Pours to Explore Tasting Series
Pours to Explore is a curated tasting series presented by the Loudoun Wineries & Winegrowers Association, offering a more elevated and intentional way to experience Loudoun County wines. Designed as an educational alternative to traditional wine festivals, each event focuses on a specific grape variety or style and features a rotating selection of local wineries.
Guests enjoy a walk-around tasting format, allowing them to explore wines at their own pace while engaging directly with winery representatives. Each experience is anchored by a featured sommelier, who provides an opening introduction and remains available throughout the event to offer insight, context, and storytelling.
Light bites are included to complement the wines, which are also available for purchase directly from participating wineries.
❋ Pours to Explore - Viognier & Bordeaux Blends
Saturday, May 2nd 6:00pm - 8:00pm
8 Chains North Winery | $65 per person
Featured Wineries: 8 Chains North, Bozzo Family Vineyards, Breaux Vineyards, Carriage House Wineworks, Domaine Fortier, Endhardt Vineyards, Fabbioli Cellars, Greenhill Vineyard, Kalero Vineyard, Lost Creek Winery, Mt Defiance, Walsh Family Wine, Williams Gap Vineyard
Featured Sommelier: Neal Wavra
Neal Wavra is the proprietor, chef, and sommelier of Field & Main Restaurant in Marshall, Virginia, which he opened in 2016. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and a certified sommelier, Neal is widely recognized as a leading authority on Virginia wine. He serves as Director of the Loudoun County Wine Competition and is a judge for the Virginia Governor’s Cup.
His background includes key roles at Blackberry Farm in Tennessee and as innkeeper and sommelier at The Ashby Inn & Restaurant, where he developed a nationally recognized, Virginia-focused wine program. Through his firm, FABLE Hospitality, Neal also provides wine and hospitality consulting, continuing to champion Virginia’s dynamic and evolving wine industry.
❋ Pours to Explore - Rosé, Petit Manseng & Petit Verdot
Saturday, June 13th 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Cana Vineyards & Winery | $65 per person
Featured Wineries: 8 Chains North, Bluemont Vineyard, Bozzo Family Vineyard, Cana Vineyards, Carriage House Wineworks, Domaine Fortier, Endhardt Vineyard, Good Spirit Farm Winery, Greenhill Vineyard, Kalero Vineyard, Lost Creek Winery, Williams Gap Vineyard
Featured Sommelier: Nadine Brown
Nadine Brown is a 25-year veteran of the Washington, D.C. restaurant industry. She spent more than 14 years as Wine Director and Sommelier at Charlie Palmer Steak and has also served as a managing partner, general manager, and hospitality consultant. A two-time recipient of the RAMMY Award for Wine Program of the Year, Nadine is widely respected for her leadership in the region’s wine community. She serves on the board of the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington and the nonprofit Veraison Project, and judges competitions including the Monticello Cup and Virginia Governor’s Cup.
Through her company, At Your Service, Nadine provides wine events, cellar management, staff training, and hospitality consulting, while also contributing writing on wine and the industry.
❋ Pours to Explore - Sparkling, Chardonnay & Tannat
Saturday, August 22nd 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Walsh Family Wine | $65 per person
Featured Wineries: 8 Chains North, Bluemont Vineyard, Bozzo Family Vineyard, Carriage House Wineworks, Domaine Fortier, Endhardt Vineyard, Fabbioli Cellars, Good Spirit Farm Winery, Greenhill Vineyard, Kalero Vineyard, Lost Creek Winery, Mt Defiance, Walsh Family Wine, Williams Gap Vineyard
Featured Sommelier: Julie Seibert
Julie Siebert is the Sommelier and Wine Education Director at Echelon Wine Bar and a WSET instructor with Capital Wine School. Julie came to wine as a “third career,” following 26 years working for the Federal Government where she rose to senior executive levels and oversaw large training and development programs.
She grew up in Seattle surrounded by Washington State’s thriving wine industry and has traveled extensively through many of the world’s great wine regions. Julie’s philosophy is to make wine enjoyable and easy to understand for everyone by blending deep knowledge with an engaging, approachable teaching style. Julie is a WSET Diploma student, WSET Level 3 Certified, and is an Italian, American, Spanish, and French Wine Scholar.
❋ Pours to Explore - Sauvignon Blanc & Cabernet Franc
Saturday, November 14th 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Bluemont Vineyard | $65 per person
Featured Wineries: 8 Chains North, Bozzo Family Vineyard, Domaine Fortier, Endhardt Vineyards, Good Spirit Farm Winery, Greenhill Vineyard, Kalero Vineyard, Lost Creek Winery, The Wine Reserve at Waterford, Williams Gap Vineyard
Featured Sommelier: Erin Scala
Erin Scala is a central Virginia–based wine professional at Market Street Wine, where she focuses on sustainability, education, and community. She is also a wine journalist and content creator whose work has appeared in Wine & Spirits, The C-Ville Weekly, and other publications.
Previously, Erin worked at Michelin-starred restaurants in New York City, including JoJo, PUBLIC, and The Musket Room, and later led the wine program at Fleurie Restaurant. Named one of Wine Enthusiast’s “40 Under 40,” she is deeply connected to the Virginia wine industry, serving as a judge for the Governor’s Cup and the Loudoun Wine Awards, and continues to contribute as a speaker, sommelier, and advocate for sustainability and emerging wine regions.
