Event Schedule

Friday, February 26, 2010

4:00 - 5:15 PM SEMINAR: World Class Ports & Madeiras presented by Bartholomew Broadbent Bartholomew Broadbent will conduct a thoroughly educational and entertaining tasting of some of the world’s finest Ports and Madeiras. Including Vintage Ports, 20 year old Tawnies and many other styles, along with several superb Madeiras, Bartholomew will lead you through the history, the production and the enjoyment of these wines, which are strongly linked to the history of Virginia. Thomas Jefferson, America’s first wine expert, George Washington, the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and the American flag are all are intricately tied to Madeira. Learn why and how the wine was invented, destroyed, re-invented, destroyed again and finally re-born…all thanks to America! Click here for more information on Bartholomew Broadbent and a list of wines featured in this seminar » 5:30* - 10:00 PM SunTrust Presents the Virginia Governor’s Cup Grand Tasting Back again in 2010 is the unveiling of the Governor’s Cup award-winning wines and an extraordinary celebration featuring Virginia reserve wines, gourmet food and acclaimed chefs. The Governor's Cup Grand Tasting is an incomparable, hedonistic epicurean experience, where you'll have the opportunity to taste and buy over 350 Virginia wines, including reserve wines not available Saturday or Sunday. You'll also indulge in unique, gastronomic delights, including heavy hors d'oeuvres and signature dishes from Chef Kevin Wilken of Millies Diner, Chef Ellie Basch of Savor, Chef Walter Bundy of Lemaire, Chef David Du of Dd33, Chef Melissa Close Hart and Sommelier Alessandro Medici of Palladio Restaurant, and Michael Hall from The Bull and Bear Club. Come spend your evening strolling from one delicious culinary experience to the next, as you mix and mingle with friends and the biggest names in Virginia wine. The awards ceremony will be from 5:30* - 7:00 PM. Wine floor not open. *This is a change. The Grand Tasting will be held from 7:00 - 10:00 PM.

Saturday, February 27, 2010

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM SEMINAR: Cabernet Franc Showdown: Virginia vs. France Ross Mattis, Barrel Thief Wine Shop and Café Here’s your chance to experience a fascinating and educational head-to-head comparison of Cabernet Franc from Virginia and France. Cabernet Franc is one of Virginia’s claims to fame, but doesn’t enjoy the same respect the varietal receives in France. Can Virginia Cabernet Franc match up to the French versions? Let Ross Mattis of Barrel Thief Wine Shop and Café help you find out! 12:00 - 1:00 PM SEMINAR: The Perfect Pairing: Virginia Wine and Spanish Tapas Emilio Peiro of Emilio’s Restaurant and Jordan Harris of Tarara Winery Spanish tapas – small, savory Spanish dishes - have taken the culinary world by storm. In this seminar, you’ll taste several heavenly Spanish tapas, each paired with a different Virginia wine. But which wines go best with which tapas? Let Emilio Peiro of Emilio’s Restaurante and Jordan Harris of Tarara Winery help you learn the answers. 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Lincoln Walk-Around Grand Tasting Enjoy sampling wine from 60+ Virginia wineries, gourmet food from some of the region’s finest restaurants, caterers and specialty food purveyors and cheese from around the world from the Whole Foods Market Cheese Pavilion. Also, enjoy live chef demonstrations and relax in the Wine Garden. Wine may be purchased for on-premise consumption or to go. 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM A History of Virginia Wines From Grapes to Glass Special Appearance & Book Signing by the Author, Walker Elliott Rowe learn more » 3:00 PM Whole Foods Market Cheese Pavilion: Cracking a Wheel of Parmigiano Reggiano learn more » 8:00 PM A Wine and Fine Arts Weekend! Beethoven’s Emperor with the Richmond Symphony. More information » 9:00 PM - 12:30 AM Sparkling & Sweets presented by Richmond Magazine Welcome to the most mouthwatering, decadent and sinfully delicious event of the Virginia Wine Expo! At the Sparkling & Sweets, you’ll taste Virginia sparkling wines, Virginia dessert wines and a selection of over a dozen desserts from the region’s finest pastry chefs and chocolatiers. Bring your sweet tooth and cling your wine flutes as you sip on bubbly and work your way through an array of exquisite and divine desserts while swaying to the music of cool jazz. Note: The cost of this event includes sampling sparkling and dessert wines and all of the desserts. Bottles of sparkling and dessert wine may be purchased for on premise consumption or to go.

Sunday, February 28, 2010

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM SEMINAR: The Ultimate Pairing: Comfort Food and Virginia Wine Jason Alley of Comfort & Whitehall Vineyards It’s winter, it’s cold and we all want some love… Well, come to this seminar and you’ll get it. American’s love comfort food – macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, squash casserole, chicken pot pie, meatloaf, etc. – but don’t necessarily know how to pair those foods with wine. Let Jason Alley of Comfort Restaurant and Whitehall Vineyards winemaker, Mike Panczak, tantalize your tastebuds as you learn how to pair gourmet comfort food and fine Virginia wine. 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Lincoln Walk-Around Grand Tasting Enjoy sampling wine from 60+ Virginia wineries, gourmet food from some of the region’s finest restaurants, caterers and specialty food purveyors and cheese from around the world from the Whole Foods Market Cheese Pavilion. Also, enjoy live chef demonstrations and relax in the Wine Garden. Wine may be purchased for on-premise consumption or to go. See who will be there » 3:00 PM A Wine and Fine Arts Weekend! Beethoven’s Emperor with the Richmond Symphony. More information »

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Wine Seminar Leaders

Bartholomew Broadbent

Bartholomew's background is stellar, having been raised drinking the world's finest wines, with his father, Michael Broadbent. In June 1997 Decanter Magazine named Bartholomew one of the "fifty most influential people in the wine world and the faces to watch in the new millennium". Profiled in Wine Spectator in 1986 and Market Watch in 2008, he has also been featured recently in Virginia Living, The Virginia Sportsman and Richmond Magazine's Dine. Bartholomew makes wine in Portugal and China and has an import company which imports some of the finest wines in the world, including Quinta do Crasto which was #3 in the Wine Spectator's list of top 100 wines of 2008. Bartholomew is one of the most sought after wine speakers, regularly working for Food&Wine and all the prestigious cruise lines, on top of his intowine.com tv show and radio slot for KFog in San Francisco. Find out why leaders throughout the wine industry polled in 2008 by Wine&Spirits magazine resulted in Bartholomew making the list of "Wine Revolutionaries, the ten agents of change... driving the most revolutionary changes in wine."

Wine Seminar Wines:

• Quinta do Crasto Unfiltered Late Bottled Vintage
• Broadbent Auction Reserve
• Ferreira Dona Antonia
• Broadbent 2007 Vintage Port
• Ferreira 20 year old Duque de Braganca Tawny
• Broadbent Rainwater
• Broadbent 1996 Colheita Madeira
• Broadbent 10 year Malmsey Madeira
• Virginia Wines: Horton 1997 Vintage, Veritas Othello 2006, Rappahannock Cellars 2007

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Emilio Peiro

Emilio was born in Spain in a family of five children in the province of Valencia, one of the most beautiful regions of the country, and famous for, among other things, “la Paella”, a traditional Spanish dish.

His mother was an excellent cook and his brother is a chef in Spain. However, Emilio did not always like the kitchen. As a young boy he hated having to work at the kitchen at his mother's request. Fortunately he changed and now he loves working in his kitchen and preparing traditional Spanish dishes for his guests. His personal and business life has always revolved around football (soccer) and the kitchen. In 1987 he opened his first restaurant in Charlottesville, VA; a well known restaurant that he named “La Barraca” which he later sold in 1991 to go to Spain. While in Spain, he opened a second restaurant, “Olimpic”, in 1993. Then, having to move back to the USA, he decided to buy “Richie’s” in 2003, located in the corner of Broad and Meadow here in Richmond, VA, to turn it into what we know today as Emilio's Restaurante Español.

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A Wine and Fine Arts Weekend!

Beethoven's Emperor with the Richmond Symphony

Enjoy a 30% discount on Richmond Symphony tickets to either Saturday or Sunday's concerts when you enter code "wine10" upon check-out at their website here.

Beethoven’s fifth and final piano concerto, popularly known as the “Emperor Concerto,” remains one of the most popular and celebrated piano concertos of all time. Award-winning pianist Jon Nakamatsu serves as the guest soloist on both February 27 and 28’s concerts, which also includes Mozart’s “Overture to Magic Flute” and Dvořák’s “Symphony No. 6.”

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More Information on Featured Wineries, Restaurants & Shops

Whole Foods Market Cheese Pavilion

 The Virginia Wine Expo is proud to bring to you the Whole Foods Market Cheese Pavilion! Whole Foods Market will bring a selection of cheeses from their amazing everyday menu of 250 to 1,000 of the best cheeses they can get our hands on! These magnificent artisan cheeses come from from all over the world and this is your chance to sample a few, a bunch or all - and of course with a glass of wine.

Saturday at 3:00PM - Cracking a Wheel of Parmigiano Reggiano
Watch as a Whole Foods Market cheesemonger demonstrates the traditional method of breaking into a wheel of 24-month aged Parmigiano Reggiano. Enjoy samples and pairing ideas.

Parmigiano Reggiano has been made for centuries in one area of Northern Italy, the rolling hills and green pastures comprising Reggio Emilia, Parma, Modena and portions of Bologna and Mantua. Only there are the conditions ideal—a combination of rich countryside and cool climate—to produce the only cheese in the world that can be called Parmigiano Reggiano.

Hungry for more? Please visit the Whole Foods Cheese Pavilion at this year's Virginia WIne Expo! 

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Barrel Thief Wine Shop & Cafe

With a year and half of thought behind the Barrel Thief concept, Ross and Ned are excited to offer what they consider to be the best wine experience. Although neither is as blond as when they first met, and Ross is now a half inch taller than Ned and the proud father of a new baby boy, their friendship remains strong and acts as the foundation for the business. Come to Barrel Thief and see what 25 years of planning has produced.

Want a 5% discount? Since Ross and Ned's friendship is the foundation for Barrel Thief, they are always happy to offer discounts to good friends. Bring in a friend and get 5% off. Just tell us at checkout that the person with you is a great friend of yours and the discount will be applied.

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Tarara Winery

Jordan Harris , General Manager & Winemaker

Jordan Harris was born and raised on a small farm town of Erin, Ontario. He developed his passion for food, and ultimately wine, when his family moved to the Niagara Peninsula.

Jordan attended the Georgian College for Culinary Arts in Barrie, Ontario. Upon completion, Jordan moved back to Niagara to work in a fine Italian restaurant with a life long friend and explore his love for wine. He enrolled at Niagara College in the Winery and Viticulture Technician Program, and competed in a student sommelier competition. Jordan placed First in Canada, for the Inter-Rhone-Cotes du Rhone International Sommelier Challenge. This competition lead him to France where he received Third Place in this prestigious International event. After graduating with high honors from Niagara College, Jordan worked with several wineries in the Niagara region. Jordan returned to Niagara College’s Teaching Winery to create some of Canada’s top wines - - including Canada’s number one Chardonnay at the Canadian Wine Awards and several national and international award-winning Pinot Noir and Bordeaux varieties.

Jordan received honors from the Ontario Hostelry Institute for being one of the "Top 30 Under 30" professionals throughout Canada’s entire food and beverage industry. He has been named by one of Canada’s leading wine publications, Wine Access, as one of Canada's "great, up-and-coming Winemakers".

Jordan has made wine for wineries of all sizes, from those that produce several hundred thousand cases per year to just recently, Tarara, which produces a few thousand, hand-crafted, ultra-premium wines each year. Jordan and Tarara seem a perfect match for creating wines that are second to none.

Just before joining us at Tarara, Jordan made a big step showing that there is more to him than a love for wine. He showed his other passion by marrying his wife Jennifer. Come and enjoy the hand-crafted wines at Tarara and visit with Jordan and Jen. They both look forward to meeting you.

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Walker Elliott Rowe, Special Appearance & Book Signing

New Book on Virginia’s Wine History out Just in Time for Virginia Wine Month

Go beyond the bottle and step inside the minds—and vines—of Virginia’s burgeoning wine industry in this groundbreaking volume. In A History of Virginia Wines: From Grapes to Glass, join grape grower and industry insider Walker Elliott Rowe as he guides you through some of the top vineyards and wineries in the Old Dominion. Rowe explores the minds of pioneering winemakers and vineyard owners, stitches together an account of the wine industry’s foundation in Virginia, from Jamestown to Jefferson to Barboursville, and uncovers the fascinating missing chapter in Virginia wine history. As the Philip Carter Winery’s motto explains, “Before there was Jefferson, there was Carter.”

Rowe goes behind the scenes to interview migrant workers who toil daily in the vineyards, makes the rounds in Richmond with an industry lobbyist and talks shop with winemakers on the science and techniques that have helped put the Virginia wine industry on the map. Also included are twenty-four stunning color photographs from professional photographer Jonathan Timmes and a foreword by noted wine journalist Richard Leahy.

Media review copies, high-resolution photographs and interviews available upon request.

Walker Elliott Rowe is a grape farmer, goat rancher and winery investor located in Rappahannock County. He has written three books on wine, including two on the wines of Virginia and one on the wineries and vineyards of Chile. Mr. Rowe is an MBA graduate of George Washington University and has a BS in mathematics from the University of South Carolina.

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