You are definitely a warm zone 7. I get down to Ashburn a few times every winter and it always seems 20* warmer than up here in zone 6 NJ. Still, E. Maurellii is only reputed to be hardy to zone 9. These plants do well stored dry see:
Time to put the bananas to sleep for the Winter. and:
Bilder von Familie End aus Jöhlingen
The 2nd link is in German but the pictures tell it all and is well worth a look! I think this may be a better option for you. It would be a shame to see such a nice plant lost to the cold.