Celebrating Women in Wine and Art at the Lee-Fendall House Museum and Garden
ALEXANDRIA, VA – Saturday, May 3 was a day to soirée in Alexandria. Die-hard socializers went from the perennial Gold Cup races in The Plains to Kentucky Derby watch parties, ending the evening in a fabulous finish at Wine and Art Night chez one of the City’s most beloved historic manses, the Lee-Fendall House Museum and Garden on Oronoco Street in Old Town.
Bourbon, a favorite at Lee-Fendall harkening back to its speakeasy-bootlegging legacy, wasn’t in the spotlight Saturday night. Wine tasting was on tap – presented by two award-winning Virginia wineries: Prince Michel and Slater Run, as well as Old Town’s neighboring Wine Gallery 108.
Wine Gallery 108 at 108 North St. Asaph Street is an eclectic wine boutique that originally opened in 2017- coincidentally at 108 North Patrick Street. Owner and founder Lisa Katic presented a curated selection of wines from around the world especially for the occasion. Stop by and take a vicarious tasting trip around the wonderful world of wine.
Slater Run Vineyards, situated on a fourth-generation owned and operated estate in pastoral Upperville, offered some of their best wines to guests eager to learn more about NOVA wines. The winery sits midway between the marvelous Middleburg AVA Route 50 corridor and the renowned RdV Vineyards, recently purchased by the Bouygues family wine dynasty in France and renamed Lost Mountain, in (where else?) Paris, VA.
Prince Michel Vineyards in Leon, VA is also a family-owned and woman-led winery. Tastings of several of their many award-winning wines were available, offered to imbibing guests by head winemaker Bryan Jones. His Très Bien Petit Manseng won a gold medal at this year’s Governor’s Cup in March.
Not only were all the wine purveyors women-owned and/or managed but the five vendors exhibiting throughout the evening also happened to be local women artists and artisans. Barbara Cooper paintings were on display in the dining room while nature photographer Carol Jean Stalun adorned the expansive entry to the 18th-century mansion museum.
Outside on the glorious grounds, Barbara Nowak’s sensuous ceramics, Candace Stribling’s stunning jewelry, and Torpedo Factory studio photographer Jenny Nordstrom’s striking images complemented the beauty of the garden in full May bloom. Unique arrangements were created for each table and high top, incorporating some of the garden flora, including exquisite peonies planted by Board of Directors Secretary Megan Ritter Judt’s mother, as passionate an advocate for this treasured place as her daughter. Joanne Ritter passed away last July.
Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins spoke to the historical significance of the house as a timeline of life in Alexandria these past three centuries. The Lee-Fendall House, built in 1785, marked its 50 years operating as a museum in 2024.
Since its construction it has been home to enslaved and free African Americans, 37 members of the Lee family, and housed hundreds of convalescing Union soldiers during the Civil War. Years later the house became the residence of the Downham family (owners of the Downton Abbey Highclere Castle) from 1903-1937, followed by powerful labor leader John L. Lewis until 1969. Lewis was the last occupant of the property.
Current Lee-Fendall Board member and former Vice Mayor Amy Jackson also attended the event, having come from a Run for the Roses race watch gathering. There was no running out of the quaffable rosés savored in the fragrant rose garden. But silent auction temptations took guests back inside to bid competitively over items such as those generously donated by Penny Post Paper Goods, Sugar House Day Spa, Salon Monte, and the Washington Nationals.
Art and Wine night was Jacqueline-of-all-trades Collections and Programming Manager Jenny Waters’ first foray into event chair planning at Lee-Fendall House. Complemented by the ever and always delectable Bittersweet catering, the as delightful as delicious red wine glass and artist paint palette cookies by Maribeth’s Bakery, the fine wine and light-fare dine under the stars proved to be divine.
The French musical stylings of the DC Ambiance trio transported guests to quintessential Paris, kickstarting un-de-ces-jours (one of these days…) reveries replete with Bordeaux-style vin and tickles of méthode champenoise bubbly.
Who needs April in Paris when you have May at the Lee-Fendall House Museum and Garden?
Although…. Paris is always a good idea!
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