In Loudoun County, also known as DC’s Wine Country® - sustainability and community go hand in hand. In 2024, the wine community celebrated the 40th anniversary of winemaking in the region. Today, Loudoun is home to more than 50 wineries producing more than 25 grape varieties across 850+ acres of vines.
With a thriving wine country, Loudoun faces threats from invasive species like the Spotted Lanternfly. This spring, nearly 800 residents took action through Scrape for the Grape, a citizen-led initiative to protect local vineyards. Volunteers identified and removed more than 180,000 Lanternfly egg masses and flagged 391 tree of heaven—the pest’s primary food source—for removal. Their efforts helped protect the future of Loudoun as a premier wine destination.
The initiative was led by Visit Loudoun in partnership with the Loudoun Wineries and Winegrowers Association, Loudoun County Virginia Cooperative Extension and Loudoun Invasive Removal Alliance (LIRA), which includes over 30 active homeowner associations across Loudoun who were proud to rally their communities for this cause.
“This is a beautiful collaboration between eastern and western Loudoun.” - Bill Hatch owner at Zephaniah Farm Vineyard
“My son was out with the group, and everyone had a great time,” Hatch said. “They were curious about what he had to say. We hope to bring the program back next spring. We won't be able to remove them entirely, but we are doing a lot, and we are raising awareness, which is probably the best part.”
Help protect Loudoun’s future year-round. If you see this invasive species, eliminate it to support our agricultural community and world-class wineries.
“I was amazed at the community outpouring that came to help save our vineyards from spotted lanternflies," Bluemont Vineyard Winemaker Scott Spelbring said. “Though it was cloudy and cold, our volunteers were complete rockstars. Seeing the sea of volunteers in red bandanas across the vineyards was heartwarming.”
Raise a glass in support. Check out additional resources and training.
