Virginia Museum of History & Culture hosts wine festival
9/29/2022, 6 p.m.
Wine lovers can celebrate Virginia Wine Month at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture’s second annual Virginia Vines wine festival Saturday, Oct. 15, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture, 428 N Arthur Ashe Blvd.
Early bird tickets will be sold through Oct. 1.
This year’s event will feature wine selections from some of Virginia’s best wineries and vineyards, live jazz from the Weldon Hill band, food trucks, and after-hour access to museum galleries — including VMHC’s newest exhibit which focuses on the history of brewing, distilling, and fermenting in Virginia, “Cheers, Virginia!”
Although the modern era of Virginia winemaking is less than 40 years old, winemaking was listed among the possible revenue generating industries considered by the settlers at Jamestown. In 1611, Virginia Governor Thomas Dale established a 3-acre vineyard to test native grapes such as scuppernong (muscadine) and Catawba. In 1619, the House of Burgesses passed “Acte 12” requiring every male householder to plant 10 vines of European grapes for making wine, although the European vines brought to Virginia ultimately failed to grow.
Today the state is one of the top five wine-producing regions in the country with more than 300 wineries. From the rocky mountain slopes to sandy waterfront shores, Virginia’s five geographic regions support more than 28 varieties of grapes on over 4,000 acres.
For more information about Virginia Vines or to purchase tickets, visit VirginiaHistory.org/events.
