George Washington Slept Here

The Mount Vernon Spring Wine Festival was held this Saturday and of course I was there. History and wine?  Be still my heart.  Mount Vernon is about 30 minutes from D.C., an easy drive on Route 1 and the grounds are stunning.  The house is right on the water and the weather was just right.  

17 Virginia wineries were set up under a bright blue tent.  Each gave samples of multiple wines and there was popcorn for sale.  Also, bread, cheese, and salami.  The wine was okay.  We found a couple of standouts- Rockbridge and Unicorn Winery.  Mostly they are standouts because we liked the people who were pouring our wine.  When wine tasting, I tend to choose buy wine based on the people who are selling them rather than the taste of the wine.  This tactic has some limits, but I'm not that picky (or my palate is not well developed).  I just appreciate nice people.

The organizers of the event did a good job of limiting tickets so there wasn't too much of a wait to try different wines.  But you should be prepared to be pushed around by all sorts of white people.  It was not dissimilar to the Orange line in Virginia at rush hour.

After we tried some wines, George and Martha Washington showed up!  Joy!  We were sitting on the porch, just to their right.  We raised our glasses in a toast (Huzzah!).  They were willing to pose for some "portraits" and I wish that I had waited in line to get a picture with my birthday buddy.

We took a tour of the mansion after dinner.  The living room was painted green- a sign of wealth- and the whole home was stunning.  We saw the kitchen with stuffed turkeys and George Washington's office.  Then we saw the actual room where he died.  The tour was narrated by charming folks in historic garb.  Someday I will be one of them.

If this event sounds like something you'd like to do, don't worry.  You don't have to wait till next Spring.  They are holding the event again in October.  Just remember to bring a blanket or a crazy creek to sit and enjoy the view.