Halloween is almost here, and the wine industry is getting spooky!
This is one of the most event-heavy weekends of the year filled with haunted tours, costume contests, and late-night balls.
While you’re mapping out your weekend, check out the results from the 2026 Loudoun Wine Awards below. Domaine Fortier (Lovettsville) won Best of Class in four categories, and the one-man winemaking operation Boden Young walked away with two.
It’s a big week in Virginia wine country. Let’s get into it.
In this week’s edition
🎉 Events: Halloween balls, HELLAWINE at Lightwell, Jiya Vineyards’ soft opening, and more.
🍾 Bottle of the Week: Domaine Fortier 2017 Cab. Franc Reserve
🏆 Awards: The 2026 Loudoun Wine Awards results are in
🍷 New Releases: King Family’s Cavalier Blend and Early Mountain’s 2023 Quaker Run Cabernet Franc.
🌱 Behind the Scenes: A Loudoun canned food drive, Veritas Illuminated’s return, and Joy Ting’s journey from lab to cellar.
💰 Deals: Half-price 2027 wedding dates at Pippin Hill and 5% off at Pollak with your “I Voted” sticker.
Events
EDITOR’S PICKS
Fri,, Oct. 30 · Lanexa
12th Annual Saudé Creek Spooktacular
For $10, get access to the Spooktacular, where you’ll find live music, two food trucks, Spooky Sangria, and the winery’s Haunted Cellar. “Nowhere is safe!”
Fri., Nov. 6 · Charlottesville
California Soul Meets Virginia Wine
The Monticello Wine Trail brings acclaimed chef and cookbook author Tanya Holland to The Doyle Hotel for an intimate evening of California Soul-inspired bites and Virginia wine pours.
THIS WEEK (OCT. 28–NOV. 3)
All Hallows’ Eve · Early Mountain Vineyards (Madison), Oct. 30, 5:30–9pm. A hands-on pasta-making class with a Halloween twist.
A Haunted Supper at Hall’s Tavern · Southwest Mountains Vineyards (Keswick), Oct. 30, 6pm. Enjoy a four-course alfresco wine dinner at Hall’s Tavern, including haunted property tours, a paranormal history presentation, and medium readings.
HELLAWINE · Lightwell Survey Wines (Waynesboro), Oct. 31. Annual Halloween celebration with wine tasting, corn dogs, a costume contest, and fall release pours.
Jiya Vineyards Soft Opening · Jiya Vineyards (Hillsboro), Oct. 31–Nov. 1, noon–6pm. Loudoun County’s newest tasting room opens its doors for the first time.
Halloween at Greenhill · Greenhill Vineyards (Middleburg), Oct. 31, noon–6pm. Lobster rolls, live music, and a pumpkin carving contest.
Halloween Cocktail Class · Revalation Vineyards (Madison), Oct. 31. Hands-on class making mulled wine, hot port, and hot Petit Manseng cocktails.
Wine Library Tasting · Gray Ghost Vineyards (Amissville), Nov. 1, 1–4pm. Intimate open-house tasting featuring five 2014 vintage library wines.
NEXT WEEK (NOV. 4–11)
Two Up Wine Down · Jefferson School City Center (Charlottesville), Nov. 7, 2–5pm. The Veraison Project and Oenoverse are back for year five of their Virginia wine festival. It’s an afternoon of tastings, DJ-spun beats, and a curated lineup of Virginia wine producers on the lawn in Charlottesville.
Jiya Vineyards Grand Opening · Jiya Vineyards (Purcellville), Nov. 7–8. The full grand opening weekend follows the soft launch.
An Evening with Dave McIntyre · Pollak Vineyards (Greenwood), Nov. 13, 6–8pm. Wine journalist Dave McIntyre share his thoughts on challenges and opportunities facing the wine industry.
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.
Do you like this new design of the ‘Events’ section?
Bottle of the Week
Domaine Fortier Vineyards — 2017 Cabernet Franc Reserve
Lovettsville • Petit Verdot • $58
Why it’s here
Domaine Fortier swept the 2026 Loudoun Wine Awards with four Best of Class wins, but this wine predates all of it. The 2017 Cab Franc Reserve earned 92 points from James Suckling and a Gold Medal at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. The team called it the “perfect Thanksgiving wine.”
Tasting notes
🫐 Black plum & blueberry • 🌶️ Black pepper & clove • 🪵 Cedar & French oak
Awards & Reviews
2026 Loudoun Wine Awards
Lost Creek Winery (Leesburg) took the top prize at the 2026 Loudoun Wine Awards with their Echelon 2019 Bordeaux blend. The Loudoun Wine Excellence Award — recognizing an individual’s lifetime contribution — went to Steve Bozzo of Bozzo Family Vineyard.
Best of Class:
Sparkling · Catamaran Hills Vineyard, Sparkling Petit Manseng 2025
White Vinifera · Boden Young, Albariño 2024
Chardonnay · Domaine Fortier Vineyards, Chardonnay 2022 and Williams Gap Vineyard, Black Label Chardonnay 2025
Petit Manseng · Domaine Fortier Vineyards, Petit Manseng 2022
Sauvignon Blanc · 8 Chains North Winery, Sauvignon Blanc 2025
Viognier · October One Vineyard, Viognier 2025
Rosé · Third Culture Kid, Rosé 2025
Bordeaux Blend · Lost Creek Winery, Echelon 2019
Cabernet Franc · Domaine Fortier Vineyards, Cabernet Franc 2022 and Boden Young, Cabernet Franc 2023
Merlot · Williams Gap Vineyard, Black Label Merlot 2022
Petit Verdot · Zephaniah Farm Vineyard, Petit Verdot 2022 and Domaine Fortier Vineyards, Petit Verdot 2022
Tannat · Lost Creek Winery, Tannat 2021
Red Vinifera · Farm de Vine, Cabernet Sauvignon 2023
Dessert Wine · Zephaniah Farm Vineyard, Adeline White Blend 2023
New Releases
King Family releases the Cavalier Blend: King Family Vineyards (Crozet) has released Cavalier Blend, a limited 30-case bottling of equal parts Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot aged 20 months in French oak.
Early Mountain’s single-vineyard Cab Franc: Early Mountain Vineyards (Madison) has released the 2023 Quaker Run Vineyard Cabernet Franc. Tasting notes include dense black plum, red berries, and fig, with forest floor, spice, peppercorn, and dried citrus.
Behind the Scenes
Giving back in Loudoun: Third Culture Kid wines and Walsh Family Wine (Purcellville) have teamed up with Loudoun Hunger Relief to collect canned goods and pantry items through the end of the month. Bring a can to the tasting room.
A new wine distributor in Richmond: International Cellars LLC has applied to the Virginia ABC for a wholesale distribution license for wine and beer, with operations planned out of North Chesterfield.
Veritas Illuminated returns with a new trail: Veritas Vineyard & Winery (Afton) brings back its popular winter light walk for its fifth year starting November 25. This year there will be a new half-mile woodland trail, themed lights, and a “Winter Wonderland” kitchen menu, per The Daily Progress.
From the lab to the cellar: Winemaker Joy Ting shares her journey from molecular biologist to enologist at the Winemakers Research Exchange. She also talks about her own small-lot label, Joy Ting Wine, made at the Virginia Wine Collective in Charlottesville.
Deals & Promotions
Half-price 2027 wedding dates: Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards (North Garden) is offering 50% off select 2027 wedding dates — inquire through the link in their bio. A rare discount on one of the state’s most sought-after vineyard venues.
Vote, then vino at Pollak: Pollak Vineyards (Greenwood) is open on Election Day, Nov. 4, and offering 5% off your purchase when you show your “I Voted” sticker. (Early voters qualify too.)