Celebrate the county: Come to Gourmet Rappahannock!
By Anita L. Sherman Rappahannock News Staff Writer
Barbara Adolfi is a woman of action. A resident of Sperryville, she is not only a licensed and practicing clinical social worker, she runs a weekend get-a-way and writes the Sperryville column for the Rappahannock News. She’s also been instrumental in the re-energization of the Sperryville Volunteer Rescue Squad. Since making Rappahannock County her home several years ago, Adolfi is a supporter of and promoter for all things Rappahannock. In her weekly column, she gives local businesses a boost by letting the community know what they are offering – like a guest chef at Pellegatta’s Eatery – or a new wine at Gadino Cellars.
One of her latest involvements is as the business and tourism representative on the advisory board at The Link (formerly the SchoolHouse) in Sperryville. With several of the county’s non-profits clustered in one place, the Link has, and is becoming, truly a community center with a variety of offerings on its plate – many of them aimed at moving forward with, as Adolfi calls it, responsible tourism.
"We need to look for ways to promote all of Rappahannock County," said Adolfi in an interview on Monday. "We have our individual villages but we need to brand ourselves as a destination county with many little jewels that can be savored and tasted."
When Adolfi was named to the advisory board at The Link, some of her initial discussions were with local wineries – many of which are members of the BlueRidgeWineway which regularly sponsors wine tours bringing tourists to the county. In addition to the wineries, The Inn at Little Washington is undoubtedly another major draw for tourists. Adolfi feels that the rest of the county is under-utilized as a tourism resource and she’d like to see that changed.
"I don’t want to see bus loads of people descending on the county," said Adolfi but "we need to do things to bring people in to respectfully mingle and keep our local businesses alive."
To that end, Adolfi, along with a small group of organizers, is planning another first – Gourmet Rappahannock. The event, to be held at The Link in Sperryville, will bring together local wineries and restaurants for a unique pairing of food and wine. In the process, existing and new businesses will be given a chance to let people know who they are. For instance, does everyone know about the farm buyers club? Mark Reinhardt, who created the website for Gourmet Rappahannock, has a business to distribute locally grown meats from surrounding farmers. And Donna Marquisee, who owns Rappahannock Landscaping and Nursery, will be bringing in large plants to transform The Link into a lush, green garden for the Gourmet’s inaugural event.
As well as promoting local and new businesses, Adolfi is hopeful that this event will be successful on another level. Proceeds will benefit The Scrabble School Preservation Foundation, an historic "Rosenwald School" that served African-American students from the 1920s-1980s, which will be restored as a Senior Citizen Center and Heritage Center for the community.
"This isn’t a sit down, full meal," said Adolfi, "it’s rather a wandering event, where people can go from table to table and sample tapas-style dishes paired with many of Rappahannock’s award-winning wines."
Adolfi is good at getting folks to come together for a common cause. She spoke highly of several of the organizers – most notably Griffin Tavern’s Debbie Donehey who is acting as the treasurer and E-Cow’s Terri Lehman who has vast experience from her involvement with The Taste of Rappahannock which is held each September. "She (Terri) is so solid about what you need to do," said Adolfi, "she’s very inclusive and has nurtured some of the other people involved."
All tickets to the event will be sold exclusively online. "That way we have a single source for reservations and can keep track of everything," noted Adolfi who added that tickets will be capped around 250. While Adolfi would like to see many in the Northern Virginia area come out and see what the county has to offer in terms of food and wine, she hopes to get a good number of county members to attend as well. "The goal is to promote all."
Advertisers are welcome and $300 placed will earn you two free tickets. There will be materials on display from participating businesses. Each guest will receive their own carrying bag complete with a program and a Gourmet Rappahannock wine glass.
Strolling and sampling will be accompanied by jazz pianist Bill Harris. And for those in the mood for some added spirits or a caffeine hit, Wasmund’s Distillery will be there as well as Central Roasters Coffee.
"We need to let go of parochialism," stressed Adolfi. " We need to see ourselves as part of a whole so that we can enjoy all that this county has to offer and promote it in that manner – established businesses and new businesses in all parts of the county."
Adolfi chuckled. "Well, there will be good food and good wine. It will be more than a sample and less than a full serving. This should be a very green, very lovely event," added Adolfi who is optimistic that it will be the first of many.
If you go
Gourmet Rappahannock
A sampling of food and wine
Saturday, June 14
4 – 7 p.m.
The Link in Sperryville
12018 Lee Highway
Tickets: $65 per person
Online tickets and information at
Proceeds to benefit the Scrabble School Preservation Foundation
Gourmet Rappahannock
Participating restaurants
The Blue Rock Inn
E-Cow
The Griffin Tavern
The Public House
Rae's
The Thornton River Grille
Participating wineries
Chester Gap Cellars
Gadino Cellars
Gray Ghost Winery
Rappahannock Cellars
Sharp Rock Winery
Wasmund's Distillery