Photo courtesy of The Homestead
The Omni Homestead Resort & Spa will toast the success of Virginia's wineries when it celebrates the fourth anniversary of its Virginia Wine Experience on Nov. 14-15.
The Omni Homestead Resort & Spa will celebrate the fourth anniversary of its Virginia Wine Experience the weekend of Nov.14-15. The Perfect Place: A Virginia Wine Weekend Celebration will commemorate the success of the state’s wineries and toast to their future as the industry’s reputation continues to grow.
“When it comes to wine, you cannot do good unless you are in the perfect place,” said the Homestead’s Chief Sommelier Quynh Cohen. “The Omni Homestead is the perfect place because we are so committed to Virginia wine. And Virginia wine is not just doing good in terms of quality — which it is — but we’re entering a new era of being a fine wine region that’s recognized around the world.”
Located in the Allegheny Mountains, the Homestead is about a 3.5-hour drive from Alexandria, and several of the featured wines are from the Northern Virginia area.
Image courtesy of The Homestead
Homestead Wine Dinner
Arrival at The Perfect Place: Welcome Reception
The weekend begins with a Friday evening reception featuring 10 Virginia wineries that represent a spectrum of wines from across the state, including five of Virginia’s 10 wine regions.
The wineries, who will be participating throughout the weekend, will be:
Arterra Wines of Delaplane in the Northern Virginia region.
Barboursville Vineyards of Barboursville in the Central Virginia region.
Bluestone Vineyard of Bridgewater in the Shenandoah Valley region.
Breaux Vineyards of Purcellville in the Northern Virginia region.
Briedé Family Vineyards of Winchester in the Northern Virginia region.
Cana Vineyards & Winery of Middleburg in the Northern Virginia region.
Crimson Lane Vineyards of Linden in the Northern Virginia region.
Gauthier Vineyard of Barhamsville in the Hampton Roads region.
7 Lady Vineyards of Manakin-Sabot in the Central Virginia region.
Woodbine Vineyards of Buffalo Junction in the Southern Virginia region.
Guests also will enjoy hors d’oeuvres, sparkling wine, and The Homestead's Private Label Petit Manseng.
A Taste of Place: Strolling Lunch
On Saturday, the event will continue with a walk-around lunch where all 10 wineries will each be pouring two wines, including Albariño and Cabernet Franc. There also will be exclusive selections personally chosen by the winemakers, who will be on hand to discuss their craft from vineyard practices to vintage nuances.
The wine tasting will be complemented by food selections curated by the Homestead’s Executive Chef Michael Zmigrodski. The menu will highlight seasonal local ingredients designed to offer an immersive journey through Virginia’s rich culinary and winemaking heritage.
Photo courtesy of The Homestead
The Homestead's Chief Sommelier Quynh Cohen, center, believes Virginia has entered a new era of being a fine wine region.
The Expression of Place: Winemakers’ Panel Discussion & Tasting
On Saturday afternoon, Virginia wine writer Frank Morgan, who serves as director of judging for the Virginia Governor’s Cup competition, will host a panel discussion with winemakers from the 10 participating wineries.
They will explore the concept of terroir and why two specific grape varietals — Albariño, a white grape native to Spain and Portugal, and Cabernet Franc, a red grape native to France — thrive in Virginia. They will examine how these grapes grow across the state’s different regions and what impact that has on the resulting wine.
During a guided tasting featuring five Albariño wines and five Cabernet Franc wines, guests will enjoy an interactive dialogue, vineyard visuals, and a buffet of meats and cheeses while diving into the stories, challenges, and triumphs behind these celebrated varietals.
The Perfect Place: Together at the Table Dinner
The event culminates with a grand wine-centric dinner showcasing the flavors of Virginia from the plate to the glass. Chef Zmigrodski will present a thoughtfully curated menu, shared family-style, with each course artfully paired by the winemakers themselves — who will host tables, share stories, and foster conversation.
You can see the entire schedule and purchase tickets to any of the events here, including 50% off your accommodations at the Homestead.
A Virginia Wine Reunion: Honoring a Growing Industry
The Homestead offers a series of wine events led by Sommelier Cohen, which encompass several regularly occurring events. The resort features a tasting room well stocked with Virginia wines, offers a series of educational events led by Cohen, and hosts regular dinners spotlighting Virginia winemakers. You can even sign up for a poses and pairing yoga class taught by Cohen.
All these wine-themed events at the Homestead aim to showcase Virginia’s winemaking heritage — a history that dates to Jamestown, was championed by Thomas Jefferson, finally became a reality in the 1970s, and now continues to earn international acclaim.
The anniversary weekend, which also coincides with Cohen’s fourth year leading the Homestead’s wine program, is designed to celebrate the partnership with Virginia winemakers — and toast the future.
“This event is the absolute heart of everything we have been working toward,” she said, “we want it to have the feel of a reunion to honor some of the industry’s best that we have worked with.”
