Virginia wines are flowing at a festival near you.
Virginia is a “Commonwealth of Wine” – with more than 200 wineries that stretch across every region of the state, from the waters of the Chesapeake Bay to the Blue Ridge Mountains. Virginia is a wine destination unlike any other, with wineries surrounded by lavish scenery, breathtaking views, quaint small towns and monumental historic sites.
Virginia is one of the only wine destinations in the country where visitors can kayak to a winery, enjoy bluegrass music while sipping local wines, sample regional wines at a National Park, or enjoy wine at a National Historic Landmark.
The state’s annual wine festivals vary just as the wineries do, offering wine lovers the chance to savor the flavors of Virginia’s vintages at events big and small. Below is a sampling of some of Virginia’s most popular annual wine festivals of 2013, with many more found here.
May
Montpelier Wine Festival — Montpelier, May 4-5, 2013
Montpelier Wine Festival showcases premier Virginia wineries on the historic grounds of 4th President James Madison. Live music, cooking with wine demonstrations and wine tasting classes all add to the experience. Specialty foods will be available along with an abundance of arts and crafts. Picnic areas and children’s activities offer fun for the whole family.
Town Point Spring Virginia Wine Festival — Norfolk, May 4-5, 2013
Enjoy the warm spring weather, first class Virginia Wines and spending time with friends along the Downtown Norfolk Waterfront during two wonderful afternoons of wine sampling and socializing at The Spring Town Point Wine Festival. Sample wines from over 20 Virginia Wineries and Vineyards along with great live acoustic music and the breeze from the Elizabeth River. Also on site are retailers selling fun and unique items from jewelry and glassware to chocolates and hats.
A Taste of New Kent Wine Festival - New Kent, May 11, 2013
Spend the day tasting from 14 Virginia wineries on the beautiful New Kent Winery grounds. This event also features food vendors, live music, carriage rides and a variety of arts & crafts vendors.
Uncork the Cure Wine Festival - Daleville, May 11, 2013
Uncork the Cure Wine Festival brings together seven unique wineries from Bedford and Botetourt County to celebrate good wine, delicious food, music, local crafters, family and friends. "Uncork the Cure" will honor the people in our lives as we partner with Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
Monticello Wine Festival — Charlottesville, May 11, 2013
Enjoy the splendor of spring while tasting Virginia’s best selection of wines. The Wine Festival at Monticello takes place on Monticello’s West Lawn. This spring, the public will be invited to the Wine Festival at Monticello to enjoy a glass of wine on the West Lawn as Jefferson himself did. Visitors will have the opportunity to walk the restored vineyards, meet wine-maker Gabriele Rausse and experience Monticello in the evening, as well as take tours of Jefferson’s home, hear live music on the West Lawn, and see the garden in full splendor while tasting wines from locally produced Virginia vineyards. Local wine experts will be on hand to answer questions about our region’s finest wines and how they compare to the vintages that Jefferson enjoyed.
Virginia Wine & Craft Festival — Front Royal, May 18, 2013
Enjoy tastings from 20 Virginia wineries along with crafts in historic downtown Front Royal, Virginia. More than seven blocks will be filled with 100 vendors, artists and crafters selling fine handmade jewelry, hand painted wine glasses, hand crafted musical instruments, pottery and ceramics, clothing, original paintings and artwork, antiques and more.
Spring Wine Festival & Sunset Tour at Mount Vernon - Alexandria, May 17-19, 2013
Join Mount Vernon in its spring celebration of the history of the Virginia wine industry on the east lawn overlooking the Potomac River. Guests sample wines from 16 award-winning Virginia wineries, learn about the successes and failures of our Founding Father’s wine endeavors, enjoy live jazz music, and meet “George Washington” on the Mansion's piazza. Guests experience an evening tour of George Washington's home and are invited to visit the rarely-open basement cellar vaults where he stored his wine.
Rassawek Spring Jubilee Wine & Heritage Festival - Columbia, May 18-19, 2013
The Rassawek Spring Jubilee is a two-day celebration that will showcase 10 local wineries for wine tastings as well as cultural, musical, agrarian and artistic traditions that are the heart and heritage of Goochland County.
ValleyFest - Massanutten, May 25, 2013
ValleyFest is the Shenandoah Valley's Annual Beer & Wine Festival. Celebrate the holiday weekend dancing to live music, sampling food, shopping for unique and handmade crafts, and enjoying quality wines and microbrews of the Shenandaoh Valley, Virginia and beyond.
June
Vintage Virginia Wine and Food Festival — Centreville, June 1-2, 2013
This event is a cornerstone of the East Coast wine festival season, featuring a one-stop shopping environment for wine collectors and enthusiasts, as well as a unique opportunity to interact with winemakers, movers and shakers, cultivating your own understanding of what makes a quality vintage. Centrally located in the beautiful outdoor arena of Bull Run Regional Park (just 20 minutes from Washington, DC) and featuring tastings of over 300 wine s from wineries across Virginia.
Summer Celebration Wine Festival - Newport News, June 8, 2013
The late spring splendor of Lee Hall Mansion's beautiful grounds provide the setting for the Annual Summer Celebration Wine Festival. The finest vintages from Virginia's best wineries combine with live music, exquisite food and unique craft vendors to make this one of the Peninsula's most popular events.
Manassas Wine and Jazz Festival- Manassas, June 16, 2013
The 9th Annual Manassas Wine and Jazz is held on Father's Day at the Manassas Museum Lawn located in the heart of historic Old Town Manassas. Featuring headline jazz artists, this event is an intimate and relaxing afternoon of tasting and purchasing wines from award-winning Virginia wine artisans.
Covington Cork and Pork Festival - Covington, June 28-29, 2013
The Covington Cork and Pork Festival is an outdoor festival featuring a Kansas City Barbeque Society sanctioned competition complete with a wine festival, music, food, street entertainment, and family fun.
July
The Horse and Hound Wine Festival - Bedford, July 13, 2013
Enjoy wine from some of Virginia’s finest wineries while listening to good music and visiting art, craft and food vendors. Virginia’s most unique wine festival has numerous events throughout the day with horses and dogs as the primary attractions such as the Parade of Horses, agility dogs and muskrat racing.
August
Blackdog Wine & Music Festival - Floyd, August 10, 2013
Pull out your lawn chair, pack your dancing shoes and sunglasses and prepare for a relaxing fun-filled afternoon. We'll have all your favorite artists, craftspeople and vendors on site for shopping and plenty of great food.
September
Harvest Wine Festival - Glen Allen, September 7, 3013
Join us and three other guest wineries to celebrate the fall harvest. Listen to live music, taste wine from four different wineries, attend wine 101 seminar and tours, visit with craft vendors and check out our food vendor.
Great Grapes Wine Arts and Food Festival – Reston, September 7-8, 2013
You are invited to celebrate the taste of over 100 unique, diverse and flavorful wines! The Virginia Wineries want you to sample the essences of their best grapes while expanding your tongue's tastes. A full palette awaits your arrival to Great Grapes! While mastering the art of wine tasting, be sure to attend our wine seminars, Gourmet Live! cooking demonstrations & shop amongst the unique artists!
Rockbridge Beer & Wine Festival - Lexington, September 8, 2013
Join us for a day of wine tasting, food and great music! Sample some of our local breweries and VA wines at the beautiful Lime Kiln Theater.
Squealing Black Dog Wine & Swine Festival - Floyd, September 14, 2013
Join us when the crisp fall air makes you think spicy fun! Spend a smoky day with guest pit masters offering barbeque for sale, their sauce competitions, live music, wine tastings, vendors and more!
Lake Anna Wine Festival - Mineral, September 21, 2013
The 1st Annual Lake Anna Wine Festival will be a day of celebrating local wineries, delicious refreshments, and fun for the entire family.
Lynchburg Beer & Wine Festival - Lynchburg, September 21, 2013
The Lynchburg Beer and Wine Festival takes place in historic downtown Lynchburg, Virginia at the Riverfront Festival Park located on Jefferson Street. Drawing
in over 7,000 guests to the Hill City for this one day event, this festival has grown by leaps and bounds since its conception in 2010. Over 15 area wineres are on hand with samples of their finest Virginia wines. Breweries from the state and beyond will have craft ales and lagers on tap with 76 different varieties for you to sample and buy.
South Hill Wine Festival - South Hill, September 28, 2013
Wine festival featuring wineries from all over the area, artists, music, food and more.
Smith Mountain Lake Wine Festival – Moneta, September 28-29, 2013
The Smith Mountain Lake Wine Festival is the perfect event for aficionados of wine as well as fans of outdoor concerts and craft festivals. Held at Southwest Virginia’s Smith Mountain Lake
in Moneta, nearly thirty wineries will participate with dozens of juried craft and food vendors.
October
October Virginia Wine Month – Statewide, October 2013
Wine lovers unite to Discover Your Local Crush for Virginia Wine Month, a month-long celebration with special events, tastings, festivals and more at Virginia’s 200+ wineries statewide.
Fredericksburg Area Wine Festival - Fredericksburg, October 12-13, 2013
Located on the beautiful banks of the Rappahannock River adjacent to downtown Olde Towne Fredericksburg, six Virginia wineries have samples of their wines, as well as a beer garden. Food concessions, local crafters and artisans, live music, and Aubrey Treakle's Barrel Train for the kids.
Carytown Food and Wine Festival - Richmond - October 6, 2013
Renowned Virginia wineries will once again be back to educate and provide samples of their succulent fermentations along with plenty of great food from local restaurants.
Taste of Culpeper - Culpeper, October 13, 2013
Experience the very best in Virginia wines, microbreweries and local cuisine from noon until 5:00 p.m. Discover treasures for your home and your table from local artisans and crafters. Fun and festivities for the entire family will promise an enjoyable fall afternoon.
Blackdog Wine & Music Festival - Floyd, October 12, 2013
Pull out your lawn chair, pack your dancing shoes and sunglasses and prepare for a relaxing fun-filled afternoon. We'll have all your favorite artists, craftspeople and vendors on site for shopping and plenty of great food.
Town Point Virginia Wine Festival - Norfolk, October 19-20, 2013
This fall festival favorite will showcase over 200 of Virginia's finest wine varieties and encapsulate the elegant flavor and flair of the region. Festival guests will enjoy a blissful weekend of sampling a wide selection of Virginia Wines in Town Point Park.
Powhatan's Festival of the Grape – Powhatan, October 19, 2013
Experience the excellence of 25 Virginia wineries at the annual Festival of the Grape at Powhatan's Historic Courthouse Square. A festival for family fun, tastings of Virginia's finest wines, delicious food, continuous live music and entertainment featuring Steve Bassett and Casper, arts and crafts. Only a short drive from Richmond, Fredericksburg, Charlottesville, Williamsburg, Lynchburg and Farmville, don't miss what is becoming one of the best wine festivals in Virginia.
Chesapeake VA Wine Festival - Chesapeake, October 12, 2013
Thousands will gather to enjoy wines not only from Virginia's finest wineries, but from around the world – and along the way will taste the many foods from the regions best restaurants.
November
Thomas Jefferson's Wine Festival - Bedford - November 16, 2013
Celebrate Jefferson's passion for wine! The festival will feature Virginia wineries, artisans and local food purveyors, musical entertainment and more.