Food Notes

By The Daily Progress Staff

Published: July 1, 2008

Pearce is coming home for Afton concert

Guitarist Miles Pearce will perform in a “homecoming” concert during the Independence Day Celebration from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday at Afton Mountain Vineyards. The music will be presented from noon to about 6 p.m.

Pearce is a friend and classmate of the sons of Afton Mountain Vineyards owners Tom and Shinko Corpora. He performed at the vineyard while in high school and when he was home from college.

Admission is $4, $3 for wine club members and free for visitors younger than 12.

The Summer Open House will follow from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The winery will release three 2007-vintage red wines — Pinot Noir, Sangiovese and Cabernet Franc. Also available will be 2007 white and rose wines, including Gewurtztraminer, Riesling and Chardonnay. Shinko Corpora’s popular gazpacho will be served all three days.

For details, call (540) 456-8667.

If you’re in the mood for barbecue, try DelFosse

DelFosse Vineyards and Winery in Faber will present its Fourth of July BBQ from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday.

Pete of Little Pete’s Real McCoy will present an all-you-can-eat buffet of whole custom smoked hog, smokehouse tri-beans, spud salad and dessert. Jan Smith and Jeff Vogelgesang will provide the music. DelFosse wines will be served.

The event is $20 per person, and reservations are required. For details, call 263-6100.

Keswick hangs out the Red, White and Bluegrass

Keswick Vineyards will present its Red, White and Bluegrass event from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday.

There will be wine tastings and specials. Southwater will provide the live bluegrass from 1 to 4 p.m. There will be plenty of room for picnicking. The music is free. Tastings cost $8 for select tastings and $5 for regular ones.

The winery is at 1575 Keswick Winery Drive in Keswick. For information, visit http://www.keswickvineyards.com or call 244-3341.

This weekend is the time to pick the cherries

Chiles Peach Orchard will have cherry picking available at Spring Valley Orchard in Afton until after Friday.

Bring buckets or baskets for picking. Hours are noon to 7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

Some cherries also are available at Chiles Peach orchard.

Pick-your-own-peaches time has begun at Chiles as well. Yellow clingstone peaches are available. Freestone peaches will be available in mid-July.

The Farm Market also is available, offering fresh vegetables, ciders, jams, jellies, gift items and ready-picked cherries, peaches and Lodi summer cooking apples. New in the market is a variety of wines from Prince Michel Winery.

Chiles has extended its hours on Thursdays, staying open until 8 p.m. For directions and details, call 823-1583.

Fourth and Fifth fun on tap at Wintergreen

Wintergreen Winery will present “Fun on the Fourth — and the Fifth’’ from 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

There will be a wine tasting featuring 2007 Black Rock Chardonnay Reserve, 2006 Viognier, Three Ridges White, Thomas Nelson White, Three Ridges Red, Cabernet Franc, Mill Hill Apple and the Raspberry dessert wine served with chocolate.

Picnics are welcome. Light picnic fare also will be available for purchase.

Music will be provided from noon to 5:30 p.m. each day, with South 29 playing on Friday and Chickenhead Blues Band playing on Saturday.

The $7 admission fee includes the wine tasting, music and souvenir wine glass. There also will be wine and gift shop specials. For details, call 361-2519.

Cooking students learn about antipasti

Charlottesville Cooking School will present “Antipasti” with Marisa Catalano from 6 to 10 p.m. Tuesday.

Students will learn to prepare Italian appetizers, including marinated mushrooms with garlic and red pepper flakes, marinated olives with fennel seed and lemon rind and affetati misti, featuring Italian cured meats and cheeses.

The class is $65 per person. To sign up, send e-mail to or call 963-COOK.

From staff reports