From Rachel Cooper,
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Mount Vernon’s Wine Festival & Sunset Tour celebrates the history of wine in Virginia with special evening tours of the Mansion and cellar, appearances by “George and Martha Washington”, and live music 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.

See photos of Mount Vernon’s Wine Festival & Sunset Tours

Date and Time

May 16-18, 2008, 6–9 p.m.

Admission

Tickets are $30 per person and are available at Mount Vernon’s Main Gate or through TicketMaster (703-573-SEAT). The Saturday night festival often sells out. This event takes place rain or shine, tickets are limited and all sales are final. All proceeds benefit the ongoing preservation and restoration of Mount Vernon and its educational programs.

Exclusive Evening Tours

Historic interpreters and colonial-attired 18th-century "friends" of the Washingtons 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. Learn more about Mount Vernon.

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
Wintergreen Winery

Guests must be prepared to show identification for wine service. Designated drivers will receive free Coca-Cola soft drinks. Fruit & Cheese boxes will be available by advance purchase ($24 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.

Private Tables are available on the piazza lawn overlooking the Potomac River, seating 12 guests and including admission, fruit & cheese platters, bottles of Mount Vernon wine, and VIP table service for $750. Call the Mount Vernon Voice Mail Reservation Line at (703) 799-8659 to make a reservation.