Alright, so you’re heading to Charlottesville. (Or you’re thinking of heading to Charlottesville- if so, you gotta go.) This quaint Southern(ish) city is more than just a charming strip of eclectic shops and delicious dining. It’s also the center of a whole wide world of wine that you have yet to explore! So if you’re thinking of stopping by, be sure to take a day (or two) to tour some of the best wine Virginia has to offer. Nestled in the Southwest mountains, just about 30 miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway, are numerous vineyards showcasing all kinds of varietals, from blends to Pinots to Cab Franc.
Now there are so many great vineyards in Charlottesville to choose from that it can be overwhelming to pick just a few so I wanted to outline some of my favorites. You can hit all of these in one day (if you start early, and have a designated driver of course) or you can pick a couple where you can just relax, enjoy a bottle and take in the view.
Blenheim
Now this one goes back for me as it was the first vineyard I ever went to, but Blenheim is a great place to start. Created in 2000 by Dave Mathews, this vineyard has many draws. Not only is there the off-chance that you could spot the iconic rockstar owner, but the building is gorgeous with incredible high ceilings and windows that cover the entire back wall overlooking the mountains (not to mention the awesome back patio with space to sit, snack and sip).
Something else that drew me in to this vineyard and wine, is the bottle art. Every year Dave Mathews designs a new, eclectic illustration (or set of illustrations) for the Painted Red and Painted White blends. Not only do you get to take this bottle home, if you so choose, but these are my favorite every time I taste. I am never disappointed by any wines here, but the Painted Red always seems to be number one for me. So stop by and try for yourself! You won’t be disappointed. Open March-October 11am-5:30pm, $8 tastings.
31 Blenheim Farm Charlottesville, VA 22902
434-293-5366 $8 Tasting Open Daily 11am-5:30pm
Pippin Hill
Up next, an absolute must visit (even if just for the view alone) is Pippin Hill. Seriously the view here is so lovely. Pippin Hill has more of an “upscale” feel to it, as it hosts many weddings and has large offering of farm to table food (most of which is grown right here on the farm! Doesn’t get more local than that). And this food is delicious, I’m not kidding when I say the best sliders I have ever had. Ever. If you eat meat, you absolutely must try these. On top of that, they offer a variety of cooking classes on site as well (check upcoming here). This place does it all.
Pippin Hill also has a larger variety of wines which is always nice (the bigger the tasting, the better, am I right?), a lot of which are super unique. The Sparkling Blanc de Blanc is a special treat as it was described to me as a sort of sparkling Chardonnay and although I am not typically a big Chardonnay fan, this stuff is really tasty.
Also did I mention they are open in the winter?! Enjoy tastings on the heated veranda through the cold winter months, Tuesday- Friday from 11am-5pm, Saturday from 11am-4:30pm and Sunday 11am-5pm (closed Mondays).
5022 Plank Rd. North Garden, VA 22959
434-203-8063 Tu-F, Sun 11am-5pm, Sat 4:30pm
Loving Cup
To take a break and get away from the “hustle and bustle” of some of the larger wineries, stop by Loving Cup. Only 5 minutes down the road from Pippin Hill is this ORGANIC vineyard (one of only a handful on the East Coast), where you can get a unique taste of organic VA wine as well as some personal attention and knowledge about what exactly goes in to growing organic wine (it’s much harder than you might think.)
3340 Sutherland Road North Garden, VA 22959
434-984-0774 $5 Tasting Fr-Sun 11am-5:30pm (April-December)
King Family
The last stop on my wine day- fun day was King Family. I had seen these wines around and heard (from some reliable sources 😉) that the Estate is really gorgeous, so we swung by for a quick tasting as our day was winding down. Another wedding destination, the view spans far and wide and even includes a polo field and stable for the horses. This vineyard also has a larger array of wines to taste as well as a small shop where you can buy anything from kitschy Virginia housewares to unique wine accompaniments.
6550 Roseland Farm Crozet, VA 22932
(434) 823-7800 $10 tasting M-Sun 10am-5:30pm (last tasting at 5)
Veritas
Started with 5 acres of grapes in 1999, Veritas has grown to over 50 acres of vineyards and has become one of Virginia’s household names for local wines. Not to mention the place is gorgeous. Go inside for a tasting under the homemade, wine cork LOVE installation or grab a bottle and a cheeseboard to enjoy on the incredibly charming patio. They also offer a variety of sandwiches and light eats, perfect for hitting this one at lunchtime. (Not to mention, you can bring your own picnic!) With typically at least 10 wine offerings, and a focus on “old world” wine-making philosophies, you are bound to learn a lot here.
151 Veritas Lane, Afton, VA 22920
540-456-8000 $10 tastings M-F 9:30am-5:30pm Sa-Sun 11am-5pm
xx,
Hannah
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