April 2023 Update
What do you like to pair your wine with? Oysters? Charcuterie? Massage? Live music? Karaoke? It's all here on the Chesapeake Bay Wine Trail!
In April, we host one of of our four annual signature events: Spring Oyster Crawl! Every weekend on the Trail select wineries feature live music, special events, onsite food offerings and food trucks.
Celebrate your own special event--weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, family reunions, more--on the Chesapeake Bay Wine Trail, with venues ranging from intimate tasting rooms to vast halls to outdoor spaces among the vines. Some Trail members even have onsite lodging.
Keep reading to learn more about these and other updates from the Trail. Cheers!
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Photo: Allison Luzier Photography
Join us for the Spring Oyster Crawl April 22 & 23
Virginia is the “Oyster Capital of the East Coast.” During the Spring Oyster Crawl, one of four annual Trail-wide signature events, enjoy local wines & oyster pairings at participating Trail members' locations. Each member will offer one or more oyster dishes to pair with its wines/ciders. Several wineries will feature live music and other special events.
Tickets are not required for this event. Normal wine tasting fees apply, with oysters and other food items available for purchase at market rates. Check with participating wineries to learn more about their specific schedules, offerings, events and reservations policies.
Trail members participating in the Spring Oyster Crawl 2023:
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Let's Celebrate!
Whatever special occasion you're celebrating... there's a Trail site for you! Members of the Chesapeake Bay Wine Trail host a variety of private events, such as weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, corporate events, group meetings and more. Choose from intimate and cozy indoor spaces, banquet-style halls, and outdoor spaces on vast wraparound porches or in the vineyards. Some offer overnight accommodations as well. Here are just a few of the possibilities:
Indoors or out, Good Luck Cellars has the right size space for you. 4,500 sq. ft. of indoor space including a cozy tasting room, adjacent event space, and access to a cupola with spectacular 360 degree views of the estate winery. A covered, wrap-around porch offers an additional 3,000 sq. ft. and overlooks the fields, which are also available for events.
A dedicated special events coordinator at Ingleside Vineyards assists guests in planning for all of life's celebrations. There's a pavilion with indoor/outdoor seating for up to 150 guests, a European-style courtyard with fountain, museum for corporate events and meetings, romantic Barrel Room for rehearsal dinner or small weddings, and a Bridal Salon with waiting area.
Jacey Vineyards' 150 acres of wooded forests, waterfront views and lush vines make a beautiful and picturesque backdrop for any big day or special event. With one mile of shoreline and 6 docks, guests
can arrive by boat or by car. Event spaces allow for up to 250 guests.
Stained glass-like decor (including a LOVE sign) made from recycled wine bottles, amazing water views of Monroe Bay, and an eco-friendly Straw Bale Barn make Monroe Bay Winery a perfect backdrop for weddings, engagement announcements and anniversary parties. The 3,000 sq. ft. tasting room seats up to 200 people. |
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Oyster & Wine Pairing Recommendations
Take home the taste of our Spring Oyster Crawl! We hope to see you in person for this annual signature event on April 22 & 23. But even if you can't make it to the Trail that weekend, you can enjoy the delicious taste of wine and oysters at home. Here are some suggested pairings:
The elegant stainless steel- and American oak-aged Chardonnay from Caret Cellars is a mouth-watering accompaniment to fried and smoked oysters, particularly those served with a cream sauce. Creamy and rich, with apple blossom and pear aromas and a hint of butter, with balanced tannins and dryness.
The Dog and Oyster's Pearl is a medium gold Vidal Blanc featuring fresh and complex aromas of citrus and lavender with subtle hints of jasmine. Crisp acidity and layers of grapefruit and thyme are evident, along with notes of linden. The finish is bright and clean, boasting bright grapefruit and toasted almond.
The bubbles in sparkling wines, such as General's Ridge Vineyard's Sparkling Semper Fi, balance out the creaminess and texture of oysters. Crisp to the taste, this off-dry mix of Chardonnay, Chardonnel, and Vidal Blanc is force-carbonated at bottling.
"What grows together, goes together" which explains why raw oysters and Ingleside Vineyards' coastal white Albariño are a perfect pairing. The characteristics of this fruit-forward wine include a refreshing acidity, classic lemon zest and unique salty flavors that enhance the flavor of the oysters.
A wine made for the Northern Neck of Virginia, Yeocomico White from Rivah Vineyards at the Grove is a complex blend of Vidal Blanc, Viognier, Symphony, Chardonel, and an off-dry Petit Manseng fermented on the skin and aged in stainless steel to bring out the tropical fruit overtones. The palate is further enhanced by floral notes with citrus zest.
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Follow us on Social Media
On our social media accounts, Chesapeake Bay Wine Trail posts Trail, member and industry news and shares images from our followers. Join the conversations by following us Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter.
Tag #CBwinetrail in your posts for a possible feature!
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ABOUT THE CBWT
The Chesapeake Bay Wine Trail consists of nine premier members located in Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay wine region, which includes the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula of Virginia.
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