Sixteen wineries are participating on three different dates, and those who scrape can get discounts on wine.
The latest spring activity in Northern Virginia’s wine country has nothing to do with swirling a glass of petit verdot. Scrape for the Grape is a community-wide volunteer initiative to combat the invasive spotted lanternfly before it can wreak havoc on the region’s vines.
The program has grown from a single-day pilot in 2024 into three family-friendly events this year. They run on March 21, April 4, and April 12 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. across 16 wineries and vineyards, Ida Lee Park, and two local HOAs. Find participating vineyards when you register ahead of time with Loudoun Invasives.
A Direct Threat to Vines
The stakes are real. Loudoun County leads Virginia with more than 850 acres of vines producing 2,300 tons of grapes annually, and the spotted lanternfly poses a direct threat to all of it. The insects feed on sap from vines, weakening and ultimately killing them if populations go unchecked. But now, before the May hatch, egg masses are visible, accessible, and vulnerable. Each one destroyed prevents dozens of lanternflies from ever emerging…