Starting next month, 70 Food Lion stores in Hampton Roads will carry a bottled red sauce produced by Virginia Tech graduate Tahjere Lewis. The entrepreneur has continued to develop his product since turning it into a commercially available item called Aunt Carol’s Sauce, which he launched in 2021. Food Lion is the largest retailer to agree to carry the item so far, according to spokeswoman Maddie Peters. Lewis is only 24 and resides in Hampton Roads.

The region’s winemakers are also excited about the upcoming season, with at least two of their tasting rooms set to open for the season. AmRhein’s Wine Cellars in Bent Mountain announced its tasting room would open on April 6th, while Villa Appalaccia Winery just off the Blue Ridge Parkway in Patrick County surpassed expectations at its March 15th opening. Co-owner Julie Block said, “People are just itching to get back out.”

Unfortunately, Stanburn Winery in Stuart announced on social media that it would be closing after this season. Despite this news, there is still much excitement and anticipation for the upcoming wine season in the region.