Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest Home. Photo / Wikipedia - Warfieldian
The first Thomas Jefferson Wine Festival atJefferson’s Poplar Forest retreat will be held on Saturday, November 21, 2009.
Poplar Forest is the 200 year old country home of the Jefferson family. The Jefferson home at Monticello was a busy place, with plantation management, the local college, and a stream of visitors who wanted to meet and discuss political and social issues with Thomas Jefferson.
Students from the nearby University of Virginia founded by Jefferson in Charlottesville were welcome to visit, and several were allowed to live in a small outbuilding at Monticello.
After his active years writing such documents as the Declaration of Independence, representing the United States in France, traveling throughout Europe, and finally serving as the third President of the new United States of America, Jefferson retired to his beloved home, Monticello. The Monroe family lived about 30 miles away and made some extended visits. Other dignitaries such as Lafayette made pilgrimages to visit. Jefferson was a prodigious letter writer with an interest in and opinion about just about every subject. But, even this great man and active mind needed a getaway for some rest and recuperation, and a cooler place for the hot summer months, so a country retreat was even more welcome to Jefferson as vacation homes are to people today. Jefferson's mind was never at rest, however, and he maintained an extensive library at Poplar Forest, and kept up with his correspondence.
The Poplar Forest secluded retreat, built in 1809 and the first octagonal home in America, was designed by Jefferson himself. Jefferson first stayed at Poplar Forest in 1809, the year he retired from public office. It has been designated a National Historic Landmark not only for the Jefferson connection, but for the blending of architectural and landscape elements. It sits near the historic towns of Bedford and Lynchburg. The estate was sold after Jefferson’s death and for many years was allowed to deteriorate. It was not until the 1980s that the present efforts to buy back surrounding land and restore Poplar Forest to its original condition began in earnest.
Grapes growing in Virginia. Photo / P.Dolinski
Wine was an important part of Jefferson’s lifestyle. He imported wine, studied wine, drank
wine, and tried to produce wine in Virginia. No doubt he would have been impressed to see so much
wine being produced in his home state.
Poplar Forest is open to the public April through November, Wednesday through Monday, but group tours are available by appointment year round. This wine festival is an opportunity to see this remarkable home and the lovely countryside around it.
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if you enjoyed this, you might like these articles about Jefferson:
- The New Visitor Center at Monticello
- Gardens and Dependencies at Monticello
- The Monticello Wine Festival
Comments
I enjoyed this article.
Wine festivals are always such fun - and at such a great venue!
I'm always up for a wine festival!
Great info on the wine region and Jefferson. Thanks for sharing.
Thomas Jefferson is one of my favorite historical figures. I'm glad he had this retreat, and even more glad it was not permitted to fall into total disrepair.
Did not know about Poplar Forest. Have to put it on the to-see list. Loved Monticello!
I so much enjoyed this article. Jefferson has always been one of my heroes. This helps to bring him to life.
It sounds strange to have fine wines on this end of the country, but it is true. Not only do you have the Thomas Jefferson festival, but you also have a great winery at Biltmore Estate, and the NC Wine Tour near the Shelton Vineyards in the northern part of North Carolina is outstanding. Great article Pauline!!
What a great festival. I wish I could attend since wine is a big part of my life too! :-)
It's nice to hear we're enjoying wine festivals on either side of the country. Sounds nice.
Nice story. Thank you for the info.
sounds like something i would like.
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