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Taste of Monticello Wine Trail Festival expands, returning to Charlottesville May 7-12

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Taste of Monticello Wine Trail FestivalExpanding to six days this year, the 2018 Taste of Monticello Wine Trail Festival presented by Mercedes Benz of Charlottesville will return to Charlottesville to celebrate the best of wines in the Monticello American Viticultural Areaof Virginia beginning Monday, May 7 through Saturday, May 12. Events will take place at the Jefferson Theater, multiple area wineries and restaurants, and Sprint Pavilion.

Tickets go on sale this Friday, March 23 at 10 a.m. and will be available at monticellowinetrailfestival.com and the Charlottesville’s Visitor Center on the downtown mall. Patrons will again have the opportunity to enjoy a variety of events available with optional VIP upgrades.

The Taste of Monticello Wine Trail Festival, an established spring tradition in Charlottesville, is a partnership between the Monticello Wine Trail, Sprint Pavilion and the Jefferson Theater, with presenting sponsor Mercedes-Benz of Charlottesville. The Monticello Wine Trail is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to promote quality grapes and wine produced in the Monticello AVA. Dynamic winemakers, who are creating a unique wine region that features wines with an authentic expression of place, shape the region. The high quality of these wines is often recognized with success in national and international wine competitions.

“The Taste of Monticello Wine Trail Festival is a great opportunity to experience a wide variety of what the Monticello AVA has to offer. It’s a chance to find your new favorite winery or wine, and our chance to share what we’ve been working on”, MWT President George Hodson.

Participating Vineyards and Wineries

The 2018 Monticello Wine Trail Festival will feature 26 participating regional wineries and vineyards, including: Barboursville Vineyards, Blenheim Vineyards, Burnley Vineyards, Cardinal Point Vineyard & Winery, Chestnut Oak Vineyard, Delfosse Vineyards & Winery, Early Mountain Vineyards, First Colony Winery, Flying Fox Vineyard, Gabriele Rausse Winery, Glass House Winery, Grace Estate Winery, Horton Vineyards, Jefferson Vineyards, Keswick Vineyards, Kilaurwen Winery, King Family Vineyards, Loving Cup Vineyard & Winery, Lovingston Winery, Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards, Reynard Florence Vineyard, Stinson Vineyards, Stone Mountain Vineyards, Trump Winery, Veritas Vineyard & Winery and Wisdom Oak Winery.

2018 Schedule of Events & Ticket Information

  • Monday, May 7: Monticello Cup Awards
    The Jefferson Theater
    6-10 p.m. | Tickets are $49 

    An exciting event for the wine enthusiast, taste award-winning wines from the 2018 Monticello Cup Wine Competition alongside the wine growers and winemakers who made them. The night ends with the competition results for the Top 6 wines and winner of the prestigious Monticello Cup for the overall highest scoring wine.
  • Tuesday, May 8 – Thursday, May 10: Winemaker Dinners 
    A series of collaborative dinners between local restaurants and wineries.
    For event details and locations, visit
     monticellowinetrailfestival.com. Reservations are required for each dinner. Contact participating wineries.
  • Friday, May 11: The 3rd Annual Monticello AVA Sparkling Brunch
    Afton Mountain Vineyards – Pavilion
    10 a.m.-Noon | Tickets are $55 

    The 3rd Annual Monticello AVA Sparkling Brunch will be held at the Afton Mountain Vineyards’ pavilion and feature sparkling wines from five area wineries all perfectly paired with a farm to table inspired menu.
  • Friday, May 11: The 2nd Annual Rosé Lunch
    Blenheim Vineyards
    11 a.m.-1 p.m. | Tickets are $45

    The Monticello AVA Rosé Lunch will move to Blenheim Vineyards this year and begin with a sparkling rosé toast! Next, four rosés will be paired with their own small plate making up a summery four-course lunch.
  • Friday, May 11: Winery Tours and Tastings
    For event details and locations, visit monticellowinetrailfestival.com. These events will have limited tickets available depending on location. Please contact participating winery for more information.
  • Saturday, May 12: The Grand Tasting
    Sprint Pavilion
    1:30-5:30 p.m. (VIP ticket holders gain early entry at 12:30 p.m.)
    Tickets (ages 12 and under are Free): 

    General Admission: $29 through April 15, $35 after April 15, $40 at gate
    General Admission Designated Driver or Under 21: $10
    VIP: $80
    VIP Designated Driver or Under 21: $25
    Tasting event at Sprint Pavilion featuring more than 25 local wineries and live entertainment. An exclusive VIP ticket is available and offers catered food and an opportunity for sampling exclusive wines from each winery.
    Wine tastings will be limited to one flight of tastings per winery with the purchase of your ticket. Extra wine can be purchased by the glass or bottle.

Complete schedule of all events, information and menus available at monticellowinetrailfestival.com.

For more information on the Monticello Wine Trail Festival, visit monticellowinetrailfestival.com, and follow on: Facebook.com/TasteOfMonticelloWineTrailFestival, and Twitter @TasteMonticello.

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