Enjoy Central Virginia Wineries in a whole new light!

This winter take a quick getaway to recharge … plus, learn how Central Virginia Wines compare to wines from around the world! Cedar Spring Inn & Spa will host a series of special Wine Tasting Tutorials, each focused on one wine varietal.

Each Wine Tutorial will begin at 6:00pm on the designated date and will include a tasting of four to five wines of the same varietal from different regions of the world. The wine tastings will be led by Charles McBee, a fourth generation wine importer and wholesaler who traveled Europe and California for thirty years in the pursuit of finding, developing and selling wonderful wines. You will learn the vocabulary of professional wine tasting and a lot about the grape variety and its development in different parts of the world. Share observations and take notes about each wine so you have a record or recollection for the next day of tasting. Charles will provide you with a list of recommended wineries from the Monticello Wine Trail for your self-guided wine tour the following day, where you can experience the Central Virginia interpretation of the chosen varietal.

Each tutorial will be accompanied by an assortment of appropriate food pairings, not quite dinner but a light alternative.

In order to be included in the Wine Tutorial evening event you must specify your interest when you make your room reservations. For on-line reservations state your interest in the Comments Section of the reservation form. RESERVATIONS FOR EACH EVENT MUST BE MADE AT LEAST 48 HOURS IN ADVANCE. You must make a reservation at the Inn in order to participate.

We look forward to welcoming you to a Cedar Spring Inn Wine Tasting Tutorial.

WINE TASTING TUTORIAL SCHEDULE

Chardonnay - Friday, January 6

Merlot - Thursday, January 12

Voignier - Thursday, January 19

Cabernet Franc - Thursday, February 9

Cabernet Sauvignon - Monday, February 13

Merlot - Thursday, February 16

Petit Verdot - Thursday, February 23

Santa has come early to Cedar Spring Inn … bringing new televisions to each of our rooms!  Larger screens in every case … the largest we can fit in the space … Still with DVD’s … and all the channels of Direct TV … Merry Christmas to all, and to all a Good Night! 

Here’s the schedule for the Paramount Theater through April.  New show (*) tickets go on sale today!

December 2 (Today) - White Christmas

December 17 - Oratorio Society:  Christmas at the Paramount

December 21 & 22:  Moscow Ballet’s “Great Russian Nutcracker”

December 31:  First Night Virginia

February 2:  Ron White*

For more information or to purchase tickets go to www.theparamount.net.

February 12:  Food, Wine, Film & Passion*

March 17:  Golden Dragons Acrobats*

March 21:  Moscow Festival Ballet “Romeo & Juliet”*

April 18:  Josh Turner*

This Thursday, December 1st, there will be an open reception at Montpelier to kick off the art exhibit “The Madisons in Art”.  The exhibit will run from December 1 through 18 at Montpelier, the home of James and Dolley Madison.  Twenty-seven local artists from the Firnew Farm Artists Circle will exhibit.  These artists represent talent from Madison, Green, Culpeper, Rapphannock and Albemarle counties in Virginia, and all have depicted Montpelier in some way.  For more information please visit www.montpelier.org.

There is so much to do in Charlottesville and surrounding area next weekend … Here’s just a sampling:

Holiday Wreath Workshops at Monticello December 1,2,3,4,5,7,9,10.  www.monticello.org

Handmade for the Holidays at the Thomas Jefferson Visitor Center Museum Shop Saturday, December 3 from 2:00pm until 6:00pm.  Free tastings and local artisan demonstrations.  www.monticellocatalog.org

Candlelight Mansion Tour at Montpelier December 2,3,4.  www.montpelier.org

Holiday Open House at the Exchange Hotel Civil War Museum, Gordonsville, December 4.  www.hgiexchange.org

Four Country Players Presents “It’s a Wonderful Life” December 2-4, 9-11, 16-18 in Barboursville.  Friday performances are half price.  www.fourcp.org

John Paul Jone Arena hosts the hit musical comedy “Rock of Ages” Sunday, December 4 at 7:00pm.  www.johnpauljonesarena.com

71st Annual Christmas Concert presented by the Virginia Glee Club on Friday, December 2 at 8:00pm at Old Cabell Hall.  Tickets $15.  www.virginiagleeclub.org

PVCC Chorus Holiday Concert on Sunday, December 4th at 3:00pm.  Tickets free.  www.pvcc.edu/performingarts

Christmas Weekend at Walton’s Mountain Museum, December 3,4.  www.waltonmuseum.org

French Crepe Day at DelFosse Vineyards, December 4 from 1:00pm until 5:00pm.  www.delfossewine.com

First Charlottesville “Pop-Up Restaurant” called Handsome Boy Noodles, December 4 from 6:00pm until 11:00pm.  Enjoy noodle dishes like pho and ramen, dumplings and Korean style chicken wings.  Location is the Restaurant Ten on the Downtown Mall.  Chef Pei Chang of Ten will do the honors.  Have an economical dinner in style, with profits going to charity.

On the evenings of December 2, 3 and 4, Montpelier, the home of James Madison, will host a candlelight mansion tour.  Scheduled from 5:00pm until 7:00pm, the tour will include a session with James Madison’s wife Dolley.  There will be an update on the search for the original Madison furnishings, and you will see the gowns used in the PBS series on Dolley Madison.  There will be Christmas songs from the 1860’s, along with refreshments and dancing by the Assembly Dancers of Madison County N.C.  Check out the full program at www.montpelier.org.

On Sunday, December 18th, and Tuesday, December 20th, Monticello will host a unique experience of the holidays during Thomas Jefferson’s time.  These special house tours will feature an explanation of how the holidays were celebrated during Jefferson’s life.  You will tour the house including the Third Floor Dome area, not seen on everyday house tours.  Finally you will sample culinary delights from Jefferson’s time paired with today’s Virginia wines.  You will actually receive a copy of one of eight recipes found in Jefferson’s own hand.  The tours will begin at 3:30pm on both tour days, but plan on arriving early to do some holiday shopping in the Museum Shop.  Your gifts will be wrapped and ready for you at 6:30pm when the special tour is completed.

These special Holiday Tours are by reservation only.  The cost is $75 per person; this includes a coupon for 10% discount in the Museum Shop.

For more information please visit www.monticello.org.

Blenheim Vineyards will cut evergreen foliage from the woods surrounding the Vineyard to provide the materials for their Wreath Making Workshops this holiday season.  Michelle Smith, Lead Gardener for Blenheim, will instruct 12 lucky participants in creating a wreath at each workshop.  The workshops will be held on Thursday, December 8th from 10:00am until 1:00pm and on Saturday, December 10th at 11:00am until 2:00pm.  Please bring your own hand pruners and gloves.  To make a reservation contact Kathy Del Rosso at Kathy@blenheimvineyards.com.

Who knew … fermented apple cider can actually have all the nuance and finesse of fine wine.  Not far from Cedar Spring Inn, you can now enjoy the finest in modern day fermented cider made using ancient techniques, while taking in the glory of a property dating back to 1764 and Colonel Thomas Walker, guardian and mentor to Thomas Jefferson.  The cider is really special; so are the picnic offerings also available in the tasting room.  For more information visit www.castlehillcider.com.