What to do, and – perhaps more critically – what not to do when going on a wine tour. Here are some tips on how to get the most out of your wine tour. Plan your Route Select up to four wineries  to visit – less for a group of 8 or more – and incorporate

Taste wine like a pro with this simple routine: Look-Swirl-Sniff-Sip. 1. LOOK Before you take your first sip, hold your glass in the light to first evaluate how clear the wine is. A wine that looks clear and brilliant and shows some sparkle, is a good sign.  A murky wine might be a wine that simply has some sediment due to be shaken up before

Wear your green and join DuCard Vineyards for a touch of the Irish with the lyrical Celtic rock and ballad/bluegrass music of Smoking Trout. Bring your Irish stew and your lad or lassie  for an afternoon of “driving snakes out of the vineyard.” Wine tastings and light fare available for purchase. No cover. Saturday, March 15 2014, 1-5 PM,

Join Friday by the Fire at Grace Estate Winery. Kitchen Catering will be serving up some delicious Crepes and dessert, Blake Hunter and Co. will start performing starting at 6pm, and the tent will be heated. Friday February 28st from 5-9 pm, 5273 Mount Juliet Farm,  Crozet, Virginia 22932, 434-823-1486.

To accompany the menu served at Tuesday’s state dinner in honor of French President Francoise Hollande, the White House selected Blanc de Chardonnay ($30) a sparkling wine made by Charlottesville’s winemaker Claude Thibault . The TJ, as its fans call it, is making its third White House appearance (and its second at a state dinner), and can lay claim to helping

Join Chef Emeril Le Horton and his fellow Gumbo lovers at Horton’s Mardi Gras Celebration. Traditional Mardi Gras fun and prizes. We will also be tasting in the cellar a few wines from the 2013 harvest. Saturday Feb 8, 11am – 5pm. $15 includes glass, fun beads, food & cellar tasting. More Info: 540-832-7440. You’ll

Fall foliage in the Charlottesville area Fall is a great time to visit Charlottesville. The changing leaves offer an abundance of color and the weather is cooler but still nice. Based on past years, the best times to see the changing leaves in Charlottesville are the last week in October through the first week in November. But – and where

GREAT VIRIGINA WINE FESTIVALS IN OCTOBER   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

VIRGINIA WINE FESTIVALS IN SEPTEMBER   Wine and BBQ Festival – Floyd, September 14, 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.   Lake Anna Wine Festival –