| DuCard Vineyards, Etlan, Virginia |
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Vol X, Issue No. 9
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September 1, 2015
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Dear Wine Lover Friends, The weekends in September are packed full of festivals and winery activities throughout Virginia. Check out our Events Calendar and plan an excursion to experience the wines of the commonwealth. Our Event of the Month is Epicurience 2015 on September 4-6 at Morven Park in Leesburg, three fabulous days of tasting wines and savoring cuisines. Also this weekend is the featured Festival of the Week, Savor & Sip Culpeper on September 5. Later in the month is Constitution Day Celebration & Taste of Freedom Wine Festival on September 19 at Montpelier and the Festival of Grapes & Hops on September 26 in Petersburg. These are all popular events, so get your tickets early. The September Winery of the Month is DuCard Vineyards in scenic Madison County, a boutique winery that produces over a dozen varieties of elegant premium wines. Check out their events this month and be sure to enter the sweepstakes below for a DuCard Vineyard Tour & Tasting. We are pleased each month to bring you the Official Virginia Wine Lover, with current news about wine-related happenings around the state. Thanks for your continuing interest, and we hope to see you along the wine trail.
Cheers!
Frank C. Britt
Publisher
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EPICURIENCE VIRGINIA
Morven Park - Leesburg, Virginia September 4-6
Three days of tasting wines and savoring cuisine with The Grand Tasting at the heart of this epic event. The day-long edible showcase brings farm-to-table food, award-winning wines, notable chefs, live bands, and lots of other delicious diversions to the grounds of gorgeous Morven Park.
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DUCARD VINEYARDS...A TOP WINERY DESTINATION Etlan, Virginia
The scenic foothills of the Shenandoah Mountains in Madison County are home to DuCard Vineyards, a boutique winery that produces over a dozen varieties of elegant premium wines. DuCard is well on its way to becoming one on Virginia's top winery destinations.
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REGISTER TO WIN WINERY TOUR, TASTING & COMMEMORATIVE GLASS
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15% DISCOUNT
PROMO CODE:
FRANK15
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WINE FESTIVAL CONSULTING
AD DESIGN
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BALSAMIC GLAZED SALMON FILLETS
A Recipe from DuCard Vineyards | Pair with DuCard Quaker Rum Chardonnay
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SAVOR & SIP CULPEPER
September 5
Downtown Depot District, Culpeper, Virginia
A festival for lovers of all things wine, food and art. Discover new favorites in the Virginia wine industry. Find inspiration with seasonal offerings and meet the farmers of the Downtown Farmers Market. Gain insight through an educational program on topics such as the local food movement and the ins and outs of growing grapes in Virginia. Cheer for your favorite server in the Waiters Race!
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CONSTITUTION DAY CELEBRATION & TASTE OF FREEDOM WINE FESTIVAL
September 19 | James Madison's Montpelier
A day to celebrate freedom and the signing of the US Constitution, held in conjunction with Taste of Freedom, a premier wine festival for the whole family. Enjoy tastings all day from wineries, cider houses and breweries - all from Virginia.
The day includes mansion tours, the Liberty Ride Horse Parade, live music, specialty food vendors and children's games and activities. Picnic with your favorite beverage, enjoy the music & watch the fireworks display at dusk.
Held rain or shine. Main gate opens at 9:00 AM for mansion tours. Wine festival begins at noon, music at 3 PM. Picnic blankets and camping chairs welcome.
General admission tickets are $5. Wine festival tickets include general admission: $25/advance online or $30/gate. Children 14 and under are Free.
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FESTIVAL OF GRAPES & HOPS
September 26 | Historic Downtown Petersburg
Sip and Celebrate at Petersburg's Farmers Market in historic downtown. Gates open at 11:00 am and the festival continues with musical entertainment all day until 5:00 pm. Enjoy tastings from all-over-Virginia wineries and craft breweries and food from vendors out in force, as well as downtown restaurants.
Sponsored by the Petersburg Chamber of Commerce, the festival attracts over 50 artists and crafters from all over the commonwealth. Shop for handmade jewelry, hand painted glasses, musical instruments, pottery, antiques, artwork and more.
Tasting Tickets are $15 advance / $20 at the gate. Non-Tasting Tickets are $10 advance / $15 at the gate. All are available online, at the Chamber office and several retail outlets.
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MICHAEL SHAPS WINEWORKS
The innovative winery has distributed its products in bottles and boxes. Now it is the first winery in Virginia to sell growlers in the new tasting room that opened earlier this year. Growlers, glass containers into which liquid is poured, have long been popular with craft breweries. They can be washed out and brought back for refills.
LOUDOUN WINE AWARDSThe Loudoun Wineries Association's Inaugural Wine Awards will be presented on September 3 in Leesburg at the National Conference Center. During the initial round of the competition, 16 Loudoun winemakers evaluated 92 wines submitted by 22 Loudoun wineries. The winemakers recommended 50 of the 92 wines for the medal round, selecting seven gold and 27 silver medals to be awarded. The winemaker panels were moderated by Bruce Zoecklein, internationally-renown enologist and professor emeritus at Virginia Tech. www.lwa.wildapricot.org
A NEW WINE ANALYSES LAB FOR WINEMAKERSAs new wineries sprout up throughout Virginia and neighboring states, the trend towards wine quality and high standards is also increasing. Vitilis is a venture by veteran winemaker Sebastien Marquet and Isabelle Truchon that is focused on assisting winemakers reach their quality goals through quick and easy access to valuable results. With Vitilis Enology Lab Services they can consistently track the analytic chemistry of the product from harvest through the bottling process. www.vitilislab.com
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Labor Day is annually held on the first Monday of September, this year on September 7. Originally organized to celebrate labor contributions to the US economy, it is now largely a day of rest. Many of Virginia's wineries mark the Labor Day Weekend with special activities, and although too numerous to list here, we encourage you to spend "your day of rest" at your favorite winery.
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September 4-6: Epicurience Virginia
Morven Park (Leesburg)
Farm-to-table food, award-winning wines, notable chefs, live bands and lots of other delicious diversions.
www.epicVirginia.com
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September 5: Savor & Sip Culpeper
The Depot Downtown (Culpeper)
Wine, cider, beer, food, farmers market, live music and children's activities. Create a picnic or dine at area restaurants. Tickets in advance and at the gate.
www.culpeperdowntown.com
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September 5: Hard Cider Release
Cobbler Mountain Cellars (Delaplane)
The newest hard cider, Ginger Peach, will be released and available for a limited time. So, get it while it lasts!
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September 5: Twisted Vine 5K Trail Run
Virginia Mountain Vineyards (Fincastle)
Ideal place for this inaugural race. Spectacular mountain views, performance gender-specific shirt, commemorative tasting glass and complimentary tastings. Music and food for purchase.
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September 5: Bacon and Wine Pairing
Paradise Springs Winery (Clifton)
In honor of National Bacon Day, a special one day only Bacon and Wine Tasting. Five Paradise Springs wines will be uniquely paired with bacon varieties. Sold out last year so some early.
www.paradisespringswinery.com
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September 5: Orange Street Festival
East and West Main Street (Orange)
40th Annual festival with over 150 vendors of handmade and local goods and specialty foods. Beverage garden with hard cider, craft and domestic beers. Kids fun zone.
www.orangevachamber.com
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September 5: Wine, Swine and Swill
Nesselrod B&B (Radford)
Spectacular selection of wines, great food, live music, good people and a good cause. Benefits literacy volunteer program of the New River Valley Library.
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September 5: Bluegrass Jam
Notativa Vineyards (Purcellville)
Jam along or just enjoy the music of the Short Hill Mountain Boys. Jam is open to players of all skill levels. Wine and snacks available for purchase.
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September 5-6: Harvest Festival
First Colony Winery (Charlottesville)
The grapes have been harvested and it's time to celebrate. Join in stomping the grapes, enjoy hearty harvest lunch and listen to live music. Admission Fee.
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September 5-6: Appaloosa Festival
Skyline Ranch Resort (Front Royal)
Music and Great Outdoors experience with 20+ bands, vendors, great food, wine, beer and opportunities to explore. Admission fee.
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September 5, 6 & 7: BBQ & Live Music
Paradise Springs Winery (Clifton)
Close out the summer and celebrate Labor Day at Paradise Springs with Rockland's BBQ and live music throughout the 3-day weekend.
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September 6: First Sunday Jazz Series
Chateau Morrisette (Floyd)
Jazz in the Courtyard. A free event to enjoy with your family, dogs and friends. Delicious wines and grilled foods (or bring a picnic). Also bring your own seating.
www.thedogs.com
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September 6-7: Barrel Room Food & Wine Program
DuCard Vineyards (Etlan)
Small group seated tastings and seasonal menu of farm fresh gourmet food small plates in the Barrel Room. Also sample current vintages direct from the barrel. Reservations.
www.ducardvineyards.com
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September 7: Herndon Labor Day Festival
Herndon Town Green (Hernon)
On the town green in historic downtown Herndon. Main stage entertainment with well known groups, wineries and microbreweries, gourmet food and a fine arts show. Admission fee.
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About Events: As our information comes from many sources, we recommend you verify dates and times, as well as costs and reservations that may be required. (We are not responsible for incorrect or inaccurate information.)
If you would like to submit an event, send details (what, where and when, as well as contact information) to [email protected] no later than the 10th of the month prior to the event.
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Buy early bird tickets and save!
Festivals. Festivals. Festivals! Virginia Wine Lovers love festivals. Buy tickets for your favorite festivals at "Early Bird" savings. It's easy. CLICK HERE to select the festival(s) and follow link to purchase tickets.
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� 2006 - 2015 Britt Marketing & Public Relations
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Copyright � 2015 Official Virginia Wine Lover eNewsletter. All Rights Reserved.
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