Two Days. Fifty Wineries. Virginia’s Biggest Wine Meet-Up Ever.
Virginia wine enthusiasts will gather at wineries across the state on May 13 and 14 for Virginia Wine Love Weekend, the state’s biggest wine meet-up ever. Fifty wineries in seven wine regions from Northern Virginia to the Shenandoah Valley to Hampton Roads are participating in the first-time event, which kicks off the summer wine travel season and gives wine fans the chance to get out from behind social media and meet other wine lovers in person.
“Virginia wine fans are famous for the love they show our wine industry,” says event organizer Nancy Bauer, who runs an 11,000-member Facebook Group called Virginia Wine Love. “Other states envy our tight community, which really showed up when wineries closed down at the beginning of Covid. It was a challenging time, and many wineries will tell you they only stayed afloat because their customers were willing to do whatever it took to keep them in business.”
Weekend activities at participating wineries include specialty wine tastings, complimentary snacks, private tours, trivia contests, book signings, and wine discounts. Each time a guest checks in at a winery over the weekend, they’ll be entered in a “Virginia Wine Gives Back” drawing, which includes prizes like a tasting for four featuring Mountain & Vine Vineyards’ (formerly Delfosse Vineyards) Screaming Hawk Meritage—the top wine in this year’s Governor’s Cup Competition—and ballroom dance lessons at Briede Vineyards in the Shenandoah Valley.
“We’re happy to be part of this event and give some love back to our customers,” says Mountain & Vine Vineyards co-owner Adrienne Albers. “Their support means everything.”
Wine enthusiasts who’d prefer to leave the driving to someone else can sign up for a hosted tour with transportation from boutique winery tour businesses, including Cork & Keg Wine Tours of Northern Virginia and Fruits & Roots Wine Tours of the Hampton Roads area. Each has created custom tours for the weekend.
The event web site also includes a Make It a Weekend section, with winery-recommended lodgings and dining for out-of-towners. “The very best way to experience Virginia Wine Country is to immerse yourself in it,” says Nancy Bauer, who visited 150 Virginia wineries in 150 days when she and her husband researched their first Virginia wine travel app. She’s now visited more than 250 wineries. “Spend the weekend, or a week,” says Bauer. “Virginia Wine Love Weekend is a great chance to visit some hidden gem wineries and get to know the people behind the scenes. You may even meet up with a new travel buddy. People who love wine tend to be pretty fun people.”
See the complete list of participating wineries and event details here: https://www.virginiawinelove.com/va-wine-love-weekend
How to participate in Virginia Wine Love Weekend
· Look over the map and list of fifty participating wineries
· Check details to see what activities each winery is offering
· Pick a few wineries you love and/or want to get to know, and invite some friends
· Make winery reservations if needed (most wineries don’t require them) and book your hotel and dining if you’re staying overnight
· Join the Virginia Wine Love Group on Facebook for updates (optional) https://www.facebook.com/groups/206245544030181
· Check in at each winery on May 13/14, and check the Facebook Group on May 22 for the list of “Virginia Wine Gives Back” drawing winners
Virginia Wine Love Weekend is the first project of Virginia Wine Women, a loose affiliation of winery owners, winemakers, vineyard managers and other industry stakeholders. The weekend event is organized by Virginia wine writer Nancy Bauer and Northern Neck wine travel specialist Terri Newman-Hyde.
Participating Wineries:
NORTHERN VIRGINIA
8 Chains North Winery, Waterford
868 Estate Vineyards, Purcellville
Breaux Vineyards, Purcellville
Chateau O’Brien, Markham
Doukenie Winery, Purcellville
Endhardt Vineyard, Purcellville
Fox Meadow Winery, Linden
Good Spirit Farm Winery, Round Hill
Gray Ghost Vineyards, Amissville
Little Washington Winery, Washington
Magnolia Vineyards, Amissville
Morais Vineyards, Bealeton
Notaviva Farm Brewery & Winery, Purcellville
Old Farm Winery at Hartland, Aldie
Pearmund Cellars, Broad Run
The Winery at Sunshine Ridge Farm, Gainesville
Three Fox Vineyards & Brewery, Delaplane
Two Twisted Posts Winery, Purcellville
Walsh Family Wine, Purcellville
Williams Gap Vineyard, Round Hill
CENTRAL VIRGINIA
Afton Mountain Vineyards, Afton
Blenheim Vineyards, Charlottesville
Chateau MerrillAnne, Orange
Chestnut Oak Vineyard, Barboursville
Chisholm Vineyard at Adventure Farm, Earlysville
DuCard Vineyards, Etlan
Fifty-Third Winery and Vineyard, Louisa
Flying Fox Vineyard, Afton
Hardware Hills Vineyard, Scottsville
Hark Vineyards, Earlysville
Horton Vineyards, Gordonsville
King Family Vineyards, Crozet
Knight’s Gambit Vineyard, Charlottesville
Mountain & Vine Vineyards (formerly Delfosse Vineyards), Faber
Pollak Vineyards, Greenwood
Prince Michel Winery, Leon
Southern Revere Cellars, Louisa
Veritas Vineyards, Afton
SHENANDOAH VALLEY
Briede Family Vineyard, Winchester
Brix & Columns Vineyards, McGaheysville
Cave Ridge Vineyard, Mt. Jackson
North Mountain Vineyard, Maurertown
Wolf Gap Vineyard & Winery, Edinburg
CHESAPEAKE BAY / NORTHERN NECK
Dog & Oyster Winery, Irvington
Ingleside Vineyards, Oak Grove
The Estate at White Hall Vineyard, King George
The Hague Winery, Hague
SOUTHERN REGION
Hunting Creek Vineyards, Clover
Rosemont of Virginia Vineyards, LaCrosse
BLUE RIDGE REGION
Fables & Feathers Winery, Goodview
Villa Appalaccia Winery, Floyd
HAMPTON ROADS
New Kent Winery, New Kent
Contact Nancy Bauer (nancy@nancybauer.com) for images or additional information.