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Chatham Vineyards on Church Creek looks forward to welcoming everyone on April 27, when Chatham, the stately, Federal-style home built in 1818, will be featured as part of Historic Garden Week.
The tasting room at Chatham Vineyards will stay open until 6 p.m., that day, and Chef Ross Riddle’s HASHi Chow Pop-Up will be onsite from 11:30 a.m. until 2 p.m., serving three distinct entrees that highlight Eastern Shore cuisine.
On the menu:
- Striped Bass Aguachile
- Pulled Pork Rice Bowl with Eastern Shore Spring Salad and pickled veggies
- Swarthy Braised Chicken/Rice Bowl with Eastern Shore Spring Salad and pickled veggies
- Matcha Strawberry Trifle: vanilla chiffon, white chocolate matcha pastry cream, strawberries, almond crunch
Save room for a flight of fudge with your favorite glass of wine.
This is the fifth time Chatham will be part of Historic Garden Week, which features unique tours organized and hosted by 48 member clubs around the Commonwealth. Tour hours on April 27 are 9:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
Strolling through Chatham, notice the restored wood graining, marbling and plasterwork as well as the French wallpaper created by hand in the dining room. A collection of artifacts on the second floor illustrates centuries of life and material culture unique to the home that is on the National Register of Historic Places. Expect floral arrangements inside to be both spectacular and grand in size. “There will be some surprises, too,” says Mills Wehner, vintner at Chatham Vineyards with her husband, Jon.
Mills offers a few suggestions to help visitors get the most out of touring all five homes that also have gardens and the one stop that is garden-only:
- Purchase a ticket online if you don’t have one already. While day-of-show tickets will be available, they cost $10 more.
- Don’t worry about feeling rushed during the tour. You will have time to see all of the homes and gardens as they are in proximity of one another. Three of the six stops are in Cape Charles:
- 72 Creekside Lane, known as the “Cottage in the Woods”
- 606 Carousel Place, a traditional style home that includes an indoor spa space and a swim-in-place pool and notable works of art throughout
- 100 Creekside Lane, an outdoor oasis, is a garden tour only, with complimentary refreshments available from 2-4 p.m.
- Eyre Rectory in Eastville is between Cape Charles and Machipongo, where Chatham is located. Be sure to see the 19th century wishing gazebo on this property inhabited by Native Americans, African Americans and English and Dutch settlers.
- Eyre Hall in Cheriton, a National Historic Landmark, offers a glimpse of colonial plantation life. Eight generations have maintained this perennial centerpiece of the Eastern Shore tour.
- Cape Charles is home to several yummy lunch stops. Or reserve a box lunch at Hungars Cure Parish in Eastville. Prepaid reservations must be made before April 6; lunches available between 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.
- Remember to wear comfortable shoes.
If that sounds like a lot in a day, rest assured you can get it all in, but a better idea is to make a weekend of it. Find lodging in Cape Charles and enjoy all the riches of the area, including Kiptopeke State Park, Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge and the area beaches. If you’re interested, comics Brendan Eyre and Funnyman Skiba will perform at the Historic Palace Theatre the evening of April 27; for mature audiences only.