When I think of wine growing in the US, I automatically think of the Napa Valley region of California. But, there’s another state that caters to wineries and cideries; Virgina. These are smaller, boutique wineries and cideries, which, while producing smaller amounts of wine each year, more than make up for it in quality. Charlottesville even claims to have a problem, “there are too many spectacular vineyards to spend your day at just one.” With more than 30 wineries in the area, it can be hard to choose. Here’s a list of wineries and cideries in the area to get you started.
We visited Charlottesville as part of a media trip. It’s the second year we’ve returned because we enjoy it!
Wineries and Cideries Tour in Charlottesville
1. King’s Family Vineyard– This small family owned winery produced its first cases of wine in 2000 and believe in the philosophy, “Making great wines requires exceptional fruit.” They’ve proved their theory by producing a winning wine in this year’s Virginia Governor’s Cup wine competition. Over the years they’ve expanded their operation to include a year-round tasting room and a Polo field, where, beginning on Memorial Day weekend, you can gather for Polo Matches and purchase a glass of wine. These are family affairs so bring a picnic lunch and blankets or chairs. Winery tours are available on Saturday and Sunday and wine tastings, including 6 seasonal wines, are offered daily for $10 per person. The winery is located 15 minutes outside of Charlottesville in nearby Crozet.
2. Veritas Vineyard– Captured my attention immediately, not only by their beautiful grounds but by their slogan, “In Vino Veritas,” which made me giggle. Translated from the Latin, it means, “In wine there is truth.” We took a behind the scenes tour of the vineyard with George Hodson, the general manager, and Emily Pelton, the winemaker, who explained the complex process of winemaking and how subtle differences will occur in each year’s vintages. Seasonally, Veritas hosts “Starry Summer Nights,” a chance to picnic under the stars, listen to music and enjoy a glass of wine. Veritas also offers daily tastings of their wine for $10. I recommend bringing a lunch to enjoy on the deck after the tastings. The winery is located 20 minutes outside of Charlottesville in Nelson county.
3. Pollak Vineyards– is a small family owned vineyard located west of Charlottesville on a lovely 98-acre farm. Their tasting room is open year round and focuses on their French varietals. The vineyard grows 17,000 vines and all of them are hand tended! I loved the name of their wine club, “The Smuggler’s Club,” which is named after one of the founder’s great-grandfather’s silver mines in Colorado where he founded the town of Aspen. Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy a glass of wine on the patio while gazing at the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains.
4. Afton Mountain Vineyards– “Grapes Don’t Grow in Ugly Places” is Afton Mountain’s slogan. They certainly have no danger of grapes not growing in their beautiful location. If you are looking for a private place to stay for a romantic getaway or for a girlfriend getaway, Afton Mountain offers adorable 650 square feet Vineyard Cottages or the Owner’s Cottage, a larger residence perfect for families. Afton Mountain offers seasonal entertainment, including “Afton After Hours” and “Sunset Saturdays,” featuring live music. The tasting room is open year round and tastings are $10 per person.
5. Pippin Hill Farms and Vineyards- A beautiful farm and vineyard, located fifteen minutes outside of Charlottesville, is a culinary experience. Two different tastings are available and lunch orders can be placed to create scrumptious food and wine pairings. The lunch menu includes seasonal offerings procured from local farms designed to showcase the featured wines. I tried the charcuterie along with a Rose. I’m not sure that was the correct pairing, as I chose my favorite wine, but it was delicious. The tasting room is open year round and a Cooking School is offered seasonally on Wednesday evenings.
6. Albemarle CiderWorks– Originally began as an orchard and nursery growing heirloom fruit trees, the operation expanded to include a Ciderworks in 2009. I was impressed with how the ciders are made with no artificial flavors or colorings, allowing the subtle differences of the apples to speak for themselves. The Ciderworks has a tasting room that is open year round, a farm stand selling seasonal fruit, and also sells fruit trees. A guest house is also available for rent. Different ciders are available seasonally, and all of the samples were delicious, but I loved the Pomme Mary with its slightly sweet taste.
Don’t know which wine tastings you would prefer? Don’t want to worry about directions or drinking and driving? Take a wine tour. Monticello Wine Coach and Tours offers customized private tours to the wineries of your choice. Tours are available for groups up to fourteen people. The recommended tour usually last a minimum of three hours and can be booked for five hours. If you do not have a list of specific wineries, cideries or breweries you wish to visit, you can ask your driver for recommendations. Our driver, Anna, was extremely friendly and very knowledgeable. She kept us entertained with anecdotes and historical tidbits throughout the day while asking for our opinions to customize the tour to our specifications. They also offer transportation to and from events for groups or private parties and a shuttle service to the airport.
Have you visited Charlottesville? What is your favorite vineyard or cidery?
You might like these posts:
4 Must-Visit Historic Sites,
Girlfriend’s Getaway ideas,
Must Try Restaurants in Charlottesville
The Monticello Artisan Trail
Where to Stay in Charlottesville Virginia
Must Visit Charlottesville Historical Sites, part 2
I would love to visit this area! Looks like there is so much to do and taste 😉
I have to admit I had no idea that Virginia had wineries! I love wine tastings and visiting wineries. Living in Germany we often travel around Europe researching and looking for some innovative and good wineries – this is a great article and hope that next time we are in the US we can put Virginia on our list.
I’ve never been to Charlottesville. I can imagine having a great time in these wineries with my husband. It would be a fun experience.
I don’t drink a lot of wine but I wouldn’t mind touring wineries in Charlottesville. It’s a great way to learn more about wines.
I love a great winery! The older I get the more I like traveling and exploring new wineries so thanks for introducing this!
My husband loves checking out wineries. We will be in this area next month-maybe we can check it out!
Oh wow. I never knew they had wineries in NC. I thought they were mostly found in CA. I have to try a wine tour to any of these wineries. It looks like a vacation me and my husband would enjoy.
I guess I am loving the views of the vineyards for now instead of the wines! I need to taste it all first. hahaha. Hopefully I can visit such beautiful vineyards as well.
I had no idea that Virginia had that many vineyards! I would love to visit there and take as many tours as possible, because i don’t think i can choose just one!
I have never been to a winery before. This landscape is a beautiful backdrop for a visit there. I think it would be a fun place to visit with my sister.
Those orchards are beautiful. This would be a very relaxing trip.
We love doing wine tastings and tours. A great list to save for our future vacations!
Even though I am not much of a wine drinker, wineries can be such a fun visit.
Wandering through the vineyards is so relaxing!
What an awesome list!! I would love to visit these wineries one day!
This is something new I learned today – that there are wineries in VA! I’ve only been to one winery and that was in California years ago! I hope to visit at least one of the wineries you’ve mentioned in this post.
This is my kind of tour! It would be nice to be able to take a tour around a winery and then have a taste of their best wines. I will make sure to visit at least one if I get to visit Charlottesville.
I’d love to have a tour and tasting at these wineries and cideries. Great photos you’ve got there too.
If I make it out there I will have to remember all of this. I love going wine tasting and these places look great.
I have never been to Charlottesville. I would enjoy touring a winery, aside from the visit I think I’d enjoy the view and smell of the mountains.
I always think of California when it comes to wineries as well. Virginia isn’t too far from me, so if I ever find myself back in the area, I definitely need to check a few of these out!
Wow so many great wineries to choose from! They all look absolutely beautiful!
Oh going on a wine tour sounds like an awesome idea, then you wouldn’t have to figure out where to go!
I’m a big fan of wine. It’s great to visit the places where wines come from. Thanks for sharing this.
Sounds like a nice pick of places to visit. And lots of great scenery. I haven’t been to Charlottesville but it seems like a very lovely place to visit.
Planning a trip to Charlottessville for some vineyard visits would be a great idea. I like that there are plenty of places worth checking out!
I love visiting wineries and have yet to do one on the east coast. This is on my list to check out in the next year for sure.
I would be in heaven. For such a small area that I live in, we have a lot. It’s very odd but we do. I think it all has to do with the climate and soil and SCIENCE!
Those wineries though looks so lovely – like the landscape. Ours is completely flat.
Wineries are one of my favorites places to visit while on vacation. I love learning about wine and having a few glasses along the way!
These sound like some amazing winery’s to visit I am going to have to send some friends this way who would love this!
I have never visited a winery. I wasn’t aware there were some there. I can put that on my to do list for when I visit and want to ditch the kids.
These all look like beautiful places to tour. I am not a wine drinker, but I love cider. I will keep the Albemarle CiderWorks in mind if I am ever in the area.
Well, that’s awesome. I had no idea that Virginia had a wine country. Thanks for the heads up!
I’m bookmarking this for future reference. One of my favorite things to do on any trip is explore local wineries.
I LOVE this! I need to get to Charlottesville with my husband. A few of your other posts on the area have gotten me interested, but I LOVE winery tours. Thanks!
OK now I have another good reason to go to Charlottesville Virginia. It is beautiful there anyway but I cannot wait to try some of those wineries.
I’m glad you included cider in your post. I prefer a good cider to wine and the drink is really making a comeback in popularity. Did you know cider was the alcoholic drink of preference in colonial American times? Nice post that has inspired me to take a road trip to the area some time.
I adore visiting wineries. It is such a fun way to spend a romantic afternoon with your partner.
Didn’t know Virginia had wineries, only been to the ones in California. I have been want to visit Virginia and do some family history, might as well visit some wineries while there.
I didn’t realize there were any down there, either, but want to visit some the next time I am in VA!