There is lots of exciting news about Virginia's wine industry, and its scope and reach was brought home recently at the Governor's Wine Summit. International wine expert and keynote speaker, Steven Spurrier, offered kudos for Virginia wines with the comment sure to be heard around the world: "Virginia makes the kind of wine I like to drink."

The results are in from September's Visitor's Choice Awards. Thousands of our readers voted for their Favorite Winery Tasting Room. Congratulations to Cooper Vineyards, our Winery of the Month, for coming in on top with the greatest number of votes. If you haven't seen Cooper's spectacular tasting room, this is the month to visit.

Recognizing the growing interest in hard cider, November 9 through 17 has been designated Cider Week in Virginia. Also this month are two popular festivals you won't want to miss. Shenandoah Uncorked is on November 10 and the Thomas Jefferson Wine Festival on November 17. There are wine related events across the state, from the Colonial Harvest Wine Dinner at Stratford Hall on November 3 to the Madrigal Dinner and Tree Lighting at Chateau Morrisette on November 30. 

We give thanks this month for many things, including your continuing interest in the Official Virginia Wine Lover. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Cheers to Virginia wines and wine lovers!

  

Frank C. Britt  

  

  
NOVEMBER 10, 2012

    NOVEMBER 17, 2012

  Colonial Harvest Wine Dinner

November 3, 2012

Visit On-Line or In-Store

Shenandoah Uncorked

 November 10th, 2012

Thomas Jefferson Wine Festival

 November 17th, 2012

SAVE THE DATE

February 19-24, 2013

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CONGRATULATIONS TO THE TOP FIVE!

1. Cooper Vineyards (Louisa)

2. Early Mountain Vineyards (Madison)

3. West Wind Farm Vineyards (Max Meadows)

4. Prince Michel (Leon)

5. Barrel Oak (Delaplane)

REMAINING TOP 20 (alphabetically)      

      AmRhein's Wine Cellars

      Attimo Winery

      Barboursville Vineyards

      Chateau Morrisette

      Fox Meadow Winery

      Glass House Winery

      Gray Ghost Vineyards

      Keswick Vineyards

      Horton Vineyards

      Mountain Rose Vineyard       

      Paradise Springs Winery

      Pearmund Cellars

      Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards

      Pollok Vineyards

      Potomac Point Vineyard & Winery

      Rappahannock Cellars

      Twin Oaks Tavern Winery

Thomas Jefferson called wine "...a necessary of life with me", and now the wine festival that bears his name is a necessity for thousands of modern day wine enthusiasts.  Toast the "Father of Virginia Wine" at his secluded retreat home and sip in style.

The Thomas Jefferson Wine Festival returns to Poplar Forest on Saturday, November 17, 11 am to 5 pm.  In its fourth year, the event has become one of Virginia's premier wine festivals.  The special retreat of the third President is located near Lynchburg, just 30 minutes off the Blue Ridge Parkway, and an easy drive from Richmond and Washington, DC.

The festival features 14 Virginia wineries along with artisans, local food purveyors and musical entertainment.  Mr. Jefferson, as portrayed by Bill Barker, will engage in a lively discussion of wine with Gabriele Rausse who revived Jefferson's grapes at Monticello and is credited with revolutionizing the wine industry in Virginia.  

The festival is held inside large,heated tents, so weather is not a concern.  This is an adult event and there are no children's activities available.  No outside food or drink.  Service dogs only. (Read More)

Purchase tickets online at:  www.eventbrite.com/event/3620545148

$20 in Advance (highly recommended); $25 at the Door

$10 Non-tasting tickets (ages 12+).  Ages 11 and under are Free.
Tickets also available at:  Bedford Welcome Center (Bedford & Forest), Lynchburg Welcome Center, Poplar Forest Museum Shop, Aylors, The Basket Case (Lynchburg)

Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest
1542 Bateman Bridge Road - Forest, VA 24551

434-534-8120

www.thomasjeffersonwinefestival.com

Jeffery Mitchell, Owner

Cheese from sheep.  Cheese from goats.  Cheese from cow's milk.  Locally made cheeses and cheeses from Virginia, around the country and the world.  On a typical day, the popular Culpeper Cheese Company offers over 50 varieties of cheese with selections ranging from soft to hard cheeses, lactose-free cheese, cheeses that can be grilled and a selection of washed rinds and blue cheeses.  On a recent Saturday, they were sampling a French Brie, a Bulgarian feta and a Spanish sheep's milk cheese cured in olive oil.

Formerly known as the Frenchman's Cellar, the five-year old business is re-branding itself as the Culpeper Cheese Company and has recently undergone an expansion that provides street frontage and much more retail space.  "Our lease was up and we had the ideal chance to grow in place.  We changed our name to reflect the growth in our products over the years," said Jeffery Mitchell, owner. "We are excited to feature even more of your favorite wines, beers, cheeses and add new selections." 

They also sell (in-store and on-line)  over 400 wines, including an excellent selection from Virginia, specialty and craft beers, ciders, cured meats, olives and crackers.  The shop's focus is on local producers and affordable prices for the "every day gourmet."  

Unique to the area, Culpeper Cheese Company offers a staffed counter with free samples to explain their cheeses, and according to the shop's cheesemongers, tasting before you buy is the best way to learn. They also maintain that fresh off the wheel is better than a vacuum seal, explaining their preference for fresh cut cheeses. 

The Culpeper Cheese Company in downtown Culpeper is open seven days a week:  Monday through Thursday 11 am to 6 pm; Friday 11 am to 8 pm; Saturday 10 am to 7 pm; and Sunday noon to 5 pm.

129 East Davis Street, Suite 100      

Culpeper, Virginia 22701      

540-827-4757        

www.culpepercheese.com

 This is a quote from Steven Spurrier, the man who elevated California onto the world wine map. Keynote speaker for the first annual Virginia Wine Summit held in Richmond on October 2, Spurrier is the internationally acclaimed British wine authority who is most famous for his 1976 blind tasting in Paris in which French judges preferred California wines over some of the best from Burgundy and Bordeaux ("Judgment of Paris").  He is a consultant editor to Decanter magazine and president of the Circle of Wine Writers.  

The Summit was hosted by Governor and First Lady McDonnell who have championed Virginia wines around the world.  It brought together wine experts and industry leaders from around the country to taste Virginia wines and discuss key topics in moving the Virginia wine industry forward.

Spurrier also led the first session, the "Breakfast of Champions" which was a blind tasting of wines from Virginia and other globally recognized wine producing regions.  The tasting of 16 wines included two each of Viognier, Cabernet Franc, Bordeaux blends, Petite Verdot, Nebbiolo, Touriga Nacional, and hard cider. Virginia wines showed very well, decisively 'winning' seven of the eight match-ups with victories for: 

* Ducard Vineyards' 2010 Signature Viognier

* Barboursville Vineyards' 2009 Cabernet Franc Reserve 

* Potomac Point Vineyard and Winery's 2009 Heritage Richland Reserve

* Keswick Vineyards' 2009 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

* Barboursville Vineyards' 2008 Nebbiolo Reserve

* DelFosse Vineyards and Winery's 2008 Petit Verdot

* Foggy Ridge Cider's Sweet Stayman Cider  

Read More

November 3: Colonial Harvest Wine Dinner    

Stratford Hall (Stratford)

Dinner begins with a social hour where guests enjoy "colonial" hors d'oeuvres with rum or champagne punch. A multi-course dinner follows beginning with pheasant pate with fig and pistachio paired with 2007 Linden Rose. A Virginia wine accompanies each course. Overnight accommodations are available. Limited reservations.

www.stratfordhall.org