Belle Grove Plantation to host Wine Fest

Belle Grove Plantation will host its annual Wine Fest on Saturday, August 27, from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m.

Tickets are on sale now at www.bellegrove.org.

The event will feature tastings from North Mountain Vineyard & Winery (Maurertown), Mountain View Vineyard (Strasburg), Quievremont Wine (Washington), Hunt’s Vineyard (Stuarts Draft), Valerie Hill Vineyard & Winery (Stephens City), and Chateau O’Brien (Markham).  Winchester Ciderworks and Old Hill Cider (Timberville) will also participate.  Copper Fox Distillery from Sperryville will attend this year’s festival and provide samples of their products, which include Belle Grove 1797 Whiskey, based on the grains and techniques used at Belle Grove’s 18th century distillery.

Visitors with tasting tickets will receive a souvenir tasting glass and be able to sample from all vineyards and cideries as well as purchase wine or cider by the glass, bottle, or case.  There will be tent where guests may “check” their bags, making it easier for them to move around to all the activities at the event.

Live music will be another feature of the festival.  From 11:30-2:30, country music and honky-tonk singer and Strasburg native, Danni Leigh, will perform.  At 3:00 p.m., Clay Arthur and the Mystic Pistols will take the stage with their eclectic variety of music including favorites from Clarence Clearwater Revival, Jimmy Buffett, George Strait, Violent Femmes, and more.

Throughout the day will be sheepdog handling demonstrations by Mark Soper and Nancy Cox Starkey in the field behind the tasting area.  The U.S. Border Collie Handlers Association’s 2017 National Sheepdog Finals will be held at Belle Grove September 26-October 1, 2017.

Belle Grove’s Wine Fest will also include cooking demonstrations in the big, red barn.  Master Gardener Larry Haun will present “Cooking with Herbs” from 12:00-12:30 and then conduct a tour of the Belle Grove historic herb and flower garden.  At 1:30, Chef Christa Nahhas of La Nourriture Catering will demonstrate “Ciders and Sliders” with savory and sweet treats.  At 3:00, Chef Blair Dolinar of Nibblins’ Gourmet and Kitchen Shop will conduct a demonstration featuring peanut soup. For dessert at 4:00, Chef Tiffany Akers Hockman of Tippy’s Bakery in Strasburg will demonstrate making a wine infused cake.

Food will be available for purchase from area vendors.  Winchester based food truck, Shaffers Barbecue Palace, will bring their popular smoked meats and sides made with family recipes.  Mac Shack Express will be serving up their comfort food mac n’ cheese creations.

Among the artisan vendors at Wine Fest will be Flavor Pourfection Olive Oil, Hackwood Farms pickles, salsa, and condiments, Long Ridge Cigars, Gypsy Catwalk fine clothing, Clyde Jenkins traditional split oak baskets, George Anderton blacksmithing, Mata’s Menagerie fashion accessories, Carolyn G. Findler Art Studio prints and cards, Ruff Ranch Sanctuary, and My Buddy’s Nuts Gourmet Nuts.  The Belle Grove Museum Shop, a site of the Top of Virginia Artisan Trail, also sells unique gifts made by local artists and producers.

Advanced tasting tickets are on sale now for $20 at www.bellegrove.org or in the Belle Grove Museum Shop.  Advanced tickets may also be purchased by cash or check at the Winchester-Frederick County Visitors Center at 1400 South Pleasant Valley Road in Winchester (open daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m.) and the Belle Grove Museum Shop (open Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday 1-5 p.m.).  At the gate on the day of the event, tasting tickets may be purchased for $25.  Admission includes a commemorative wine tasting glass, unlimited tastings, access to all vendors, performances, demonstrations, and tours of the historic Manor House and landscape. General admission is $10 for visitors who do not wish to do wine tastings or who are under age 21.

For the latest information, visit www.bellegrove.org, www.facebook.com/BelleGrove, orwww.twitter.com/BelleGrove1797.  Pets, large backpacks, and outside food or drink may not be brought onto festival grounds.  Belle Grove Plantation is located off Route 11 at 336 Belle Grove Road just south of Middletown, Virginia 22645 and is conveniently located to I-81 (use exit 302) and I-66.

Belle Grove Plantation is a non-profit historic house museum that is a National Trust for Historic Preservation site and a partner in Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park.  The Belle Grove Wine Fest is one of the museum’s most successful annual fundraisers that contributes to the preservation and interpretation of its buildings and site.