Two Up Wine Down Festival 2022

Five women smile and pose in front of a vibrant balloon arch and backdrop that reads "TWO UP WINE DOWN" at an outdoor wine event. The backdrop features bold, colorful patterns and is framed by balloons in shades of gold, cream, orange, and black. The women are casually dressed and holding wine bottles or glasses, enjoying the festive atmosphere of the gathering.

Story by Anahita Jafary, NBC29

A festival in Charlottesville is giving people a chance to sip some wine while making connections.

Two Up Wine Down was held at the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center Sunday, October 23. The event aimed to highlight diversity in both wines and the community.

“The people that are BIPOC, we want to bring awareness to them and spread that word that we’re here, we’re wine professionals,” Zohna Jones, wine blogger, said. “We love to drink wine and we love to spread our knowledge about it.”

BIPOC stands for Black, indigenous, and people of color. Jones says they are underrepresented in the wine community.

“The only way we all progress in wine is by collaborating,” she said.

” We really wanted to shine a spotlight on BIPOC, wine professional, enthusiasts, etc. And so, we wanted to make a festival that was very accessible place that had lots of really awesome Virginia wine,” co-organizer Reggie Leonard said. “We’re hosting it at the Jefferson School, as well, which is really amazing so that we can center the historical kind of components of the African-American experience in Charlottesville.”

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Two Up Wine Down is an inclusive community focused Virginia wine festival shining a spotlight on BIPOC wine professionals, enthusiasts, and allies. The name is an homage to our incredible Commonwealth, Virginia (Two Up, Two Down). The festival will take place at the city’s center of Black culture and resilience, the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center, in downtown Charlottesville, Virginia, on Sunday, October 23rd, 2022 from 3-6pm.

The outdoor tented festival will feature Oenoverse Club hosts and members of the Veraison Project pouring tastings of their favorite Virginia wines while sharing their perspectives and conversation with guests. Comfy picnic vibes provided by Just Be Picnic. DJ Double U on the ones and twos. Royalty Eats & Vegan Comforts will be cooking food for the soul.

What is Oenoverse?
Oenoverse [ee-nuh-verse] is a movement towards building equity, ownership, inclusion, and diversity within Virginia wine through the channels of conversation and community.

Presented by The Veraison Project, Virginia Wine, Charlottesville Albemarle Convention & Visitors Bureau, Discover Black Cville, Tasha Durrett, Reggie Leonard, Lance Lemon, Matt Harmon, Titus Green, Jason Becton, Chauncey Jenkins, Zohna Jones, PK Ross, Blenheim Vineyards, Early Mountain, Thistle Rock Mead, Domaine Finot, RichWine RVA, Monticello Wine Tour, Market Street Wine, Wine & Country Life, Keswick Vineyards, Septenary, Veritas, King Family Vineyards, Afton Mountain Vineyards, Flying Fox, Williams Corner Wine, and A Cork In The Road.