I guess this proves there are other Wine Country States doesn't it! I guess I will have to talk to my friends at Tourism about stirring things up for our West Virginia wineries.
Hope this helps you Riki!
Ten New and Refreshing Wine Trips in Virginia
Submitted by JunieBJones (JBJ) on Tue, 08/12/2008 - 11:34am
20th Anniversary of Virginia Wine Month Coming This October
By vcuspoon
Soak in the mountain music of The Crooked Road - Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail while tasting at Chateau Morrisette, Abingdon Vineyard, Villa Appalaccia and other nearby wineries.
Virginia has become the new hot spot for travelers who are passionate about wine. Home to more than 130 wineries surrounded by lavish scenery, breathtaking views and monumental historic sites, Virginia is a wine destination unlike any other. These ten getaways highlight what makes wine travel new and refreshing in Virginia.
TJ’s Stomping Grounds – Travel the Monticello Wine Trail and see how Thomas Jefferson’s vision for great American wine is thriving all around his homestead. The 21 wineries around the Charlottesville area are an homage to TJ and are surrounded by history, beauty and outstanding inns and restaurants.
Tour the Eastern Shore with a glass of wine.
Kayak Winery Tour - Paddle your glass off on a kayak trip to Chatham Vineyards with SouthEast Expeditions in Cape Charles. This outfitter on the southern tip of Virginia’s Eastern Shore combines outdoor adventure with wine tasting at the winery and on a picnic lunch on a nearby barrier island.
Wine and Bluegrass – Two of Virginia’s greatest exports make great music together in Southwest Virginia. Soak in the mountain music of The Crooked Road - Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail while tasting at Chateau Morrisette, Abingdon Vineyard, Villa Appalaccia and other nearby wineries. Stay at the historic Martha Washington Inn in Abingdon, the brand-new Hotel Floyd, or the suite at the Ralph Stanley Museum in Clintwood, one of the only museums in the country where fans can spend the night.
Wine Camps – Challenge your obsession for wine at Virginia wine camps, where wine lovers are put to the test and discover the skills and dedication needed to be a true winemaker. Get down and dirty from the harvest to the bottling at Veramar Vineyard and Tomahawk Mill Winery camps and other special sessions throughout the year.
Virginia Wine Trails – Virginia’s wine trails are unlike any other. Each traverses a part of Virginia’s diverse landscape, from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the waterways of the Northern Neck to the countryside of Loudoun County, with wineries, B&Bs, historic inns and local restaurants unique to each region of the state.
Merlot grapes
October Wine Month – Wine lovers will be in heaven during Virginia Wine Month. Each October as fall colors begin to peak, Virginia honors the grape with nearly 100 festivals, events, tastings and special travel packages built for travelers with a passion for wine.
Williamsburg Winery – Tour Williamsburg Winery, Virginia’s largest winery with an annual production of some 60,000 cases. Just outside of Colonial Williamsburg, the winery’s first wine, Governor’s White, was released in 1988 and won a Gold Medal within two weeks. The brand-new Wedmore Place neighbors the winery and offers luxurious accommodations within footsteps of the vineyard.
Virginia Beach Wine Week – Taste Virginia wine oceanside during Virginia Beach Wine Week in September, when dozens of restaurants along the famed boardwalk offer Virginia wine specials paired with fresh, local seafood items specially created for the event. This event is a must for travelers who love food, wine and the beauty of the ocean.
Purple Feet – Live out your I Love Lucy fantasy at Virginia wineries’ grape stompings. Especially during harvest time, Virginia wineries indulge visitors in their desire to get their feet purple while enjoying a beautiful day in the countryside. At the White Fences Vineyard in Irvington, home of the Irvington Stomp, wine lovers can stamp their purple foot print onto their own customized souvenir t-shirt.
Hot Air Balloon and Wine Festival at Historic Longbranch
Festival Fiends – Pick a month, any month in Virginia, and there is guaranteed to be a wine festival or special event to entice wine lovers to visit. Strong flavors combine at the Wine and Garlic Festival at Rebec Vineyards. The Shenandoah Hot Air Balloon and Wine Festival is always an awe-inspiring event. Blackberry Days Wine Festival at Tarara Winery will sweeten palates and the Town Point Wine Festival along the Elizabeth River in Norfolk is a new favorite.
Ready to satisfy your own viniferous passions? Start planning a new and refreshing wine getaway in Virginia. Watch a video clip of Mary Watson Delauder, spunky sommelier at Lansdowne Resort, whose passion for wine inspired her “popcorn and chardonnay” pairing.
VA wines have certainly come a long way from their inception years ago. This is a great tourism push! "Life is too short for bad wine". 
I think it's helping already since the Travel & Leisure magazine listed Virginia as "one of the 5 new wine regions of the world" to visit. We are excited, as our vintners work very hard to make wonderful dinner wines.
On the other hand I took a gamble and took the food and wine editor of the new Wine Lovers magazine on a free tasting tour. He promised we would be in his Charlottesville four page spread of the next issue. I took him all over and showed him where to get what for a fun stay. Guess what! We're in there. My name is misspelled twice, and the proofreading was sloppy, but we're in there. I can't wait until my break at work to put the article up on my website!
yippeee
Riki
On the other hand I took a gamble and took the food and wine editor of the new Wine Lovers magazine on a free tasting tour. He promised we would be in his Charlottesville four page spread of the next issue. I took him all over and showed him where to get what for a fun stay. Guess what! We're in there.
That is what I keep trying to get across. Do that freebie for a writer (properly vetted as legit of course). It usually does pay off. And sometimes the payoff is not immediate but unexpectedly gives back years later. I do not hesitate, for a writer who can give me examples of where his/her work has been printed or if Tourism sends them to me, to give a free night or even 2.
Congratulations!!
Oh you bet I checked and he was listed as the Food and Wine Editor. I know from others' experiences, to say NO to a freelancer that wants to stay and "will be writing something and you'll be in it"
They have to be on board with a publication or I'm not impressed. Not giving up paying seats for them!!!
Thanks, I can't believe it is actually in print when he said it would be!
Riki
There are some legit writers who are still worth staying away from, as you know. Having the red-headed princess here certainly didn't get us any thing, even though she dangled that bribe to try to get me to give up the attendance list for the Charlotte conference. And remember the CA innkeeper who had the travel writer who accused her housekeeper of stealing jewelry? That writer stayed here also - and was worthless - she does lots of reviews for the directory we all have a love/hate relationship with.
I agree wtih you! I would not give anything free to any directory writer, or "B&B" expert. They don't print anything where anyone other than B&B owners really read. I really think they make their money off us on the directories. I don't see their articles anywhere else. If a guest finds a directory, they'll book what looks good to them. They already find the directories by themselves. I don't see how an article there would help.
And I don't need post it notes in my bedrooms giving me advice, etiher!
Riki
Oh yes! I just got the gut punch. After all the last minute requests for photos, last minute deadline give us some annecdotal, then another late afternoon request for more photos with a next day deadline (the original request for recipe and phots months ago gave me a day and a half to accomplish it and that was early on - well par for the course of this Rachal Ray article, it was after 4 pm in the afternoon that I got notified that the editors trimmed the article and I was on the cutting room floor.
I figure I got nothing to lose - so I vented a bit. Right, which fancy, schmancy inn was better than this small inn in a small city in West Virginia. I resent that they kept me jumping to supply material and photos even as late as 2 weeks ago and with the less than 24 hours they gave me, I was unable to produce the photos of covered bridges that they wanted. (I had them in the fried disc drive and could not find the original photos.) Had they said early on, gee it doesn't fit - OK but to wait this long and deep coming back for more stuff (with the assurance we made the cut), Rachel Ray rates right up there with the red-headed broom rider.
Congrats on that! Hope it brings you great guests & more tour business!
Where are you in this issue??? The on line version or the actual magazine. BBAV is working closely with them. We have an ad in the magazine and links from their site and each issue they do a write up of one of our member inns. A good deal for all.
HEY!
August 23: Fifth Annual Mini Cooper Rally
Cooper Vineyards (Louisa)
(540) 894-5253
Join Cooper Vineyards and James River Cellars for one of the most unique wine events in Virginia - Cooper Vineyards 5th Annual Mini-Cooper Rally from 11:00 am - 5:00 pm. For both Mini-Lovers and Wine Lovers alike!!
Drive your mini if you have one and join Richmond's RiverCityMinis for a "drive" out to the vineyard the morning of the event. More information about participating in the Mini Cooper caravan at www.rivercityminis.org. Sponsored by Crown Automotive / Crown Mini of Richmond. There will be a display of new mini-Coopers on site.
A portion of ticket sales will also benefit Animal Connections, a local animal rescue organization. The event is held at Cooper Vineyards in Louisa County - just a short drive from Richmond, Fredericksburg, Lake Anna or Charlottesville. Tickets are $10 in advance at www.coopervineyards.com or $15 day of event. Ticket price includes: mini-wine glass, food, live music and mini-goodie bag. Picnics and lawn chairs are welcome.
Smith Mountain Lake 20th Annual Wine Festival
Let me insert a blurb here - Smith Mountain Lake water temp is 84 - NO SHARKS! They will have BEACH MUSIC (the sounds of the Carolina's all weekend and crafts and food) I know a great little B&B just a short drive to the lake! Bring your purchases back and sit on the porch and take in the scenery. Email me off the forum for info.
September 27th & 28th, 2008
2008 - 20th Annual SML Wine Festival Information
Whether you are a wine lover or just tempting your tastebuds, Virginia wines offer flavors and styles to please every palette. Winemakers will be on hand to answer wine-related questions and assist guests with their sampling. Enjoy a favorite or try something new. Sip a glass at the festival or take a bottle home.
It's your chance to enjoy a "grape" day the Smith Mountain Lake way! In addition to award-winning wines, entertainment by popular bands will keep things lively. Participating wineries include Amrhein Wine Cellars, Barboursville Vineyards, Bright Meadows Farm, Chateau Morrisette, Davis Valley Winery, Delfosse Vineyard & Winery, Fincastle Vineyard & Winery, First Colony Winery, Hickory Hill Vineyards, Horton Cellars Winery, James River Cellars, Inc., Lake Anna Winery, Leogrande Vineyard & Winery, Peaks of Otter Winery, Piedmont Vineyards & Winery, Rebec Vineyards, Rockbridge Vineyards, Sans Soucy Vineyards & Winery, Savoy-Lee Winery, Tomahawk Mill Winery, Valhalla Vineyards, Veritas Vineyard & Winery, Villa Appalaccia Winery, Virginia Mountain Vineyards, White Fences Vineyard & Winery, White Rock Vineyards & Winery, and Wintergreen Winery. Over 85 quality food and craft vendors will be participating in this year's Festival.
Held at Lake Watch Plantation
at
Take Route 122 ( Booker T. Washington Hwy ) south from Hales Ford Bridge approximately 2.2 miles and turn left (east) into Lake Watch Plantation and the Festival.
Sat 11AM - 6 PM or Sun 11AM - 5PM - rain or shine
No Pets - No Coolers - No Refunds - Free Parking
You should go...just for the fun of it
That is the e newsletter. We are in theI magazine. It's the one that is just out now with the football player on the front.
Riki
Congratulations on the article!
Have you considered writing a note to the editor thanking them for the piece and correcting the spelling of your b&b's name? Since it's an error on their part, they may print it, and then it's more publicity for you! (Just make sure you're gracious about it and not like those whiny complaint letters they often get) Also a good place to mention anything else they left out about your b&b if you want to be sneaky.
Anyway, since not all search engines will correct spelling when readers try to look you up, it'd be good to make sure your name is corrected where possible.
Congrats!
The magazine..is on line...though I don't know if it is the full issue or not
No, the current issue is not online. They show the front of the first issue. The e-zine is a newsletter (which our BBAV section just asked us to submit articles for).
The current issue has a football player on the front.
Riki
But I am sure the current issue will be on line soon Where were you mentioned? I will have to look in the actual magazine...my friends have it.
But if they put every issue online who would buy it? They may put it online later but not now when the new issue just came out. The Charlottesville article is on page 48 and it is titled, "New Stomping Grounds". We are mentioned on two different pages in the article which takes up about four pages.
Riki