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VIRGINIA TOURISM
CORPORATION
Open up and breathe.
Visit Virginia wineries.
Virginia Wine Marketing Office
 Designers and
Printers of Wine Labels
Recognizing restaurants
who offer Virginia
Find a comfortable place
Make your red wine
stains
disappear.
Virginia wine
each
month.
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Vol. IV, Issue No. 11
November 2009 |
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Dear Friend of Virginia
Wine:
As Thanksgiving approaches, we pause to reflect on
the year that is passing and all that we have to be
grateful for. We thank you for sharing our passion
for Virginia wines, for your continuing interest in this
newsletter and your support of VIRGINIA WINE LOVER
magazine. Keep it in mind when you're shopping for
your Holiday Gift list. The Holiday Issue
of VIRGINIA WINE LOVER will be coming your way in
the next couple of weeks. It's choc-full of unique
food and wine pairing ideas, places to visit and news
about events around the state. In addition to a feature
on the Chinese New Year, there's a Holiday Getaway in
Fairfax, a spectacular Holiday Gift Guide of
Virginia-made products, and much more.  Cheers! And Happy Thanksgiving!
Frank C. Britt
Publisher
P.S. Spread the word about Virginia Wine:
Forward this eNewsletter to a friend.
P.P.S. Win a Weekend Getaway for four at
Wintergreen Resort. Enter today!
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NOVEMBER WINE EVENTS & WINE
FESTIVALS |
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FEATURED WINE FESTIVAL FOR NOVEMBER:
THOMAS JEFFERSON WINE
FESTIVAL
Kick off the holidays on Saturday, November 21st
from 12 pm to 5 pm and celebrate Thomas Jefferson's
passion for wine-making in Virginia! Make plans to
attend the inaugural Thomas Jefferson Wine Festival and
sip in a one-of-a-kind historic setting at Poplar
Forest, Thomas Jefferson's secluded retreat home.
Featuring the Bedford Wine Trail, Virginia wineries,
craft vendors, food, music and much
more!
Throughout his life Thomas Jefferson
was an advocate of the virtues of wine. His advice
to merchants and friends opened channels for the
importation of wine into the United States from France,
Italy, Portugal and Spain. In 1811, Thomas Jefferson
wrote from Poplar Forest to his good friend Dr. Benjamin
Rush, "I find friendship to be like wine, raw when new,
ripened with old age, the true old man's milk and
restorative cordial."
At the festival,
"Thomas Jefferson" (renowned interpreter Bill Barker, of
the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation) will be present to
visit with guests and talk about his love of wine and
life at Poplar Forest. He will be joined by Gabriele
Rausse, often called the "father of Virginia wines," for
a converation about wine-making in Virginia.
House tours will be available throughout
the day at a reduced rate. Festival will occur rain or
shine and will be held in heated spaces. Admission for
those 21 and over includes a complimentary wine glass.
Poplar Forest is located in Bedford County, near
Lynchburg. Only 2 hours from Richmond, 4 hours from
Washington, DC and 30 minutes off the Blue Ridge
Parkway. More information? Visit www.poplarforest.org/events/wine-festival or call (434) 534-8120.
Available space
prevents listing all wine-related events in
Virginia. We strongly suggest that for events
listed you check websites and/or call for
details. If you would like to have an event
included in an upcoming newsletter, e-mail
information to info@vawinelover.com no later than 10th of the
month.
NOVEMBER 6-7: TALES
OF SUSPENSE DINNER THEATERChateau
Morrisette (Floyd) Three course buffet followed by
suspenseful evening of theater in the Morrisette
Room. Gather round the theatrical campfire for tales
of suspense. (540) 593-2865 www.thedogs.com
NOVEMBER 7, 14, 21 &
28: FABULOUS FONDUE SATURDAYSNorth
Mountain Vineyards (Mauertown) Traditional fondues
freshly prepared with a selection of cheeses and served
with accoutrements, according to reservation. (540)
436-9463 www.northmountainvineyard.com
NOVEMBER 7: BALLPARK FRANK ROAST
AND TOAST
Three Fox Vineyards
(Delaplane) Military Appreciation Day honoring all
the brave men and women currently deployed in the Middle
East. Sign free greeting cards to send to
Afghanistan. Gather round the cozy firepot to
toast marshmallows and join in a toast to the
military. (540) 364-6073 www.threefoxvineyards.com
NOVEMBER 7: FIRST
ANNUAL "TRUE BLUE BURGOO"Bluemont Vineyard
(Bluemont) Great Country Farms local harvest and
Fields of Athenry's fresh meats in a hearty stew cooked
over open fire. Art and live music. (540)
554-8439 www.bluemontvineyard.com
NOVEMBER 7: GALA
RELEASE PARTY
Gray Ghost Vineyards
(Amissville) The only time Gray Ghost opens the
Reserve Cabernet. Enjoy an evening of live music,
open wine bar and buffet dinner. (540) 937-4869 www.grayghostvineyards.com
NOVEMBER 7: CHEESE
& WINE PAIRING
Virginia Mountain
Vineyards (Fincastle)
A gourmet delight. Local
and world class cheeses paired with fine wines.
(540) 473-2979
NOVEMBER 7-8: HEART
OF VIRGINIA HARVEST WINE TRAIL
James River
Cellars (Glen Allen) Start your tour at Cooper,
Grayhaven, James River Cellars or Lake Anna
wineries. Passport tickets provides souvenir wine
glass, winery tastings, and special gift upon completion
of tour. Munchies, crafts, special promotions,
barrel tastings. (804) 550-7516 www.hovawinetrail.com
NOVEMBER 7-8:
COMPARATIVE CHIANTI TASTINGVilla Appalaccia
(Floyd) For serious wine lovers. Wonderful
Sangiovese wines from Tuscany paired with typical foods
of the region. See website for available
times. (540) 593-3100 www.villaappalaccia.com
NOVEMBER 7-8: FUDGE
APALOOZAFox Meadow Winery
(Linden) Various types of fudge paired with red and
white wines. You'll be amazed at the
combinations. RSVP. (540) 636-6777 www.foxmeadowwinery.com
NOVEMBER 21-22: HOLIDAY OPEN
HOUSE
Low on liquid assets? Stock up
for the holidays with wine and gifts. Light fare.
Tasting free weekend. (540) 894-5253 www.coopervineyards.com
NOVEMBER 27:
HOLIDAY KICK-OFF
Gray Ghost Vineyards
(Amissville) Shop in style as you enjoy light hors
d'oeuvres and browse new gifts for the
holidays. (540) 937-4869 www.grayghostvineyards.com
NOVEMBER 27-29:
THANKSGIVING WEEKEND CUVEE TASTING
Sugarleaf
Vineyards (North Garden) Enjoy a very special tasting
of Cuvee Neubia. This is one of the rare moments
when this wine which has been aging for over 18 months
is offered for tasting. (434) 984-4272 www.SugarleafVineyards.com
NOVEMBER 28: DECK
THE HALLS ILLUMINATION
CrossKeys (Mt.
Crawford) Rekindle the spirit of the holidays as
CrossKeys is illuminated. Holiday bazaar for
unique wine gifts. Mulled wine and
carolers. (540) 234-0505 www.crosskeysvineyards.com
NOVEMBER 30: SOUP
& SIP
Blue Ridge Vineyard (Eagle
Rock) In honor of our friends throughout the year -
soups, snacks, mulled wine and music. (540)
798-7642 www.blueridgevineyard.com
Be sure and print a
copy of our festivals and events and post on your
refrigerator!
If we have missed listing an event in
this newsletter, we can still add it to our newsletter
posted on the www.vawinelover.com
website. |
FEATURED VINO! VIRGINIA RESTAURANT
THE WILLIAMSBURG LODGE
RESTAURANT
By Barbara Rust Brown,
Williamsburg Lodge |
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(Photo courtesy of Colonial Williamsburg
Foundation)
Completely renovated and redesigned in 2007, the
Williamsburg Lodge reflects its Virginia setting in
everything from the architectural details to its
"Virginia Experience" dinner menu. The Lodge
restaurant serves contemporary American cuisine with
Southern and Chesapeake influences. This fall, executive
chef Rhys Lewis has created regional specialties such as
Eastern Shore jumbo crab cakes served with stone ground
cheddar grits and smoked tomato butter sauce; fried
green tomato BLT, and Virginia oyster stew accompanied
by fall favorites spice roasted sweet potatoes, garlic
sautéed spinach, winter root vegetable gratin and
Virginia honey lacquered skillet bread. When possible,
Chef Lewis purchases locally produced herbs, honey,
cheeses, fish, poultry, mushrooms, beets, squash and
beef - many from the Merchants Square Farmers Market,
named America's favorite midsized farmers market in a
contest sponsored by the American Farmland Trust.
Sommelier Charles Birr believes offering a wide
selection of Virginia wines is a natural choice for the
Lodge restaurant, which celebrates the bounty of
Virginia. Says Birr of the Lodge wine list, "The value
and quality of Virginia wines warrants listing them
alongside other American wines, rather than in a
separate listing, as many other restaurants do." The
Lodge menu includes 45 different Virginia wines by the
bottle and 15 Virginia wines by the glass.
Williamsburg Lodge
Restaurant
310 South England
Street
Williamsburg, Virginia 23185
For
reservations call: 757-229-2141
Lunch served daily; Dinner Tuesday through
Sunday; Friday night seafood buffet
"Wine, Wit and
Wisdom," Saturdays at 2 p.m.; Sunday Brunch
Williamsburg Lodge Restaurant is a member of
Vino! Virginia, a Virginia Wine Lover sponsored
program to promote Virginia wines. These Virginia
restaurants sell Virginia wines by the glass and promote
the selections through their menu and/or blackboard
specials.
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NOVEMBER BOOK SELECTION:
THE RIESLING RETRIBUTION
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When a tornado rips through vineyard owner Lucie
Montgomery's 500-acre farm, it not only destroys some of
Lucie's newest grapevines, it also unearths an old
grave. Rumors fly among neighbors that someone in
Lucie's family was involved in the murder, but Lucie has
more on her mind than secrets buried with the
victim in the vineyard. Her charming new vineyard
manager constantly clashes with her winemaker Quinn
Santori and her complicated feelings for Quinn - both
romantic and professional - are tested when she learns
he may be participating in activities that could cost
him his job.
Meanwhile, Lucie has given permission to a group of
Civil War re-enactors to use a field near the gravesite
to stage a local battle, though she becomes increasingly
unsettled by stories of ghosts who still haunt the real
battleground with its cemetery of unknown soldiers. As
the day for the reenactment approaches, the ghosts of
her own family's past converge for an outcome Lucie
never could have imagined.
THE RIESLING RETRIBUTION (Scribner; August 4,
2009; Hardcover ISBN: 1416551689; $25), is the fourth
novel in Ellen Crosby's terrific Virginia wine country
mystery series. Available wherever books are
sold.
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TRENDS: REMOTE TASTING ROOMS
By Lydia Hansen, Prince Michel
Vineyard & Winery |
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Virginia is obviously for Wine Lovers judging from
our over 150 wineries across the Commonwealth. But
what's next for all of us who love to spend our free
time traipsing across the countryside just to find the
best Cab Franc? One trend emerging to tantalize
oenophiles of all levels is remote tasting rooms.
There's nothing like sampling wine from the very
site of a grape's nativity, but to entice those a bit
more urban, Virginia wineries are looking to "open shop"
in our cities. Wine trailblazers like Prince
Michel now have tasting rooms in Charlottesville and
Alexandria to complement their home base in
Leon. Other wineries, like Boxwood, have
also moved beyond their pastoral vineyard spaces.
Like the traditional winery tasting room, remote sights
offer customers the opportunity to try wines guided by
friendly, conversational staff. You may not get
the vineyard tour or a close look at the bottling line,
but the connection to the actual winery is definitely
felt.
 For example in Prince
Michel's Alexandria tasting room, a colossal antique bar
dominates and draws you into their King Street
boutique. Never pretentious, yet always tasteful,
Prince Michel's remote sights model their successful
home winery with unique gifts like hand blown glassware
and artisan crafted wineracks. Local community
programs are supported as well with tasting fees donated
each month. Remote tasting rooms are just another way to stay
connected to Virginia wines! Wineries
are bringing their wines beyond the "winery".
They're positioning themselves to say, "Join us on a
Wednesday afternoon, too! We're accessible; take a break
from your busy schedule." You can still take the
drive to the country but also discover your Virgina
wines near by. As the birthplace of American
viticulture, Virginia wineries are now delivering
their wine experience directly to you.
For more information, contact:
Prince
Michel Vineyard & Winery
154 Winery
Lane
Leon, VA 22725
1-800-800-WINE
(9463)
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RECIPE OF THE MONTH:
SUGAR & SPICE SWEET POTATO FRIES
By Patrick
Evans-Hylton |
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 Ingredients
2 -
3 pounds sweet potatoes Cooking spray 2
tablespoons canola oil 1 tablespoon sugar 1/2
teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground
clove 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger Dash sea
salt Method
Wash
potatoes but do not peel. Preheat oven to 475F. Cut
potatoes into eighths lengthwise. Combine sugar, spices
and salt in a small bowl. Add potatoes to a large bowl,
drizzle in oil and toss to coat. Sprinkle in seasonings
and toss to coat. Place on two large baking sheets
lightly sprayed with cooking spray. Place in a single
layer on sheets and bake for 15 minutes. Turn fries with
spatula. Continue to bake for about 25 minutes, or until
fries become crispy and brown. While warm, sprinkle with
additional sugar on top and serve
immediately. 
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| BED
& BREAKFAST OF THE MONTH
LAFAYETTE INN, STANARDSVILLE, VA
By Dan
Ingraham |
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When Kaye and Alan Pyles purchased the historic
Lafayette Inn in Stanardsville nearly six years ago,
their mission was to pass along the best of their own
travel experiences to their guests. Alan's prior career
resulted in his staying in hotels over 3,000 times,
which afforded him the opportunity to gain a better
understanding of the world of travel. Taking note of
what created good and unique experiences has become a
core to how they operate the Inn today.
As an historic landmark, this grand 1840 building
with its three levels and sweeping colonnaded porches is
a destination in itself. Enjoy your choice
of seven unique deluxe rooms including the
separate "Dicey's Cottage". In addition, the
surrounding area also offers plenty to explore,
including several historic sites and great day trip
destinations including Skyline Drive, JMU and UVA, and
the Monticello Wine Trail.
 The highlight of your
visit to the Inn is sure to be their restaurant, named
"Virginia's Restaurant of the Year" (at the Virginia's
Food & Wine Society Banquet). Their original menu
represents a collection of some of the most memorable
meals they have enjoyed during their many years of
corporate travel. Their goal remains to provide
delicious food presented elegantly and attractively,
with a theme of "Sophisticated Southern".
For the ultimate dining experience, they offer a
"Chef Tasting" dinner, where diners enjoy a meal of 8 to
12 courses, each with an individual wine pairing and
expert commentary. You'll be impressed by over 100
wine choices, including more than 30 from Virginia.
Their selections have won recognition from Wine
Enthusiast every year they've been open.
So whether it's the history, the food, the wine, or
the entire experience, a visit to The Lafayette Inn is
sure to make you want to return.
For more information on
other Virginia Bed and Breakfasts, visit www.innvirginia.com.
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| VIRGINIA WINE LOVER MAGAZINE IS
EVERYWHERE! |
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| WE WERE
THERE! |
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VINTAGE TWEETS
September 30,
2009
Palomar Hotel, Arlington
On September 30th we were at the upscale and swanky
Palomar Hotel in Arlington to indulge in Vintage Tweets.
This fun-filled event, put on by the Virginia Tourism
Corporation and the Virginia Wine Marketing Office,
celebrated Virginia Wine Kick-off Month! The event
included great VA wines, delicious food, twitter trivia,
and much more.
GARLIC
& WINE FESTIVAL
October 10-11, 2009
Rebec Vineyards
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If you would like to contribute
an article to our WINE LOVER eNewsletter, please send
information to news@vawinelover.com.
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