MOUNT VERNON, Va. – Tickets for Mount Vernon’s Spring Wine Festival & Sunset Tour go on sale April 15, 2007. Mount Vernon’s Wine Festival & Sunset Tour celebrates the history of wine in Virginia with exclusive evening tours of the Mansion and cellar, appearances by “George and Martha Washington”, and live jazz from the Dixie Power Trio on the east lawn 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 18, 19 and 20, from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Tickets are $30 per person and are available at Mount Vernon’s Orientation Center or through TicketMaster (703-573-SEAT) beginning April 15.
Situated on the lawn overlooking the Potomac River, Private Reserved Tables are available. Perfect for corporate entertaining or a special evening with friends, tables seat 12 guests and include admission, fruit & cheese platters, 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.
Historic interpreters and colonial-attired 18th-century "friends" of the Washingtons will conduct special candlelit 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 open exclusively for the Wine Festival.
Throughout each evening, guests can sample wines from 16 award-winning Virginia wineries: Abingdon Vineyard & Winery, Afton Mountain Vineyards, Barboursville Vineyards, Breaux Vineyards, Chrysalis Vineyards, Cooper Vineyards, Fabbioli Cellars, First Colony Winery, Horton Cellars Winery, Naked Mountain Vineyard, Prince Michel Vineyards & Winery, Rappahannock Cellars, Rockbridge Vineyard, Tarara Winery, Waterford 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.
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 Wine 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 & 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 ($30 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 Ford Orientation Center, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. starting April 15.
All proceeds benefit the ongoing preservation and restoration of Mount Vernon and its educational programs.
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Events, programs, and activities are subject to change.
Public Information: 703-780-2000; 703-799-8697 (TDD); www.mountvernon.org
Since 1860, over 80 million visitors have made George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate & Gardens the most popular historic home in America. Through thought-provoking tours, entertaining events, and stimulating educational programs on the Estate and in classrooms across the nation, Mount Vernon strives to preserve George Washington’s place in history as “First in War, First in Peace, and First in the Hearts of His Countrymen.” Mount Vernon is owned and operated by the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, America’s oldest national preservation organization, founded in 1853. A picturesque drive to the southern end of the
scenic George Washington Memorial Parkway, Mount Vernon is located just 16 miles from the nation’s capital.
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: adults, $13.00; senior citizens, $12.00; children age 6-11, when accompanied by an adult, $6.00; and children under age 5, FREE. Admission fees, restaurant and retail proceeds, along with private donations, support the operation and restoration of Mount Vernon.
