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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 11, 2005 Contact: Melissa Wood 703.799.5203 MOUNT VERNON, Va. – Mount Vernon’s Wine Festival & Sunset Tour celebrates the history of wine in Virginia with exclusive evening tours of the Mansion and cellar, an appearance by “General Washington” himself, and live jazz on the east lawn of George Washington's Mount Vernon home overlooking the scenic Potomac River. Visitors can bring a blanket and relax on the lawn as they sample wines from 16 Virginia wineries on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 20, 21 and 22, from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Tickets are $25 per person and are available at Mount Vernon’s Main Gate or through TicketMaster beginning April 16. Historic interpreters and colonial-attired 18th-century "friends" of the Washingtons will conduct special tours of the Mansion throughout the evening. The interpreters will discuss Washington’s attempts at creating a vineyard and highlight various wine-related items inside the Mansion, such as Washington’s spirits case, as well as the basement’s brick vaults, where Washington stored his wine – an area of the Mansion not open to the public at any other time of the year. Throughout each evening, guests can sample wines from 16 award-winning Virginia wineries: AmRhein Wine Cellars, Barboursville Vineyards, Breaux Vineyards, Hillsborough Vineyards, Horton Cellars Winery, King Family Vineyards, North Mountain Vineyard & Winery, Oasis Winery, Rappahannock Cellars, Rockbridge Winery, Stone Mountain Vineyards, Swedenburg Estate Vineyard, Waterford Vineyards, Williamsburg Winery, Willowcroft Farm Vineyards and Wintergreen Winery. Guests must be prepared to show identification for wine service. Designated drivers will receive free Coca-Cola soft drinks. To accompany the wine tasting, Fruit & Cheese boxes are available by advance purchase ($22 each; serves two). A variety of hot and cold food and desserts including baguettes, gourmet sandwiches, and specialty sweets will be available on site from the Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant and Firehook Bakery Concessions. Outside food and beverages are not allowed. Pets are also not allowed. Situated on the piazza lawn overlooking the Potomac River, a very limited number of Private Tables are available. Perfect for corporate entertaining or a special evening with friends, tables seat 12 guests and include admission, fruit & cheese platters, bottles of Mount Vernon wine, and VIP table service. Tables are $750 and may be purchased by calling the Mount Vernon Voice Mail Reservation Line at 703-799-8659. Guests can take home a remembrance of Mount Vernon’s Wine Festival and Sunset Tour from the Shops at Mount Vernon, open until 9:30 p.m. each evening. Cases of wine purchased at the Festival can be transported by wine valets to the Shops for easy pick up at the end of the evening. Mount Vernon’s Wine Festival and Sunset Tour takes place rain or shine, tickets are limited and all sales are final. This is a popular event; early ticket purchase is suggested. Admission tickets ($25 per person) and reserved Fruit & Cheese boxes ($22) may be purchased through TicketMaster at 703-573-SEAT or www.ticketmaster.com or at Mount Vernon’s Main Gate ticket window during visiting hours starting April 16. All proceeds benefit the ongoing preservation and restoration of Mount Vernon and its educational programs. Events, programs, and activities are subject to change. Public Information: 703-780-2000; 703-799-8697 (TDD); www.mountvernon.org George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens, open to the public since 1860, communicates the character and leadership of Washington to millions of Americans each year through a variety of interpretive programs on the Estate and in classrooms across the nation. Mount Vernon is owned and operated by the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, founded in 1853, making it America’s oldest national preservation organization. Mount Vernon is located at the southern end of the George Washington Memorial Parkway, just 16 miles from Washington, D.C. Hours of operation: April-August, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; March, September, October, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; November – February, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Regular admission rates for 2005: adults, $11.00; senior citizens, $10.50; children age 6-11, when accompanied by an adult, $5.00; and children under age 5, FREE. Admission fees, restaurant and retail proceeds, along with private donations, support the operation and restoration of Mount Vernon. - # # # - |