VINE TO GLASS:
BLIND CONFIDENCE:
THE ART OF TASTING WITHOUT LABELS

In this immersive and intellectually engaging session, you’ll experience what sommeliers and wine judges face every day: the mystery and thrill of blind tasting. Led by WSET 3 certified & sommelier Justin Ferguson (@theblacksommrva), you’ll learn to identify six wines (three red, three white) without ever seeing the label — using nothing but your senses, your memory, and the structure of the wine itself. Along the way, Ferguson will guide you through the building blocks of expert wine deduction, from sight to finish, all while challenging assumptions and deepening your confidence. Fee includes six blind wine samples, each paired with a seasonally inspired small plate, and a commemorative wine glass to take home.

Wines:
A rotating blind selection of domestic and international reds and whites curated for complexity, contrast, and style diversity. The full lineup will be revealed during the event.

Fees: Member $90, Non-Member $108

Note: If you have food allergies or dietary restrictions, please register more than one week before the program date. Menus are set 1 week in advance and additional restrictions cannot be accommodated after that time.

Participants 21 and older only. All programs are subject to change. Pre-registration through our website is required.

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden strives to be a Garden for all and we are committed to offering diverse adult learning opportunities that are inclusive and accessible to all learners. If you would like to request an accommodation to support your participation in an adult learning opportunity at the Garden, please contact [email protected] or call 804-262-9887 x320 and we will make our best effort to help.

Event Details

About the Instructor

Justin Ferguson advises serious investors on scaling multifamily portfolios across Virginia, combining street-level insight with institutional strategy. As a specialist at Marcus & Millichap’s Southern Virginia office, he guides private equity, REITs, and syndicators through complex transactions—shaping strategy, sharpening underwriting, and aligning every asset to the investor’s cycle, capital, and conviction.
But that’s only half the story.

Justin is also a WSET Level 3 Certified, Sommelier, and Wine Director for The Underground Kitchen, where he’s known for crafting high-end, storytelling-driven tasting experiences that celebrate both terroir and culture. His wine work has been featured in Virginia ABC’s Holiday Wine Guide, and he serves as a judge for the prestigious Virginia Governor’s Cup. He has collaborated with global luxury brands like Josephinenhütte—designing cinematic campaigns around $100 glassware—and Wine Access, one of the industry’s most respected online wine curators. His latest venture? A luxury wine tasting and vineyard sales service tailored for executives, collectors, and connoisseurs seeking rare bottles, sharp education, and unforgettable moments. On screen, Justin brings it all together. His digital content merges wine, real estate, and lifestyle through cinematic storytelling and engaging delivery—proving that access, elegance, and expertise can all belong in the same glass. Whether you’re scaling a multifamily portfolio or building a serious cellar, he’s the person to call.

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden

VINE TO GLASS:BLIND CONFIDENCE:THE ART OF TASTING WITHOUT LABELS

Event Details

VINE TO GLASS:
BLIND CONFIDENCE:
THE ART OF TASTING WITHOUT LABELS