The Melting Pot Named Virginia Wine Restaurant of the Year

June 17, 2002
Contact: Pamela Jewell
Phone: 804-786-0481
pjewell@vdacs.state.va.us

Richmond, Virginia -- The popular fondue restaurant Melting Pot in Richmond, Va. has been recognized for their support of the Virginia wine industry with the prestigious Virginia Wine Restaurant of the Year Award. The Virginia Winegrowers Advisory Board presented the award to Chad Hornik, owner, during the Virginia Wine Honors awards ceremony on June 17 at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond.

Through regular features of Virginia wines, by the bottle or the glass, the Melting Pot compliments the unique experience it offers its diners as they “dip into something different.” The Melting Pot promotes an atmosphere of enjoying wine and matching wine with their distinct cuisine.

The servers are trained to promote Virginia wine. The staff is also introduced to new Virginia products during their weekly preshift meeting. In 2001, for the first time, the Melting Pot hosted three educational Virginia wineries tours for family, friends and staff.

Their wine menu has included as many as 41 wines from 12 different wineries. In addition, the restaurant holds at least one Virginia wine tasting each month usually featuring wine from their Virginia Wine of the Month promotion. Virginia wines are prominently displayed in the Melting Pot’s front wine cabinet, and a display of wines from the winery of the month greets guests as they enter the restaurant.

During October, which is Virginia Wine Month, they have a special Virginia Wine Dinner and team up with a Virginia winery to put together a fun evening of wine and food. The restaurant also ran a special promotion during Virginia Wine Month, giving away Virginia wine posters to anyone purchasing a bottle of Virginia wine.