What I enjoy most about creating this newsletter is the chance to connect with all of you and learn what’s sparking your interest in Virginia wine.
Whether it’s that unforgettable bottle or a tasting experience that ignited a new passion, I hear so many wonderful stories that highlight why this industry deserves more attention worldwide.
With that in mind, I’ve been busy behind the scenes, collaborating with wineries to bring exclusive perks to my readers.
I’m thrilled to announce the first one.
Slater Run Vineyards in Upperville is hosting their annual Harvest Party this Saturday. The winery is a finalist for VinePair’s annual Next Wave Awards this year, so you know they’ll showcase the best of the industry.
As a special treat, Vine Brief subscribers can enjoy $15 off the ticket price. You’ll find more details below!
In this week’s edition
🎉 Events: Harvest parties at King Family and Slater Run, a Frank Morgan tasting at Pollak, and more.
🍾 Bottle of the Week: CrossKeys Vineyards’ 2024 Chardonnay
🏆 Awards: Gray Ghost sweeps the Mid-Atlantic Southeastern competition, plus the story behind Keswick’s Double Gold Cab Franc.
📰 News: Virginia made Wine Enthusiast’s road trip list, and a winemaker’s tips for Wine Month
🌱 Behind the Scenes: Harvest wraps up across Virginia, with a few vineyard haikus
💰 Deals: 50% off a case at Granite Heights
SPONSORED
Join the harvest party at Slater Run Vineyards
In celebration of Virginia Wine Month, Slater Run Vineyards is throwing their annual harvest party featuring their favorite local flavors, makers, and music.
Tickets include…
🎸 Live music by Second String
🦪 Oyster roast by Salty Bottom Blue Oysters
🐷 Pulled pork and fixings by The Bone
🍩 Apple cider donuts from Mountain Gap Market
🛍️ Rose + Lucy Pop-Up Shop featuring upcycled goods
Vine Brief subscribers can enjoy $15 off the ticket price using the coupon code VINEBRIEF during checkout. All guests must be 21+.
Events
EDITOR’S PICKS
Sat., Oct. 17 · Crozet
King Family Vineyards Harvest Party
A behind-the-scenes evening in King Family's production facility with barrel tastings and Italian food. Tickets on sale through Oct. 15.
Sat., Oct. 17 · Greenwood
An Evening with Frank Morgan
The Director of Judging for the Virginia Governor’s Cup leads a side-by-side comparative tasting of Pollak Vineyards’ wines against their French counterparts — plus a blind pour.
THIS WEEK (OCT. 14-20)
Harvest Party Weekend · Paradise Springs Winery (Clifton) is celebrating the season all weekend long. Expect a special harvest tasting, guided vineyard tours (reservation required), lawn games, and artisan food truck items.
17th Annual End of Harvest Festival · Rosemont Vineyards (La Crosse), Oct. 17. Free admission, live music, food, wine, and the annual grape stomp.
Library Wine Deep Dive · DuCard Vineyards (Etlan), Oct. 16. DuCard opens its library for a new Friday evening series — aged bottles poured with context, 5–7pm.
Masquerade Ball · Hardware Hills Vineyard (Scottsville), Oct. 17. Debut of the new Masquerade Red, live music, costumes encouraged.
Verticals at Walsh · Walsh Family Wine (Purcellville) is hosting a seated vertical tasting on October 17 exploring back vintages of two of their most popular wines: the Bethany Ridge Chenin Blanc and What Will the Women Drink, including unreleased bottlings.
NEXT WEEK (OCT. 21-28)
Harvest Supper at Slater Run · Slater Run Vineyards (Upperville) is hosting a three-course farm-to-table harvest supper on October 22 prepared by Chef Kurt and Jodi Baier of Provender Garden Kitchen.
Fall Wine Dinner · Hark Vineyards (Earlysville), Oct. 23. Chef Rachel Pennington of The Pie Chest leads a four-course family-style dinner each paired with a Hark wine.
4th Annual Harvest Festival · Riverside Vines (Sutherland) Oct. 25. Local vendors, hayrides, pumpkin painting, food trucks, and views of Lake Chesdin.
SPONSORED
Raise a Glass to Virginia Sparkling! Join Revalation Vineyards near Madison on Sunday, November 15 for your chance to explore the variety, craftsmanship, and elegance of Virginia’s sparkling wines, all in one place.
Bottle of the Week
CrossKeys Vineyards — 2024 Chardonnay
Shenandoah Valley · Chardonnay · $42.00
Why it’s here
As temps start to cool, I start craving fuller-bodied white wines that have versatility and weight. Fermented in French oak on indigenous yeast and aged 11 months on the lees, CrossKeys’ 2024 Chardonnay is a serious, thoughtfully made Chardonnay with beautiful texture and restraint. It took Double Gold at the 2026 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.
Tasting notes
🍋 Meyer lemon & fig · 🥐 Brioche ·
🍊 Mandarin · 🌿 Nutmeg finish
Behind the Scenes
Harvest wrapping up
In Northern Virginia, Walsh Family Wine (Purcellville) reports 73 unique lots fermenting in their cellar, with yields coming in above expectations despite the April frost. They say Albariño, Chenin Blanc, Merlot, and Cab Franc all showed up strong.
Over at Bluemont Vineyard (Bluemont), the harvest team has been tracking the vintage in haikus.
Further south along the Blue Ridge foothills, the harvest is wrapping up quietly.
In a great video on Instagram, Dominick Fioresi, the head winemaker at Crimson Lane Vineyards (Linden), reported that they finished picking and gave a behind the scenes look at processing their Cab Franc.
Lost Mountain Vineyards (Delaplane) reports the 2026 harvest complete and reporting “a cellar of full vats.” Pollak Vineyards (Greenwood) is already moving reds from concrete to oak for further development — a sign that the harvest work is done and the winemaking has begun in earnest.
Awards & Reviews
Gray Ghost sweeps: Gray Ghost Vineyards (Amissville) earned medals on every wine entered at the 2026 Mid-Atlantic Southeastern Wine Competition in Winston-Salem, NC. Double Gold went to their 2025 Vidal Blanc and 2025 Adieu, their late harvest Vidal.
The story behind a Double Gold Cab Franc: Stephen Barnard, the winemaker at Keswick Vineyards (Keswick), breaks down their 2024 Block 2 Cabernet Franc, which won Double Gold and 96 points at the San Francisco International Wine Competition.
Wine News
Virginia made Wine Enthusiast’s road trip list: Wine Enthusiast rounded up America’s best wine road trips — and the Monticello Wine Trail made the cut alongside Napa, the Finger Lakes, and Walla Walla.
How to do Virginia Wine Month, according to a pro: Kendell Anderson, head winemaker at The Winery at Bull Run (Centreville), shared his advice with The Fairfax Girl on getting the most out of October. His top tip: visit multiple wineries, keep an open mind, and ask questions.
Deals & Promotions
50% off case sales at Granite Heights: Granite Heights Winery (Warrenton) is offering 50% off any purchase of 12 or more bottles of their award-winning wines. Inventory is moving fast, and this is their last open weekend until November 7–8.