-style red blends, Left Bank 2014 and Virginia Gold 2014. 
      
      

 
12th ANNUAL CLARKSVILLE LAKE COUNTRY WINE FESTIVAL 
APRIL 14, 2018 - Noon to 5pm clarksvillefestival
On the Bridge in Historic Downtown Clarksville
http://clarksvilleva.com/festivals-celebrations/clarksville-va-wine-festival/

Just like wine, this festival gets better with age.  Now in its 12th year, it features 17 Virginia wineries, large selection of craft beers, live music by Jeff & Brian and The Tobacco Road Band, 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.

While visiting Virginia's only lakeside town, take a stroll and visit the unique one-of-a-kind downtown shops and restaurants. 

   
   
      

 
10th ANNUAL WINE & FOOD FESTIVA LANNUALWINEANDFOODFESTIVAL
APRIL 28-29, 2018                          
On the Waterfront at National Harbor-1pm to 6pm
www.wineandfoodnh.com

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

Some of the area's hottest restaurants and food trucks will offer a variety of great food to taste and to buy.  The Drink. Eat. Relax Kitchen will feature hands-on demonstrations and wine pairings. 

   

      

 
TILAPIA PARMESANRECIPE
Light and lovely spring dish is very nice served over   spinach or rice with a mixed green salad and a glass of Virginia Viognier.

CLICK HERE FOR RECIPE
      

 
VIOGNIERwineofthemonth
Virginia's State Grape
Dennis Horton of Horton Vineyards in Gordonsville
brought Viognier wines to Virginia in the late 1980s.
Now extremely popular, Viognier has been designated by the Virginia Wine Board as the state's signature grape.

Click Here for Description.

      


BARBOURSVILLE'S OCTAGON TAKES SINGULAR HONORETC
Three very different vintages of Octagon were awarded the Gold Medal at the recent Virginia Governor's Cup.  This is the first time that one blended wine has achieved such recognition in the prestigious competition.  The vintages are Octagon 2012, offered for tastings and purchases in Library 1821; 2014, the primary current vintage in the tasting rooms; and 2015, to be presented for sampling at the Spring Vertical Tasting.

MONTHLY UPDATE FROM VIRGINIA DISTILLERS ASSOCIATION
* Belmont Farms will open for the 2018 season on Saturday, April 7th.
* Dry Fork Fruit Distillery has moved to the River District in Danville.
* Vitae Spirits announces the release of their Coffee Liqueur.
* Virginia Distillery Company's Port Cask Finished Virginia-Highland Whisky won  
  America's Best Blended Malt' at the World Whiskies Awards.
* Virginia Distillery Company was recently named a 'Best Place to Work in Virginia.'


VERITAS VINEYARD MANAGER NAMED GROWER OF THE YEAR
Bill Tonkins, Vineyard Manager at Veritas Vineyard and Winery in Nelson County, was recently named Grower of the Year by the Virginia Vineyard Association which has 280 member vineyards.  Tonkins' grapes have helped Veritas produce award-winning wines, such as their 2015 Petit Verdot which was honored as one of the top 12 wines in the 2018 Governor's Cup
Competition.

GRAY GHOST STRIKES GOLD IN CALIFORNIA
Gray Ghost's 2014 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon won Gold in the ultra-premium Cabernet  category in the International Eastern wine competition held in California.  The winery swept the first three California wine competitions of the year, taking home a total of 10 medals, one Gold, four Silver and five Bronze.   In addition to the International Eastern Wine Competition, Gray Ghost medaled on four wines in the San Francisco Chronicle competition and three wines in the New World International Wine Competition.  

BUSKEY CIDER EXTENDS DISTRIBUTION
Two years into business, Buskey Cider will extend its distribution to the western part of Virginia beginning early April.  Following the launching of Charlottesville and the surrounding cities, Buskey will launch Lynchburg in mid-April and to the Southwestern part of Virginia which will give them distribution over most of Virginia.  Buskey Cider opened in April 2016, and ferments their cider in Richmond.
      

Check Future Festivals futurefestapril  
for Dates and Opportunities
to Purchase Tickets at Early Bird Savings
  aprilEvents
VIRGINIA WINE, CIDER, CRAFT BEER & SPIRITS

 
April 7:  Cherry Blossom Celebration
Breaux Vineyards (Purcellville)
Blossoms should be in full bloom. Live music, craft vendors, food vendor, and of, course, wine tastings.  No cover.
Website

April 7:  Comedy Night
Otium Cellars (Purcellville)
Doors open at 7pm.  Opening act is Cerrome Russell followed by headliner, Rahmein Mostafavi.  Reservations.
Website

April 7:  Stuart Wine & Food Festival
Uptown on Slusher St. (Stuart)
Fifth annual with Virginia wineries offering tastings.  Variety of foods available for purchase and music by Phonic 45.
Website

April 7:  Family Fun Day
Honah Lee Vineyards (Gordonsville)
Fun afternoon with lawn games, adult wine sipping, listening to music by Vintage Silk, and MountainView BBQ.
Website

April 7:  Shenandoah Release Party
DuCard Vineyards (Etlan)
Celebrating release of the latest vintage of the namesake wine, Shenandoah.  Live entertainment by Jason Burke with American and British inspired rock.  No cover.
Website

April 7-8:  Spring Vertical Tasting
Barboursville Vineyards (Barboursville)
Sample the next Octagon from barrel.  Taste and purchase fine older vintages usually reserved for special events.  Charcuterie, cheeses and fresh breads.  Reservations.
Website
 

April 7-8:  Black Glass Blind Tasting
Fox Meadow Winery (Linden)
Test your palate and learn the art of tasting a wine blind and deciphering what it is.  Smell and taste are the pieces of the puzzle of wine tasting.  Reservations.
Website   

April 7-8:  April Fools' Wine Festival
James River Cellars Winery (Glen Allen)  
Taste wine from six wineries, listen to music, tour the winery, visit with craft vendors and browse the food truck courts.  Tons to do.
Website

April 8:  Wine and Watercolor
Bluestone Vineyard (Bridgewater)
Paint a botanical piece featuring dogwoods in bloom.  Designed for all skill levels and includes all supplies and glass of wine.  Sign up in advance.
Website


April 8:  Volcanic Wine Tasting
Lost Creek Winery (Leesburg)
Session Two in "For Love of Wine" tasting series.  One of nature's most impressive phenomena, volcanoes contribution to the making of some distinctive wines.
Website

April 8 & 22:  PaintNite!
Three Fox Vineyards (Delaplane)
Paint a masterpiece on a wine glass and enjoy discounted glasses and bottles.  Reservations: https://www.paintnite.com/venues/three-fox-vineyards-124099    
    
April 9:  Side Saddle Chase Foundation Benefit
Greenhill Winery (Middleburg)
Third annual wine tasting event where you sip some wine, bid on auction items and participate in the raffle.  Wonderful menu items offered by Side Saddle Care.
Website

FOR COMPLETE LIST OF FEBRUARY EVENTS

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 month of the event. 


VIRGINIA WINE EXPOweerethere 
February 27-March 4, 2018 - Richmond, VA 
The Virginia Wine Expo is one of the most popular events in the Mid-Atlantic region. Highlight is the Walk-Around Grand Tasting, this year at the recently renovated Main Street Station.  Wine lovers and foodies in large numbers turned out to learn about, taste and purchase Virginia wines.



 

 
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