Terroir! A Taste of Virginia's Piedmont and Appalachians October 27th, 2016

DATE:  Thursday, October 27 
TIME:   8:15 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
PLACE: Bus departure and return, Fairmont Hotel
PRICE: $165 inclusive all day, breakfast and lunch and transportation.
​ Click here to register for tickets on Eventbrite.  
REGISTER BY OCTOBER 21, 2016
Taste the finest food and wine from Virginia's Piedmont terroir at Airlie, a notable estate, farm and conference retreat where Earth Day was conceived. You will travel to Airlie through the Virginia countryside and enjoy a ploughman's breakfast en route as Susan James, whose family settled Virginia in 1700, explores the region's terroir, highlights its rich agricultural life and provides insights into our nation's founding farmers.  Upon arrival, you will tour Airlie's celebrated grounds and kitchen gardens with master gardener, Katey Wietor. Janet Cam will introduce Virginia's top winemakers, including noted vintner Rutger de Vink whose RdV wines are "putting the state (of Virginia) on the world wine map." - Financial Times (Jancis Robinson). She will moderate a panel discussion about the terroir above the Piedmont fall line. The conversation will continue as the winemakers join us for a feast prepared under the direction of Chef Janis McLean that reflects Virginia Piedmont culinary traditions and its French and frontier influences. The lunch will feature local ingredients accompanied by premium local cheeses from Stonyman Gourmet Farmer including rare aged cheeses and fine wines provided by the winemakers. 
Wine highlights will include RdV's  remarkable Cabernet Blend that, according to Robert Parker, Jr. is "complex, velvety and world class"; Early Mountain Vineyards rare Pinot Gris, a biodynamic wine produced on one acre of land that yields only 150 cases a year;  wines made with the native American Norton grape from Chrysalis Vineyards which possesses the largest single planting of Norton grapes' and two 2013 chardonnays presented by Linden Vineyards' Jim Law, dean of Piedmont winemakers.  Hardscrabble is from Law's older vines and Avenius chardonnay, from Avenius Vineyards which is owned by Linden Vineyards' manager, Shari Avenius, that demonstrates the terroir very well. You will also sample the offerings of renowned Barboursville Vineyards, established in 1976 near Charlottesville by Gianni Zonin.  Zonin's family has been making wines in Italy since 1821 and Barboursville is dedicated to producing fine estate-bottled wines of European heritage.
Forrest Pritchard, farmer and author of best seller Gaining Ground, A Story of Farmers' Markets,Local Food and  Saving the Family Farm, will speak. A signed copy of his book will be presented to each guest. The return to DC will include a stop at nearby Whiffletree Farm to see grass-fed, sustainably and humanely raised livestock. You will be delighted with a surprise departure gift of sips and tastes of the region.