Events & Exhibits
Calendar: Event Details
Event Dates |
|---|
| July 3; 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm |
| July 10; 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm |
| July 17; 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm |
View the Calendar for more dates and events 
Event Sponsors:
Flowers After 5
Thursday evenings, July-September, 2009; 5:00 - 9:00 pm
Details:
Regular Garden admission.
Presenting Sponsor: TruGreen Landcare
Relax on summer evenings until 9 p.m. with Flowers After 5 on Thursdays in July, August and September. Stroll through the gardens; enjoy wine-tasting, music, dining and shopping. The setting for the concerts and wine-tasting is the magnificent new Rose Garden, featuring more than 1,800 roses.
5 - 7 p.m. Garden Shop open
5 - 8 p.m. Garden Cafe open
5:30 - 8:30 p.m. Tea House dining through Sept. 3 (Tea House closed on Thursday nights after Sept. 3
6 - 8 p.m. Live music by VCU Jazz Trios
6 - 8:30 p.m. Wine-tasting -- an additional $10 wine-tasting ticket is required. The wine-tasting ticket includes three samples of wine (2- 4 oz. per sample.) Wine "themes" are listed below. Please be prepared to show a photo ID. Wine sales end at 8:15 p.m. Wine selection and education by Two Wine Guys, LLC.
On the second Thursday of each month, the Garden holds “Fidos After 5” and leashed pets can attend (July 9, August 13, September 10).
NEW! Tastings after 5: Taste local produce with Amy Hicks of Amy’s Garden and learn about area farmer’s markets (July 23: Melons; August 20: Tomatoes; September 24: Greens).
PLEASE NOTE:
- Please note the WaterPlay feature in the Children's Garden will NOT run on Flowers After 5 evenings. However, it may be enjoyed on Families After 5 Tuesday evenings (June, July & August).
- The entire Garden is open (including the Conservatory) but PLEASE NOTE: The Butterflies LIVE! exhibit closes at 5 p.m. and is NOT open during Flowers After 5. Butterflies are diurnal -- more active during the day -- and the best conditions for seeing them in flight are on bright, sunny days.
- Some chairs and tables will be set up; they are available on a first-come; first-served basis. Guests may also bring in their own chairs, blankets, etc.
- Please, no outside food or drink allowed.
SCHEDULE
July 2: Red, White & New
Wines: A red, a white & a selection that's all new!
July 9: I Double Dog Dare Ya
Wines: Double Dog Dare wines
A Fidos After 5 evening when leashed pets are allowed
Wines:
Double Dog Dare Chardonnay: light, minimally oaked Chardonnay with flavors of citrus and hazelnut with a refreshing finish.
Double Dog Dare Merlot: Characterized by licorice and spice elements with flavors dominated by earthy plum notes.
Courtney Benham Gewurtztraminer: light wine featuring floral aromas while boasting tropical pineapple flavors accented by a touch of spice.
July 16: Summer Sippers
Wines: Easy drinking, chilled summer wines
Palma Real Rueda Verdejo (Spain): Crisp and dry, with delicate floral, citrus and mineral aromas and flavors.
Chateau de Nages Reserve Blanc (Southern Rhone, France): A delightful selection with aromas of freshly squeezed citrus, apricots and white flowers and flavors of apple, lime apricot and nectarine, ending in crisp, long finish.
Georges Duboeuf Special Selection Beaujolais (Burgundy, France): Made from Gamay grapes, this light bodied red is fresh and vibrant with flavors of raspberry and plum. It’s good acidity makes it a red you can chill and enjoy in the summer time.
July 23: South of the Equator
Wines: Great wines from South of the Equator
Tasting: locally grown organic melons
This is also a "Ladies' Night Out" along Lakeside Avenue with local merchants open later in the evening for a special night of shopping (and, of course, the Garden Shop is open, too!)
Brampton Un-Oaked Chardonnay (South Africa): Aromas of white peach, pear, melon & ginger characterize this medium-bodied wine. Fermented in stainless steel tanks rather than oak barrels, this chardonnay is much more crisp and clean on the palate than most.
Indaba Chenin Blanc (South Africa): This medium-bodied selection shows kiwi and melon on the nose, followed by flavors of tropical melon, citrus and spice, ending in a long easy finish.
Phebus Malbec (Argentina): This fruit forward style wine exhibits raspberry and plum flavors, is well-rounded with a smooth and easy finish.
July 30: Rose Among the Roses
Wines: Summer rose wines
Marques de Ministrol Brut Rose' (Spain): A sparkling Spanish cava; very well-balanced with a soft, creamy style. Elegant on the palate with intense red berry fruit flavors.
Chateau de Nages Reserve Rose' (Southern Rhone, France): A blend of Grenache & Syrah, this wines displays flavors of raspberry in a light-bodied style with a crip, clean finish.
Anakena Cabernet Rose' (Chile): Crisp and refreshing with aromas of cherry, plum & spices and a smooth palate full of red berries.
Music: Alex Powers (trombone), Taylor Seward (guitar), Andrew Randazzo (bass)
Aug. 6: Sparkling Summer Nights
Wines: Sparkling wines
NV Rondel Pura Raza Brut (Cava, Spain): Filled with peach and nut flavors with aromas of white pepper, floral tones and white lilies.
Botter Prosecco Rabosso Spumante (Veneto, Italy); Fun blend of 55% Prosecco and 45% Rabosso creates an intense bouquet of cherry fruit. Addition of the rare Rabosso grape creates a dry and round palate.
Francois Montand Blanc de Blanc (France); This 100% Chardonnay French sparkler has an elegant floral bouquet with a delicate, creamy taste and great finesse. Toasty and complex, showing buttery overtones with crisp apple and lemon flavors. An exceptional value.
Music: David Hood (sax), Jerome Karim (guitar), Chris Harrison (bass)
Aug. 13: Sassy Sauvignons
Wines: A variety of Sauvignion Blancs & Cabernet Sauvignons
A Fidos After 5 evening when leashed pets are allowed
Music: The Flyin' Sulsers, featuring John Conley and Alan Parker (guitars) and Brian Sulser (bass)
Aug. 20: Down Right, Down Under
Wines: Australian wines
Gumdale Chardonnay (South East Australia): tropical fruit flavors with just a touch of oak.
Elderton Un-Oaked Chardonnay (Sourth Australia): pear and green apple with a crisp, refreshing finish.
Milton Park Shiraz (Barossa Valley, South Australia): the pefect party red -- jammy black fruit flavors with a soft, juicy finish.
Tasting: locally grown organic tomatoes
Music: Josh Gramling (guitar), Matt Harris (bass), Sam Sherman (drums)
Aug. 27: Selections for a 3 Course Meal
Wines: An aperitif, a dinner wine and a dessert wine
Botter Prosecco Spumante (Veneto, Italy): a crisp sparkling wine with hints of almond
Castillo Clavijo Rioja Crianza (Rioja, Spain): Aromas and flavors of ripe berries, spices and vanilla.
Rivata Moscata D'Asti (Piedmonte, Italy): Aromas of citrus and floral with flavors of peach and honey.
Music: Marcus Tenney (trumpet), Paul Willson (guitar), Chris Harrison (bass)
Sept. 3: Pinots
Wines: Pinot Noirs and Pinot Grigios
Domaine Pierre Sparr Pinot Blanc (Alsace, France): Aromas of spring flowers and lime with a well balanced palate of green apple and mineral.
Conte Priola Pinot Grigio (Veneto, Italy): Crisp yet delicate, this dry, light-bodied wine has refreshing citrus aromas and flavors.
Ropiteau Pinot Noir (France): Bright cherry and berry fruit complemented by earth tones and a smooth, soft finish.
Music: The Dean Christesen Trio, featuring Karl Morse (guitar), Andrew Randazzo (bass), and Dean Christesen (drums)
Sept. 10: Italian Romance
Wines: Selections from
Barone Fini Pinot Grigio Valdadige (Veneto, Italy): Dry & crisp with almond aromas and lively fruit flavors.
Montresor Soave Classico (Veneto, Italy): Appealing with delicate flavors of apple and pear
Bellini Chianti (Tuscany, Italy): medium-bodied with flavors reminiscent of dried cherry, plum and a hint of vanilla.
Music: The Band of Steve's, featuring Jon Greenberg (trumpet), Steve Young (guitar/vocals), and Carter Blough (bass)
Sept. 17: Let’s Be Different
Wines: Uncommon and enjoyable varietal grapes/wines
Mendoza Station (Mendoza, Argentina): a highly aromatic white with flavors of fresh citrus
Hugl Gruner Veltliner (Austria): crisp, dry with notes of spice and mineral
Graham Beck Pinotage (Western Cape, South Africa): pinotage is a hybrid between Pinot Noir and Cinsault grapes. Soft and juicy with dark fruit flavors and a clean finish.
Music: The JC3, featuring John Conley (guitar), Rusty Farmer (bass), and Kevin Gaines (drums)
Sept. 24: The Virginia Harvest
Wines: Selections from
Horton Tower Series Fruit Wines: highly aromatic and richly textured, these wines offer the wonderful flavors of their corresponding fruit. Try peach or raspberry.
Horton Tower Series Viognier: rich aromas of honeysuckle and orange spice complement the wonderful flavors of honey and melon.
Horton Tower Series Cabernet Franc: medium-bodied wine characterized by cherry, herbal, cedar and spice notes with subtle earthy tones.
Tasting: locally grown organic greens
Music: The Butterbean Trio, featuring Terri Simpson (vocals), Lee Covington (piano), and Rusty Farmer (bass)
Two Wine Guys was formally established by Michael Gargiulo and Walter Bell as a result of our life long passion for wine. Over the past 20 years, we have individually tasted thousands of wines from all over the world and developed and implemented a long list of wine events. As requests for our services grew, it became evident that we had to create a union of our wine knowledge and experience and so our business was formally born. It was very clear from the beginning that we had a specific purpose in mind which was, and always will be, to "make wine fun for everyone."
