Spring is here, leaves are turning green and vines are starting to bud. Luckily, you don’t have to wait six months for the new fruit to ripen before sampling some of the good stuff. In celebration of warmer weather and more than 40 years of Loudoun wine, here we suggest five great wine experiences to enjoy this spring.

Chocolate Truffle & Wine Pairing, Bluemont Vineyard, March

Chef Santosh Tiptur at The Conche in Loudoun County stands behind a glass display case filled with handcrafted chocolate truffles for wine pairing at Bluemont Vineyard

Offered daily throughout March, this decadent experience involves a guided tasting of four Bluemont wines paired with an array of handcrafted truffles from The Conche’s Chocolate and Cake Studio. You will get to learn about select Bluemont vintages – the tasting includes white, rosé and red wines - and what makes wine the perfect accompaniment to chocolate. Book your seating here.

Annual Loudoun County Barrel Tasting, March 14

Mike Fritze draws a sample of red wine directly from an oak barrel at a Carraige House Wineworks in Loudoun County during the Annual Loudoun Barrel Tasting event.

We all love a sun-filled tasting room, but a lot of winemaking is about oak barrels and cool, dark subterranean cellars. Mark your calendars for the fifth Annual Loudoun Barrel Tasting experience (Saturday, March 14), where visitors can join winemakers for intimate tours of the cellars of some of Loudoun’s leading wineries and enjoy tastings of yet-to-be-released vintages straight from the barrel. Twelve wineries will take part this year from Carriage House Wineworks in Waterford down to Willowcroft Farm Vineyards south of Leesburg and Two Twisted Posts out west. Highlights to look for: pulls of the 2025 Albariño and 2023 Cab Franc at 8 Chains North Winery. Pre-order your tickets here.

Budbreak Festival At Cana Vineyards, April 18

Aerial view of Cana Vineyards & Winery in Middleburg, Virginia, the venue for the Budbreak Festival, with a red-roofed tasting room, open-air pavilion and manicured grounds surrounded by spring trees

Nothing says spring quite like a glass of rosé. On April 18, make your way to Cana Vineyards & Winery, Middleburg for the 10th annual Budbreak Festival, a celebration of spring, flowers, wine and budding vines. There will be live music, food from the winery’s café and a local craft market, but the highlight of the day is the unveiling by winemaker Melanie Natoli of her 2025 Rosé of Merlot and 2025 Rosé of Cabernet Sauvignon. On top of self-guided tastings, Natoli will curate a comparative “Rosé Around the World” experience where you can learn how the best rosé wine is made while sampling a special selection of international varieties.

Loco Wine Fest, Old Farm Winery At Hartland, Aldie, April 25-26

Guests sampling wine inside a timber barn at LoCo Wine Fest at Old Farm Winery at Hartland in Aldie, Virginia

Old Farm Winery at Hartland staged the inaugural LoCo Wine Fest in September 2024. The event was such a success that they now host it twice a year. Twelve Loudoun wineries will serve tastings this time round in a refurbished timber barn on the grounds, live bands perform on the front porch of historic Longfield Manor outside and a dozen food trucks and craft vendors are on site selling tasty treats and handmade products. Among wineries serving this year are Iron Will Winery, 8 Chains North, Casanel Vineyards and Domaine Fortier. Lost Rhino Brewing Company will be on hand to serve local ale for beer fans.

Guided Winery Tours

Cork & Keg Tours Mercedes Sprinter van parked at a Loudoun County winery overlooking a scenic pond and rolling vineyard hills

Some experiences are year-round, not just spring. Cork & Keg Tours offer several unique curated experiences. On the Bolds & Golds – Hidden Gems tour, learn about the small-production craftsmanship of boutique wineries 868 Estate Vineyards, The Barns at Hamilton Station and Endhardt Vineyards, each acclaimed for their gold medal-winning wines. On the Journey Through Wine, History & Heritage package, enjoy winemaker-led tastings at Zephaniah Farm Vineyard and a seated tasting and lunch at Williams Gap Vineyard in western Loudoun. In a similar vein, Vineyard Voyages features curated tours and tastings at three handpicked Loudoun wineries, while Vino Virginia offers a Sunday brunch experience that includes tastings and a chef-prepared brunch board.