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Restaurant of the Month

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Winery & Vineyard Tax Credit Legislation Proposed

2011 Virginia Wine Guide

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February Winery Events & Wine Festivals

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e-NEWSLETTER!

Vol. VI, Issue No. 2

February 2011

Dear Virginia Wine Lover,

Love is definitely in the air at wineries across Virginia, as evidenced by the number of festive Valentine's Day events planned for you and your sweetheart. You could also mark the occasion with a special visit to the Boar's Head in Charlottesville for dinner at the Old Mill Room or an overnight stay. Enter below to win a Bed, Breakfast and Dinner Package for Two at Virginia's premier resort.

The Great Virginia Wine Lover Chili Contest attracted lots of interest from our readers, with many submitting their favorite recipes. The winning recipe will be selected by a well-known chef and featured in March (not February, as originally announced) along with a recipe from a Virginia celebrity. The winner will receive the March selection of the Virginia Wine of the Month Club (www.vawineclub.com). Note that a number of wineries are featuring chili weekends in February.

It's time again for the Fourth Annual Virginia Wine Expo Presented by Kroger that occurs every February and spotlights the quality and growing popularity of our state's wines. The mid-Atlantic's premier destination wine and food event, the Expo is scheduled for February 25-27 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. Certainly one of the highlights of that event is the presentation of the Governor's Cup on the opening night. We are proud to be a Partner of the Virginia Wine Expo and hope to see you there!

Cheers! And Happy Valentine's Day.

Frank Britt

Frank C. Britt

Publisher

THE OLD MILL ROOM

The Boar's Head Resort, Charlottesville

By Pat Fleshman Burnette, Marketing & Communications Manager

Meet for drinks in Bistro 1834. Enjoy one of our innovative seasonal cocktails and learn why we're an historic resort. Then dine in our warm and elegant restaurant reconstructed from a water-powered gristmill built on the Hardware River in 1834. The Old Mill Room at the uniquely Virginian Boar's Head Resort is a Charlottesville epicurean destination. The fact that it has been a AAA Four-Diamond award winner for almost a quarter of a century is a tribute to its consistency for outstanding cuisine, intimate ambiance and superior service.

The menu features extraordinary Virginia grown ingredients combined with southern influence of our historic roots, with each dish a delight to the eye and to the palate. During the course of the evening, you may have an opportunity to meet Chef de Cuisine Francisco Ayala, Executive Chef Bill Justus or Pastry Chef Xavier Baudinet. "Dining in the Old Mill Room is like being at home with friends and family" says Courtney Roane, Director of Food and Beverage for The Boar's Head. "It's a culinary experience...it's about great times, food, wine, friends, and conversation."

Complementing the Old Mill menu is a superb wine list with over 200 offerings, and boasting a broad selection of Virginia wines that can be ordered by the glass or by the bottle. Whether it's a glass of sparkling Kluge Brut in a toast to Virginia wines, a Rockbridge Chardonnay as the perfect match to our Beginnings, a 2007 Saintsbury Carneros Pinot Noir, or a Whitehall Merlot to complement a beef tenderloin, our experienced wait staff is knowledgeable about wine pairing. They will teach you the rules and how to break them when choosing accompanying food and wine. For a sweet ending to a delicious evening enjoy one of our desserts prepared fresh daily or our delectable chocolates compliments of our pastry kitchen.

Overnight packages at The Boar's Head are as diverse as our food is delicious. Try one of our unique packages: Bed, Breakfast and Dinner; Valentine's Day Sweetheart; Stay and Play; Grand Slam Doubles; or Cabin Fever. We hope you'll choose to experience The Boar's Head today!

For more information, go our website or call 800-476-1988. Be sure to enter the drawing for a Free Bed & Breakfast Package.

The Boar's Head

200 Ednam Drive, Charlottesville, VA 22903

www.boarsheadinn.com

Grilled Veal Chop, Herb Roasted Fingerling Potatoes

& Asparagus w/ Peppercorn Crème Sauce

Click Here For

Recipe

INGLESIDE VINEYARDS

by Corey Veit, Director of Marketing & Communications

Ingleside Vineyards is nestled in the narrowest point of land between the Rappahannock and Potomac Rivers on the historic Northern Neck of Virginia. Here, the Flemer family takes great pride in producing wines from the vineyards on their 3000 acre estate which they have farmed for over a century. Just down the road from the winery is the site of the first recorded act of resistance to British rule. The birthplaces of Presidents George Washington and James Monroe are nearby, as is Stratford Hall, the birthplace of Robert E. Lee.

Ingleside Group Photo

Three generations of the Flemer family helped pioneer the emergence of Virginia wines onto the national and international wine scene. Producing its first wine in 1980, Ingleside is the oldest winery on the Northern Neck and the eighth oldest in Virginia. It is the first Virginia winery to make sparkling wine using traditional Methode Champenoise and to bottle Virginia's first Petit Verdot.

Click here to read more!

5872 Leedstown Road

Oak Grove, VA 22443

phone.804.224.8687

fax.804.224.8573

www.inglesidevineyards.com

WINERY AND VINEYARD TAX CREDIT

LEGISLATION PROPOSED

Legislation sponsored by Delegate Scott Garrett (HB 1837) and Senator Jill Vogel (SB 1264), originated as a recommendation of Governor McDonnell's Economic Development and Jobs Creation Commission. It is designed to spur more growth and economic prosperity in Virginia's wine/grape industry, one of the state's fastest growing subsectors.

What the legislation will accomplish: It provides for a reimbursable tax credit -- capped at $250,000 annually -- for the expansion or installation of a winery or vineyard. The tax credit is to be applied against an individual's income tax for 25 percent of the cost of such expansion or installation.

Why the legislation is important: It is a means of increasing the number of wineries and vineyards in Virginia, as well as attracting attendant businesses and services such as hotels, restaurants, inns, spas, surrounding agricultural operations, and other tourist-friendly attractions. Converting under-utilized farmland to working vineyards keeps agricultural land in production and stimulates rural economies through direct-to-consumer sales and agritourism.

Sec Haymore

Todd P. Haymore, Secretary of Agriculture & Forestry
Office of the Governor
111 East Broad St., Richmond,, VA 23218
804-692-2511

2011 VIRGINIA WINE GUIDE AVAILABLE

Wine Guide 2011

As of the first week in February, you'll find the new Virginia Wine Guide available at Virginia wineries, CVBs, Tourism Centers, wine and cheese shops, B&B's, hotels and restaurants.

This year, the Virginia Wine Marketing Office hosted its first-ever photography contest, with professional photographers and novices alike submitting over 200 entries. The winner is Christine Vrooman of Amherst County and her photograph of Ankida Ridge Farm and Vineyard is featured on the cover of the 2011 Winery Guide. To get a free copy of the 2011 Guide visit www.VirginiaWine.org/guide.

Wine Guide 2011

FEBRUARY 25-27

FOURTH VIRGINIA WINE EXPO Presented by Kroger

by Alex Papajohn, Executive Director

The Virginia Wine Expo Presented by Kroger is the Mid-Atlantic's premier destination wine and food event, featuring the talents of Virginia's most renowned wine producers, chefs and specialty food purveyors. Presented by Kroger, the event provides attendees with the best opportunity to sample and buy Virginia wine. Proceeds benefit the Virginia Wineries Association, the Central Virginia Food Bank and Meals on Wheels.

The Virginia Wine Expo Presented by Kroger will be held on February 25-27 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center in Richmond. Tickets are now on sale at VirginiaWineExpo.com. All attendees receive a beautiful crystal wine glass and are invited to sample wine from more than 60 Virginia wineries and gourmet food from some of the region's finest chefs.

The Fourth Annual Virginia Wine Expo Presented by Kroger is not to be missed!

Click here to read more!

FEBRUARY WINERY EVENTS AND WINE FESTIVALS
Our information for event listings comes from numerous sources. We have included contact information so that you can verify dates and times, as well as costs and reservations that may be required. If you would like to submit a festival or winery event, send it to info@winelover.com no later than 10th of the month.

February 4: Bacchus Wine and Food Festival

Virginia Living Museum (Newport News)
Seventh Annual. Taste fine wines from around the world and fabulous food selections from area restaurants. Live entertainment and silent auction. 757-595-1900 · www.thevlm.org

February 4: Chili & Wine Night

The Winery at La Grange (Haymarket)
Enjoy a steaming bowl of chili, a glass of wine and a comfy seat by the fireplace. 703-753-9360
www.wineryatlagrange.com

February 5: Wine Education Class 101

Philip Carter Winery (Hume)
Why wine? Explore social impacts, intellectual aspects and sensual appreciation. 540-364-1203 · www.pcwinery.com

February 5: Compare and Contrast Styles in Cabernet

Vint Hill Craft Winery (Vint Hill)
Evaluate a range of Cabernet Sauvignons, including cool versus warm climates, old world versus new world style, young versus old vintages and aging. Reservations.
703-991-0191 · www.vinthillcraftwinery.com

February 5: Mardi Gras and Gumbo Celebration

Horton Vineyards (Gordonsville)
Join Chef Emeril Le Horton and fellow gumbo lovers at this traditional Mardi Gras event. Games and prizes.
800-829-4633 · www.hortonwine.com

February 5: Soup Weekend at Willowcroft

Willowcroft Farm (Leesburg)
Join us for warm soup served with assorted breads, crackers, wine tasting and a glass of your favorite wine.
703-777-8161 · www.willowcroftwine.com

February 5: The Super Bowl of Wine

Paradise Springs Winery (Clifton)
Come, learn, sample and taste five PSW wines against five global counterparts from other wine regions of the world. Learn what makes Virginia unique. Reservations.
703-830-9463
www.paradisespringswinery.com

February 6: First Sunday of the Month Brunch

Prince Michel Vineyard (Leon)
Stop in and enjoy a delightful brunch buffet, along with wine tastings, tours, and great shopping. Reservations.
800-800-9463 · www.princemichel.com

February 11: Chili & Wine Night

The Winery at La Grange (Haymarket)
Enjoy a steaming bowl of chili, a glass of wine and a comfy seat by the fireplace. 703-753-9360 · www.wineryatlagrange.com

February 11-12: Merlot, the Wine of Love

Vint Hill Craft Winery (Vint Hill)
Private seated horizontal tasting of five merlots of varying styles. Learn about the wine of love, with chocolate, of course. Reservations.
703-991-0191 · www.vinthillcraftwinery.com

February 12: New Wine Release Party

DuCard Vineyards (Etlan)
Release or our new, first ever, Rose, a dry wine in the French style with great fruit and a light finish. A party, with music and singing.
540-923-4206 · www.ducardvineyards.com

February 12: Experience India . . . Taste Virginia

Narmada Winery (Amissville)
Join wine educator Rob Stewart of the Sommelier Wine & Food Society for wine and food pairings. Reservations.
540-937-8215 · www.narmadawinery.com

Virginia Wineries will celebrate Valentine's Weekend beginning February 11 through February 14. Many of the events are listed here, and we recommend you visit winery websites for full details.