4th Annual Chesapeake Bay Wine & Harvest Festival

Come and join us at Stratford Hall for our 4th annual Chesapeake Bay Wine and Harvest Festival. Although the wines and wineries will be the highlight of the event, you wouldn't want to miss the variety of distinctive arts and crafts, specialty foods, live music, wine tasting tips, and, of course, the petting zoo. Mark these dates on your calendar and join us for one or both days and plan to have a wonderful weekend.

Taking part in the festival will be Athena Vineyards & Winery, Belle Mount Vineyards, The Hague Winery, Ingleside Vineyards, Oak Crest Winery, Potomac Point Vineyard and Winery, Vault Field Vineyards, and White Fences Vineyard and Winery. The wineries will be showcasing a broad selection of wine style, including those suitable for fine dining, casual occasions, as well as offering a few novelty styles. Tasters will be sure to find something that goes great with the wide selection of food specialties being offered at the event.

One of the many activities this year will be wine tasting tips by Tom Iezzi, from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., and again from 1:50 p.m. to 2:50 p.m. on both days. Iezzi will discuss parings with some of the wines being offered at the festival by the wine trail. He is a certified wine judge and has participated in numerous state and national competitions. He has served as President of the American Wine Society for two years, receiving the "Outstanding Member Award" at a recent national conference.

Along with the wines and wineries there will be a variety of distinctive arts and crafts, plenty of specialty foods, live music provided by Sons of Solomon on Saturday and by San Kocho on Sunday, educational exhibits, and, of course, hay rides and the petting zoo.

This year's event will also feature a book signing by Johnnie Perry Pearson in the Stratford Gift Shop from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. each day. Pearson is author of the newly released book, Lee and Jackson's Bloody Twelfth, The Letters of Irby Goodwin Scott, First Lieutenant Company G, Putnam Light Infantry, Twelfth Georgia Volunteer Infantry.

Hours: 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 25 and Sunday, Sept. 26

Tickets: Online ticket sales available in advance.

Adult wine-tasting tickets purchased online in advance:$15.00 Save $5

Adult wine-tasting tickets purchased day of the event (at gate): $20.00

Non-drinker tickets (in advance and at gate): $10.00

Children 12 years & under (in advance and at gate): $5.00

Adult wine-tasting tickets include a commemorative wine tasting glass and free tasting at each wine booth. Ticket prices will include admission to the Great House. The event will be held rain or shine. Handicap parking available.

The Shriners Club of the Northern Neck and the Heritage Shrine Club of Fredericksburg will provide onsite ticketing and parking for a suggested donation.

The Chesapeake Bay Wine and Harvest Festival is being sponsored by Peoples Community Bank.

For a list of participating wineries, please visit www.chesapeakebaywinefestival.com.

For further information about the Chesapeake Bay Wine Trail and Northern Neck of Virginia: Chesapeake Bay Wine Trail and Northern Neck.