Walk-Around Grand Tasting: VIP/Early Saturday Afternoon presented by The Omni Homestead Resort

The Expo's Premier, Curated, International Wine, Spirits & Food Tasting Experience

If you attend only one of the Expo's 28 events, make it the Walk-Around Grand Tasting - the heart of the Expo, perfect for both passionate wine enthusiasts and novice drinkers who enjoy tasting and learning about fine wine and food.  There are four entry times for this event - see details on all four sessions here.

Savor 26 Virginia Wineries, 14 Virginia Distilleries, International Wine & Incredible Specialty Food

Virginia's wine world gathers at this marquee celebration held at beautiful Main Street Station, where you can spend an entire afternoon strolling from table to table tasting hundreds of wines from Virginia, Italy, Oregon and other regions, Virginia spirits, ciders and mead, and specialty foods + enjoy artisan products.   

We're devoted to properly educating you about the drinks you taste, which is why we insist that every beverage is poured by knowledgeable representatives - whether they be winemakers, distributor representatives, proprietors, or experienced volunteers - capable of explaining about the drinks they are serving you.

NEW in 2024 for VIP Ticket-holders

VIP ticket-holders will receive a special ID and enjoy the privilege of entering the Grand Tasting one-hour early and gain exclusive access to highly-regarded VIP wines THROUGHOUT the duration of the afternoon session (from 11am-3:45pm).

Regions of Emphasis

While the Expo features wines from many regions of the world, Virginia wine is always emphasized along with two guest regions, which change each year.  In 2024, the two guest regions will be Italy and Oregon.  Additionally, wines from other highly regarded wine regions will be available to taste. 

List of Virginia Wineries and National & International Wineries as of 1/30/2024

Below please find a list of wineries from Virginia and ‘Regions of Emphasis’ Italy and Oregon, as well as other regions of the world, that you will taste at the event.  This list is incomplete as we will be adding more national and international wines in the weeks preceding the event.  [Please note that virtually all Virginia wines and spirits may be sampled and purchased to take home.]  

Virginia:  7 Lady Vineyards, Cave Ridge Vineyards, Barboursville Vineyards, King Family Vineyards, The Williamsburg Winery, Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards, Walsh Family Wine, Wind Vineyards, The Winery at Bull Run, Honey & Hops Brew Works, Horton Vineyards, The Estate at White Hall Vineyard, Philip Carter Winery, Virginia Mountain Vineyards, Notaviva Vineyards, Prince Michel Vineyard & Winery, Ninja Kombucha, Castle Glen Vineyards, Lazy Days Winery, Zoll Vineyards, Cobbler Mountain Cider, Mattaponi Winery, Lake Anna Winery, Woodland Press Winery, Vintner's Cellar Winery of Yorktown 

National: (Oregon) Four Graces, Penner Ash, Williamette Valley, J Christopher, Lingua Franca, King Estate, Bergstrom, Sokol Blosser, Gooseneck Vineyards, Elk Cove, Williamette, Browne Family, Willakenzie, Cristom, and Gran Moraine, Cooper Mountain. More Coming Soon.

International: (Italy) Bindi Sergardi, Bruno Giacosa, Pio Cesare, Vajra, Love Story, Inama, Buglioni, Sartori, B Giacosa, Batasiolo, Castello Di Neive, Banfi, Citto de Volpava, Monsanto, Nozzole, San Polo Montalcino, Prelius, Caparazo, Feudo, Argiolas, Tenuta Taccante (Sicily), Deudo Montoni, Sella Mosca, Morgante, Lagader, Ca Del Bosco, Chiarlo, Santa Margarita, Kettmeir, Kurtatsch Sonntaler, Tiefenbrunner, Mastro Greco, Riva de La Rosa, La Valentina, Villa Matilde, Liveli, Botromagno, Mastro Radici, Macerino, Sauvia, and Resonance Decouverte, Bava More Coming Soon.

Other National & International (France) Chateau Arnaud, Enclos de Viaud, Chateau Bellevue, Chateau Lagrave Paran, Chateau Laroze; (North Carolina) Biltmore More Coming Soon.

List of Virginia Distilleries

Below please find the list of Virginia distilleries participating in the Walk-Around Grand Tastings:

Virginia:  A Smith Bowman Distillery, Copper Fox Distillery, Virginia Distillery Company, KO Distilling, Virago Spirits, Tarnished Truth Distilling Company, Waterman Spirits, Chesapeake Bay Distillery, Three Crosses Distilling, Sandy River Distillery, Virginia Beach Distilling, Ironclad Distillery, Hill Top Distillery, Cirrus Vodka

List of Specialty Food & Product Vendors 

Edgewood Apiaries & Farm, Crescent Simples, Elbin Art LLC, Birdies Pimento Cheese, All About The Beverage, Sweet Heat Candles, The Perfect Pita, American Farmland Trust, Fred Astaire Dance Studio, Whitley Peanuts, Above the Flame Cigars LLC, The Bourbon Bowl Smoker, Herberts Wine Jelly, LLC, Christopher Mize Studio, Goodynuff , Cupcakes by Shyla, Lilly Valley Inn/Palisades Rest, The Cureous Cheese Shop, Anxiously Thrown, Sparkle-ist, Grateful Gypsy, SAMM Sprout About Mobile Markets, Laconiko, Peculiar Pantry LLC, Boso Kitchen, Big Wine Glasses, The Sugar Cave, Vine Things, Simple as Spice, Otaku International Express, AR's Hot Southern Honey, JC Desserts, Keva Women Artists, Up in Smoke LLC, Goatocado Kitchen, Deep Run Roadhouse and more…

Ticket Package Availability and Build Your Own Package

This event can be purchased a la carte or as part of four discounted ticket bundles, 'VIP Weekend', ‘VIP Trio’, and ‘Super Pass’, which you can check out on the Ticket Packages page.  Alternatively, to curate your own experience, you can buy tickets to this event using our “build your own package” and save 15% on 3 events or save 20% on 4.Natural & Biodynamic Wine Tastings

We will offer an enhanced presentation of natural and biodynamic wines from numerous regions of the world.   This is an opportunity to learn more about one of the hottest trends in the global wine industry.

With Your Ticket, You Will:

• Gain entry one hour early, taste hundreds of highly-regarded wines and spirits, and enjoy exclusive access to VIP wines available throughout the five-hour session*.
   
• Taste exceptional specialty food from local and national artisanal producers.
   
• Enjoy the opportunity to buy most Virginia wines and all Virginia spirits to take home.
   
• Enjoy an extraordinary silent Auction and bid on items with your mobile phone.
   
• Enjoy the International Natural & Biodynamic Wine Station.
   
• Receive a beautiful, crystal Stolzle wine glass to use at the event and keep to take home.
   
• Be able to use the complimentary wine check and coat check services.
   
• Be provided with free artisanal water throughout the tasting.
   
• Be able to use tables, lounge chairs and cocktail rounds throughout the exhibit hall.

Important Information

• *All wine, spirits and cider tables will end tastings at 3:45 p.m., fifteen minutes before the end of the session.  However, those tables will still remain open for bottle sales if they are a Virginia winery, distillery or cidery.
• Only 21 years or older are permitted to enter the event.
• Casual attire.
• All inclusive except for full meal items.
• Cost of admission is $3.  The remaining costs cover the privilege to consume sampled food and drinks (excluding complimentary water) and the crystal wine glass.