Virginia Wine Week!

It’s Virginia Wine Wek! Did you know that there are 15 wine regions in Virginia and nearly 150 wineries? That Virginia grows seven types of white, six types of red, and multiple others (rosé, sparkling, mead, and other fruit wines)? This year’s theme is “Love by the Glass” and surely Virginia has a lot to love.

March 21, 2011; 12:00 PM • by Holly Gordon

Virginia Wine Week is March 18-27, 2011. Did you know that there are 15 wine regions in Virginia and nearly 150 wineries? That Virginia grows seven types of white, six types of red, and multiple others (rosé, sparkling, mead, and other fruit wines)? This year’s theme is “Love by the Glass” and surely Virginia has a lot to love. Tons of events are happening across the state to celebrate Wine Week.

The spring equinox was Sunday and along with it, consistently warm weather (hopefully), which would make for a good day trip to any of the sites. Events like grape pruning, musicians, kite flying, tastings, wine dinners, art, and poetry readings start this week and continue well into the spring. You can read all about them here or follow them on Twitter @VAWine.

Here are a few highlights:

Jefferson Vineyards

Saturday, March 26th the Jefferson Vineyard will host their annual Barrel Select Dinner. The menu will be provided by Keswick Hall.

Reservations are required. $85/person.

1353 Thomas Jefferson Parkway
Charlottesville, Virginia 22902
434.977.3042

Potomac Poin Winery

Thursday, March 24 at 7 pm is a Greek themed winemaker’s dinner at Potomac Point Winery.

The dinner features wine paired with:

• Wild mushroom baklava with goat cheese and honey thyme gastrique
• Monkfish poached in olive oil and herbs with capers and fava beans
• Crisp eggplant and oven dried tomato Napoleon with skordalia and wild greens
• Braised lamb shanks with abby fennel and mint gremolatta
• Honey pistachio blanc mange with date and fig puree in crispy phyllo

Reservations are required. $75/person.

275 Decatur Road
Stafford, Virginia 22554
540.446.2107
www.potomacpointwinery.com

C’est Le Vin

Friday, March 25, Love by the Glass tasting at C’est Le Vin. They’ve recently expanded their retail wine and cheese business to include an honest-to-goodness wine bar in the art gallery side of their space — complete with a menu of tapas/light fare. The space is large, with mismatched tables, chairs, and a few couches that give it an informal feel. Rotating artists are featured, mostly in a modern style. Track lighting bounces nicely off the metal ceiling, creating a sparkling effect in the room.

10pm is listed as their closing time on weekend evenings, but on a recent Friday visit my group and a few others inside were allowed to linger past that, nursing their remaining bottles, not feeling rushed at all. Owners Genet Semere and Ghermay Worldeab offer wine tastings every Friday and Saturday and are quick with a hello and a warm smile.

This will feature tastings from Prince Michel and Barboursville wineries. Virginia wine artist Christopher Mize will also talk about his wine-themed paintings and have them available for sale.

15 N. 17th Street, across from the Farmers Market
804.649.9463
http://cestlevin.com

March 21, 2011 12:00 PM 1