October is Virginia Wine Month with activities Photo courtesy of Virginia Wine Marketing Board
October is Virginia Wine Month with activities across the state.
October marks Virginia Wine Month, with harvest in full swing as vineyards and wineries across the state are busy picking grapes that will head to cellars to become the 2026 vintage.
This October is the 38th month-long celebration of Virginia wine with a focus on the people and places behind it. While the annual event always offers an opportunity for celebrating Virginia wine, this commemoration takes on added meaning for producers who have persevered in a difficult year.
The Commonwealth experienced severe frost and freeze events in March and April that resulted in widespread damage and crop losses for vineyards and other agricultural crops. As a result, the USDA has designated more than 100 cities and counties as disaster areas, making them eligible for recovery assistance.
Photo courtesy of Virginia Wine Marketing Board.
Harvest season is underway at vineyards and wineries across the state following a difficult year punctuated by a spring freeze.
“This October is the perfect time to support the men and women who sustain this critical industry by visiting a Virginia winery or sharing a Virginia-grown bottle with friends and family,” Governor Abigail Spanberger said in proclaiming Virginia Wine Month. “With growers continuing to contend with the impacts of this spring’s devastating frost and freeze, we know that the road to recovery will take time and continued support.”
Explore World-Class Wine Produced in Virginia
You can enjoy the bounty of Virginia wine country while also supporting the farmers, growers, and winemakers who craft red, white, and sparkling wines that continue to gain recognition on the international stage.
Throughout October, there are festivals, events, special dinners, and exclusive experiences. You can find Virginia Wine Month activities across the state here.
In addition, you can:
Find Virginia wineries to visit, including many within easy driving distance of Alexandria.
Turn your visit into a weekend trip by staying overnight in Virginia wine country.
Explore a Tasting Pass for special offers, rewards, and new places to visit. Virginia’s free mobile tasting passes make it easy to explore producers around the state. Pick one based on the experience you’re looking for: gold medal winners, women-led wineries, dog-friendly venues, Norton winemakers, Chesapeake Bay wineries, or Virginia cider makers. They are offering extra features throughout October.
Find the Perfect Pairing for a Harvest Party
Photo courtesy of Virginia Wine Marketing Board.
Harvest Party is October 17 with special events celebrating agriculture.
On October 17, join wine lovers across the Commonwealth for Harvest Party, a homegrown holiday that toasts local agriculture and communities across the Commonwealth.
You can also grab a copy of the Harvest Party Cookbook, filled with ideas for planning your own get-together at home and bringing the flavors of Virginia Wine Month to your table.
This cookbook is a collection of more than 20 recipes sourced from Virginia’s wine country, crafted to pair with wines from the same soils. You can download a free copy of the cookbook here.
Decades of Support for Local Agriculture
Photo courtesy of Virginia Wine Marketing Board.
Now in its 38th year, Virginia Wine Month dates to 1988.
Virginia Wine Month dates to 1988, when there were only 40 wineries representing the state’s burgeoning viticulture industry — and it’s now the longest continuous running wine month in the nation.
Since then, the numbers have grown as fast as the vines. There are now more than 300 wineries across the state producing wine from more than 40 grape varieties. The industry generates more than $1.7 billion in annual economic impact for the Commonwealth.
Secretary of Agriculture & Forestry Katie Frazier highlighted Virginia wine industry’s innovation, stewardship, and entrepreneurial spirit.
“Virginia Wine Month is an opportunity to celebrate the farmers, winemakers, and small businesses whose dedication has made Virginia one of the nation’s premier wine-producing regions,” she said. “Our wineries strengthen rural economies, preserve working agricultural landscapes, and support an agritourism industry that welcomes visitors from around the world.”
Many of those wineries are easily accessible from the Alexandria area. Virginia is home to 10 geographic wine regions that include eight designated American Viticultural Areas (AVA).
The Northern Virginia wine region ranges from Mount Vernon to Skyline Drive to Harper’s Ferry, and it’s home to roughly 100 wineries. It includes the Middleburg AVA, with wineries in Fauquier and Loudoun counties. Other nearby wine regions include the Eastern Shore, Chesapeake Bay, and Shenandoah Valley.
Photo courtesy of author
Jane Fullerton Lemons
Jane Fullerton Lemons is a Virginia-based writer and recovering Washington journalist focused on wine and travel. A 2026 fellow at the Wine Writers Symposium in Napa Valley, she shares stories of the people and places behind the bottles, while also helping American consumers understand agriculture and how it impacts their lives. You can follow her work here.
