The 2016 Taste of Monticello Wine Trail Festival presented by Mercedes Benz of Charlottesville, Virginia, will return to Charlottesville to celebrate the best of Central Virginia wines at the Jefferson Theater, various local restaurants, and nTelos Wireless Pavilion April 7 through April 9.
Tickets are on sale now and available online and the Charlottesville’s Visitor Center on the downtown mall.
The Monticello Wine Trail Festival, now a spring tradition in Charlottesville, is a partnership between the Jeffersonian Wine Grape Growers Society, nTelos Wireless Pavilion, and the Jefferson Theater. In addition to the presenting sponsor Mercedes-Benz of Charlottesville, Keller & George Jewelers are a key sponsor and event partner. The Monticello Wine Trail is a not-for-profit organization that exists to promote quality grapes and wine produced in the Monticello AVA, and encourage cooperation among the various award-winning Central Virginia wineries, which have helped the state’s ranking as the fifth largest wine producer in the nation.
“The Monticello Wine Trail Festival is a great recognition of Central Virginia wines, and we look forward to another year of celebrating all they have to offer within the local community and the region as a whole,” says Jake Busching, Monticello Wine Trail vice president.
The keynote speaker for the annual Monticello Cup Awards on April 7 at the Jefferson Theater will be Neighborhood Restaurant Group Wine Director Brent Kroll. Kroll creates unique beverage programming and events while overseeing the wine programs at each of the Neighborhood Restaurant Group’s concepts, which includes 11 chef-driven restaurants, a bakery, a butcher shop, and a retail wine shop. Kroll has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Washingtonian, The Washington Post, Wine & Spirits, Wine Enthusiast, and Wine Spectator, and was named a Rising Star by StarChefs.com in 2014.
The Monticello Cup Awards will be hosted by Virginia native Frank Morgan, author and creator of the DrinkWhatYouLike wine blog.
The Monticello Wine Trail Festival will feature more than 25 participating regional wineries and vineyards, including: Afton Mountain Vineyards, Barboursville Vineyards, Blenheim Vineyards, Cardinal Point Vineyard & Winery, Chestnut Oak Vineyard, Delfosse Vineyards and Winery, Early Mountain Vineyards, First Colony Winery, Flying Fox Vineyard, Gabriele Rausse Winery, Glass House Winery, Grace Estate Winery, Jefferson Vineyards, Keswick Vineyards, Kilaurwen Winery, King Family Vineyards, Loving Cup Vineyard and Winery, Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards, Reynard Florence Vineyard, Stinson Vineyards, Stone Mountain Vineyards, Trump Winery, and Veritas Vineyard & Winery.
The 2016 schedule of events is as follows:
April 7: Monticello Cup Awards at the Jefferson Theater
A casual event for wine enthusiasts, focused on the competition for the prestigious Monticello Cup awarded to the best wines of the region.
Tickets: $65
Time: 6 to 10 p.m.
April 8:
Individual wineries will host a variety of activities during the day followed by a series of winemaker food/meal/wine pairings and winery related events.
April 9:
Tasting event at nTelos Wireless Pavilion featuring 25 local wineries and live entertainment. An exclusive VIP ticket is available and offers catered food and an opportunity for sampling exclusive wines from each winery.
Wine tastings will be limited to one flight of tastings per winery with the purchase of your ticket. Extra wine can be purchased by the glass or bottle.
Time: 1 to 5 p.m. (VIP ticket holders gain early entry at Noon).
