Vineyard Tours & Tastings
Thomas Jefferson dreamt that Virginia wines would one day be plentiful and held in high regard, and today’s local vintners have accomplished just that by producing award-winning wines. The Monticello Viticultural Area encompasses more than half of Virginia’s wine country and contains over 1,000 acres of vineyards. Now the fifth largest wine-producing state in the country, Virginia has received both national and international acclaim for its wines, with more than 50 local vineyards offer wine tastings from the lightest pinot grigio to the deepest merlot. Be sure to visit the following vineyards on your next trip to Charlottesville.
Afton Mountain Vineyards
Afton Mountain Vineyards is one of Virginia’s first farm wineries; our original vines were planted in 1978. Our tasting room is open year-round, 11am - 5:30pm (winter hours are 11am - 5pm), where you can taste our wines with our friendly and knowledgeable tasting room staff. Enjoy a glass or bottle of our wine on our patio with beautiful panoramic views, or relax at a picnic table in the grass or at the Pavilion surrounded by the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. In the winter our heated Pavilion is open Friday through Sunday. Enjoy a winery visual tour with Virginia Wine & Country Life.
Best Virginia Wines in 2023
If you love food and wine, Virginia is a delightful place to live or visit. The 2023 Governor’s Cup Winner was DelFosse Vineyards & Winery for their 2021 Screaming Hawk Meritage blend. This makes the first Cup win for the winery, located in Faber on the Monticello Wine Trail . This is also the third year in a row that DelFosse has won a gold for their Screaming Hawk. Here are the best wines of Virginia in 2023:
In addition to Delfosse Vineyards’ winning wine, their 2021 Screaming Hawk Meritage , the wines voted into the Governor’s Cup Case include:
Brix & Columns Vineyards
Brix and Columns Vineyards is located in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley, 15 minutes east of Harrisonburg and less than 10 minutes from Massanutten Village. We have a strong agricultural heritage which extends through our vineyards to our wines. We value structure both in our wines and in our architecture. We invite you to enjoy our wine and panoramic mountain views.
Chisholm Vineyards at Adventure Farm
The Chisholm Vineyards Tasting Room at Adventure Farm is conveniently located near the Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport. Visitors can enjoy the beautiful natural setting, complete with gardens, lake, rolling pastures and an expansive Blue Ridge Mountain view. The Tasting Room also offers year round in-house events with live music and food trucks as well as venue sites for weddings, private parties, corporate gatherings and festivals. Both Tasting Room and Vineyard are located on Adventure Farm, 500 acres, family owned and operated since 1950.
CrossKeys Vineyards
Crosskeys Vineyards is a family owned and operated winery located in the heart of beautiful Shenandoah Valley. Our approach is to grow, by hand, the highest quality fruit using careful canopy management and yield balance to achieve wines that are truly expressive of the varietal and soils here at Crosskeys. Our first vines were planted in 2001 and we have only grown since then. Our 125 acre estate currently houses 30 acres of vines with plans on additions this spring. We currently grow 12 varietals of grapes all used to produce our one-of-a-kind award-winning wines. Discover our vision for the vineyard from founding to future.
Cunningham Creek Winery
Just a short drive from Jefferson's Monticello and 30 minutes from Charlottesville, Cunningham Creek Winery is a family friendly, dog friendly, cyclist friendly gathering place with live music, food & events happening year round. Inside enjoy an intimate conversation, make new friends at the sipping bar, or snuggle up on the couches in front of the fireplace. Outside, take in the beautiful scenery, feast with a picnic on the deck or play corn-hole on the grass. Inside or outside, you'll love our small batch French varietals and welcoming atmosphere.
Elk Island Winery
Our passion for rural life, agriculture and our love of wine resulted in the planting of our first five acre vineyard and Elk Island Winery, which opened in 2012. Our wine parlor is open every weekend, Saturday and Sunday, noon to 6 pm. Enjoy the large deck and screened porch. Snacks or available or please bring your own picnic. We are open other times by appointment.
Grace Estate Winery
Here at Grace Estate Winery, we embrace our Central Virginian terroir with approximately 50 acres of Estate Vineyards and its 14 vitis vinifera varietals. Please visit our website to check dates and times for tasting, events, and for more information on our wines, the Wine Club, and on hosting your wedding and private events.
Horton Vineyards
Horton Vineyards, located in Orange County, Virginia, is one of the most innovative wineries in the country. Utilizing the latest viticultural techniques, Horton, an early vineyard for today's wine movement, is charting a new generation of wines made from Viognier, the premier grape of France's Rhone Valley, and other premium varieties from southern France, Portugal, Spain, Russia/Georgia and Italy. Visitors are invited to come explore these distinctive wines in Horton's magnificent stone winery , open daily for wine tasting from 10am to 5pm. When you visit, remember to taste the Blanco Xoco, the white wine with chocolate essence.
Keswick Vineyards
Keswick Vineyards is a Charlottesville area winery, vineyard and wedding venue dedicated to superior wines and services. Followed by "Visit our tasting room...labor of love" Keswick Vineyards is host to great events all year long, including Eats & Beats, Wine Down Wednesdays, and Yappy Hours, as well as unique tasting experiences. Visit the website for more information and tasting room hours.
Kilaurwen Winery
Since 1994, we have grown wine grapes for many of Virginia’s finest wineries and still do. In 2009, we began crafting our own artisanal wines that capture the unique spirit and characteristics of the Monticello region. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, only 8 miles from the Swift Run Gap entrance to Shenandoah National Park, our winery offers spectacular views and a relaxing setting in which to enjoy fine wine and a picnic with family and friends.
King Family Vineyards
King Family Vineyards is a family owned and operated boutique winery located in Crozet, just fifteen minutes from Charlottesville. The winery specializes in small productions of ultra-premium wine that showcase the remarkable qualities of estate-grown fruit. Founded in 1998, the winery's first vintage was only 500 cases, whereas today the winery produces approximately 5,000 cases. The covered veranda, expansive lawn and brick patio are perfect for picnics, while the tasting room and warm stone fireplace are inviting on cooler days. Bring your own goodies or pick from our gourmet assortment of chocolates, cheeses, salamis, spreads and hot French bread. For extra fun in summer, come out on Sundays for a day of Polo at the Vineyard .
Montifalco Vineyard
As we grow our grapes and expand the Montifalco Vineyard portfolio, we invite you to experience a unique domestic and international tasting flight. We are open Thursday - Sunday and selected holiday Mondays from 11:30am to 5pm. Light fare is available for purchase. All guests must be 21 and over. Groups of 6 or more are require to have reservation. Please visit our website for more information.
Pippin Hill Farm and Vineyards
What better way to appreciate wines and winemaking than to enjoy a glass here, where the grapes are grown. Our scenic Tasting Room offers samples and wine flights, along with our food pairings menu. Located in the Monticello AVA (American Viticultural Area) with pristine valley views, Pippin Hill offers a range of event venues, ideally designed for a Charlottesville wedding, rehearsal dinner, or private event.
Stone Mountain Vineyards
Taste the Altitude! At over 1,700 ft., Stone Mountain Vineyards is one of the highest vineyards in all of Virginia. Coupled with superb Monticello terroir, we produce award-winning wines year after year. Learn more and plan your visit today. Join us for a glass on our expansive deck and take in the breathtaking view from the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Thatch Winery
Situated on 60 acres in Charlottesville and just a quick drive from the city, you’ll feel a world away from the hustle and bustle of downtown. Step back in time and enjoy old world elegance through the craft of great winemaking. Our property features manicured gardens, patios, a new exterior deck and a renovated loft with games, two fireplaces and three tasting bars. Open daily for tastings and tasty bites, the winery also offers packages for weddings, group events and holiday parties.
Top Shelf Transportation
Top Shelf, a premium tour and transporation company, specializes in providing leisurely tours for history buffs, as well as wine, brew, cider and spirit enthusiasts. You will not only be paired with a knowledgeable driver but also assisted in planning your tour and finalizing every detail down to a gourmet food option. Don't settle for the ordinary...choose extraordinary.
Veritas Vineyard and Winery
Veritas Winery, a family business owned by Andrew and Patricia Hodson, opened for business in June 2002; with the help of their daughter Emily they have succeeded in consistently producing a range of complex and elegant wines. The idyllic setting is easy to find but hard to leave, located just off I-64 at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The unique wines of Veritas are all of high quality, derived from vitis vinifera with the exception of one French hybrid. Our philosophy is to make wine with the classic, old-style principles of Viticulture and Vinification, at the same time using state of the art technology to capture varietal and regional character.
Wine & Country Life
A uniquely beautiful magazine created by Ivy Life & Style Media celebrating elevated living in the heart of Virginia Wine Country within a modern aesthetic, Wine & Country Life tells our local story. Each issue highlights local and regional interests in architecture, interior design, music, literature, gardening, entertaining, dining, art, wine, cider, beer making and more!
Copyright © 2022 Ivy Life & Style Media , L.L.C. All Rights Reserved.
Ivy Life & Style Media also publishes Wine & Country Life , celebrating elevated living in the heart of Virginia wine country. Each issue of our luxury magazine highlights Virginia wine, farm-to-table recipes, architecture, artisans, gardens & décor, the arts and elegant entertaining, as well as Virginia craft spirits, beer and ciders. Wine & Country Weddings is a uniquely beautiful magazine to help you plan your elegant wedding in the heart of Virginia Wine Country. CharlottesvilleFamily is dedicated to "Making Parenting Easier & Growing Up Fun" with a calendar of events, daytrip ideas, learning resources, health guides, crafts, recipes and more.
Above photos credited to and including all rights reserved to (from left to right): 3. Monticello: Leonard Phillips, courtesy Thomas Jefferson Foundation. 5. UVA's Scott Stadium, courtesy Virginia Athletics Media Relations. 7. Blue Ridge Parkway, Robin Bethke.
Lower section (homepage): 1. Monticello: Monticello/Thomas Jefferson Foundation, Inc. 2. Wedding Directory cover photo: Jen Fariello. 3. University of Virginia Rotunda: Jennifer Jones.