CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va (CBS19 NEWS) — The Charlottesville area has been named wine region of the year in a publication’s 2023 Wine Star Awards. The Charlottesville Albemarle Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Monticello Wine Trail hosted a special evening of wine, food, and community to celebrate Wednesday night.

The event celebrated the region’s recent recognition as the 2023 Wine Enthusiast Wine Region of the Year for the Wine Star Awards. According to a release, this is the only such designation given in North America.

Wine Enthusiast’s team made its winning selections based on many factors, including impact on consumers and trade in the wine space, company or brand vision, and trendsetting.

“To be on the international stage and be recognized and beat out these regions in well-established wine country is phenomenal and it’s such a huge opportunity to really put us on the map for our wine,” said Courtney Cacatian, Executive Director of the Charlottesville Albemarle Convention & Visitors Bureau.

These awards celebrate the innovation of individuals and entities that have significantly contributed to the success of the wine and alcoholic beverage world.

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Source: https://www.cbs19news.com/story/49973056/charlottesville-area-named-wine-region-of-the-year

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The Richmond Beer Trail is a great way to explore the many breweries in the area. There are over 30 breweries on the trail, so you can easily spend a day or two exploring them all. The trail includes both large and small breweries, so there’s something for everyone. Many of the breweries offer tours, so you can learn about the brewing process and taste some delicious beer. Continue reading “The Richmond Beer Trail”

As the pandemic lingered and people longed for more space in which to feel safer, the Virginia housing market experienced a boom. Buyers longed to leave congested urban areas so they could have lots of open space in which they could more comfortably spend time outside or enjoy a quiet moment to themselves. This sent many searching for that perfect home in the suburbs and beyond. The question on everyone’s mind now is will it remain a sellers market or will housing prices drop.  Continue reading “Virginia Housing Updates 2022”

When you have a beautiful home you want to spend as much time there as possible, however that does not mean that you want to spend every moment of your time inside. There are many ways that you can make your outdoor environment as inviting as the inside of your home. Below you will find some ideas for making your outdoor living areas as inviting as your indoor living areas. 

Cozy Outdoor Rooms

When you think of outdoor living, a deck may be the first thing that comes to mind and while it may be the obvious choice a deck requires a lot of maintenance. A better option for your outdoor space is to use flagstone to create the perimeters for your outdoor room. Flagstones are much easier to care for and once you have decided on a look and laid them out, they practically take care of themselves. Add to this space a fire pit, a swing sofa, additional comfy seating as well as some LED lighting and you have a warm, cozy, inviting room for all to enjoy. Your pool area is another space where you can create a private oasis with the right landscaping. Planting boxwood and other tall plants such as cypress and juniper creates a sense of privacy and adds a little greenery while maintaining that poolside feel. The above plants are also clean and do not drop a lot of berries or leaves all over your pool and patio area. Add some comfortable lounge chairs and you, your family and friends will have a comfy private spot for swimming and relaxing in the sun. If you have a small yard area and do not want a lawn, use the space to create a private nook. With the use of native plants and bushes strategically placed, you can create an outdoor “room”. Add some comfortable outdoor seating and a gorgeous water feature to add texture, soothing sound and to encourage birds, butterflies and dragonflies to visit your yard. Enhance the space even further by adding some gentle outdoor lighting. This will create a quiet, lovely spot that you can enjoy anytime, day or night, as a quiet reading spot or as a place to relax and enjoy a glass of wine at day’s end.

Zen Garden Oasis

Perhaps you are not a great horticulturist, you don’t love the idea of a lush lawn and tree filled environment or you live in a desert or another area where it isn’t feasible to grow a lot of greenery. You still want to be able to create a beautiful outdoor living space. Don’t despair; there are plenty of beautiful options available to you. Research your area to see what kind of plants thrive there and make those plants the focal point of your outdoor living spaces. Skip the lush lawn, instead plant drought tolerant trees native to your area and sprinkle some comfortable seating around the area. The trees will create a lovely green ceiling and provide shade making this area a favorite spot during hot summer days. If you like the idea of wide open spaces and lots of sunlight, create a zen garden. With the use of water features, rocks carefully raked to resemble waves and short manicured shrubs, you can create a little pocket of peace and quiet that is as relaxing to the eyes and mind as it is to the body. Be sure to add some simple, comfortable seating that will fit the aesthetic of your space. 

 

Outdoor Buildings

Although you want to enjoy spending time outside, don’t shy away from covers and enclosures. A small well built and beautiful makerspace is a welcoming spot when you want to get away and enjoy your favorite hobby. Install a grill area around a covered pergola and you, your family and friends can enjoy dining al fresco in comfort and cabanas located by the pool can offer a welcome respite from the midday sun when you aren’t quite ready to head inside. Finally, create a covered patio directly off your living or dining room to create an easy transition from inside to the outside. The epitome of seamless indoor/outdoor living.

As you can see, landscaping your luxury home takes thought, time and a little research to discover what will work best for your lifestyle and your environment. Creating an oasis of your outdoor space adds beauty and joy to your life. Spend a little time creating your dream landscape and you can create gorgeous outdoor “rooms” for you, your family and friends to  enjoy for years to come. 

FAQs

What are the five basic landscaping design principles?

The five basic landscaping design principles are balance, focalization, simplicity, rhythm and line, proportion and unity. 

What time of year is best to landscape?

It is best to begin landscaping projects in the spring months so that plants have an opportunity to take root and grow. If you are unable to begin landscaping in spring then fall is also a good choice. 

It is the end of the year and our minds are gravitating to thoughts of new beginnings, healthier habits and a fresh outlook. One way to incorporate all of these things is by freshening up our home decor. Below I will review 5 trends that will be popular in 2022.   Continue reading “Biggest Design Trends for 2022”