October 2023

JUANITA TOOL

REALTOR®

Licensed in VA

703.967.0431

juanita@ atokaproperties.com

juanitatool.com

MARIA ELDREDGE REALTOR®

Licensed in VA

540.454.3829 maria@middleburg realestate.com

ANNE MCINTOSH REALTOR®

Licensed in VA 703.509.4499 annewmcintosh@ gmail.com

mcintoshand eldredge.realtor

23460 MERSEY RD | MIDDLEBURG, VA

$2,890,000

4 BD | 5/1 BA | 5,400 SQFT | 3.08 AC | Step into the world of modern luxury in the heart of Virginia’s Hunt Country. This brand-new, custom-built home is thoughtfully designed for art collectors, featuring generous wall space to display your collection. The spaciious kitchen is a chef’s dream. Car enthusiasts will appreciate the five garage spaces, including EV charging.

ROCKY WESTFALL

REALTOR®, GRI

Licensed in VA & WV 540.219.2633

rocky.westfall@ gmail.com

Professional

Experienced Dependable Local

34840 ATOKA CHASE LN | MIDDLEBURG, VA

$2,249,000

4 BD | 4/1 BA | 4,057 SQFT | 10.92 AC | Cape Cod style retreat nestled on a private, serene 10.92-acre lot. This extraordinary home harmoniously combines timeless elegance, outdoor splendor, and modern luxuries. With 4 bedrooms, 4/1 baths, and three levels of refined living space, this residence offers an exceptional private sanctuary for the discerning homeowner.

2438 PYLETOWN RD | BOYCE, VA

$2,295,000

4 BD | 3/1 BA | 3,700 SQFT | 60 AC | The Hunting Box has been central for the Blue Ridge Hunt for decades. Perfectly located 60-acre turnkey horse property. 3,700+ SQFT main house has been fully rebuilt in recent years. Horse facilities include 18-stall barn with wash stall, tack and feed room, 2 apartments, turnout paddocks, pastures, indoor & outdoor schooling rings.

ANNE

GREENE

Associate Broker, REALTOR®, SRES, SRS

Licensed in VA

540.364.9500 amg@ amgreenerealtor.com amgreeneco.com

| DELAPLANE, VA

5 BD | 4 BA | 3,842 SQFT | 26.37 AC | Exquisite country retreat nestled on 26 picturesque acres. This meticulously crafted post and beam home offers an unparalleled level of comfort and privacy. Gourmet, top-of-the-line kitchen. Dine al fresco and savor the vistas on the large deck. Lavish primary suite complete with a spa-like ensuite bath and a private balcony.

In today’s active and competitive real estate market, it pays to have the right information and insight before you buy or sell in Northern Virginia. That’s why more people turn to Kristin Dillon-Johnson to find the tools and resources they need to seize their investment opportunities. Kristin will guide you in your research of current market trends and your search of the latest property listings resulting in valuable information for your move.

Kristin Dillon-Johnson not only brings her extensive expertise and knowledge to your investment, she is also part of the powerful marketing clout of Middleburg Real Estate | Atoka Properties and McEnearney Associates. The combined expertise of these powerhouse firms delivers the highest level of real estate service available in the surrounding counties and Northern Virginia.

Put Kristin’s knowledge and expertise to work for you!

MICHAEL

PUBLISHER: Greenhill Media, LLC

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Kaitlin Hill | kaitlin@middleburglife.com

COPY EDITOR & DIGITAL ASSISTANT Susan Stark

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR | PUBLISHER Christian Bentley christian@middleburglife.com

ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER

Vicky Mashaw vmashaw@middleburglife.com

ADVERTISING SALES

Jennifer Richards | jennifer@middleburglife.com

ACCOUNTS ADMINISTRATOR

Joanne Maisano

DESIGNER: Elisa Hernandez

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR: Nicky Marshok

ON THE COVER

Andrew Richards, Samantha Richards, Spencer Macli, Marcia Massenberg, Natalie Femia, and Kazlynn Johnson gather to celebrate Virginia Wine Month at Cana Vineyards in Middleburg. Photo by Gracie Withers.

ON THIS PAGE

A fall hunting snapshot of Orange County Huntsman Reg Spreadborough out in the field as the sun begins to rise, captured by Joanne Maisano. For more of Maisano’s fall hunting scenes, turn to page 38.

ADVERTISE IN MIDDLEBURG LIFE

Greenhill Media, LLC

P.O. Box 328 | Middleburg, VA 20118-0328 540.687.5950 | info@middleburglife.com

All editorial matter is fully protected and may not be reproduced in any manner without the written permission of the publisher. All unsolicited manuscripts and photos must be accompanied by return postage; the publisher assumes no responsibility. Middleburg Life reserves the right to reject any advertising. Distributed in Aldie, Alexandria, Boyce, Centreville, Delaplane, Front Royal, Gainesville, Great Falls, Haymarket, Leesburg, Manassas, Marshall, Middleburg, Millwood, Paris, Purcellville, The Plains, Rectortown, Tysons, Upperville, Vint Hill, Warrenton, Washington, D.C., and Winchester.

FIND US ON:

Instagram @middleburglife Twitter @middleburglife Facebook.com/middleburglife

Celebrate the way holidays were intended... with friends, family, & delicious food. Rest easy knowing the cooking is taken care of and spend more time with your loved ones. Shop the Market at Bluewater Kitchen’s Holiday Prepared Meals, plus raw, fresh caught seafood & local meats, to curate a memorable Thanksgiving feast. View the Thanksgiving Menu TODAY at themarketatbluewaterkitchen.com/thanksgiving.

For any time of year, make entertaining easy with the Market’s Quick Order Catering, including prepared family style meals, shareable bites & platters, boxed lunches and more! See what seasonally inspired selections the culinary team has whipped up at themarketatbluewaterkitchen.com/quickordercatering. bwkitchen.com Upperville

CONTRIBUTORS

Heidi Baumstark has been writing for several lifestyle magazines and newspaper publications since 2005, specializing in history-related articles highlighting Virginia’s Piedmont. She has been with Middleburg Life since 2014. Over the years, she has featured hundreds of businesses, leaders, residents, historical sights, lectures, heritage programs, and museums in her work. Heidi hopes to inspire readers to pause and consider the people, places, and events that have shaped the story of our local history.

Michael Butcher is the owner of Butcher Photography. Originally from Christchurch, New Zealand, he resides in Springfield, Virginia, with his family. For the past 15 years, Michael has specialized in portraiture, event, and editorial photography. When not behind the lens, he enjoys gardening and swimming.

Diane Helentjaris chose Loudoun as her “forever home” in 1990 after experiencing Ohio, Michigan, Montreal, San Francisco, and New Jersey. Following years as a clinical physician and public health administrator, she returned to her humanities roots. A finalist in the 2020 Icelandic Writers Retreat, her book “The Indenture of Ivy O’Neill” was released in June 2022. Diane also writes a monthly newsletter, The Silk Mill, which is dedicated to those in love with fabric in all its glory.

Shannon Ayres is a Reston-based freelance photographer. His work has appeared in Arlington, Chesapeake Life, Northern Virginia, Virginia Business, and USA Today magazines. He has an MFA in fine art photography from San Francisco’s Academy of Art University. His editorial work can be seen at sdayres.com.

Lia Hobel is a freelance journalist, known in town for her blog, Uplift Loudoun, which she launched during the start of the pandemic to share uplifting stories. In addition to her work for Middleburg Life, Lia writes periodically for online platforms with articles appearing on GOBankingRates, Forbes, Huffington Post, and Yahoo! Lia began her career as a broadcast journalist, but left TV news when she moved to Leesburg, Virginia, with her family. She is a Loudoun 40 Under 40 honoree and a Certified Tourism Ambassador for the county.

Dulcy Hooper and her husband Richard moved to the country from Washington, D.C., nearly 10 years ago. Shortly thereafter, both began writing occasional articles for Middleburg Life. Dogs are a big part of the Hoopers’ lives and several of Dulcy’s earlier articles focused on the couple’s Chinese crested powderpuffs!

Victoria Peace is a recent graduate of Georgetown University and holds a degree in French and Art History. On the weekends, she frequently visits her family in The Plains. In her free time, she enjoys playing polo with Twilight Polo Club, riding with the Georgetown Equestrian Team, gardening, walking her family's dogs at Sky Meadows State Park, and visiting her retired horse, Taco. Her perfect “Hunt Country” day would include a stop at the local farmers market in The Plains, a trip to her favorite Middleburg antique stores, and a sunset trail ride in the Virginia countryside.

Callie Broaddus is a Warrenton native and graduate of the University of Virginia with a degree in Architecture. After seven years as a book designer at National Geographic Kids, Callie founded the nonprofit, Reserva: The Youth Land Trust, in 2019. Callie’s land preservation projects and focus on youth empowerment are aided by her talent for storytelling through her camera lens as a professional photographer. In her spare time, Callie enjoys Earl Grey tea, Harry Potter trivia, and dreaming of getting back into the jumper ring.

Bill Kent’s journalism has appeared in more than 40 national and regional publications including the Washington Post, Art & Antiques, Philadelphia Magazine, Baltimore Magazine, New Jersey Monthly, and The Hunt. A former correspondent for the New York Times, he taught writing and journalism at the University of Pennsylvania, Rutgers, and Temple universities, and is the author of seven novels, a Fodor’s Guide, and a history of Atlantic City. After graduating from Oberlin College with majors in English and Religion, he published his first piece in The Georgetowner. When not writing, he enjoys walking his westies on Washington Street.

Laticia Headings is grateful to call Middleburg home. In 2013, she discovered the area attending the first annual Middleburg Film Festival, and has come back every year since as a volunteer, attendee, and for the past several years, a writer for Middleburg Life. Laticia is the founder of Latitude Media and has 23 years of experience as a producer, writer, and camerawoman for television (Discovery, National Geographic), documentary film, and multi-platform media. Now, a full-time realtor with McEnearney Associates, she is thrilled to be helping clients in Hunt Country and beyond.

Carlo Massimo is a reporter based in Washington, D.C., and a columnist at InformationWeek. A poet and literary translator outside work, his book-length translations of Mario Scalesi and Salvatore Mugno are due in 2024. Carlo joined Middleburg Life in April 2023.

Beth Rasin graduated from Middlebury College, where she studied nonfiction creative writing. She worked as a writer and editor at The Chronicle of the Horse for more than 25 years, including 10 years as the president and executive editor. As a freelancer, she’s contributed since 2015 to Middleburg Life, as well as Northern Virginia magazine, Blue Ridge Outdoors, the former Loudoun magazine, and many others. She lives in Hume, where she and her husband and daughter run a boarding facility for retired horses. She enjoys running, hiking, and spending time with her many adopted dogs and cats.

Gracie Withers is a local photographer who grew up in the village of Aldie and has been photographing local weddings, portraits, and events since 2016. She was a contributing photographer at Georgetown University for over three years and also has a wide variety of experience in sports photography. Her passion began when she received her first camera in middle school and she continued to study the craft in high school and in college. She joined Middleburg Life as a contributor in the spring of 2022.

At just 23, Zak Robbins is already making waves in the wine world right here in Middleburg. “I just achieved level two, which is where you can call yourself a certified sommelier,” Robbins shares. He adds, “I always knew I wanted to learn more about wine chemistry, culture, and history. This wraps it all up into one.”

Robbins, who you can find serving wine at Tremolo Bar most weekends, attributes his early interest in part to his parents and a childhood spent in Charlottesville, Virginia. “My parents always made me smell the wine that was in their glass. I had no interest in drinking it, but they would ask me to pick out a couple of fruits or spices that I could smell… They had a little bit of wine education and instilled a curiosity in me,” Robbins explains.

As a teen, he took that interest into his own hands. “Once I was a teenager, I had done a little reading online about French wine, so I just wanted to try my luck. I was sixteen with a car for the first time. I drove to the wine shop and asked for

There’s a New somm iN TowN

Written by Kaitlin Hill | Photo by Shannon Ayres

a Châteauneuf-du-Pape,” he says. He continues with a laugh, “They did not card me for a Châteauneuf-du-Pape. It cost me $50. That’s quite a lot of summer savings for a 16-year-old, but it is a great place to start because you don’t have to try all the nasty grocery store stuff.”

From there, Robbins expanded his interests with the help of wine world friends. “I had some friends going for their Master’s of Wine and they had me try world-class Champagnes, some white Burgundy. There’s no going back from that.”

The next step in his wine education was linking up with a Level Four or Master Sommelier. “There are only 250-odd on earth of those level fours. And Jarad, the owner of Tremolo, is one of them.” He continues, “At the time, there were only two in Virginia and Jarad was by far the closest to me. So, I just came to his wine shop over and over, barely legal to drink and probably tried everything at Knead Wine.”

Call it persistence or an investment, but Robbins’ frequent visits to Knead Wine earned him a job with Jarad Slipp at the wine shop. Robbins shares, “At one point he was like, ‘You’ve tried every wine in the shop and you’re always curious; do you want to work a couple of days here?’” He laughs, “I probably spent $10,000 at his shop before I made a dime.”

Later, Robbins made the move to Tremolo, Slipp’s second Middleburg project. Robbins says,

“I had been pestering him to open a nice restaurant from the get-go. It’s what I had always wanted to work in, but there was nothing quite like Tremolo in the area.”

Of Slipp he says, “Being around someone so driven is motivating.”

With a new job and mentor in place, Robbins moved to Middleburg in 2022, and is now looking for roommates. He mentions, “I am in downtown Middleburg, a block away from Tremolo. I have two spare rooms.”

When asked what the future holds, in addition to new apartment mates, Robbins seems to approach life one day at a time. “I’m working harvest at RdV tomorrow morning. I’ll get a little insight into the winemaking process. I was at Willow Creek a few weeks ago watching the bottling process.” As for the next level of education, he says, “I may go back to school for organic chemistry or some such adjacent field and just see how it links up, but for now, here’s where I’m at.”

What’s next for this rising star in the wine world? We’ll have to wait and see, but it is safe to say that he’s just getting started. As for those interested in breaking into the industry, or just learning more about wine, Robbins says, “Be open to trying new wines and find a wine shop that you trust. You can do yourself a lot of favors if you just get one or two people who know your taste and can find something fun for you.” ML

Zak Robbins.

New Owners and Local Partnerships at Barrel Oak Winery & Brewery

Written by Lia Hobel | Photos courtesy of Barrel Oak Winery & Brewery

Nestled in the heart of Virginia's wine country, Barrel Oak Winery & Brewery in Delaplane is a must-visit this fall. With its many accolades, it is a destination for wine enthusiasts and beer lovers alike.

As you step onto the expansive grounds, you are immediately captivated by the picturesque countryside that surrounds you. The rolling hills and vineyards stretch as far as the eye can see, creating a truly breathtaking backdrop for your wine tasting experience.

“We have something for everybody here,”

says Alexandria Chambers, the business operations manager for Barrel Oak. The winery offers a robust selection of award-winning wines that are handcrafted with passion and care. Whether you prefer vibrant and crisp whites or rich and velvety reds, Barrel Oak has something to satisfy every wine lover's palate. During tasting sessions, knowledgeable staff guide you through the various wines, sharing insights on each wine's unique characteristics and making the experience even more enriching. Chambers says visitors receive “a very customized tasting experience that's all

about meeting the customer’s needs and preferences.”

Since planting their first vine in 2006, Barrel Oak Winery & Brewery has operated as a family-owned establishment that has taken great pride

Barrel Oak | Page 7

Barrel Oak Winery & Brewery.

“We have something for everybody here.” – Chambers

in crafting exceptional wines. In 2022, Kavelle and Ken Bajaj purchased the business. Chambers, who joined the Barrel Oak team over the summer, encourages those who’ve been to the winery in the past to come experience the winery under its new ownership and staff. Barrel Oak has also brought on a new winemaker, Jeremy Ligon, previously the winemaker at Creek’s Edge Winery in Lovettsville. He’s a Virginia native devoted to

world-class Virginia wines. His track record is spectacular with Best in Class, Double Golds, and Gold and Silver awards for wines produced.

For those who prefer beer, there is the brewery on the grounds operated by Jon Bowman, who has been head brewer for the last few years. Barrel Oak is always finding creative ways to appeal to visitors seasonally. In time for football season, the brewery launched a “Washington Commanders-themed beer” to celebrate a new era for the DMV football team.

The food menu continues to evolve, too. In addition to the main menu, there are special features such as wood-fired pizzas. The pizzas are offered year-round, four days a week from Thursday through Sunday. This is in partnership with Knead Wine, a retail wine shop with take-out pizza

located on Washington Street in Middleburg.

Barrel Oak is loved by locals and out-of-towners for its scenic setting, which is also pet friendly. As Chambers says, “It's an atmosphere where you can come and do your tasting and then settle in for the afternoon, whether you're coming in with your family, friends, or your dog.” The spacious outdoor patio provides the perfect spot to relax and soak in the stunning views while enjoying a glass of wine and bites. Inside, the rustic yet elegant tasting room welcomes guests with its cozy fireplace and warm atmosphere. You can unwind by the fire, taking in the soothing ambiance, no matter the season.

Barrel Oak also goes the extra mile to ensure that visitors of all ages have a memorable experience. Families can bring a picnic and leisurely enjoy the winery’s sprawling lawn. For those seeking a deeper understanding of winemaking, Barrel Oak offers informative tours and tastings. These behind-the-scenes experiences provide an immersive adventure, allowing guests to learn about the winemaking process firsthand.

Beyond its wine offerings, Barrel Oak fosters a sense of community and celebration. The winery hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including live music performances and fundraisers. These events bring together wine enthusiasts from all walks of life, creating a vibrant and inclusive atmosphere that is both welcoming and enjoyable.

With its superb wines, picturesque setting, and welcoming staff, a visit to Barrel Oak Winery & Brewery is an experience that will leave you longing to return time and time again. Bring your friends and loved ones for a day of exploration, wine tasting, and appreciation of the beauty this Hunt Country gem has to offer. ML

Barrel Oak Winery & Brewery

3623 Grove Lane Delaplane, Virginia 20144

540-364-6402

Top: Grapes waiting to be harvested. Bottom: Commanders-themed beer. Right: 2021 Chardonnay.

“It's an atmosphere where you can come and do your tasting and then settle in for the afternoon, whether you're coming in with your family, friends, or your dog.” – Chambers

Barrel Oak | From page 6

Photo by Chris Weber

Washington St. | P.O. Box 1380 | Middleburg, VA 20118 | 540.687.5588 | sheridanmacmahon.com

from throughout | | 6 kitchen | cottage lighted stream, acres

110 E. Washington St. | P.O. Box 1380 | Middleburg, VA 20118 | 540.687.5588 |

HICKORY TREE FARM

THE PLAINS, VIRGINIA

304 acres | Main house, stunning guest house w/ garage, 2 tenant houses, manager’s house, apartment complex, pool, 5 barns, approx 60 stalls, 3/4 mile all weather sand track, pond & extensive paddocks, fencing & sheds | Panoramic views of Bull Run Mountains & the Blue Ridge Mountains | Original home site still surrounded by towering trees, garden & stone walls

SPRING GLADE

$7,950,000

Helen MacMahon 540.454.1930

MIddLEBuRG, VIRGINIA

FULTON RUN

MIDDLEBURG, VIRGINIA

50 sprawling, usable acres Mountain Views | Middleburg Hunt Country Build the life of your dreams while residing in the 3 BR, 3 1/2 BA 10’ ceilings, exotic granite kitchen Property has 3 additional Loudoun County approved building sites for custom main house and/ or 2-3 other dwellings. Perfect for a family compound The Carriage house/barn is prepped for a 2 full bath, full kitchen, apartment or can be used as an artist studio with a full view glass doors allowing for natural light 40+ fenced in acres and several paddocks divided across gently rolling hills country living with city access - 35 minutes to Dulles International Airport, 1 hour to DC. Property is in easement for reasonable taxes.

$2,795,000

ATOKA STORE

MARSHALL, VIRGINIA

SALEM HILL

Property has been a landmark for community for decades | Major frontage on Route 50 & Atoka Rd Commercial kitchen, beer cooler, grocery items, pizza oven, in store seating Potential to be very lucrative | Property also improved by older home, old gas station has been renovated for potential office space or storage & stone spring house 2 lots w/ commercial village zoning.

$2,700,000

MARSHALL, VIRGINIA

Paul MacMahon 703609.1905

French Country home, with renovations in 1999 & 2017 | 4 BR, 5 full & 2 half BA, 5 FP, hardwood floors, flagstone terrace | Beautiful drive to hilltop stetting overlooking pond, lake & mountains | Im provements include pool, 2-car garage, 2 BR guest house & apartment | Lovely boxwood gardens | Kitchen allowance to be provided | 79.89 acres

Paul MacMahon 703.609.1905

Brian MacMahon 703.609.1868

Well protected Fauquier location | 6 bedrooms | 4 full and 2 half baths | 3 fireplaces | Great views | Pool with large flagstone terrace | Large county kitchen | 4-car detached garage with apartment/ office | 9-stall barn | Covered arena | Outdoor ring | 4 stall shed row barn | 51 fenced acres

Brian MacMahon 703.609.1868

Paul MacMahon 703.609.1905

GLENDONNELL

WARRENTON, VIRGINIA

helen MacMahon 540.454.1930

Built in 1918 | Features light-filled rooms, a center hallway with arched doorways leading to the living room, dining room, and 2nd floor | Kitchen gives the gourmet cook all the amenities for efficient food prep dining and living rooms are perfect | 5 wood-burning fireplaces A separate office and gym on the first floor | Four bedrooms, 2 full baths on the 2nd floor, 2 half on the first The home has a rear stone patio for outdoor generating a detached garage with room for additional storage Oil radiator heat, town sewer and water | 1.14 Acres

$1,500,000 Lynn Wiley 540.454.1527

GAME CREEK

UPPERVILLE LAND

UPPERVILLE, VIRGINIA

Total of 44.55 acres of which 15 acres were producing grapes | Prime location w/mountain Views & privacy Vineyard infrastructure still remains &includes fencing, irrigation system and computerized well | Perc site for 4 bedroom home. Property is in conservation easement | Property can be converted to Residential use.

$1,195,000

Paul MacMahon 703.609.1905

Brian MacMahon 703.609.1868

$3,690,000

Mahon

203 acres in River frontage 4 full & 3 1/2 Gunnite pool and private | 5 stall Jim paddocks, pasture | Old d

NEW MOUNTAIN ROAD

ALDIE, VIRGINIA

60 wooded acres on top of a ridge In conservation easement, trails throughout, elevated building sites, 1500 ft of frontage on Little River 25 minutes to Dulles, close to Aldie and Route 50 $990,000

Paul MacMahon 703.609.1905

Brian MacMahon 703.609.1868

HALCYON HILL

MIddLEBuRG, VIRGINIA

LEEDS MANOR ROAD MIDDLEBURG, VIRGINIA

MARKHAM, VA

FOREST HILL ROAD

RECTORTOWN, VIRGINIA

103 W FEDERAL STREET BLUEMONT, VIRGINIA

2 commercial spaces side by side | Entire complex has been renovated & both units are currently leased to established businesses All details provided reflect both units being offered together Both units include a fully finished lower level for additional retail space or storage High ceilings , hardwood floors, updated finishes throughout | Nice foot traffic and large display windows | Private off street parking.

$874,900

Helen MacMahon 540.454.1930

A remarkable property located within a private enclave just minutes from town | Stone and stucco manor house with main level master suite | 7 additional BR | 5 stone FP | Beautiful gardens, terraces, salt water pool, cabana, carriage house & stable with 2 paddocks | Lovely finishes throughout & sweeping lawn to private trails to Goose Creek | 31 acres | Private, elegant & convenient

Classic farmhouse on a private acre lot | Originally constructed in 1899 | Traditional floor plan Sitting area that leads into a large living room& family room The galley kitchen extends to the dining room & sunroom w/ views of the countryside Upstairs, there is a primary bedroom,2 additional bedrooms, a full bath, & a sleeping porch | The basement contains a rec room, ample storage | Spacious backyard, 2 large outbuildings

$575,000

Marqui Simmons 703.774.6109

$2,650,000

helen MacMahon 540.454.1930

17 acres of rolling pasture land in the village of Rectortown | Convenient to both Routes 50 & 66 | Newly renovated | Private setting with magnificent mountain views | 4 bedrooms, 4 full bath, 1 half bath, 2 fireplaces | Heated pool & spa | 2 bedroom guest house | Large shed & 2-car garage

East side of Blue Ridge All wooded, old logging trail, could clear views of Loudoun Valley and Bull Run Mountains 10.94 acres, easy access to Routes 7 and 50 Tough to match the seclusion

$250,000

Paul MacMahon 703.609.1905

Brian MacMahon 703.609.1868

$2,475,000

Paul MacMahon 703.609.1905

dELAPLANE, Circa 1850’s rebuilt at beams and Barn also 2 bedroom multiple building outside Paul

TA-DA! TRAVEL BAR DRIVES THE PARTY

Written by Heidi Baumstark

Did someone say, “TA-DA!”? That’s what people shout as an exclamation of triumph. It’s the ring of fanfare. A reply accompanying an announcement or big reveal. And there’s a travel bar in town that’s named just that: TA-DA! Travel Bar, a decked out vintage Piaggio Ape which is a three-wheeled, Vespa-style scooter from Italy. With its classic beige shade and curvy body, the scooter is sure to turn heads, promising to be a hit at any gathering, from intimate to large-scale celebrations.

Since 1948, Piaggio Ape scooters have come in various configurations to serve a range of functions. Since launching TA-DA! in Middleburg in 2020, owner Jennifer Colon has used hers as a mobile mini bar and memory maker, transporting fun to any party.

“I was traveling in the U.K. years ago and they had these cute little three-wheelers that were serving prosecco,” Colon remembers. “It’s a thing there. And nothing was like that here, so I wanted to do something.”

Colon found a purveyor who sourced her Piaggio Ape from France. He has a business that converts vehicles into traveling bars, coffee bars, flower bars, etc., throughout Europe. So, she contacted him, chose the configuration, picked out the colors, and sent him camera-ready art for the logo. “It came over on a huge container ship into Norfolk; that was in April 2020 at the very start of the pandemic. I went to Norfolk to pick it up,” Colon recalls. “I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s finally here!’”

With the Piaggio Ape, TA-DA! is able to host any number of indoor or outdoor events, including weddings, rehearsal dinners, engagement parties, milestone birthdays, retirement par-

ties, bridal or baby showers, equestrian gatherings, sports events, golf tournaments, corporate events, client and employee appreciation parties, fundraisers, brand activations, and anything else Colon’s clients can think of across Virginia, D.C.,

and Maryland. TA-DA! is all about cheers, celebrations, and forever cherishing the moment with seemingly limitless applications.

Complete with six taps and a state-of-the-art

Ta-Da | Page 11

Jennifer Colon with her mobile bar at Belmont Country Club. Photo courtesy of Visit Loudoun.

cooling system, TA-DA! serves perfectly chilled sparkling drinks, wine, beer, hard cider, craft cocktails, nitro-brewed coffee, and non-alcoholic beverages. “Our team provides [the] TA-DA! [mobile bar] and clients benefit from customizing the rest. They have total control over their beverage choices,” Colon explains. Some want all six taps to be beer, or wine, but taps can be mixed and matched with each one containing a different beverage. Taps hold sixtels (one-sixth of a full keg) with a capacity of 5.6 gallons (20 liters). Sixtels, also known as sixth barrels, hold 55 12-ounce pours. Customers can purchase sixtels at large retail businesses, or some local wineries and cideries also sell in the sixtel format. Clients supply all drinks, mixers, garnishes, and supplies like glass or plasticware, utensils, stirrers, and paper products.

Timing is customizable, too. Renters choose from three-, five-, and seven-hour package deals. Need more time? TA-DA! can keep the party rolling for an additional hourly fee, or even for a fun road trip and can be rented on a daily, multi-day, weekly, and monthly basis. If an event is catered, clients have the option of using their caterer as a bartender, or can hire their own. Basically, clients have the flexibility of who pours. “But it can’t be a random person bartending,” Colon adds. “The person needs to be at least 21 years of age.”

Packages also include bar decor with built-in LED lighting and bistro lights, a rustic serving table that can be placed in front or beside the scooter, six chalkboard signs for each tap, a customizable drink menu sign, delivery, set-up, and breakdown. Colon collects glassware and displays it on the bar shelves to complete the vintage look. Patrons can use the serving table to place decorative items like flowers, a welcome sign,

framed photos, and personal accents that coordinate with their theme. Some clients have brought arching balloon arrangements for a fun, festive finish. Customers can also get a magnetic logo printed to place on the scooter’s body or hang a banner on the front or side.

Regarding the color scheme, Colon chose something neutral so the Piaggio Ape doesn’t conflict with party colors, especially for weddings. Speaking of weddings, TA-DA! can even be used as a dessert bar, cigar and whiskey lounge, macaron bubbly bar, brownie bubbly bar, a flower truck, or photo booth.

The scooter’s petite size — 10 feet long and 6 feet wide — allows it to fit inside a venue, tent, on a porch, or on a patio. The compact cart gets through small spaces in a backyard, through double French doors, through gates by a poolside, or under outdoor tents. “We trailer-in the bar. It drives, but only about 30 miles an hour,” Colon says.

For local businesses, TA-DA! can even serve as a secondary bar. In the early days in 2021, “I had my bar at Salamander [in Middleburg] and left it there over the summer and they used it as a pop-up happy hour,” Colon remembers. “They had their bartender serve; we put everything in our containers, and they worked the bar.” Another time, TA-DA! parked at Mt. Defiance Cider Barn for a wedding; Mt. Defiance served cider inside their building, while TA-DA! served customers outside for ease of access to drink.

“When coming up with a name for the business, my thing was, you go to a party and you say, ‘TA-DA!’ to announce you’re there,” Colon notes. And that’s just what TA-DA! does: announces the party is here. We can all toast to that. ML

For more information and to reserve TA-DA! for your next celebration, visit tadabar.com or email hello@tadabar.com.

TA-DA! parked at Oatlands. Photo by Laurentina Photography.

Wine Guide

10100 Three Fox Lane, Delaplane, VA 20144 (703) 594-6136

threefoxvineyards.com

Facebook: @threefoxvineyards

Instagram: @threefoxvineyards

Twitter: @3FoxVineyards

23583 Fleetwood Road, Aldie, VA 20105 (571) 899-4380

oldfarmwineryhartland.com

Facebook: @oldfarmwineryhartland

Instagram: @oldfarmwineryhartland

Twitter: @oldfarmhartland

18701 Foggy Bottom Road, Bluemont, VA 20135 (540) 554-2337

dirtfarmbrewing.com

Facebook: @DirtFarmBrew

Instagram: @dirtfarmbrewing

3623 Grove Lane, Delaplane, VA 20144 (540) 364-6402

barreloak.com

Facebook: @barreloakwinery

Instagram: @barrel_oak_winery

Twitter: @BarrelOak_Wine

23595 Winery Lane, Middleburg, VA 20117 (540) 687-6968

experiencegreenhill.com

Facebook: @GreenhillWineryVineyards

Instagram: @greenhillwine

Twitter: @GreenhillWine

450 Green Spring Road, Winchester, VA 22603 (540) 664-2048

briedevineyards.com

Facebook: @BriedeVineyards

Instagram: @briedevineyards

Twitter: @BriedeFamily

4970 Antioch Road, Haymarket, VA 20169 (703) 753-9360

wineryatlagrange.com

Facebook: @WineryatLaGrange

Instagram: @wineryatlagrange

Guide

14437 Hume Road, Huntly, VA 22640 (540) 635-9398

rcellars.com

Facebook: @rcellars

Instagram: @rcellars

38600 John Mosby Highway, Middleburg, VA 20117 (703) 348-2458

canavineyards.com

Facebook: @canavineyards

Instagram: @canavineyards Twitter: @canavineyards

38593 Daymont Lane, Waterford, VA 20197 (571) 439-2255

8chainsnorth.com

Facebook: @8chainsnorth

Instagram: @8chainsnorth

Twitter: @8chainsnorth

100 Main Street, Warrenton, VA 20186 (540) 347-7237

townduck.com

Facebook: @townduck

Instagram: @townduck

38295 Fremont Overlook Lane

Purcellville, VA 20132 (540) 882-4560

sunsethillsvineyard.com/Home

Facebook: @sunsethillsvineyard

Instagram: @SunsetHillsVineyard

39060 John Mosby Highway Middleburg, Virginia 20117 (571) 367-4760

50westvineyards.com

Facebook: @50westvineyards

Instagram: @50westvineyards

For more information on local wineries, breweries, and wine shops, visit MiddleburgLife.com or scan here:

AUTUMN ON DISPLAY IN “NATURE’S ALCHEMY” AT THE BYRNE GALLERY

Written by Kaitlin Hill | Artwork by Regina Miele

When asked what inspired her latest exhibit “Nature's Alchemy,” D.C.-based artist Regina Miele shares, “Going out to Middleburg and the Piedmont Virginia, you absolutely realize why that region was given the same name from Europe.” She adds, “The Blue Ridge Mountains are one of the most beau-

tiful ranges I’ve ever seen. They are also one of the oldest. There are colors and light that project from them.”

On display through October 29 at the Byrne Gallery on West Washington Street in Middleburg, Miele’s locally-inspired body of work captures the magic of autumn in Hunt Country with

her clever use of bold colors, varied perspectives, delicate gilding, Renaissance technique, and a poignant focus on the beauty of light and the importance of time.

Self-described as a “devout oil painter,” Miele's path to painting started in childhood. A New Jer-

Left: “Blue Ridge Sunset,” 18 x 24 inches, oil on lead-primed panel, 2023. Right: “Ancient Range,” 20 x 16 inches, oil and metal leaf on lead-primed panel, 2023.

Autumn | From page 14

sey native, access to the Metropolitan Museum of Art sparked an early and enduring interest in art. “That is where it started for me, having exposure to the New York museum system. And from a very young age, being completely captivated by painting to a point where I probably could have outstayed my parents looking at stuff,”

Miele remembers. She adds, “And I always loved drawing. From elementary school age, I could put aside four or

five hours a day and focus on drawing. That certainly didn’t apply anywhere else in my life.”

Autumn | Page 16

“For my entire adult life, it has been a priority. I’ve approached it as a discipline. I’ve just always been deeply committed.” – Miele

Left: Self portrait of Regina Miele. Right: "Forest Lights' Cathedral," 24 x 18 inches, oil and metal leaf on lead-primed panel, 2023.

Miele attended Catholic University in Washington, D.C., but, initially, wasn’t certain she would make a career out of being an artist. “I was undecided about fully majoring in art and thought maybe I would major in education because of the reality that there weren’t any art jobs.”

Her perspective changed when she was accepted to a program in Florence her junior year. “I spent my junior year, plus a summer semester, at a school called Lorenzo de Medici.” She continues, “That absolutely finalized it for me … the experience of living in Florence…. I couldn’t see myself doing anything other than painting. For me, it has always felt like a vocation.”

how beautiful the area of Middleburg is and the skies during this time of year and a specific time of day.”

Even more, Miele’s mastery of expressing the passage of time makes her work seem simultaneously still and in motion. As a pale sun breaks through morning’s gray in “Clearing at Dawn,” or blood orange bounces off deep Blue Ridge blue in “Blue Ridge Sunset,” Miele’s brush strokes expertly capture a moment that feels like a deep breath — long enough to get lost in but precious and fleeting all the same.

When asked what she hopes viewers will take away from the exhibit, Miele says, “a receptivity to the area where they live and [to use it] as a ve-

Since graduating, Miele explains, “For my entire adult life, it has been a priority. I’ve approached it as a discipline. I’ve just always been deeply committed.”

That dedication paired with Renaissance techniques result in art that is simultaneously contemporary and timeless. “For the work I am showing with the Byrne Gallery, I work with a lot of Renaissance-based techniques. Many of the paintings are on panel but they are primed with lead paint, done with gloves and a mask and all the safety stuff you should do,” she adds with a laugh. She continues, “But those materials are essential to creating real light in paintings. These older, original techniques are still time-tested and incredible. They create longevity for the work itself.”

Though new to her, another time-tested technique Miele is applying is the use of gilding and metal leaf. “I go off in a different direction using gilding and leaf in a way that I think expresses

hicle for slowing down.” She also reflects on an adage from one of her teachers at art school in Italy. “I’ll never forget this, the thought that all art is contemporary art because you’re looking at it in the moment that you’re seeing it.” She finishes, “I hope that regardless of why people are going [to the exhibit], that it is worth the visit. I would love people to attend for the viewership.”

And as for her time working with the Byrnes, she says, “Bill and Susan have been wonderful to work with. There has been an appropriate amount of guidance and expectations but then there has been a great deal of faith and artistic freedom.” She concludes, “I have enjoyed doing this body of work from start to finish.” ML

“Nature’s Alchemy” is on display October 4 through 29, with a special artists’ reception on October 14 from 4 to 7 p.m. and a Gallery Talk on October 21 from 2 to 4 p.m. For more information on the exhibit and events, visit thebyrnegallery.com. And find more of Miele’s artwork at reginamiele.com.

Top: “Autumnal Equinox,” 14 x 11 inches, oil on linen panel, 2023. Middle: “Blue Ridge Horizon at Dawn,” oil and metal leaf on lead-primed panel, 2023. Right: “Passing Storm over the Piedmont,” 20 x 16 inches, oil on linen panel, 2023.

“I have enjoyed doing this body of work from start to finish.” – Miele

ETTEN’S EDEN: a slice of Paradise iN huNT couNTry

Written by Bill Kent | Photos by Shannon Ayres

Karla Etten has taken up riding again. She had two horses while growing up in the District’s Tenleytown neighborhood, and lately has taken a few lessons.

But it’s hard for her to find the time. After three years of dreaming, planting, trimming,

and potting-up, Etten has opened a nursery and flower farm on 7.5 acres where Hulberts Lane meets The Plains Road.

Called Etten’s Eden, the nursery is intentionally easy to miss. Etten had the land

Etten | Page 19

graded not to disturb views from neighboring farms. “I want everything I’m doing to fit right in

ating outward is a crescent of potted plants and trees, some on tables, others enjoying the shade under towering hickories.

The first indication that Etten’s Eden is different from other nurseries and garden centers sits a few yards past the van that is acting as Etten’s office. A group of potted shade trees nestle against a gently terraced hill, enfolding casual arrangements of outdoor couches and tables, where, Etten hopes, customers, riders passing through, and attendees at the on-site workshops she will host at the end of this month can relax and enjoy the sight and aroma of plants in bloom.

A garden can also make a statement. Most of the 3,000 plants Etten currently offers are locally grown. “At least 70% of the flowering plants used by florists and for sale in supermarkets and garden centers come from overseas. We can’t grow them all here, but we can grow more locally, grow what is more likely to respond well to the climate and soil, have it available at the peak of their beauty and get it to florists faster. That makes for fresher, longer lasting arrangements.”

Etten raised most of her stock from seed and clippings on the grounds of her Ashburn home, which is distinguished from its neighbors by an in-ground koi pond, a feature she added “because they are simply beautiful, and not all that difficult to maintain.”

The daughter of a lobbyist and an editor of the Kiplinger Letter, Etten became a gardener because she liked being outdoors better than being in. She fell in love with Middleburg at around the same time. “We had a vacation home at the Bryce Resort and we would stop in Middleburg along the way. We’d eat at the Coach Stop or the Red Fox Inn. I never rode in Middleburg, but I wanted to, because so many people on the streets dressed as if they’d just got off a horse.”

She pursued a career with a national travel agency, where one of her tasks was booking airline tickets for the U.S. Marshals. “I remember having to explain to the airlines why the marshals needed all three seats in the row. Two for the good guys. One for the bad guy in between.” Inspired by her grandmother, a statistician for the Pentagon, she joined the CIA, where she met her husband, Peter Etten (whose last name derives from the Dutch word for “eden”), an intelligence industry contractor. “We were set up!”

with what’s already here,” she says.

A small sign leads you through a fence toward a greenhouse and a cluster of hoop houses. Radi-

“So much of this is still a work in progress, but that’s the way gardens are. You’re never really finished. There’s always something more to do.”

A certified Virginia Master Naturalist and Master Gardener, Etten says her best moments tend to happen when she reaches a stopping point, steps back, and admires how beautiful a garden can be.

She wants to complement the outdoor seating area with some kind of tea and snack shop on the premises — further encouragement for people to linger and chat. “A garden should be shared,” she feels.

She learned the value of having a beautiful garden when her family, which includes their son Evan, sold their previous home in Fairfax. “The buyers were so taken with my garden that they paid asking price. It was the first inclination I got that surrounding yourself with beautiful plants could have a practical benefit.”

After moving to Ashburn, Karla wanted to enroll Evan in the Hill School. On their first visit to the school, Karla says she “was absolutely knocked out” by the school’s 28-acre Polly Rowley Arboretum. “The planting, and [the] way you

Left page: Etten’s Eden in The Plains is just two miles south of Middleburg. Top left: Plenty of plants for purchase. Bottom left: A gorgeous sunflower is visited by a bee. Right: Karla Etten.

Etten | Page 20

come into it, the scale, the sense of peace, everything about it is just magnificent.”

Evan began his studies, which “put Middleburg back on the map for me,” Etten continues. “I appreciated the Arboretum even more as the seasons changed. It is a masterpiece of garden design.”

Bob Dornin, the Hill School’s grounds supervisor, remembers many conversations with Etten about the Arboretum. “She picked up on the Arboretum’s emotional element. You get a great feeling when you walk through it.”

When Etten told him she dreamed of having a nursery as beautiful as the arboretum, Dornin gave her some advice: “Buy an articulated tractor. You’ll need it.”

Already a member of the Loudoun County Wildlife Conservancy (“When you’re a gardener you can’t help but care for living things,” she adds), she was asked to contribute an item to a Hill School fundraiser. “The Conservancy had put me in charge of their Bluebird Trails, which is a program with maps where you can see bluebirds throughout the county. I had learned how to put up bluebird boxes along the trails, so I donated a bluebird box with the promise of installing it. Harriet Condon bought it, and when I saw her garden, I was so impressed.”

Condon invited her to the Upperville Garden Club and “I started to meet people who loved flowers and gardening. I had taken courses in it, but these people really knew their stuff.”

Within five years Etten volunteered with the Upperville, Middleburg, and Leesburg clubs, the Blandy Experimental Farm and Virginia State Arboretum, and Oak Springs, which, she says, “was a revelation.” Her two favorite gardens are Oak Springs and the Rowley Arboretum.

Equestrian, artist, flower arranger, and previous Upperville Garden Club president Barbara Sharp says, “Karla has a vision and her knowledge is huge. Her interest in native plants is spoton and her energy is phenomenal. We have done arduous work together — cutting and arranging flowers for 10 hours at a time. And then she was right back to tending her plants.”

Some of which have been in arrangements by two-time Best-of-Loudoun florist Angela Rabe-

na. “Karla has been a source of fresh local flowers on several occasions. It is from local growers that unique flowers are typically found. Flower growing is not my forte. I am envious of how she can put something in soil and propagate a new plant. I hope to learn more from her once she has more time.”

Purcellville flower grower Page Smithers considers Etten a colleague, not a competitor. “I met her about a year ago and we’ve been friends ever

When Etten told Smithers she had bought the land for her nursery and was determined to open in time for the fall planting season, “I said, ‘Do you realize what you’re getting into?’ She said she did, and that this was something she had to do because it was so beautiful. And it is.”

“It helps if you’re a workaholic,” Etten says. Standing on a grassy hill above the hoop houses, Etten points to where she hopes to break ground before the first frost on a three-bedroom house

since. We’re both certified American growers, in that we belong to a national organization that seeks to get more attention for American-grown agriculture. You can get a great feeling of accomplishment from flower growing, but it is incredibly hard work. And that’s when everything is going right. When you have a year like we just had, with high heat, drought, flash floods, humidity, bugs everywhere and deer eating your blooms, it feels close to impossible.”

that, like so much of her Eden, is a dream in progress. She can see it perfectly: a modest two-story, energy-efficient structure designed to harmonize architecturally with the farm houses and horse barns nearby.

With her nursery up and running, she moves toward what will be her family’s eden, which will include another koi pond. “Here’s where I hope one day — don’t ask me when — to sit with a glass of wine and love it all.” ML

Left: Flowers provide pops of color around every corner. Right: Etten in her element.

Mike Appleton (Pres.) Scott Wayland (VP) Michael Appleton (CEO)

Marshall – Magnificent country estate is one of the finest in all of Virginia’s famed horse country. 17,800 sq.ft. of exquisite living space, spectacular equestrian facilities and acres of extraordinary beauty.

Jim McGowan | 703-927-0233

Marshall – c. 1828 Stone Manor, 7 BRs / 8.5 BAs and 8 fireplaces. Traditional yet elegant with comfortable family spaces. Blue Ridge Mtn views. 2 barns, log cabin, 4 tenant houses, 2 workshops. Cricket Bedford | 540-229-3201

The Plains – Exceptional and surrounded by magnificent countryside with views. Stone and stucco residence, beautiful terraces. 8 stall center aisle stable with 14’ x 14’ stalls. John Coles | 540-270-0094

A splendid country estate, beautifully designed, exquisitely decorated and impeccably maintained. It provides the perfect setting for serene country living or gracious formal entertaining.

Jim McGowan | 703-927-0233

Middleburg – New estate home ready for the most discerning buyer. This stunning colonial offers extraordinary living on three finished levels. Also: heated pool, fire pit, outdoor kitchen and 3 car garage. Brian McGowan | 703-927-4070

Bluemont – Stunning Estate in prestigious Boxley Farms! 3 level custom built contemporary. Open floor plan, vaulted ceilings, stone fireplaces, wine cellar. New 2 stall center aisle stable, w/attached run-in. Mary Ann McGowan | 540-270-1124

Middleburg – Stunning, 4 level custom home with 5 BR/5 BA and nearly 6,500 sq. ft. of living space. Surrounded by 10 private acres with mature trees, open lawns and a fenced garden.

Will Driskill | 540-454-7522

Flint Hill – Surrounded by unspoiled countryside with Blue Ridge Mountain views. Additionally there is 1 tenant house, 10-stall barn, 7 paddocks, 5 run-in sheds and an 8-acre spring fed pond. John Coles | 540-270-0094

Middleburg – Very private, within the community of Atoka Chase. Renovated in 2010, spacious rooms, high ceilings and large windows. Serene views of mountains and horse farms.

Middleburg – Custom built, light filled open floor plan, many upgrades; Tesla wall charging unit, a spacious invisible fence for pets, Wi-fi with All Points Broadband, fire pit and mature landscaping. Will Driskill | 540-454-7522

– Elegant home, primarily one level living, lots of windows, great light and open spaces. Stone terrace w/fireplace, multi-use pavillion and a barn. Ideal for full time living or weekend retreat. Rebecca Poston | 540-771-7520

Upperville – Enjoy as a weekend retreat or full-time residence on almost one acre. This home was fully renovated in 2010 and no details were spared. Wonderful, move in ready property!

Markham

DELAPLANE MANOR 75+ acres | $4,500,000

John Coles | 540-270-0094

MAGNOLIA FARM 13+ acres | $2,450,000

John Coles | 540-270-0094

STONEHAVEN 158 acres | $1,695,000

| 540-454-7522

200 E. WASHINGTON .16 acres | $975,000

Middleburg

Jim McGowan | 703-927-0233

Thomas & Talbot offers the most magnificent properties nestled amongst the rolling hills of Horse Country. Our intimate knowledge and community involvement have been cultivated over generations because we love where we live and work. Our boutique agency encourages a collaborative environment from which our clients benefit. With Thomas & Talbot, the charmed life you’ve always dreamed of is now within reach.

Delaplane – Exquisite and beautifully sited. Located within the Crooked Run Valley Rural Historic District. 10 BRs/6.5 BAs. Behind the house are a pool, barns, paddocks and mature woodlands.

The Plains – Prime Hunt Country and surrounded by large estates protected by easments. Charming home with a first-floor BR and 3 BRs on the second level. Also: 3 stall barn, 1 BR apt and 2 offices.

Woodville – In pristine Rappahannock County c.1791 stone residence with additional stone cottage and beautifully restored 2 BR log cabin. Gardens, lawn, barns and ride out potential. Will Driskill

– 2,850 SF of outstanding space in 2 separate units, attractive offices, conference rooms with large windows, HW floors, dedicated private parking. Excellent condition, prime location.

raise a Glass wiTh fifTy leveN wiNe collecTioN

Written by Lia Hobel | Photos by Michael Butcher

As the name suggests, Fifty Leven (meaning a large amount) Wine strives to provide an extensive selection of wine that welcomes and satisfies a wide array of enthusiasts and diverse set of palates.

“With fall, there are so many different events

and occasions to break out a bottle of wine and share it with your friend,” says brand founder Kindra Dionne.

Food and wine often go hand in hand, but finding the perfect pairing for each gathering is not an easy feat, especially when trying to accom-

modate every palate. Dionne, a multi-faceted businesswoman in Loudoun County, has an analytical eye. Although Dionne is a self-described introvert, she does her fair share of social engagements. Often she finds herself studying people’s

Collection | Page 25

Kindra Dionne.

behavior. This skill proved fruitful in launching the Fifty Leven wine label in early 2021.

“I would go to these different networking events throughout the area, and I started noticing that people were never finishing the wine that was in their glass.”

Dionne was inspired to delve deeper into her observations, and do more with underserved groups that may have a different palate and sensitivity to acid levels and tannins in traditional wine. To address the issue, she struck up a conversation with her friend Doug Fabbioli, who owns Fabbioli Cellars in Leesburg. “We started talking about it and he challenged me and said, ‘Why don’t you do something about it?’”

That single question was enough to set her on the path of seeking a solution. With no wine background, Dionne would learn the ins and outs of the industry from her mentor, Fabbioli. He taught her about the business as she continued her research of varietals and blends that would appeal to a larger demographic. The brand debuted with five offerings. There were two each of whites and reds and one port. Today, there are eight bottles with the Fifty Leven label.

“What makes our wines unique is the emphasis on the food that’s consumed,” explains Dionne, who adds that the brand prioritizes that over the popularity of the varietal in the region. “We say that we pair socially sophisticated [wines] with diverse palates.”

As such, the name, Fifty Leven, pays homage to her childhood in Richmond. The phrase symbolizes abundance, reflecting the bountiful experiences and memories of her upbringing. Moreover, it serves as a reminder of the limitless possibilities and choices found in the wine industry.

“No matter what you're celebrating and no matter what type of food, we've got something in our collection,” says Dionne proudly.

One of those occasions may be brunch. Dionne felt there weren’t enough variations to accommodate ingredients such as Virginia ham, and emphasizes that in Virginia, “we smoke everything.” As a result, she created the “Eva Apple Wine,” which highlights the juiciness of gold rush apples and York apples from Winchester that flavorfully combine with honeysuckle and vanilla.

“Right now, when you have brunch, you have mimosas, you have bellinis, and you have your

bloody marys. Now you have a breakfast wine, something that pairs with the smoky flavors that go along with the brunch foods,” explains Dionne.

Although the title of being “first” is a position for which people typically strive, for Dionne, an

equal opportunity entrepreneur, being recognized as the “first” Black-owned wine company in Loudoun County is a title she hopes will diminish over time.

“I feel like in the year 2023, we shouldn't have a ‘first’ anything. We should be so well integrated as a community that there's diversity in all aspects of industry.”

Part of that integration comes in the form of business collaborations and great friendships. The Salamander Resort & Spa featured the label for wine dinners, with Dionne describing this experience as an “Oscar moment” for her. “I was so excited, I could not believe it because it was a dream of mine to have the off chance of meeting Sheila Johnson. She's a personal, professional hero of mine.” The event sold out so quickly that they added a second night. This year, Fifty Leven also had the pleasure to join The Family Reunion’s “50 years of Hip-Hop” celebration.

Not only is Dionne the visionary behind Fifty Leven but the founder of Purpose WorX, a

business and professional development consulting firm. She’s also deeply involved on boards, volunteering, and working with Loudoun Economic Development. As she continues to expand and expose the Fifty Leven wine label, she also plans to continue efforts to attract “an eager and innovative workforce to the wine industry.” She hopes to encourage more people to look at Loudoun County as “a place to establish roots but also to get engaged with roots (no pun intended), to work in the ground and work with products and services that are produced here on our soil.” ML

Left: Dionne pours a glass. Top right: Bottles from the Fifty Leven collection. Bottom right: Dionne displays a Dulce Zaiya red wine.

A DAY EXPLORING THE SNICKERS GAP CLUSTER

Written by Carlo Massimo

Snickers Gap is a low break in the Blue Ridge Mountains, shaped in a broad wedge, with the point nestled against the Shenandoah and the rest fanning out toward Bluemont and Round Hill. It takes its name from one Edward Snickers, who bought an estate on this flat patch of country from George Washington’s brother in

the 1770s. Down the middle of it runs VA Route 7, the old Snickersville Pike, one of America’s first private highways. In the choking, miserable heat of July 1864, Confederate General Jubal Early retreated down this road after his aborted raid on Washington. Union cavalry pursued them from Purcellville through the gap to the banks of the

Shenandoah, where Early turned and scattered them.

Route 7 is an ordinary highway today, and it’s hard to imagine long columns of horses raising dust under the walnuts and oaks from the window of a car. Your correspondent found himself doing just that, however, from his Kia Rio. Decidedly less heroic than a horse — but Middleburg Life dispatched me westward in pursuit of less prickly targets than armed men. The Snickersville area makes wine now, with dozens of wineries (and breweries, and at least one excellent distillery, Catoctin Creek). If you want to know the area, you could do a lot worse than to start at its tasting rooms.

OTIUM CELLARS

My first stop was Otium Cellars, perched on the Gap’s eastern edge. The drive is lined with apple trees and ends with a horse barn and a patio with firepits; from the patio you can see the dramatic slope of the hill, 10 acres of which are under vine.

Otium specializes in German and especially Austrian varieties: Grüner Veltliner, Blaufränkisch, Dornfelder, Zweigelt. These varieties are not unheard of in Virginia, but no other winery specializes in them. A German engineer had first planted the 10 acres surrounding the Otium tasting room in 2007, which opened commercially in 2012. (Liz, behind the bar, points out that the gute Herr built the property’s timber Weinhaus himself, and without a single nail — every joint Cluster | Page 27

The view at Otium Cellars. Photo by Gracie Withers.

mortise-and-tenon.) In 2021, entrepreneur and equestrienne Anita Tanamala purchased Otium, but kept the rare varietals; she works with the Middleburg winemaking legend Sébastien Marquet to supplement her 10 acres with grapes from the West Coast and elsewhere.

Otium offers a variety of tasting menus, but “Taste of Germany/Austria'' captures the best of this boutique. The tasting begins with a crisp Grüner Veltliner, a white with apple notes and — the printed menu isn’t lying — a bit of pepper on the back. The reds have a bigger personality. The 2016 Cuvée Maximilian is rich and velvety with unexpected savory notes. The 2017 Blaufränkisch Reserve was more surprising: Blaufränkisch is a dark, racy Austrian red, in character somewhere between Syrah and the Gamay noir that

goes into Beaujolais. Otium’s is lighter than expected, red fruit forward and a definite oakiness. But the 2015 Dornfelder was the highlight of the menu; a very dark red, full-bodied and aromatic, it’s nevertheless much more subtle than the Cuvée or the Blaufränkisch. “Brooding” is the word for this one.

Liz shared that one of the most popular wines by the glass at Otium was the Malbec, so I had a glass of that, too. It’s fresh and medium-bodied, with enough nuance to keep you interested but an easy pairing with almost any food that takes red wine, from steak to hors d’oeuvres.

WILLIAMS GAP

My next stop, as I pressed toward the Shenandoah, was Williams Gap in Round Hill. Arriving at Williams Gap was like falling through the looking glass. A very small and unassuming country lane leads off onto a 200-acre property, with a pond, newly planted plane trees, and, in mid-September, fat, tumbling bunches of grapes in the vineyards. Forty acres of Williams Gap’s land are under vine, with six white and six red varietals, mostly Bordeaux. Jack Sexton, a wine-loving veterinarian from McLean, bought the property in 1983 with plans to grow grapes. He finally got around to it in 2006, and opened for business in 2021.

The busy tasting room is magnificent, the Sistine Chapel of the rustic-chic Instagram set, with a fireplace, a loft, and a long, stone-topped bar. Behind it, Bridgette Smith, tasting room manager, was waiting for me. Bridgette presented three reds in minimalist apothecary jars: the 2021 Round Hill Red, the 2021 Merlot, and the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon. The most surprising of these was the Cabernet Sauvignon. It had the characteristic vegetal notes of the varietal, and yet it was the lightest-bodied I’d ever tasted. Bridgette laughed. “Most people who try this blind think they’re drinking a Pinot noir. The climate is so wet here that the flavors just don’t concentrate the way they do in drier regions, like France or California.” Incidentally, that washing-out tendency is why so many Virginian vintners grow thickskinned, strong-flavored reds for their blends, like Petit Verdot or Tannat. (Williams Gap grows both; Otium grows heavyweights like Zweigelt and Dornfelder for the same reason.)

The Merlot was fruity and delicate, with strong blackberry notes, rather like a California Zinfandel. The Round Hill blend, half Cabernet Franc and a quarter each of Cabernet Sauvignon and of Merlot, had, predictably, greater structure and a slight, very pleasant earthiness. The afternoon was getting on and I had more of the Snickersville Gap to explore; otherwise I might have spent the rest of the afternoon with Bridgette. I didn’t get to try the Petit Manseng, a white that won silver in the Virginia Governor’s Gold Cup. I was due elsewhere.

SUNSET HILLS

Though technically in the Waterford Cluster, Sunset Hills is nearby and worth a visit. It used to be an Amish farm, and the tasting room I stopped at was an old barn, with hayloft intact. But don’t let that put you off. Winemaking is a serious business here; one of their innovations is a set of customized concrete tanks (see page 30 for more on this), which offer some of the breathability of oak but without the distinctive taste. Sustainability is Cluster | Page 28

Top right: A cat makes itself at home at Otium. Top left: Williams Gap welcome sign. Bottom left: The tasting room at Williams Gap. Photos by Gracie Withers.

another of Sunset Hills’ priorities: 245 solar panels cover 75% of the property’s annual needs, and there’s a Tesla recharging station on site.

Like many Snickersville Gap wineries, Sunset Hills has racked up its share of medals. They show an enormous creativity: the Single Day Cabernet Franc, for instance, is made entirely of one varietal, from one vineyard, picked not only in the same year but on the same day, to give the drinker a perfect expression of the grape. The Cabernet Franc reserve is robust and aromatic, with strong cocoa notes. Sunset Hills grows Cabernet Sauvignon as well, and makes a rosé that Mike behind the bar warned me would taste like a Jolly Rancher candy. He was right.

My favorite of the Sunset Hills blends was the Mosaic, floral and alluring with rich, dark notes from its Cabernet Franc base. The 2019 vintage tastes like it might age well for another decade.

BLUEMONT VINEYARD

A funny thing happened in the Sunset Hills tasting room. As I was drinking my way through the tasting menu, and gallantly ignoring the spit bucket, I overheard a conversation about a very old variety that once was typical of the Snickersville Gap area. It was called Norton, and its high sugar content (and consequently high-octane wine) made it popular during Prohibition. The

taste, I heard, was revolting, and most vintners had torn it out and replaced it half a century ago.

Bluemont Vineyard still made a fortified Norton, they said, but they warned me that the taste was earthy, faintly like a barnyard. (“Like ma-

nure,” someone volunteered.)

Reader: Your correspondent is a cigar smoker. The promise of “earthy” and “barnyard” was enough to take him, at the end of the day, up the 950-foot hill overlooking the Gap, past the granite boulders and the apple orchard, to the Bluemont Vineyard tasting room. I staggered in and asked Kathleen about the fabled, forgotten, much-abused Norton.

“Do you mean the Pig?”

And she produced a bottle that said, duly, The Pig. It was not, as I’d been told, a fortified wine. Nor did it taste like manure. The barnyard comparison, however, was apt. This was a rustic wine, spicy like Armagnac, with dry and leathery notes that balanced the fruit. It was a charming wine, as charming and surprising as the region that made it, as full of history and as deliciously secret. ML

Top right: The sun sets over Sunset Hills Vineyard in Purcellville. Photo courtesy of Sunset Hills Vineyards. Bottom left: The view through Bluemont Vineyard’s vines. Bottom right: A bottle of Bluemont Merlot. Photos by Gracie Withers.

CONCRETE TANKS COME TO HUNT COUNTRY

Written by Kaitlin Hill

In their signature egg shape, the concrete tanks popping up at a handful of Hunt Country vineyards might look futuristic. However, their use in winemaking harkens back to a similar concept used roughly 8,000 years ago by ancient Georgian winemakers. Though the pro-

ing that is simply being reintroduced, in many ways with a modern twist, to the Virginia winemaking arena. The ‘egg’ shape concept is as old as 8,000 years with the Georgian winemakers using qvevris or better known amphorae,” shares Jon Hickox, owner of The Winery at Bull Run and

concrete tanks. They are natural insulators ideally [suited for] longer, cooler, and consistent fermentation.”

Ben Comstock, the winemaker at Greenhill Vineyards, explains, “Most wineries use steel tanks and oak barrels to age wine; concrete is an-

cess is time-tested, for local winemakers implementing the technology for the first time, this is a brave new world of winemaking that promises desirable results for Virginia oenophiles.

“Using concrete and the egg shape and rounded edge tanks is an age-old process in winemak-

Old Farm Winery at Hartland. Hickox and his team at Bull Run use Nomblot tanks from France for all of their red wine production. He continues, “The same properties which made those ancient clay vessels ideal for wine fermentation are the same properties that exist in our modern

other tool in the arsenal. Aging itself is really just a very slow exchange of oxygen with the wine. Concrete allows for a micro-oxidative process because the material is porous, so it's a different rate

Left: Greenhill Vineyards’ classic egg-shaped concrete tanks. Middle: Greenhill winemaker Ben Comstock. Photos by Callie Broaddus.

Concrete | From page 30

of exchange.” Comstock uses two concrete tanks for production. Both were installed this year. For Comstock the ability to control how much flavor is imparted on the wine by the vessel it is aged in is the standout benefit of these new tanks. He explains, “Where oak will add tannin and flavors like toast or vanilla, new concrete will add a minerality that can help lift certain wines.”

Why the egg shape? “Concrete will also hold temperature consistently well, another important aspect to aging wines. The egg shape has a lot to do with that. As the temperature warms, the bulk of the wine, the lower portion, will rise to the smaller, cooler upper portion creating a cyclical even disbursement,” explains Comstock.

At Greenhill, Comstock is using his tanks for Chenin blanc. “We recently started producing Chenin blanc, and as one of the few producers of that varietal in the state we really want to make our mark with it. Concrete was one of the first things we thought of in regards to elevating this wine… The ideal of a broad but smooth wine with very clean and singular fruit notes is what we're aiming for, with the concrete as part of the package.”

Katie Key of Sunset Hills Vineyard in Purcellville, a partner property of 50 West in Middleburg, echoes Comstock’s sentiments. Sunset Hills ordered their first concrete tanks in October 2022

and added more to their collection this September. She has seven large concrete tanks dedicated to reds, and six smaller cube-shaped concrete tanks at her disposal. She shares, “I would say that the tanks allow us to hone the impact of different aging techniques in the production of our whites, our rosés, and our reds.” Specifically for the reds she adds, “The long-term aging of red wines without any pickup of oak is going to be a game changer for us.”

More than flavor, Key says concrete tanks lend themselves to a more efficient workflow, too. “These tanks obviously hold way more wine than barrels do. So, our winemakers can manage fewer vessels.” And their smaller concrete tanks “are actually cube-shaped, so you can stack them on top of each other if you wanted to. … That offers us some functionality inside of the cellar.”

Though perhaps most importantly is the impact these tanks will have on the wine drinking experience. Key says, “Customers can expect a flavor that accentuates the fruit character and crisp palate structure.”

Still relatively rare on the East Coast, with more control for winemakers and an enhanced experience for those enjoying a glass, the concrete tank concept will undoubtedly spread. To Key, this means more possibilities, and more responsibility for those that are vanguards of the practice. Perhaps she puts it best, sagely sharing,

“We’re extremely excited about the opportunity, but also excited to share best practices for those that are adopting it.” ML

Top right: Greenhill Vineyards’ tasting room. Photo by Callie Broaddus. Middle right: Sunset Hills Vineyard. Bottom right: Sunset Hills Vineyard’s arsenal of cube-shaped tanks. Photos courtesy of Sunset Hills Vineyard. Bottom left: The Winery at Bull Run. Photo by Kaitlin Hill.

October 28 & 29, 2023

October 28 & 29, 2023

Saturday 10:00 - 5:00 & Sunday 10:00 - 4:00

Saturday 10:00 - 5:00 & Sunday 10:00 - 4:00

Over 50 antique dealers showcasing folk art, Americana, 18th & 19th century furniture, trade signs, garden decor, estate and antique jewelry, silver, quilts, and much more.

Delighted that Thistlethwaite Americana of Middleburg will be exhibiting at the show.

Aix La Chapelle Farm 19120 Jerusalem Rd, Poolesville, MD 20837

MIDATLANTICANTIQUES FESTIVAL.COM

local leaTher collaboraTioN is a lessoN iN susTaiNabiliTy

Written by Katilin Hill

Alocal collaboration between Kinloch Farm in The Plains and Larkins Leatherworks in Marshall is a lesson in sustainability with some seriously stylish results.

“Mike approached us because he knew we were local. When we said we were interested, he just wanted to know how we wanted the leather,” shares Maryalice Matheson-Thomas, owner, operator, and leatherworker at Larkins. In February, Mike Peterson, the farm and conservation director at Kinloch Farm, approached the Larkins team about using leather hides left over from Kinloch beef production to make bespoke handbags, coasters, bookmarks, and more.

“There is a whole lot of the animal that can still bring a lot of value, whether intrinsic or economic, that we were missing out on,” Peterson explains. He adds, “We were at the point with our local slaughterhouse where the rendering company wasn’t taking our hides. We were having to pay a hide disposal fee.”

For Peterson, the ability to use the whole animal or as close to it as possible was not only motivated by economic opportunity, but also community involvement. “How can we not just get more of an economic return, but involve more community partners and local businesses to highlight our farm, our animals, the way we do

things and why we do it?” He continues, “We’re raising these animals in an ecologically conscious manner. Let’s extend that beyond our meat into leather production.”

The path from hide to handbag starts at the farm where the hides are cured and dried, which is about a two-week process. After the curing salt is removed, “we wait until we get a good-sized shipment to go up to a tannery in New York.”

Though the tannery isn’t local, it has a long legacy in the business and, perhaps more importantly, environmentally-friendly practices that match the Kinloch Farm standards. Peterson

Collaboration | Page 35

Left: Maryalice L. Matheson-Thomas. Middle: Kai Holle. Right: Andrea Currier, Mike Peterson, and Bobby Doane of Kinloch Farm. Photos by Joanne Maisano.

Collaboration | From page 34

ships the hides to Pergamena, a tannery that dates back to 1550 where they first opened in Eisenberg, Germany, and are masters of veg-tanning. Peterson explains, “There are two different ways to tan an animal hide. One uses a chromium base which is a highly corrosive and toxic chemical. Pergamena doesn’t use that. They use a process called veg-tan or vegetable-tanning.” He continues, “They are using naturally derived ingredients to tan these hides. So we’re saving hundreds of hides, and supporting a tannery who has been in business for hundreds of years and doing it in an environmentally conscious way.”

The tanning process takes about six months and is part of Pergamena’s traceable leather tan and return program. “All the hides we get back are stamped with our farm name, so we are ensured that each hide we are sending to them, we are getting back.”

Once tanned, Larkins enters the process to transform the leather into custom creations.

“Mike showed me some designs he had downloaded and I took those ideas, looked at the leather that we were given, and came up with something close to what he wanted,” shares Kai Holle, the saddler at Larkins.

“The leather really tells me what I can make,” Holle continues. Larger pieces are used for handbags, while pieces that might otherwise be considered scraps are masterfully crafted into smaller items like coasters, bookmarks, and wallets. “I just recently made two pocket knife sheaths,” Holle shares. “I am trying to use up all the leather and not have any scraps.” Peterson adds, “Each hide is very different; there are different cut marks, they are shaped in different ways. So, I am relying on them a whole heck of a lot to be able to get the best utilization from each hide.”

The combination of local products being used as wholly as possible is, as Matheson-Thomas puts it, “getting back to the way it’s supposed to be.” There is also the added bonus that “It’s having something that no one else has, because it is all

one of a kind,” Holle notes.

The community seems to believe so too, as the response has been extremely positive. “We’ve been pleased with the comments from customers,” Matheson-Thomas says modestly. Peterson adds, “Everything has been selling at a pretty good clip. I’m encouraged by the response — not just the attention and conversations about it, but by what’s been selling. It has been rewarding to see this whole thing.”

When asked about scaling the project to meet demand, both parties agree that it will largely depend on the leather, and they are happy with the status of the operation and, most importantly, the partnership. “That relationship is very important and it has turned out to be an amazing partnership and connection,” Peterson says. Matheson-Thomas concludes, “We’re just trying to keep everything local. There is no reason not to.” ML For those interested in owning a piece of this local project, the leather goods are sold at Kinloch’s Farm Store.

“The leather really tells me what I can make.” – Holle

“It has been rewarding to see this whole thing.”

– Peterson

Top left: Mike Peterson inspects a whole hide. Top right: Hides after leaving Pergamena. Photos by Hugh Kenny. Bottom left: Holle cuts the leather. Photo by Joanne Maisano. Bottom right: A finished bag. Photo by Hugh Kenny.

Sheila Johnson’s Walk Through Fire

Written by Diane Helentjaris and Kaitlin Hill Photos by 22Gates Photography

On September 16, 2023, book lovers and Sheila Johnson fans poured into Salamander Resort & Spa’s ballroom for the launch and book signing of Johnson’s new book, “Walk Through Fire: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Triumph.” The conversation with WUSA 9’s Lesli Foster elicited laughter, cheers, and moments of gratitude from the crowd in an atmosphere that could best be described as electric.

Following the book signing, Middleburg Life shares Johnson’s reflections on the book and the event in an exclusive Q&A with Diane Helentjaris.

ML: Why a memoir and why now?

SJ: It’s been a long journey and I finally realized that it’s the right time to tell my story.

ML: Did writing “Walk Through Fire” create new life or career insights for you?

SJ: It helped me to answer questions I have not truly faced. I would share with others to never give up your passion.

ML: As a path-forging entrepreneur and philanthropist, you’ve received awards and accolades — most recently named a 2023 Loudoun Laureate. What role in your legacy do you anticipate for “Walk Through Fire” to play?

SJ: For people to know my background and how I got to where I am today. I learned to take risks and took advantage of second chances.

ML: What do you hope people will take away after reading “Walk Through Fire”?

SJ: To be inspired to follow your passion. And when faced with adversity, don’t let it deter you from achieving your goals.

ML: Following the September 16 book signing will you have any more events? A book tour?

SJ: First, I am so grateful to everyone that attended. The energy in the room was so positive. It carried me through the entire fireside chat with Lesli Foster. Yes, I will do a book tour.

Salamander Middleburg will have more events in store, having kicked off their author series in June with New York Times bestselling author Luke Russert. So stay tuned! ML

Top: A stack of the new memoirs waiting to be picked up. Middle: Sheila Johnson and Lesli Foster. Bottom: A Johnson fan smiles for the camera as her book is signed.

Fall Hunting 2023

Photos by Joanne Maisano

Blue Ridge hounds.

Chelsea Keirnan with Piedmont Fox Hounds.

James Piper of Orange County Hounds.

Devon Zebrovious with Piedmont Fox Hounds.

Blue Ridge Hunt in the field.

Reg Spreadborough huntsman Orange County Hounds.

Snickersville Hunt member Dr. Dante Tedaldi.

Snickersville Hounds in full cry.

Huntsman and whip Jordan Hicks and Johnny Dean.

Middleburg Hunt members on a misty morning.

Laurie McClary of Piedmont Fox Hounds.

Elizabeth Green - Piedmont Fox Hounds Field Master.

A Middleburg Hunt hound.

Piedmont Fox Hounds First Field led by Jt MFH Gregg Ryan.

Sydney Pemberton of Blue Ridge Hunt.

Teri Lynn Houliston - Blue Ridge Hunt Field Master.

Michelle Johns of Blue Ridge Hunt.

McKenzie Hicks with Piedmont Fox Hounds.

Our Favorite Local Picks for Boozy Gifts

Villa Jolanda Halloween Brut, $14.99, Available at The Aldie Peddler

Lost Barrel Brewing Hat, $35, Available at Lost Barrel Brewery

Picnic Wine Caddy, $108, Available at The Wooley Fox

Old Bust Head Beer Coasters, $11.99 each, Available at Old Bust Head Brewery

Croc-Embossed Leather Pocket Wine Journal, $45, Available at Chloe’s of Middleburg

German Wine Mugs, $30 for the pair, Available at Another Blue Moon

Cardamom Syrup, $24, and Cocktail Cherries, $24, Available Federal & Black

“Beer Cocktails” Book, $19.95, Available at Brick & Mortar

Töst Rosé Mocktail, $12.99, Available at Middleburg Gourmet

Photos by Callie Broaddus

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Lydia Marie Elizabeth Art Reception at Thistlethwaite Americana

October 5 | 5:30 to 9:00 p.m. | lydiamarieelizabeth.com

Lydia Marie Elizabeth cordially invites you to the opening art reception for new paintings from her Hunt Country Collection at Thistlethwaite Americana, 116 W. Washington Street, in Middleburg. The artwork will be on view October 6-12. For more information, please call Thistlethwaite Americana (540) 326-8905 or email Lydia at Lydia@LydiaMarieElizabeth.com

Author Event with Kathleen Grissom at The Blue Valley Winery

October 6 | 2 to 4 p.m. | bluevalleyvineyardandwinery.com

Join New York Times bestselling author Kathleen Grissom for a Q&A and book signing event at The Blue Valley Winery in Delaplane. Author of “The Kitchen House” and “Glory Over Everything,” Grissom will present her latest project, “Crow Mary,” the true story of an indigenous woman in North America in the 19th century. All of Grissom’s books will be available for purchase on-site courtesy of The Open Book in Warrenton.

Purcellville Tag Sale

October 7 | 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. | purcellvillevatagsale.com

Don’t miss this autumn tradition in Purcellville

that is a fun-filled day of bargain hunting. Sponsored by Abernethy & Spencer Greenhouse & Garden Center and the Bank of Clarke, this local shopping event has something for everyone. This year’s vendors include Nostalgia Boutique, Mister on Main, Elsass Furnishings Re-Love It, and more! For more information and a site map, visit purcellvillevatagsale.com

Natural Floral Design and Arranging Workshop

October 7 | 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. | naturecomposed.com

Learn to make your own all-natural floral arrangements with Nature Composed owner Jenn Pineau. This two-hour event will cover the basics of floral arranging and enlighten participants on topics like seasonal foragable florals, berries, and greens. Pineau will share her tips on achieving balance, scale, color theory, texture, and dimension in floral arranging. Tickets are $150 and can be purchased through Eventbrite.

Foxhunting and Conservation: Protecting Our Future

October 10 | 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. | nationalsporting.org

Join The Piedmont Fox Hounds Conservation Fund and The Land Trust of Virginia, in partnership with the National Sporting Library & Museum, the Virginia Fall Races, and the Theodo-

ra A. Randolph Field Hunter Championship to learn about the historic link between foxhunting and conservation. This program will explore the easement process, related benefits, and the existing funding available to assist landowners with the required costs. Beer, wine, and hors d'oeuvres will be served. Tickets are free, but RSVPs are required.

Autumn Pollinators at Oak Spring Garden Foundation

October 12 | 1 to 4 p.m. | osgf.org

Enjoy a landscape walk with OSGF’s Biodiversity Management Team focusing on late season pollinators of Rokeby fields and gardens. This half-day program will include moderate hiking and a discussion on how to support autumn pollinators. Join OSGF in tagging butterflies as part of the annual Monarch Watch migration monitoring program. Binoculars and digital cameras are encouraged. Tickets are $25 per person and can be purchased online through Eventbrite.

Charcuterie Board-Making Workshop

October 14 | 1 to 3:30 p.m. | goodspiritfarmva.com

Good Spirit Farm in collaboration with DBD Art Studios is offering the opportunity to make your own charcuterie board. Participants of the work-

Calendar | Page 43

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

shop will receive pine charcuterie boards, stencil options, paint, handles, and food-grade varnish to make a one-of-a-kind, personalized board. Tickets are $27 and can be purchased online at goodspiritfarmva.com.

The Middleburg Film Festival

October 19 - 22 | middleburgfilm.org

The Middleburg Film Festival returns this month for its 11th year. As with previous years, the film festival promises to be four days of inspiring film screenings, industry interviews, and festive events all in a beautiful setting in the heart of Middleburg. For tickets and passes, visit middleburgfilm.org.

Third Annual Beer & Wine Festival at Bear Chase Brewing Company

October 21 | 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. | bearchasebrew.com

Join Bear Chase Brewing and more than 10 other local breweries for the Third Annual Beer & Wine Festival. Guests will enjoy live music, an oyster tent, and all their favorite beers including porters, pilsners, ales, sours, ciders, and more! Tickets can be purchased online in advance for $45 or at the door for $50. This is a 21+ event.

The Merrymaker’s Autumn Market at Walsh Family Wine

October 22 | 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. | walshfamilywine.com

Spend the day sipping wine and shopping artisan goods at Walsh Family Wine. Vendors will be selling everything from handmade art to gourmet food, so there is a little something for everyone. Timed general admission tickets are $5 or pay $15 to get early bird exclusive access from 10 a.m. to noon. Kids under 12 get in for free.

Third Annual Sunset in the Field Party

October 22 | 4 to 7 p.m. | landtrustva.org

Grab the family and join the Land Trust of Virginia at Ayrshire Farm for tasty farm-to-fork BBQ and musical acts Bess Putnam, the Blue Mountain Songbird, followed by the iconic bluegrass band The Seldom Scene. Tickets to the field party are $110 per person and available at landtrustva.org/post/sunset-in-the-field.

Haunted Trail at Salamander

October 26 - 29 | 6:30 to 9 p.m. | salamanderresort.com

Bring the family for a night of Halloween fun at Salamander Resort & Spa. The Haunted Trail is a 0.6-mile loop featuring actor scenes, festive food, and fun for all. This event is appropriate for kids ages 4 through 12. Tickets can be purchased

through Eventbrite and are $20 per person. Reservations are required.

10th Annual Old Bust Head Benefit 5K

October 28 | 11 a.m. | oldbusthead.com

Have fun as you exercise with friends and family all for a good cause. This year is the 10th annual running for the Old Bust Head Benefit 5K with funds supporting Finley’s Green Leap Forward. The 5K course is through the rolling hills of scenic Vint Hill and accessible for all levels of runners. Costumes are welcome, as are dogs. The registration fee is $35 per person and includes a T-shirt and Old Bust Head beer or root beer. Can’t make it in person? Join virtually! For more information visit oldbusthead.com/10th-annual-obh-benefit-5k Hot Dog! It’s Halloween!

October 31 | 5 to 7 p.m. | middleburgcommunitycenter.com

Don’t miss Middleburg’s favorite Halloween celebration hosted by the Middleburg Community Center on Tuesday, October 31. Bring your family and friends, and wear your best costume for an evening of trick-or-treating at local businesses, a halloween parade, and hot dog dinner at the MCC. Admission is free, but you can reserve your spot online at Eventbrite.

For more Hunt Country events visit MiddleburgLife.com or scan here: