There's always something sad and almost regretful, when summer comes to an end.
First, there are all those trips to the beach you promised to take that you probably never made. Then there's the reality every morning that the little bit of tan you worked so hard for is slowly fading away … flake by flake, day by day.
And finally, it's the weather.
The breeze that begins in early September and picks up to a certifiable wind-gust by the end of the month is a tell-tale sign of the season's change. The days get shorter, your shirts and pants get longer and you find yourself wanting more and more to crawl into hibernation mode.
But for this weekend, humor yourself. Because there's also something beautiful and exciting about the coming of the fall: the wine harvest and its many, many festivals.
In October, Virginia will celebrate its 20th anniversary of Virginia Wine Month. But local winery, James River Cellars and the young professional's group The Dooley Noted Society, dedicated to assisting the Maymont Foundation in the maintenance and enhancement of Richmond's beloved park, want to get started early.
Wine and Beer Classic at Maymont
What could be better than saying goodbye to summer with a taste of some of the finest selections from Virginia wineries and breweries? How about gathering all those wineries and breweries together behind the Robin's Nature and Visitor Center at beautiful Maymont?
This weekend, the Dooley Noted Society will host their 11th annual Wine & Beer Classic, rain or shine, with proceeds from the event going to benefit the enhancement and maintenance of Maymont through the Maymont Foundation.
"This is one of three fundraisers that they've been doing throughout the year," said Carla Murray, assistant director of public relations and advertising. "They're trying to get the younger crowd out here, and parties with alcoholic beverages are always appealing!"
Five Virginia wineries and five Virginia breweries including Barboursville Vineyards, Cooper Vineyards, Legend Brewing Company and Olde Richmond Beer Company among others, will gather on the south terrace of the Nature Center with knowledge handy and samples ready.
Hors d'oeuvres from Cha Cha's Cantina will also be available and are included with the ticket price.
Attendees are welcome to bring blankets, lawn chairs and their dancing shoes, as the group has put together a dance floor at the base of the stage where one of Richmond's favorite swing, jazz and rockabilly bands, the Flying Sulsers will take the stage.
Special to the event this year, and in celebration of the opening of the Robert M. Freeman Bald Eagle Habitat and Raptor Valley, Maymont is giving attendees the opportunity to take a picture with one of Maymont's birds of prey inside the Nature Center.
"People enjoy getting to be here after hours," said Karen Axley, development assistant at the Maymont Foundation. "And since we're expanding down onto the terrace and out onto the tram road, it's just a nice setting to see the sun go down."
- The 11th annual Wine and Beer Classic, hosted by the Dooley Noted Society, will be held from 7 to 10:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 5 on the South Terrace of the Robin's Nature and Visitor's Center at Maymont. Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door, with a $5 discount for Dooley Noted Society members. Designated driver tickets are $15 per person. Ticket price includes hors d'oeuvres, wine and beer tastings, three drink tickets and a much-appreciated donation to the Maymont Foundation. To purchase tickets and for more information, call (804) 358-7166 ext. 310 or visit maymont.org.
If you're wondering why local winery, James River Cellars didn’t show up on the guest list for the Maymont Wine and Beer Classic, it's because they'll be too busy getting ready for their own party.
In celebration and preparation for the fall harvest, James River Cellars, alongside Cooper Vineyards, Keswick Vineyards and Vault Fields Vineyards will be hosting their third annual Harvest Wine Festival, complete with wine tasting, tours, craft vendors and all the crab cakes, barbeque and hot dogs you can get from B & B Seafood.
"We're going to open up the winery for tours again and I'll be doing the Wine 101 Seminar as well," said Mitzi Batterson, co-owner of James River Cellars.
"There should also be some reds fermenting in the winery, which we weren't able to do last year. Because of the dry season, our Merlot in particular was ready earlier that it ever has been."
The Chardonnays have already been picked and harvested as well due to the dry season. That means there's a good chance that you'll catch some pressing and lots of other activities happening around the winery this weekend.
The Richmond SPCA adoption bus will be on site again and since last year's adoption tallies showed huge success, Batterson expects more of the same.
"We had several pet adoptions and the SPCA adoption vehicle will be out again," Batterson said. "And I've actually had several people email me saying that they're already planning on adopting a dog while they're here."
James River Cellars has also hired a photographer to take free photos of you and your newly adopted pet.
New and exciting for James River this year, is the release of their first-ever Petite Verdot, which has already won two gold medals in competitions. And for musical entertainment, Batterson promises plenty of classic rock, with a little more emphasis on the rock, from the Wildfire Band.
Similar to last year, festival-goers should feel free to bring picnics, blankets and lawn chairs, but leave the alcohol at home.
- The third annual Harvest Wine Festival will be held, rain or shine, from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 6 at James River Cellars. Tickets are $12 per person in advance and $15 per person on the day of the event. Children 10 and under are free. For tickets and more information, call (804) 550-7516 or visit jamesrivercellars.com.