Weekend events - March 27-28

If you're up for a road trip during the weekend of March 27, I've got two great ideas for you.

On March 27, West Wind Winery (Meadows of Dan, Va.) will host "Riesling Around the World," an event featuring tastings of this type of wine — one of my favorites, by the way. Not sure I've had West Wind's riesling, but I love their blackberry wine.

According to a newsletter from the winery, winemaker Jocelyn Kuzelka will present the program and offer education about wine growing as well as tastings of various rieslings.

The event is $20. For more information, see West Wind Winery's Web site here and click the calendar of events.

This event is near the Blue Ridge Parkway's Milepost 180.

On either March 27 or 28, you should really check out the Whitetop Maple Festival (Whitetop, Va.). This is one of several festivals that I covered annually when I was the Grayson County reporter for The Gazette (Galax, Va.).

You can watch some folks tap maples for the sweet syrup and eat some delicious pancakes while you're there. You should buy some of the syrup to take home before you leave because after tasting real maple syrup you're not going to want that fake corn syrup stuff you buy in the grocery store.

A wildflower slide show and storytelling event also take place every year.

And, like every event in the Twin County region, there will be lots of old time music.

The festival takes place at the Mount Rogers Combined School and is hosted by the Mount Rogers Fire and Rescue Squad. Proceeds go toward the volunteer squad's operating expenses.

For more information, visit the Virginia Is For Lover's Web site here or here on the Blue Ridge Parkway's 75th Anniversary site.

This event is near the Blue Ridge Parkway's Milepost 213.