Clifton - Magazine33 attended the 29^th Vintage Virginia Wine Festival at Bull Run Regional Park on June 5, 2010, hosted by Across-the-Way Productions, “a turnkey event management company located in the unassuming cultural hotspot of Floyd, Virginia."  There was something for everyone at the Vintage Virginia Wine Festival.  It was very well-managed, the hosts were gracious, the events interactive.  The talent was present in both the artisans and the musicians, and the wine and food choices were uniquely expressive and delicious!

It was a hot and sunny day at the historic battlefield when everyone came together to taste an array of Virginia wines that soothed the soul and aroused the spirits.  The ambiance grew consistently throughout the day, full of eating, drinking, and the merriment of gathering and absorbing the musical talent that resonated throughout the park.  The music lineup included the DJ Williams Projekt, Robert Jospe with John D’Earth and Royce Campbell, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Magic with Krendl, the Monkey Man, Juggle This, and Butch Robins’ Imagicnation.  Along with this magical music fest, the wine that filled the palates emerged from fifty wineries throughout the state of Virginia, some of which included Veritas, Horton, Keswick, Cardinal Point, Barboursville, First Colony, and Blenheim Vineyards.  For a complete listing of all wineries present at Vintage Virginia, please visit their official website.

The morning started promptly at 11 AM with everyone readily awaiting the celebrations to commence.  Cars and trucks lined the park in rows, ensuring that the day was going to be crowded.   As the day started to progress, flocks of wine aficionados partook in the many delights of this colorful event.  There were all types of vending tents, including food, clothing, jewelry, assortments of wine-related housewares, and plenty of water for everyone that required sufficient hydration.  My particular favorite of all these was the food, which included hamburgers, hot dogs, french fries, funnel cakes, barbeque, crab cakes, and ice-cold lemonade.  As for the wines, there were many options you could sample - whether it was red, white, sweet, or dry!  I tasted an array of very nice wines that included a Riesling, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit-Verdot, Chardonnay, Viognier, and Pinot Gris.  The white wines, which were crisp and chilled, were especially popular that day.

For the young portion within the Vintage Virginia masses, I was thrilled to see child-friendly amenities so as to provide future wine and music connoisseurs a fun yet safe environment to exert their energies and capture their interests.  While the adults sat upon colored blankets that covered the ground of the Bull Run Regional Park, joyful melodies soared throughout the festival giving me a true sensation of summer.  The day seemed to turn the adults to children, as if compelling them to relive past childhood memories.  For anyone looking to expand his or her knowledge within the food and wine industry, it was informative as well as exhilarating.  The wine tasters were knowledgeable and remained patient with the many people surrounding the tents with countless, swirling wine glasses.  They remained enthusiastic throughout the day, although I am certain the activities and the heat seemed relentless and never-ending.  Thank you very much too all the partnerships of volunteers, sponsors, and coordinators for your involvement and tenacity that made such a wonderful day possible.  I enjoyed myself immensely, and I cannot wait to see next year’s lineup of activities!

By Director and Correspondent: Helen Brown

Although originally from Marion Junction, Alabama, Helen has been living in Virginia for the last three years because she absolutely loves the Blue Ridge Mountains.  She attended Emory and Henry College in Emory, Virginia, gaining a degree in Philosophy and Psychology.  Helen moved to Charlottesville on a whim because of the unique music scene, interest in the food and wine Industry, and the desire to incorporate music into her professional aspirations.  She is looking forward to listening to an array of eclectic music, observing the local talent, and meeting some interesting people while working with the Magazine33 team!  See you around town ...

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