Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 26, 1995                   TAG: 9504260023
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: BETH CRITTENDEN
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Long

FESTIVALS LET YOU SAMPLE THE BEST FROM VIRGINIA VINEYARDS

Most of the state's wineries host festivals of their own and participate in community wine festivals. Although some festivals and wine events continue throughout the year, the majority begin at bud break and culminate in October, which has been designated Virginia Wine Month by the Virginia Marketing Office.

Wine festivals are relaxed, fun and social occasions. They offer opportunities to try a larger variety of wines than can be found visiting individual Virginia wineries and to learn more about the wines by immediately comparing them with others.

If you want to taste to learn, prepare to do a bit of walking, since you should probably taste all the same varietals in a row, rather than tasting all the offerings by one winery at the same time. Take along a note pad to help yourself remember the wines. Start with dry whites, visiting each winery to taste its varietals that fit in this category. Then move on to dry reds, tasting from lightest to heaviest in body (the wineries will pour in this order). End with the sweeter wines. If you don't like a wine, it's OK to pour it out.

It's best to taste wines after a light snack. Also, keep munching to prevent becoming light-headed. If you find you've sampled too much, turn to a designated driver or call a cab.

In Roanoke, the wine festival season kicks off Saturday as the Roanoke Jaycees sponsor their annual Roanoke Valley Wine Festival at Hollins College, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eight Virginia wineries will pour samples and talk about their wines, while tasters enjoy the works of several Virginia and North Carolina artists, browse through a traveling Made in Virginia store and Roanoke Valley History Museum gift shop and listen to the jazz music of the Ray Ebbett Trio. Freshly made deli sandwiches, homemade bread, shrimp kabobs, desserts, and a selection of products made with Virginia buffalo meat will be sold. As at all Virginia wine festivals, the wines will be available for sale by the bottle.

A new feature to this year's Roanoke Valley Wine Festival is the "People's Choice Award," which will let attendees decide by ballot on their favorite dry white wine, dry red wine and sweet wine from among the samples poured. Tasters will be given a souvenir wineglass and a nomination form as they enter the festival. Tickets, available at local wine retail outlets or by calling the Jaycees at 345-1316, cost $8 in advance or $12 at the door. Nontaster tickets cost $5 anytime. Part of the proceeds will benefit the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra.

Seven other festivals occur throughout the state this weekend, including a Winemaker's Dinner at Tarara in Leesburg; Caroline County Wine Festival at Camp Easter Seal-East Facility; Almost May Celebration at Rockbridge Vineyard in Raphine; "Vino Concerto Virginia" Wine Festival at Gunston Hall Plantation in Alexandria; Montpelier Wine Festival at President James Madison's historic home; Spring Open House at Rebec Vineyards in Amherst; and the Ash Lawn-Highland Spring Garden Week Wine Festival at President James Monroe's family home near Charlottesville.

Closer to home, the New River Arts Council and Mountain Lake Resort will host A Wine Tasting on the Lawn at Mountain Lake Resort on May 21 from 2 to 5 p.m. Call (800) 346-3334. And planning for the area's largest festival, Smith Mountain Lake Wine Festival, is already in the works for the weekend of September 23 and 24. The two-day event features 15 wineries and an array of foods, arts and crafts, live music, wine seminars and more. Call (800) 676-8203.

The Virginia Wine Marketing Office produces a comprehensive brochure each year, detailing the state's many wine festivals and offering descriptions and directions to Virginia's wineries. The 1995 Festival & Tour Guide is at many local wine retail outlets or contact the Virginia Wine Marketing Office; P.O. Box 1163; Richmond, VA 23209; (800) 828-4637.

If you can't wait for the weekend, or just want to practice tasting before festival season begins, the Roanoke Valley Wine Society will meet on Thursday at Corned Beef & Co., from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. for a Pinot Noir tasting led by wine educator James Knap.

Cheers!

THE WINE LIST runs once a month in the Extra section. Beth Crittenden is director of the Roanoke Valley Wine Society, which meets for wine-tasting programs the fourth Thursday of each month. Call 992-3285. Crittenden also is a Virginia wine wholesaler and because of this affiliation will not make specific brand-name recommendations. Address your questions about wine to The Wine List, c/o the Features Department, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke, Va. 24010-2491.

THE WINE LIST runs once a month in the Extra section. Beth Crittenden is director of the Roanoke Valley Wine Society, which meets for wine-tasting programs the fourth Thursday of each month. Call 992-3285. Crittenden also is a Virginia wine wholesaler and because of this affiliation will not make specific brand-name recommendations. Address your questions about wines to The Wine List, Features Department, P. O. Box 2491, Roanoke, Va. 24010-2491.