MOUNT VERNON, Va. – Tickets for Mount Vernon’s Fall Wine Festival & Sunset Tour go on sale September 1, 2007.  The event celebrates the history of wine in Virginia with exclusive evening tours of the Mansion and wine cellar, an appearance by “George and Martha Washington”, and blues music by Bruce Ewan and the Solid Senders 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, October 5, 6 & 7 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.  Tickets are $25 per person and are available at Mount Vernon’s Ford Orientation Center or through Ticketmaster (703-573 SEAT or www.ticketmaster.com).   Fruit & Cheese boxes are available by advance purchase only ($22 each).  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.  Outside food and beverages are not allowed.  No pets.

The Mansion will be open for candlelight tours.  Historic 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 cellar where Washington stored his wine - an area of the Mansion open exclusively for the Wine Festival & Sunset Tour. 

Guests can take home a remembrance of Mount Vernon’s Wine Festival & 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.   Guests must be prepared to show identification for wine service.  Designated drivers will receive free Coca-Cola soft drinks.

All proceeds benefit the ongoing preservation and restoration of Mount Vernon and its educational programs.