Have a Virginia apple today!
Vol. XII, Issue No. 11                                                                                          October 30, 2018    
   
            

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November is a wonderful month to give thanks for all things Virginian....autumn colors in the mountains and along the highways, apple and cider festivals, oyster and wine tastings and, of course, Thanksgiving celebrations.  
 
Casanel Vineyards in Leesburg is our "Festival of the Month" for November.  This tranquil setting with fine wine is a favorite of Virginia Wine Lovers, and it is a Top 10 Tasting Room.

Featured Festivals this month include Shenandoah Uncorked on November 10 and Taste by the Bay at the Tides Inn in Irvington on November 17.  Cider Week in Virginia is celebrated this year on November 9-18.  And, for all Wine Lovers who love oysters, don't miss the Fall Oyster Crawl on the Chesapeake Bay Wine Trail, November 10-11.

Thank you for sharing our passion about Virginia wine, the people, places, events and trends that are part of this great industry.  We wish you a happy Thanksgiving and all the best this holiday season.   
 
 
 
June Britt
Editor

 

IN THIS ISSUE 
 
Sponsors   
 
Cider Week in Virgina

  Festival of the Week: 
November 10
Shenandoah Uncorked  
 
Festival of the Week:
November 17-18
Taste by the Bay
 
Winery of the Month
 
Recipe of the Month

  ETCetera  

  Future Festivals     


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TIME TO VOTE FOR YOUR tastingroom2018
FAVORITE VIRGINIA WINERY TASTING ROOM!

Cast your vote by November 30 for your Favorite Tasting Room.  
The Awards are prized by Virginia Wineries as they are determined by the people who visit to taste and purchase their wines.   The Top 10 Winners will be featured in the January 2019 issue of the  Official Virginia Wine Lover™.

 
CIDER WEEK IN VIRGINIAcider2018
NOVEMBER 9-18, 2018
Multiple locations throughout the state.
www.ciderweekva.com/

Cider is fermented apple juice just as wine is fermented grape juice. The best cider, just like the best wine, is carefully crafted from fruit chosen for cider making.  This is a week-long celebration of cider featuring special tastings, pairings, dinners cider making classes, events and workshops.
    

 
SHENANDOAH UNCORKEDuncorked 
NOVEMBER  10, 2018 
American Celebration on Parade at  Shenandoah Caverns 
261 Caverns Road - Quicksburg, VA 22847         www.shenandoahcaverns.com/shenandoahuncorked.html

Enjoy Virginia wine, food and crafts at the 9th annual Shenandoah Uncorked festival on November 10.  Uncorked will feature 15 Virginia wineries, plus numerous local food and craft vendors. The festival begins at 10 am and wine stops pouring at 4:30 pm. Admission is free. Wine tasting is only $15 and includes a souvenir glass. Also explore Shenandoah Caverns right next door--you'll get a special discount with your festival wristband.


NOVEMBER 17, 2018tasteofbay2018
TASTE BY THE BAY  
Tides Inn
480 King Carter Drive - Irvington, VA 22480
www.tastebythebay.com

Wine, Food, Arts & Ale!  They're all on tap on November 17  at the beautiful Tides Inn in Irvington.  The highly anticipated festival is presented by the Lancaster by the Bay Chamber of Commerce.  Tasting Tickets are $30 online in advance and $35 at the gate.

   
    


 
CASANEL VINEYARD & WINERY
This tranquil setting is a favorite of Wine Lovers. 
 
Casanel Vineyards is a family operated winery in Leesburg, Virginia, owned by Casey and Nelson DeSouza, both great believers in the American dream. Nelson, who was the first son in a family of 12 children, came to America from Brazil in 1962 to create a better life.  That dream was shared by Casey, number 10 in a family of 11 children, and together they owned and operated a successful construction company in Fairfax.

After retirement, Nelson's Portuguese roots called him to the wine business and along with Casey, they founded  Casanel Vineyards in 2006.  They started by hand planting 10,000 vines on seven acres and set about restoring historical buildings on the property.  The Casanel country-style tasting room opened in October 2008 in a hand-renovated 1800s stone barn, and the Dawson Room tasting & event space was added in 2014. 



 HONEYCRISP APPLE TARTAPPLE
 A favorite apple of Wine Lovers, Honeycrisps are   
 ultra-crisp and juicy with a honey sweet and tart  
 flavor.  They are delicious to eat by themselves and  
 the perfect apple for this simple fall tart.  Pair with a  
 glass of Casanel Vineyards Pinot Gris.
 
 
 CLICK HERE FOR RECIPE        



VWA ANNUAL MEETING & CONFERENCEetcNOVEMBER2018                           

NOVEMBER 8-9, 2018                                        
This year, the Virginia Wineries Association brings back a 2-day conference with a program that covers all aspects of Virginia's dynamic wine industry. The new conference format is intended to boost networking and provide additional learning opportunities for wineries and vineyards.
 

CIDER WEEK IS NOVEMBER 9-18, 2018  
                       
Cider is fermented apple juice just as wine is fermented grape juice.  Hard cider was once the daily drink in early colonial America but the Industrial Revolution and changing tastes of a population that preferred beer led to its decline.  Prohibition dealt a final blow to many orchards.  After a long respite, cider is making a comeback, and artisanal hard ciders can be found in Virginia restaurants, bottle shops and at tastings.  There are now 20+ cideries in Virginia.


APPLE PRODUCTION HUGE IN VIRGINIA       
                  
Did you know that Virginia is the sixth largest apple producing state in the country? Warm days, cool nights and rich deep soil nurtured by consistent rainfall makes for a climate ideal for growing apples.  Harvest is July through November.  Virginia apples are grown in 1000+ orchards on 16,000+ acres, producing an average of 5-6 million bushels of apples annually.  Makes for lots of cider!


WINERY OWNER AND FESTIVAL PROMOTER DIES 
                  
After a long career as an engineer, Richard Hanson started Rebec Vineyards in Amherst in 1984.  He was introduced to the joys of garlic and went on to host the Virginia Wine and Garlic Festival at Rebec.  For over 20 years, it has been one of the state's largest and most popular wine festivals.  Richard loved wine, both making it and drinking it.


VIRGINIA SPIRITS MONTH CONTINUES TO DRIVE SALES         
  
For the second straight year, Virginia Spirits Month in September continued to drive revenue, lifting sales of Virginia distilled spirits by 20 percent over the same period last year.  Sales at distillery stores alone grew to more than $640,000, more than doubling sales of just two years ago.  Sales at both ABC stores and distillery stores during September totaled nearly $1.5 million, representing a 20 percent gain. 


CHECK FUTURE FESTIVALS  
FOR DATES AND OPPORTUNITIES
TO PURCHASE TICKETS AT EARLY BIRD SAVINGS.
futurefestnov
To Select Festival and Follow Link to Purchase Tickets.

November 1:  Wine Pairing Dinner
Chateau O'Brien (Markam)
Four-course dinner at Field & Main Restaurant paired with wines selected by Howard O'Brien.
www.chateauobrien.com

November 1:  Italian Wine Dinner
Magnolias at the Mill (Purcellville)
Five course incredible dinner paired with 6 wines, Chianti, Brunello, Amarone and more.
www.magnoliasmill.com

 
November 1-3:  10th Anniversary Weekend
Rosemont of Virginia (LaCrosse)
Weekend of tastings, tours, special vintages; foods and arts.  Gala in the Vines on Friday and Highland Games on Saturday.
November 1-4:  Fire, Flour & Fork
Various Locations in Richmond
A 4-day gathering for the food curious with multiple brunches and dinners, demonstrations, visiting chefs and spirit makers.
www.fireflourandfork.com

November 2:  Trivia Night
New Kent Winery (New Kent)
Trivia Night RVA brings the fun.  German Snack Shack brings delicious food.
www.newkentwinery.com

November 2:  Annual Art on Tap
The Art League (Alexandria)
Craft beers, original artwork and amazing food from local restaurants.
www.theartleague.org

 
November 2-3:  Urbanna Oyster Festival
Town of Urbanna
Walking pay-as-you-go festival with oysters in every way.  Wineries and micro-breweries.  Unique arts and crafts.
November 3:  Unique Wine Tasting
Granite Heights Winery (Warrenton)
Tastings of big and bold library reds (some gold medalists) and sneak peak at unreleased red.
In the new event center.
www.graniteheightswinery.com

November 3:  Bluegrass, Barbecue, and Brew Festival
Patrick Henry's Red Hill (Brookneal)
History, culture, food, beer and music.  Tour of home and law office included.
www.redhill.org

 
November 3:  Oysters Oysters Oysters
Pearmund Cellars (Broad Run)
Perfect combination of wine and Nomini Bay Oyster Ranch's best selection.
November 3:  Fall Chili & Craft Festival
Smith Mountain Lake (Bridgewater Plaza)
Music, crafts and spectacular competitive chili cook-off and lakeside setting.
www.visitsmithmountainlake.com

November 3:  Harvest Dinner in the Barrel Room
Greenhill Winery & Vineyards (Middleburg)
Celebrate harvest with five-course dinner introducing 2017 Petit Verdot.
www.greenhillvineyards.com

November 3:  Apple Harvest Festival
Albemarle CiderWorks (North Garden)
Apples, apples and more apples.  Food and crafts, cider, music and apple pie contest.
www.albemarleciderworks.com
 
 
November 3-4:  Harvest on the Halfshell
Philip Carter Winery (Hume)
Festival with wine, beer, cider, mead, oysters on the half shell, fried and oyster po'boy.
November 3-4:  Around the World in 80 Minutes
Little Washington Winery (Washington VA)
A geography education.  Explore the world of wine and get to know the finest wine regions.
www.littlewashingtonwinery.com

November 3-4:  Caledon Art and Wine Festival
Caledon Natural Area (King George)
Weekend at the park with tastings by local wineries, great food, music and area artisans.  
www.virginia.org/Listings/Events/CaledonArtandWineFestival

November 3-4:  Harvest Roast and Toast
Three Fox Vineyards (Delaplane)
Sit by the fire pit and roast marshmallows, live music, food truck and outdoor bar.   
www.threefoxvineyards.com

 
November 3-4:  Annual Fudgeapalooza
Fox Meadow Winery (Linden)
Six award winning wines perfectly paired with six unique fudges.  YUM!
November 4:  Grilled Cheese Festival
Chesapeake Conference Center
Join in the cook-off.  Vote for the cheesiest, most ridiculous and best tomato soup.  
www.hrgcfest.com

November 4:  House of Blues, Brews and Stews
Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (Virginia Beach)
Outdoor fall fest with music by Jackass Flats.  Vote for the best stews, imbibe brews and sway to the blues.
www.virginiamoca.org
FOR COMPLETE LIST OF NOVEMBER 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.)

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.    

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