Celebrating Virginia Vines – And Then Some

August 1st, 2017

Plenty of opportunities to fill your glass this fall


VA Wine

What goes better with the fall season than sweaters and pumpkin-flavored everything?

Wine, of course. And what’s the best way to drink wine?

During a wine festival, of course.

We’ve got your Virginia fall wine festival lineup right here, complete with dates, prices, locations and links.

Cheers, and enjoy!


November 18

Thomas Jefferson Wine Festival

We can thank Thomas Jefferson for many important ventures such as the Declaration of Independence, UVA, and most importantly: Virginia wineries.

Show your gratitude for our Founding Father by attending the annual Thomas Jefferson Wine Festival. There’ll be an array of local wineries and cideries, food vendors, retail, and live music, all punctuated by Jefferson’s very tickled spirit in the air.

Location

Poplar Forest

1542 Bateman Bridge Road

Forest, VA 24551

Time

11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Prices

$10: Feeling like staying sober

$25: Feeling like getting a head start

$30: Feeling like a procrastinator

$125: Feeling like a VIP

$225: Feeling like a VIP with your other half


Stuff ya missed:

September 9-10

Neptune’s Fall Wine Festival

Margaritas are rated the number one beverage to drink on the beach. But this September, King Neptune is here to puncture that made-up statistic with his annual wine festival on Virginia Beach. Enjoy live music, food trucks, and local wines from over a dozen vendors.

No salted rims permitted.

Location

Neptune’s Park

31st Street and Atlantic Ave

Virginia Beach, VA 23451

Time

Noon-5 p.m. both days

Prices

$30: Sunday Funday

$35: Saturday Funday

$50: Saturday Funday for you Very Important People out there


September 16

Wine by the Lake

Glistening turquoise water! Loads of local wildlife! Postcard-worthy sunsets! Tight-knit communities! Just when you thought Lake Anna couldn’t get any better … they went and put together a wine festival.

Check out their one and only annual wine festival, featuring local wineries, local restaurants, and local … locals, all against the backdrop of that dazzling lake.

Location

Lake Anna State Park

6800 Lawyers Road

Spotsylvania, VA 22551

Time

11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Prices

$20: For the plan-aheaders (through Aug. 27)

$25: For the dawdlers (after Aug. 27 but still in advance)

$30: For those who procrastinate till they get there


September 16

2017 Virginia Cider Festival

If you’re more of an apple than grape person, this festival is calling your name. With not a single grape in sight, 25 cideries will be on premise pouring over 60 different varieties. Look out for your go-to Virginia faves such as Blue Bee, Buskey, Potter’s, Cobbler Mountain, and Bold Rock. Or for a little international flair, check out the tastes from Belgium, France, Ireland, and Spain.

Or try them all. It’s unlimited, for gosh sake’s.

Location

Fredericksburg Fairgrounds

2400 Airport Ave.

Fredericksburg, VA 22401

Time

11 a.m.-6 p.m.

Prices

$10: No cider, thanks, I’ll just drive

$30: Early bird gets the wor- I mean, cheaper admission

$40: Really risking the chance of tickets still being available at the gate


September 16

Lynchburg Beer and Wine Festival

Not only is this a wine festival featuring over 16 local Virginia wineries, it’s also a beer festival with local and national brews on tap, plus ciders. So that means wine lovers and beer lovers and cider lovers win. Oh, and there’s a huge array of different cuisines to pick from, so food lovers win too.

In fact, Lynchburg Living Magazine would agree, because they voted it “Best Festival.” Can’t argue with that.

Location

Lynchburg City Stadium

3176 Fort Ave.

Lynchburg, VA 24501

Time

Noon-7 p.m.

Prices

$25: You’re 21 or older and know how to drink responsibly and how to buy your tickets in advance

$30: You’re 21 or older and know how to drink responsibly

$15: You’re probably at least 16 years of age ’cause you’re buying the designated driver ticket

$0: You’re 5 or under but still like to party


September 16-17

The South African Food and Wine Festival

Shake up your palate with quality, exotic wines from South African soil. Surprise your taste buds with dishes such as “grilled prawns peri peri” and “boerewors sausage.” Treat your ears to upbeat rhythmic music from the other side of the equator.

As you might have gathered … this is not your average wine festival.

Location

Grayhaven Winery

4675 E. Gray Fox Circle

Mineral, VA 23117

Time

11 a.m.-6 p.m. both days

Price

$20: General Admission

$30: General Admission but forgot to get tickets ahead of time

$5 additional: General Admission and came to your senses that obviously you should add on the wine-taster price


September 16-17

Stratford Hall Wine and Oyster Festival

Wine drinkers: sample the wine, visit the craft distillery booths, sample the wine again, repeat.

Non-wine drinkers: browse the antique car show, listen to the live music, nosh on the local and international cuisine, repeat.

Oyster-lovers: scoop the oyster, watch a shucking demonstration, attend a cooking class, repeat.

Families: check out the arts and crafts, visit the miniature farm animals, take a ride on the barrel train, repeat.

If you haven’t already guessed … there’s something out here for everyone.

Location

Stratford Hall

483 Great House Road

Stratford, VA 22558

Time

Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Prices

$5: “I’m only 7-13 years old”

$10-$15: “I’m only here for the oysters”

$20-$25: “I’m only going to try every single winery a few times”


September 23

Chase City Shine and Wine Festival

Arts, crafts, friends, fun, and most importantly: wine. Oh, and don’t let the name fool you … the event takes place under two pavilions, so it’ll happen whether the sun is shiny or not.

Location

Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative

11633 Hwy 92

Chase City, VA 23924

Time

Noon-6 p.m.

Prices

$15: Arts and crafts seem cool

$20-$25: Wine seems cooler


October 6-7

Barrels, Bottles and Casks Tours

Thomas Jefferson loved a lot of things. America. Education. Freedom. Women named Sally. But let’s be honest, his one true love was booze.

Less of a wine festival and more of a historical tour with historical beverages, this event takes guests around Poplar Forest plantation, Jefferson’s peaceful retirement estate. Throughout the tour, learn about recent archaeological excavations and enjoy specialty spirits and snacks popular during the 19th century.

Location

Poplar Forest

1542 Bateman Bridge Road

Forest, VA 24551

Time

6 and 7 p.m. both days

Price

$25: Flat rate


October 6-8

Fall Wine Festival and Sunset Tour

George Washington had a lot of triumphs in his life; helping to found America, for instance, was probably pretty high up on his résumé, as was having the country’s largest distillery. Winemaking … well, it wasn’t his greatest achievement, but he certainly gave it a shot. Come celebrate his wine-related successes, and other wineries’ wine-related successes, at the Fall Wine Festival and Sunset Tour.

A little bit of history, a little bit of wine. Oh, and George himself will be present. Maybe you can ask him about this wooden teeth.

Location

Mount Vernon

3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway

Mount Vernon, VA 22121

Time

6-9 p.m. each day 

Prices

$40: On Friday

$48: On Saturday

$36: On Sunday (if you’re up for it at this point)


October 7

Powhatan Festival of the Grape

The only downside to this festival is that you may have a hard time figuring out where to start. Should you start with the live music? Or the artisan vendors selling jewelry, soap, pottery, and art? What about the food? Or maybe one of the 20+ wineries pouring unlimited samples?

Wait … yes, start with the wine. Always start with the wine.

Location

Powhatan Festival of the Grape

3800 Old Buckingham Road

Powhatan, VA 23139

Time

11 a.m.-6 p.m.

Price

$15: The too-young-to-drink-wine ticket

$25: The drink-as-much-wine-as-you-want ticket


October 7

Yorktown Wine Festival

You think you’re just making the trip to Yorktown, but really you’re venturing out to Europe as well. Yorktown shares history with its sister cities, Port-Vendres and Zweibrücken. And during the festival, it’ll share its sister cities’ wine as well.

Sample French bubbly (real Champagne!), plus German Reislings and Gewürztraminers (Google it).

But Yorktown hasn’t forgotten its roots; it’ll also have a wide array of Virginia wine to taste.

Location

Riverwalk Landing

425 Water St.

Yorktown, VA 23690

Time

Noon-6 p.m.

Prices

$30: Buy jetzt!

$35: Buy später!


October 14-15

27th Annual Virginia Wine and Garlic Festival

Pickles and ice cream. Potato chips and chocolate. Bert and Ernie. Some combinations don’t seem to go together, but they somehow do. The Wine and Garlic Festival is no exception; a variety of wineries and cideries with unlimited tastings, paired right alongside specialty garlic-saturated cuisine.

Not recommended for vampires or first dates.

Location

Rebec Vineyards

2229 N. Amherst Hwy.

Amherst, VA 24521

Time

10 a.m.-5 p.m. both days

Price

$15-$20: Just cloves for me, please

$20: Nine friends and I enjoy drinking wine together

$25-$30: Which grape variety pairs best with garlic …?

$60: I’m special and really like swag


October 14-15

42nd Annual Virginia Wine Festival

Where to begin … let’s start with the complimentary wine glass. Each participant receives one to fill with unlimited samples of over 200 types of wine. A little cider might find its way in there throughout the day as well.

Then over in the land of edible sustenance, find a variety of local food vendors and food trucks. Or wander into the VA Oyster Pavilion, with freshly shucked oysters from the Chesapeake Region, plus more wine, cider and Virginia beer.

Guests are advised not to put oysters in their complimentary wine glass; but who knows what could happen after hours of bottomless tastings?

Location

Oronoco Bay Park

100 Madison Street

Alexandria, VA 22314

Prices

$35: Just a complimentary wine glass and unlimited tastings for me, thanks

$65: Just all of that plus a private tent, exclusive tasting, and one-hour early admission for me, thanks


October 21

Annual Gloucester Wine Festival

Carefully selected Virginia wines. Decadent cuisine. Shopping from local artisans and vendors. Plus, who could have a bad time at a wine festival on “Daffodil Lane”?

Location

Brent and Becky’s Bulbs

7900 Daffodil Lane

Gloucester, VA 23061

Time

11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Prices

$25: Buy now!

$30: Buy at the gate!


October 21-22

Annual Fall Town Point Virginia Wine Festival

What’s better than a festival? A festival that has wine. What’s better than a festival that has wine? A festival that has wine, set up on the shore of a river. What’s better than a festival that has wine, set up on the shore of a river? Let’s just say “the sunset” and leave it at that.

Location

Town Point Park

Waterside Drive

Norfolk, VA 23510

Time

11 a.m.-6 p.m. both days

Prices

$20-$25: I would not like any wine or a free tasting glass

$30-$40: I would absolutely like unlimited wine and a free tasting glass

$65-$75: I would additionally like the VIP treatment with an exclusive destination area and complimentary refreshments.


November 4-5

Caledon Art and Wine Festival

Black Friday is weeks away, but don’t let that deter you from getting a head start on your holiday shopping. The Caledon Art and Wine Festival will feature arts and crafts from local artisans, perfect and unique holiday presents for your friends and family. Unless of course, you’re one of those people who likes to do all of their Christmas shopping amongst swarms of fellow sleep-deprived shoppers at 2 a.m. the day after Thanksgiving.

In which case, just come for the wide selection of local wine.

Location

Caledon Natural Area

11617 Caledon Road

King George, VA 22485

Time

Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Sunday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Prices

$15: Wine tasters

+ $5: Car parking

$0: Non-cars/non-drinkers


November 4-5

Fredericksburg Wine Festival

Everyone on the Fredericksburg Wine Festival website looks like they’re having the time of their lives. And why wouldn’t they? They’re imbibing in exquisite cuisine, succulent wine tastings, and a little pre-holiday shopping.

Oh, and part of their ticket sales went to the Frasier-Mason Some Gave All Foundation. So what’s not to smile about?

Location

The Village Towne Centre

137 Spotsylvania Mall Drive

Fredericksburg, VA 22407

Time

Both days 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Prices

$10: Drivers

$20-25: Drinkers

$15: Drinkers who thought ahead and ordered their tickets in a group

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