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Central Virginia is thought for its wine and vineyards. Listed below are the wineries in Charlottesville that I like to recommend for a tasting, picnic, or music occasions.
Nestled within the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Charlottesville, VA is thought for a lot of issues: presidential historical past, the College of Virginia, a captivating downtown, farm-to-table meals, and naturally wine tasting!
Generally known as “The Birthplace of American Wine,” Thomas Jefferson first began rising grapes close to his dwelling, Monticello, in 1773. Now there are greater than 40 wineries within the surrounding areas of Cville. From best-selling Virginia wines like Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Viognier, to classics like Chardonnay and Merlot, to refreshing white and pink blends, the grapes grown and wines produced vary from conventional to artistic.
Charlottesville’s vineyards have lovely landscapes, and visiting the wineries is without doubt one of the greatest methods to discover the countryside surrounding downtown. In simply 10-Quarter-hour, you’ll really feel such as you’re in one other world.
Lots of the vineyards have reside music, particular occasions, and most of them have tasting rooms the place you possibly can pattern a wine flight earlier than shopping for a bottle to open on the spot or take dwelling.
The Monticello Wine Path has a useful app that can provide help to navigate the vineyards as you go. Use it to map out your day and get up-to-date hours and tasting room information.
When planning your day, remember the fact that lots of the vineyards are closed Monday – Wednesday. Some have caps on the scale of your group too, so in case you have a big one name forward first.
Lastly, these are the vineyards I frequent most, however there are much more fantastic spots I’ve but to go to! Please share your favorites within the feedback.
Wineries in Charlottesville
1. Jefferson Vineyards
This beautiful setting is the unique land of Jefferson’s first winery – one of many oldest wineries in Albemarle County. With a small tasting room, expanded tasting barn, and loads of fields to run, Jefferson Vineyards is ideal for sunny, heat days. Sip wine in Adirondack chairs whereas the children run up and down the hill and go to the music stage. It’s an incredible spot for throwing a frisbee or bringing a picnic to take pleasure in within the grass. It’s additionally one of many closest vineyards to city so should you’re searching for a fast tasting, that is your spot.
2. Merrie Mill Farm & Winery
This newer winery just isn’t your conventional formal affair – the décor is a great deal of enjoyable! Bought by the Pelly household who relocated from the UK, the primary home on the farm dates again to 1857. The tasting room, pictured beneath, is glowing with new paint and décor. And it’s adorned with a really eclectic assortment of artwork and design parts, like animal print wallpaper and a Victorian sea lion suspended from the ceiling (sealing?) floating by pink balloons. They’ve a small menu of meals, together with charcuterie boards.
3. Keswick Vineyards
Simply down the highway from Merrie Mill is the 400-acre family-run property of Keswick Vineyards. The drive out to Keswick is thru beautiful Virginia countryside. The draw at Keswick for me are the large bushes that shade the entrance terrace space, so it’s an incredible spot for a scorching summer time day. The views are good too! They usually have large followers to assist cool off the patio. The terrace has good tables with umbrellas, so should you carry a picnic, you don’t need to eat on the bottom. Good spot for a bachelorette celebration!
4. Veritas Winery
Veritas was based in 1999 with solely 5 acres and now covers greater than 50 acres in close by Nelson County. It’s one of many “fancier” vineyards with a tasting room with huge leather-based sofas and tall ceilings. They’re additionally identified for weddings and Starry Nights occasions that had drawn hundreds of individuals for a live performance as soon as a month all through the summer time. Final I heard these are actually extra intimate dinners for wine membership members solely. We had a lot enjoyable at Starry Nights previously!
Whereas the drive to Veritas is a little bit of a haul, you possibly can keep on the property in The Farmhouse at Veritas. They’ve 8 rooms and you may choose in to four-course farmhouse dinners paired with Veritas wines Tuesday by Saturday evenings. Breakfast is wonderful as properly!
5. Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards
15 miles southwest of Charlottesville, Pippin Hill sits on the land that my husband grew up romping round! Recognized for its lovely gardens and unbelievable views, Pippin Hill has a full restaurant on the property, so it’s an incredible vacation spot winery to take pleasure in farm-to-table meals. Lots of the components on the tasting room menu are harvested from the property, from honey from bee hives to herbs and greens. The big terrace (seen beneath) is nice for sitting to soak up the view, and there may be indoor seating for the most popular and coldest of days as properly.
6. Loving Cup Winery & Vineyard
A dust highway drive away, Loving Cup is simply across the nook from Pippin Hill. Loving Cup is the one certified-organic winery and vineyard in Virginia, and one in all solely three on the East Coast. Their wines are nice! The winery is small, and the tasting room doesn’t pull in busloads of individuals like a few of the different spots, however should you’re searching for a family-run vineyard with consideration to element, that is it!
7. Stone Mountain Vineyards
As its title suggests, Stone Mountain Vineyards sits on prime of a mountain! Situated in Dyke, Virginia, you would possibly wish to print out instructions as a result of it’s simple to lose cell service out that manner (talking from expertise!!). The windy, twisting grime highway resulting in the winery is hard to navigate, however the views (and the meals and wine) on the prime are price it! The tasting room is rustic, however there may be house to unfold out.
8. Stinson Vineyards
West of Charlottesville in White Corridor close to Crozet, Stinson Vineyards is thought for its French-influenced small lot wines. The tasting room is housed in an previous three-car storage, and it has a contemporary really feel. There’s a pleasant patio with tables and umbrellas. If yow will discover availability, you possibly can keep on the property on the Inn At Stinson. There’s a pool, so I like to recommend visiting in the summertime months! Throughout our keep, we did a chef dinner that was excellent, and breakfast was fantastic too.
9. King Household Vineyards
Additionally west of Cville is King Household Vineyards. My favourite wine is the Crosé, named for the city of Crozet the place it’s in fact. (GENIUS!) King Household can get fairly crowded – for good motive – however there may be tons of house to unfold out! Flat grassy fields are good for youths, sports activities, canine, and teams.
Along with a winery, there’s a full polo subject! Attempt to plan your journey round polo season within the hotter months, so you possibly can sip your wine whereas watching a sport and purchase wine from one of many golf carts promoting it!
10. DuCard Vineyards
DuCard is about an hour north of Cville, nestled proper into the mountains in Etlan, VA. On the drive there you possibly can’t think about a winery and vineyard on the finish of the rainbow, however positive sufficient there was not solely a vineyard on the finish of the highway, however loads of individuals having fun with it as properly! It’s the sort of place the place you’d meet the proprietor hanging out with visitors – that’s precisely what I’m doing beneath!
DuCard is simply Quarter-hour from the well-known hike Outdated Rag and just some miles from White Oak Canyon. So go on a hike after which spend the afternoon sipping scrumptious vino!! There are picnic tables and provides at your service.
11. Blenheim Vineyards
Should you’re a Dave Matthews fan, that is your spot! Owned by Dave Matthews, Blenheim was based in 2000, and he designs a few of the labels as properly. Blenheim’s wines are 100% sustainable and constituted of grapes grown in 4 completely different blocks throughout the 30 acres of vineyards. The tasting room is 2 tales the place you possibly can see down into the manufacturing facility beneath. There’s a very nice view! There are many picnic tables and deck areas.
12. Barboursville Vineyards
On an 18th-century property a couple of 25-minute drive northeast of Charlottesville is Barboursville. It’s been some time since I visited on a university journey with my roommate, and I would like to return! Barboursville is one in all Virginia’s most well-known vineyards, and it’s huge. There’s an Italian-inspired restaurant, Palladio, the place you possibly can take pleasure in a lavish lunch. There’s an inn on the property as properly. They’ve many award-winning wines – Octagon is a favourite! You’ll be able to even purchase library vintages of Octagon for an funding worth : )
13. Mount Ida Farm & Winery
For some very odd motive, I’ve but to go to Mount Ida! However my associates all rave about it, so it’s on the prime of my winery vacation spot record. The grounds are expansive, they’ve a full kitchen, they usually’re open day by day! And a uncommon discover: they serve wine AND beer so teams divided on the very best drink will all be completely satisfied!
14. Eastwood Farm & Vineyard
Solely about 10 minutes south of Cville is Eastwood Farm, a more moderen, woman-owned winery so as to add to the record. It additionally will get my vote for among the finest family-friendly vineyards. I simply love that they’ve juice flights for youths and supply charcuterie boards for all ages. My dad and mom used to tug us to wineries for tasting earlier than we had been of age, and it was so boring. A juice flight makes it extra enjoyable! Eastwood has an indoor barn house for cooler months and a beautiful tent on the prime of the small mountain the place you possibly can take pleasure in views of terraced panorama.
15. Early Mountain Vineyards
30 miles north of city, Early Mountain is without doubt one of the extra subtle vineyards within the space. The tasting room is beautiful, and the wines are crafted to match. Have lunch with a view on the Virginia Desk the place they serve charcuterie boards, sharable plates and major programs that includes native components. An accolade on their web site says they had been voted the #1 tasting room in America!
16. Afton Mountain Vineyards
Lovely views, a heated and cooled glass pavilion, and an out of doors patio space make this a stunning spot to soak up the mountain views. I like their slogan: “Grapes don’t develop in ugly locations.” 🙂 The glass pavilion is open year-round the place you possibly can take pleasure in a self-guided flight.
17. Pollak
Close to Greenwood in western Albemarle County (in your method to Veritas or Blue Mountain Brewery), you’ll discover Pollak. The small, family-owned vineyard was based in 2003 and has a coziness like you might be visiting somebody’s dwelling. Take pleasure in your wine by the pond close to the veranda and vineyards with mountain views!
18. Septenary Vineyard
This adults-only winery looks like somebody rented a non-public property (with a pool on the middle!) and invited you over for a wine tasting celebration. There’s solely restricted indoor seating, however a number of choices outside. The grounds have pebbled stone walkways, shady tree paths, and pergolas to lounge below. Just a few completely different desk choices – from small to sq. to spherical – are nice for picnics and dialog.
Should you’ve been to Cville earlier than, please share your favorites!
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