The lure of beautiful weather and quality wines brought hundreds of people from around the region out to the 32nd annual Virginia Wine Festival, held at Morven Park’s equestrian center. More than 60 wineries from around the commonwealth came to Loudoun to showcase their wines and meet face to face with their customers.
"At the festival we get our name out there and we get to expose people to some great Virginia wines," Jason Whyte, events manager for Middleburg-based Chrysalis Vineyards, said. "We get to talk to other wine makers. We help each other grow and get better."
Wandering around the festival Sunday, the success of the event was painted on the faces of the grape growers and the enthusiasm of the crowd gathered around each table.
"This is a beautiful location," Geoffrey Cooper, owner of Cooper Vineyards in Louisa, said. "The festival gets bigger every year as there are more Virginia vineyards. And the quality of Virginia wines have gone up every year as well."
Cooper said it was the passion of Virginia winemakers that helped the smaller vineyards work with the larger wineries.
"We’re all colleagues," he said.
Over at the Fabbioli Cellars table, wholesale manager Doug Caldwell said he was pleased with the way that the weekend had come together.
"Bottles have been selling like crazy," he said. "People are really loving the wines."