In Spotsylvania County, the past has a way of feeling near. You can see it in the roads, fields, and old places around us. That connection is at the heart of Virginia By The Glass, a speaker series rooted in local history. This summer, we’re welcoming historians, authors, educators, and storytellers to the farm for relaxed evenings of conversation and reflection. Free and open to the public, the series helps mark America’s 250th through the people, places, and events that shaped this region.
Summer 2026 Schedule
July 9
— OPENING SESSION —
Quips & Sips:
Ben Franklin, John and Abigail Adams, and More
Ben Franklin, John and Abigail Adams, and More
with
Jane Hampton Cook is an award-winning author, presidential historian, former White House communications staffer, and winner of the 2026 Spirit of 1812 award. She is the author of 20 books and has appeared on national and international media outlets including Fox News, CBN, CNN, BBC, SKY News, and CNBC.
July 16
The Governor, the Germans, and the Story of Germanna
with
Shannon Doherty
Currently Historic Germanna's Education and Communications Manager, Shannon has worked with organizations and sites including the Journey Through Hallowed Ground, American Battlefield Trust, Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park, and Fort Pulaski National Monument. Her work centers on helping audiences connect with history through accessible storytelling, education, and a deeper sense of place.
August 27
Tsenacommacah and the World the English Entered
with
As a Cherokee Nation descendant, Chris is an Indigenous cultural preservationist and educator, co-founder of Eastern Peoples Indigenous Collective, and an administrator of Eastern Woodland Revitalization, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the revitalization of traditional knowledge and practices of eastern woodland tribal communities.
September 10
From Pulpit to Battlefield: Peter Muhlenberg and the 8th Virginia
with
Gabe is an independent historian and an author, whose work focuses on Virginia, Pennsylvania, and the frontier in the Revolutionary era. A former journalist and longtime congressional staffer, his research has appeared in the Journal of the American Revolution, Emerging Revolutionary War Era, The American Battlefield Trust, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and various historical society journals.
How the evening works
6:30 p.m. — Meet & Greet
7:30 p.m. — Speaker Begins
8:15 p.m. — Q&A
8:30 p.m. — Exchange
Guests are welcome to arrive in advance to relax, meet the speaker, and find their seats before the program begins.
Seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. While your free RSVP helps us plan, it does not guarantee a specific seat. If your plans change, please cancel your RSVP so another guest may attend.
7:30 p.m. — Speaker Begins
8:15 p.m. — Q&A
8:30 p.m. — Exchange
Guests are welcome to arrive in advance to relax, meet the speaker, and find their seats before the program begins.
Seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. While your free RSVP helps us plan, it does not guarantee a specific seat. If your plans change, please cancel your RSVP so another guest may attend.
Plan your visit
Our brewery and winery are located on a working farm, and we want guests to know what to expect before they arrive so everyone can enjoy their time here.
FOOD & DRINKS
Our farmhouse ales, cider, hard seltzer, Virginia wine, wine slushies, non-alcoholic drinks, and water will be available at the bars. Panini sandwiches will be available for purchase at the farm deli. Guests are welcome to bring food. Please leave outside beverage containers at home, as they are not permitted on the farm per Virginia ABC regulations.
PARKING
Free parking is available on-site. Because we are located on a farm, parking areas may include gravel, grass, or uneven ground. Please use care when walking from your vehicle to the buildings and outdoor seating areas.
WEATHER
Much of our seating is outdoors, and the experience can change with the weather. We recommend checking the forecast before your visit and dressing accordingly. The program will go on, fair weather or foul: Virginia By The Glass sessions will be held on the outdoor stage if the weather is fair, within the winery if not.
OUTDOOR SEATING & TERRAIN
Our property includes gravel walkways, gravel-covered seating areas, and natural ground seating areas. Some surfaces may be uneven, especially after weather changes. Comfortable shoes are recommended. Guests are welcome to bring their own chairs for outdoor seating, especially during busy times or events.
KIDS
Families are welcome on the farm, and we ask that children remain supervised by an adult at all times while on the property. Please note that children are not permitted on the farm after 8:00 p.m. We appreciate your understanding as we keep the evening comfortable for all guests.
DOGS
Friendly dogs are welcome in outdoor areas. Dogs must remain leashed and under control at all times. Dogs are not permitted in areas where they may disturb livestock, staff operations, or private spaces.
A FEW FARM REMINDERS
We ask guests to respect the land while they are here. Please stay within public guest areas, dispose of trash properly, and avoid entering restricted, private, animal, or production areas. Thank you for helping us keep the farm welcoming, safe, and enjoyable for everyone.
Our farmhouse ales, cider, hard seltzer, Virginia wine, wine slushies, non-alcoholic drinks, and water will be available at the bars. Panini sandwiches will be available for purchase at the farm deli. Guests are welcome to bring food. Please leave outside beverage containers at home, as they are not permitted on the farm per Virginia ABC regulations.
PARKING
Free parking is available on-site. Because we are located on a farm, parking areas may include gravel, grass, or uneven ground. Please use care when walking from your vehicle to the buildings and outdoor seating areas.
WEATHER
Much of our seating is outdoors, and the experience can change with the weather. We recommend checking the forecast before your visit and dressing accordingly. The program will go on, fair weather or foul: Virginia By The Glass sessions will be held on the outdoor stage if the weather is fair, within the winery if not.
OUTDOOR SEATING & TERRAIN
Our property includes gravel walkways, gravel-covered seating areas, and natural ground seating areas. Some surfaces may be uneven, especially after weather changes. Comfortable shoes are recommended. Guests are welcome to bring their own chairs for outdoor seating, especially during busy times or events.
KIDS
Families are welcome on the farm, and we ask that children remain supervised by an adult at all times while on the property. Please note that children are not permitted on the farm after 8:00 p.m. We appreciate your understanding as we keep the evening comfortable for all guests.
DOGS
Friendly dogs are welcome in outdoor areas. Dogs must remain leashed and under control at all times. Dogs are not permitted in areas where they may disturb livestock, staff operations, or private spaces.
A FEW FARM REMINDERS
We ask guests to respect the land while they are here. Please stay within public guest areas, dispose of trash properly, and avoid entering restricted, private, animal, or production areas. Thank you for helping us keep the farm welcoming, safe, and enjoyable for everyone.
Quick Notes
• Free RSVP recommended due to limited seating
• Panini sandwiches, beer, wine & NA drinks available
• Guests may bring food and chairs
• No outside beverage containers per VA ABC regulations
• Children not permitted after 8:00 p.m.
• Rain plan: outdoor stage if fair, winery if not
• Panini sandwiches, beer, wine & NA drinks available
• Guests may bring food and chairs
• No outside beverage containers per VA ABC regulations
• Children not permitted after 8:00 p.m.
• Rain plan: outdoor stage if fair, winery if not
Find the farm
1781 Brewing Company
& Wilderness Run Vineyards
11109 Plank Road
Spotsylvania, VA 22534
& Wilderness Run Vineyards
11109 Plank Road
Spotsylvania, VA 22534
Virginia By The Glass takes place at 1781 Brewing Company and Wilderness Run Vineyards in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, just outside Fredericksburg. Set along historic Plank Road, the farm sits near landscapes shaped by old roads, farms, battlefields, and the people who moved through them.
Interested in speaking?
We welcome inquiries from historians, authors, educators, museum professionals, preservationists, and storytellers whose work connects with Virginia history, local history, or America’s 250th.
If you would like to be considered for a future Virginia By The Glass session, please contact us with your name, affiliation, proposed topic, and a brief description of the story you would like to share.
If you would like to be considered for a future Virginia By The Glass session, please contact us with your name, affiliation, proposed topic, and a brief description of the story you would like to share.