Photo courtesy of Virginia Wine Board
Check out the many wine festivals this spring in the region!
Virginia wine lovers rejoice — springtime offers a bounty of options for tasting wines from across the Commonwealth at numerous festivals throughout the area.
Wine festivals offer a convenient way to try wines from multiple wineries without traveling to multiple locations. At these events, guests can enjoy exclusive wine samples and engage directly with the people who produce the wines.
Festivals often include a wide range of styles from red and white wines to sparkling and rosé and even dessert wines, and Virginia producers make all those types. That means you’ll have the opportunity to try new wines, learn about different grape varieties, and experience wineries from across the state in one setting.
At many of these events, the winemakers will be pouring their own wines, giving you the opportunity to ask questions and hear the stories behind the vines. And when you find something you like, you can support these home-grown winemakers by buying bottles to take home, joining a wine club, or planning a trip to visit the winery.
In addition to these larger festivals that feature multiple wineries, you can find out what’s happening at individual wineries on the Virginia Wine website, where there’s an events listing.
Here’s a rundown of upcoming festivals so you can check out the wide variety of Virginia wines – and find your favorite!
Loudoun County Pride in the Vines Wine Trail: May 15-June 30
The Loudoun Wineries & Winegrowers Association (LWWA) is hosting its annual Pride in the Vines Wine Trail for wine enthusiasts and supporters of the LGBTQ+ community.
This year, the festivities include “Proudly Poured: The Pride in the Vines Kickoff Celebration” on May 17 at Mt. Defiance Cidery & Distillery in Middleburg. That event runs from 12 noon-5 p.m. and will include tastings, local food trucks and live music and entertainment.
The wine trail will run from May 15 through June 30, encompassing nearly two dozen Loudoun County wineries.
Here’s how it works: Participants can pick up a special “Pride Passport” at any of the participating wineries. As they visit each location, guests collect stamps, and upon receiving their 10th stamp, they become eligible for a drawing featuring prizes such as private wine tastings, exclusive bottles, event tickets, and vineyard tours.
For more information — including participating wineries, event details, and transportation partners — visit the event website.
Mount Vernon Spring Wine Festival: May 16-18
The three-day Mount Vernon Spring Wine Festival is set for May 16-18 on the grounds of George Washington’s estate overlooking the Potomac River.
Mount Vernon’s most popular event of the year runs from 6-9 p.m. each evening – and tickets are likely to sell out. Tickets are available here, starting at $40 for members and $50 for the general public.
At the sunset event, you can sample wines from 20 Virginia wineries, hear live music by The Hula Monsters, and explore the historic mansion after hours. Concessions by the Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant will be available for purchase.
For more information, including the participating wineries, visit the Mount Vernon website.
Taste on the Lake with Virginia Women in Wine: May 24
Virginia Women in Wine will host Red, White & Rosé – Taste on the Lake on May 24 at The Winery at Sunshine Ridge Farm on Lake Manassas in Gainesville.
The event will run from 12-8 p.m., with tastings available from nearly a dozen participating wineries. Tickets, which are $45 and include wine tastings plus a commemorative wine glass, can be purchased here.
In addition, there will be live music performances throughout the day as well as local vendors and food trucks. Sunshine Ridge also offers local beer and cider.
This event will showcase the robust legacy of women winemakers in Virginia. A panel of women winemakers and industry leaders will discuss “My Life in Wine” from 12:30-1:30 p.m.
For more information, including participating wineries and panelists, visit the Virginia Women in Wine website.
Virginia Wine Festival: May 31
The Virginia Wine Festival returns this year on May 31 at Lerner Town Square in Tysons.
This outdoor event, from 4-9 p.m., features more than 30 wineries pouring more than 200 wines, adjacent to the Tysons Corner Silver Line metro stop. Three ticket options are available here – $55 for general admission, $125 for VIP, and $20 for alcohol free.
In addition to the wine tastings, there will be live entertainment, local food vendors, and an artisan market featuring handcrafted goods and wine accessories.
Founded in 1976, this event is sponsored by the Atlantic Seaboard Wine Association in partnership with CoFestCo and the Neighborhood Restaurant Group. For more information, including a list of participating wineries, visit the event website.
Bull Run Wine Festival: May 31-June 1
The Bull Run Wine Festival will take place the weekend of May 31-June 1 at The Winery at Bull Run, adjacent to the Manassas National Battlefield in Centreville.
The event runs from 12-5 p.m. each day with tastings available from 15 wineries – plus one brewery – from throughout the state. Tickets, which are $45 and include wine tastings plus a commemorative wine glass, can be purchased here.
Along with the wine tasting, there will be live music performances, artisan vendors, and food trucks.
The Bull Run Wine Festival is partnering with TAPS: Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, a Virginia-based nonprofit organization providing compassionate care and comprehensive resources to all those grieving a death in the military or veteran community. A portion of the net proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to TAPS.
For more information, including a list of participating wineries, visit the event website.
Monticello Wine Week: June 5-8
This year’s Monticello Wine Week will be held June 5-8, with several events planned at venues along the Monticello Wine Trail in central Virginia.
On June 5, festivities kick off with two dinners, each featuring several award-winning wines:
The Winemaker’s Dinner, 6-8 p.m. at the rooftop restaurant at The Doyle Hotel in Charlottesville. Tickets are $95 and can be purchased here.
The Monticello Wine Trail Wine Dinner, 6-10 p.m. at the Clifton Inn in Charlottesville. Tickets are $125 and can be purchased here.
On June 6, the Monticello Cup Gold Cup Celebration will be held at The Bradbury in Charlottesville from 5:30-8 p.m. It will feature wines from the 2025 Monticello Cup Competition and culminate with the announcement of the Monticello Cup winner. Tickets are $125 and can be purchased here.
On June 7, there will be a Rosé Picnic at Afton Mount Vineyards from 12-2 p.m. featuring a boxed lunch plus rosé from 10 Monticello Wine Trail wineries. Tickets are $75 and can be purchased here.
On June 8, the festivities end with a Sparkling Brunch at Veritas Winery from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. featuring a brunch spread with sparkling wines from seven Monticello Trail wineries. Tickets are $75 and can be purchased here.
More information about each event, including the participating wineries, can be found on the Monticello Wine Trail website.
Norton Wine Showcase and Tour: June 7
The Norton Network will kick off its second annual Norton Wine Tour with a festival celebrating Norton wine on June 7 at Piedmont Meadows in Triangle, near Prince William Forest Park.
The Norton Showcase will run from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. It will feature panel discussions exploring the unique character, winemaking styles, and historical roots of Norton, which is America’s oldest cultivated grape variety and native to Virginia. The festival will also include live music, food trucks, and local artisans.
Tickets for the Grand Norton Wine Tasting that will be held as part of the festival are $25 and available here. The tasting will feature wines from more than a dozen producers across the state and a commemorative glass.
The Norton Showcase kick-off event will be followed by the Norton Wine Tour, a series of “MiniFests” that will be held at five wineries from July through September. Each of those events will include multiple wineries on-site, pouring their own wines. Dates and host locations will be announced soon. The tour will highlight the diversity and quality of Norton wines with unique tasting experiences, educational events, and opportunities to engage with winemakers.
For the latest information about all these events, including participating wineries, check the Norton Wine Tour page on Facebook.
Shenandoah Wine Festival: June 7
The Fifth Annual Shenandoah Valley Wine Festival is slated for June 7 at the Yellow Barn Event Center near Shenandoah Caverns in Quicksburg.
The festival goes from 1-7 p.m. Tickets are $30 in advance or $35 at the door and can be purchased here. They include a souvenir wine glass, 20 tastings from 11 wineries, and half-price admission to the nearby American Celebration on Parade museum.
In addition, there will artisan crafts, food vendors, and live music throughout the day. Blankets, lawn chairs, and well-behaved children are welcome. Pets, canopies and outside alcohol are not permitted.
The festival is sponsored by The Northern Virginia Daily, The Winchester Star, Daily News Record, LD&B Financial Services and First Bank. For more information, visit the Shenandoah Valley Wine Trail website.
Seven Tips to Enhance Your Wine Tasting Experience
Wine tasting isn’t about following any specific rules — it’s about finding what you like to drink. But as you make plans for attending a wine festival, or any wine event, there are a few pointers to keep in mind to make sure you have the best experience:
Dress for success: For outdoor festivals, that means comfy shoes for walking around and darker clothes — just in case there’s a spill.
Skip the perfume: This is one that often gets overlooked, but a big part of tasting wine is actually smelling it. So when you or someone near you wears fragrance, that can interfere with your ability to appreciate the wine and its aroma.
Make a plan: Once you get there, get the lay of the land. At many tastings or festivals, there will be more wine than you could or should try — so prioritize. It can be helpful to start with lighter wines, so you may want to try the whites first, then go back for reds. Or you could focus on specific wines or wineries, such as those that are new to you. And it’s always fun to end on a high note — like a dessert wine or something bubbly. The goal here is to create enough focus that you’re able to try what you want, without getting overwhelmed by too many options.
It's OK to spit: If you’re trying wines, and don’t care for one — you don’t have to finish it. It’s perfectly acceptable at wine tastings to spit out the extra or dump what’s left in your glass. There will be containers specifically for this purpose. The winemakers will not be offended; they’re used to this and do it themselves. Even when you’re having smaller tasting-sized pours, the alcohol adds up quickly. So pace yourself.
Don’t forget to eat: It’s a good idea to eat before you start tasting, whether that’s beforehand or when you arrive. Many festivals have great food options, so take advantage of them. And of course, drink plenty of water — your complimentary tasting glass works for that, too.
Write it down: You may think you’ll remember, but when you’re trying lots of wines, there’s a good chance you will have forgotten by the next day which red it was that you liked the best. Most wine tastings have a listing or brochure of some sort, so take a few notes — just enough to jog your memory. Or use your phone’s camera to snap pictures of bottles or labels.
Have fun: Remember what we said when we started this list: There are no hard-and-fast rules. Don’t like the dry reds? Or those sweet whites? No problem — drink the wine you like. The point of attending a tasting is to experience new wines, broaden your palette, even chat with winemakers and learn how that rosé was made. So go ahead and try that variety you never heard of or the one you can’t pronounce — it may become your new favorite!
