Washington, D.C. International Wine Expo Features Virginia Wines
March 2 and 3, 2002

February 19, 2002
Contact: Pamela Jewell (804) 786-0481
pjewell@vdacs.state.va.us

Twenty of Virginia’s wineries will show off their best reds and whites March 2-3 at the second annual Washington DC International Wine Festival. Last year’s event drew more than 7,000 people to the Expo, where Virginia wines received rave reviews from consumers and trade representatives alike.

The 2002 event, which will take place at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center at 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, will again feature 20 of Virginia’s 72 wineries along with 130 other wineries from around the world.

“The Washington International Wine Expo is a great showcase for Virginia wines,” said Mary Davis-Barton, program manager for the Virginia Wine Marketing Office in the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. “Virginia wine is gaining an international reputation, and this is our chance to let people who previously may only have heard of us taste our superb wines.”

In addition to sampling fine wines and gourmet food items, Expo visitors will have opportunities to attend demonstrations and seminars by internationally renowned wine experts for an additional fee. The Virginia wine industry will sponsor two tasting seminars, "Voluptuous Viogniers" at 1:00p.m. Saturday and "Cabernet Franc: A Vertical Tasting" at 2:00p.m. Sunday.

Participating Virginia wineries include: Barboursville Vineyards, First Colony, Chateau Morrisette Winery, Horton Cellars, Ingleside Winery, Jefferson Vineyards, James River Winery, Oasis Winery, Prince Michel Vineyard, Rockbridge Vineyard, Tarara Vineyard, Tomahawk Mill, Valhalla Vineyards, White Hall Vineyards, The Williamsburg Winery and Windy River Winery.

Tasting hours for the public are 1-5p.m. both days, with special tasting hours for the trade and media from noon to 1 p.m. For more information about ticket prices or to register for seminars, call 1-800-343-1174 or visit www.wine-expos.com on the Internet.