Tourism Divisions

VIRGINIA WINE MONTH TURNS 20 THIS OCTOBER

NEWS RELEASE

June 25 , 2008

Virginia Wine Month Turns 20 This October

- Wine lovers and adventure seekers prepare to celebrate at festivals, tastings and fetes-

RICHMOND, Va.  - Like a great bottle of wine, Virginia Wine Month will turn 20 in October 2008, and wine lovers and adventure seekers are preparing to celebrate at festivals, tastings and events across the state.

Virginia Wine Month began in 1988 as a way to support the state’s young wine business - just 40 wineries at the time - and promote wine travel in Virginia.  Twenty years later, passions for wine have never been higher and Virginia’s reputation for wine-making and now more than 130 wineries continues to grow.  As Virginia is fifth in the nation for wine production, the state’s wineries, which span from the Eastern Shore to the heart of Appalachia, serve as ideal destinations for wine lovers and travel enthusiasts.  Virginia Wine Month is a major highlight of the year and makes for an ideal time to visit Virginia, as foliage turns brilliant and the harvest brings new delights to tasting rooms across the state.

During the 20th Anniversary of Virginia Wine Month, guests will experience the best of wine travel in Virginia, as wineries host festivals and events with live music, art, shopping and outdoor adventures including kayaking trips and hot air balloon rides. Many of the wineries are an adventure in themselves, from the wine cave at Tarara Winery in Northern Virginia to the polo matches hosted at King Family Vineyard near Charlottesville. 

Virginia offers something for everyone during Wine Month.  The multitude of fine wineries located throughout Northern and Central Virginia, the Northern Neck and the Shenandoah Valley provide visitors with one-of-a-kind wine experiences based on individual interests.  Oenophiles will appreciate the offerings in these regions, which produce some of the nation’s most exemplary wines, including Norton, Viognier, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, which are garnering national acclaim for Virginia.

History buffs are not forgotten, as they can delight in traversing the stomping grounds of Thomas Jefferson in Charlottesville, Virginia.  It was here that Jefferson once dreamed of a thriving wine industry, now flourishing in his old backyard along the Monticello Wine Trail, which connects 24 wineries in the Charlottesville area together.  This is just one of the many unique wine trails Virginia boasts, and some of the best wineries are easily located alongside these trails.

Virginia’s central location on the Eastern seaboard with numerous airports makes it a very reachable destination for visitors passionate about new wine experiences.  Visitors can come find the one they love this fall in Virginia and celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Virginia Wine Month. For information on the events and packages being offered during Virginia Wine Month, call 800-932-5827 or visit www.Virginia.org/wine.   

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