Wednesday, October 13, 2004
Tasting wine at Mount Vernon
Larry Bly
Larry Bly runs an ad agency and does freelance writing in the Roanoke area.
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I've been to a lot of wine festivals through the years, but none more unique and lovely than the one I attended two weekends ago at Mount Vernon. You, know the home of our first president, George Washington.
Even though I grew up near the metropolitan Washington area, I'm ashamed to say that I had never visited this lovely spot on the Potomac. An evening on the lawn with Virginia vintners seemed the perfect time to go.
The drive over on the George Washington Parkway was breathtaking, with the sun low in the sky, shining on the Potomac on one side, and the wooded upscale homes on the other. We arrived just as the sun was setting over the Potomac.
There before us on the huge lawn that spreads from Mt. Vernon down to the river, was a tent nearly as large as the house itself. Across the lawn was a stage with Bruce Ewan and the Solid Senders, playing blues on the south lawn. Thousands showed up with chairs and picnic baskets.
As is often the case, the lines in the tent awaiting wine tastings became long in a hurry. I only tried a few of Virginia's finest, opting instead to use my time looking over the outbuildings and taking a rare night tour of Mount Vernon. In fact, there was old George, sitting right on the front porch having his picture taken with families and enjoying a bit of wine himself while seated in a rocking chair. Or at least it LOOKED like him.
Concessions were offered in the food court: grilled chicken wraps, fruit and cheese samplers, spinach and fruit salad, roast beef and cheese sandwiches, half baguettes, soft jumbo pretzels, all beef hot dogs with sauerkraut, brownies, desert bars, fruit tarts, chocolate tarts and assorted cookies. All were reasonably priced. Concessions were provided by the Food Court at Mount Vernon and the Firehook Bakery.
The candlelight mansion tour was the height of my evening there, even if it was a bit crowded. I had always heard that Washington's home was tiny. It sure is when compared to the 20,000 square foot monstrosities being built all over Roanoke. But while the rooms are smallish, there are plenty of them, including a rather sizable two-story ballroom which Washington added to the end of the house for entertaining government officials. I was astonished at the row of outbuildings and all the organization and detail that went into running his farm. That George kept a tight reign on everything. I doubt a single grain of wheat left the place without his knowing about it.
There were 16 wineries included in the tastings under the tent, including Roanoke's own, Valhalla Vineyards.
Others included Breaux Vineyards, Ltd., a huge winery in northern Virginia that's making a name for itself, Afton Mountain Vineyards, Chrysalis Vineyards, Farfelu Vineyards, Hartwood Winery, Ingleside, Keswick, Oasis and Sharp Rock, to name a few.
We recently featured Breaux Vineyards on an Exceptional Entertaining TV show shot in Northern Virginia.
Among the 16 were a few less than stellar wines that are still coming along, but overall, Virginia wines really are making a name for themselves. I was not able to talk to many vintners -- too crowded -- but they seemed to be well-received by the hordes at the classy venue.
The only downside to the evening was the trek back to the parking lot down a long and unfamiliar path that led to the restaurant/gift shop. It didn't look open so many came back up the path grumbling about how to get out. Turns out it was open and it was probably smart of the Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens to make us go through the extensive gift area on the way out. I hope they sold a few of those "jumping wooden choppers" that I love so much.
You might check with your local Virginia vintner about when the next one's coming up. If you're in the DC area, don't miss it. The combination of wine, song and the Washington estate is an allure that's hard to beat.
WINE FESTIVAL & SUNSET TOUR
Early October
6-9 p.m.
Mount Vernon
