View from Barrel Oak Winery, VA

This Memorial Day weekend is a big weekend at Barrel Oak Winery in Northern Virginia. They will be celebrating their 5^th anniversary of their opening.  At the same time they will be supporting the Red Cross in its efforts to help Oklahoma victims.

We first met Brian and Sharon Roeder, the owners of Barrel Oak Winery, before the winery was built. We’ve enjoyed watching the progress of the winery and vineyards from the very beginning.

They chose an ideal location for the winery just off of frequently traveled Interstate 66. This makes it easy to stop by while traveling or easy to get to and spend the day. After five years the winery has acres of vineyards surrounding the beautiful facility.

In celebration of their 5^th Anniversary they have several groups providing live music.

Friday:   Michael Stephenson 5:30-8:30pm
Saturday:  The Folsom Prisoners 5:30-8:30pm
Sunday:  The Electeds 1-5pm
Sunday: The Karl Stoll Power Trio 5:30-8:30pm
Monday:  Steve Hudson: 1-5pm

In addition, wine lovers are welcome to bring picnic baskets, children, grandparents and dogs. Wine tasting experiences at the John Marshall Tasting Experience will be 25 percent off.

In light of the tragic tornado in Oklahoma, Barrel Oak Winery is donating two percent of its gross proceeds from wine sales over Memorial Day Weekend, from Friday thru Monday, to the Red Cross to help the victims of the devastating tornado.

Support of charities is nothing new for Barrel Oak Winery. Throughout the year they have a variety of special events for a variety of charities.

When visiting Barrel Oak Winery this weekend be sure to buy a bottle of wine to help support Oklahoma.

Cheers! Kathy

On Thursday, May 2 from 6pm to 9pm, the 8^th Annual Wine Tasting Event takes place at Total Wine & More in Laurel, Maryland. A selection of favorite wines will be available for tasting. For Oriole fans, the Oriole Bird will be a guest! Admission is free.

KidsPeace Foster Care and Community Programs of Maryland and DC will receive 30 percent of Winery Direct sale proceeds for children in foster care. Total Wines & More is located at 3321 Corridor Marketplace, Laurel, MD. For more information call 301-617-8507

A private charity, KidsPeace provides a variety of services for children. For more information visit the KidsPeace website. If you cannot attend the wine tasting consider a donation or becoming a sponsor of KidsPeace.

This is your opportunity to taste wines, purchase wines and help a charity. Will you be there?

Cheers! Kathy

On Friday, April 26 Catholic Social Service (Catholic Charities for Southwest Kansas) will host the 2013 Charity Wine Tasting Event. The wine tasting takes place in Great Bend, Kansas at the Club at Stone Ridge. A variety of wines to taste will include wines from around the world  as well as local wines. Hors d-oeuvres are included and a classical guitarist will provide live music. The event includes a live and silent auction, games and prizes.  Numerous items have been donated for the auction.

While the tickets are now sold out, people can sign up to be on a wait list. Donations can also be made. For more details visit the online site. 

This charity organization provides assistance to many people who are in need. Assistance includes adoption services, support for teen mothers, pregnancy counseling, marriage counseling, addiction counseling, economic assistance and disaster relief.

If you can’t be included in the event this year, be sure to watch for the Charity Wine Tasting in 2014.

Cheers!
Kathy

Set aside April 27 to enjoy the annual Slow Food Vast Wine event at Rappahannock Cellars in Huntly, Virginia. Tickets can be purchased online.  A description of a Rappahannock Cellars experience is also available online.

Food and Wine

The evening begins with a glass of wine and a passport to food and wine regions. Local food and wine pairings are emphasized. According to the Slow Food Vast Wine website,  ”Stamp your ‘passport’ in travel-themed areas showcasing award-winning regional wines tastefully paired with gourmet tapas-style offerings with fresh, “beyond organic” locally-sourced ingredients.”

Auctions

As guests enjoy the inspiring pairings, they can bid on silent auctions including locavore, wine and travel. After the Silent Auctions close, a Live Auction begins. Auction items include a variety of  items. Last year the auctions included a staycation, olive oil, an escape to Malta, and much more. The live Auction is followed by dessert and Port. Towards the end of the evening a drawing for raffle items take place. Door prizes are also part of the fun.

The Slow Food Vast Wine event is an annual local food and local wine event that benefits the John XXIII Montessori Children’s Center. 

If you will miss this event, consider a donation:

“Can’t attend but want to help? Donate today! Slow Food Vast Wine and John XXIII Montessori Children’s Center is a registered 501 (c)(3) Non-profit corporation, Federal Tax ID # 83-0363790. Your contribution is tax deductible. “

Cheers! Kathy

The Annual Corks for Kids Path includes wine, beer, and hors d’oeuvres. This event supports Kids Path, a program by Hospice and Palliative Care in Greensboro, North Carolina that benefits children.

This 6^th Annual wine event will include wines, local beers, chocolates, gelatos, and hors d’oeuvres. In addition participants can take part in a silent auction.

The wines are to be handcrafted wines from small wineries and will be selected by Zeto wine and cheese shop. More information about the Annual Corks for Kids Path and about Kids Path are available online. “Zeto generously donates 100% of the profits from any of the completed wine orders.”

Tickets are available online.

Image provided by DelFosse Vineyards and Winery

The 757 WineExpo takes place March 16 (St. Patrick’s Day Weekend) from 12Noon until 6pm. This event benefits Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Virginia and Paint Your Heart Out.

The 757 WineExpo is scheduled at the Chesapeake Conference Center in Chesapeake, Virginia. Nineteen Virginia wineries are expected to attend. We have had the opportunity to visit and write about many of these participating wineries. Articles are available on the Wine Trail Traveler winery review section.

Live music entertainment will be available. Plan to visit the vendors and artisans who will be participating. Tickets are available online. Purchase tickets prior to January 31 and receive 25% off the ticket price. DelFosse Vineyards and Winery (pictured) will be one of the wineries attending the WineExpo.

Note: Vendor applications are still available online.

Enjoy a day of fun at the 757 WineExpo in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Are you already looking forward to spring? Start planning some fun for springtime. Why not visit Florida’s Emerald Coast and attend the 27^th Annual Sandestin Wine Festival at Baytowne Wharf? The festival is scheduled from April 18 to April 21 and benefits the *Fisher House and other charities.

Paula Deen will be a special guest. Tickets are available for wine tasting, Sunday Brunch-Marina and the Paula Deen Lunch on Saturday.

Food is an important part of the festival. In addition to wine tasting, the festival includes cooking demonstrations including two presentations by Paula Deen. On Thursday, the restaurants of the Baytowne Wharf village will have special menus paired with wines.

Cooking demos and Grand Wine Tastings will take place on Friday and Saturday. On Sunday plan to enjoy a Champagne Brunch where you will be able to enjoy the “Create Your Own” Bloody Mary bar.

Tickets are available now at http://www.sandestinwinefestival.com/tickets/.

*Fisher House provides housing for the families of military members when they have been hospitalized. These special homes allow families to be near their loved ones during these stressful times.

If you cannot help Fisher House by attending the Annual Sandestin Wine Festival this year, consider a donation to the organization.

Cheers, Kathy

B.R. Cohn Winery & and Olive Oil Company

Start planning now to attend The 26^th Annual Fall Music Festival and Celebrity Golf Classic at B.R. Cohn Winery & Olive Oil Company in Sonoma, California from October 5 to October 8, 2012. In the past, this annual charity music festival has been very successful.

Events

Friday, October 5: Charity Auction Dinner from 6pm to 10pm

Saturday, October 6:  Charity Music Festival from 12pm to 6pm

• Featuring: The Doobie Brothers, Buddy Guy, The Turtles, Lara Johnston and Scars on 45

Sunday, October 7: Charity Music Festival from 12pm to 6pm

• Featuring: The Doobie Brothers, Kenny Loggins,Eric Burdon and the Animals, Dave Mason, The Turtles, Tyrone Wells and Pat Simmons Jr.

Monday, October 8: Celebrity Golf Classic

Fall Music Festival Benefits Local Charities

Numerous local charities will benefit from this annual festival including: Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance, Redwood Empire Food Bank, Sonoma, Valley Education Foundation, The Guardsmen, American Legion Post 489 and Operation Homefront.

This year’s festival will be dedicated in memory of Mike Hossack, the drummer for the Doobie Brothers.

More information and tickets are available on the B.R. Cohn Winery & Olive Oil Company website. It is a good idea to get your tickets early. If you would like to volunteer, check out http://www.brcohn.com/events/concert-volunteers.

We had the opportunity to visit with Bruce Cohn, owner of the winery. He is delightfully friendly and talked to us about his background and his connection with the Doobie Brothers. An article is available on the Wine Trail Traveler website.

BBQ competitors from the Northwest and Canada will gather at McKinley Springs Winery in Washington to compete on June 9-10. As many as 29 teams will come to this delightful spot in Prosser, Washington to test their skills against each other.

The BBQ Showdown benefits the welcoming of our troops home through “Operation BBQ.” In addition to tasting an array of BBQ dishes, entertainment will be provided by Cale Moon who is a country singer/songwriter.

Tickets for this fun event/benefit are available online. “With your ticket you will receive a logo glass filled with a special McKinley Springs wine (for those over 21), the opportunity to sample the best BBQ in the Northwest and thank our troops through “Operation BBQ” which welcomes our troops home with a family BBQ. Water will be provided.” Find out more about Operation BBQ Northwest by visiting the website.

Suggested items to bring to the BBQ include: lawn chairs, umbrellas, and side dishes to complement the BBQ.

McKinley Springs Winery is a large vineyard property with a winery. Together with its friendliness and scenic views of hundreds of acres of vineyards, you are sure to enjoy your visit. An article with photos about McKinley Springs Winery is available online.

Cheers, Kathy

Four wineries on Maryland’s scenic Eastern Shore are participating in the 2^nd Annual Grape Blossom Festival, Sunday June 10 starting at 12Noon. The fundraiser takes place at Layton’s Chance Vineyard and Winery in Vienna, Maryland and will benefit two local charity groups – Cancer Support Community and Women Supporting Women. A nonprofit the Cancer Support Community is “dedicated to providing support services for people affected by cancer and their loved ones, at no charge to participants.” The mission of Women Supporting Women “is to provide awareness, education and support to all those who are affected by breast cancer.”

Layton's Chance Vineyard & Winery.

Participants can enjoy Maryland wines, Chesapeake Bay Farms Cheese tastings, food provided by Flannery’s, Willow Brook Band music and other vendors. Participating wineries include Bordeleau, Costa Ventosa, Layton’s Chance and Fenwick Wine Cellars.

Tickets include a tasting of all wines and a free wine glass. Tickets in advance are $20 each and at the door $25.

For reviews about Layton’s Chance, Bordeleau and Fenwick Cellars visit the Wine Trail Traveler’s Maryland winery reviews section.

Cheers! Kathy