Virginia or, more specifically, the Monticello wine region, has quickly become a wine destination in the United States with historic and European ties that’s worth a visit. Flying into Richmond, it’s just over an hour drive to Charlottesville, which is the heart of this small but mighty wine region, fanning out across nearly 50 wineries. Here’s where we went and some tips to help plan a visit.
Wineries
📍Pippin Hill Farm – Boutique winery with farm to table dining and a beautiful property that offers classes, tastings, and chef dinners. They have a great wine list, several of which are award wining and estate grown, a full menu of fresh and flavorful food, and are really thoughtfully prepared for your visit. I’m still dreaming about the Heirloom BLT! 8/10
📍King Family Vineyards – No frills winery that prioritizes excellent wine and its onsite polo matches. You won’t be wowed by the hospitality but the wine really speaks for itself. Don’t sleep on the Crosé! 7/10
📍Eastwood Farm and Winery – This place feels way more like a brewery or cidery than a winery, which is great but wasn’t quite what we were looking for that day. The wine they’re serving is okayyy, but definitely a great space to hang with friends and family. They often have food trucks and seasonal menus as well as indoor and outdoor seating with a beer hall setup and a stage for live music performances. 5/10
📍Barboursville Vineyards – Italian-owned vineyard that’s a large producer and multi award winner who allegedly supplied William and Kate with wine for their wedding. This winery features a wide selection of Italian wines and an onsite Italian restaurant with stunning views that make you feel as if you’ve transported to a European vineyard. The winery was established on a historic property with ruins from a mansion designed by Thomas Jefferson for the governor of Virginia back in the early 1800s. The mansion suffered a fire years later but the structure remains. While this winery is nearly a 30-minute drive from Charlottesville, it is absolutely worth the visit. Try the Vermentivo and the Octagon (and everything else!). 10/10
📍Early Mountain Vineyards (Honorable Mention) – Didn’t make it to this one but really wanted to visit. It’s a producer that I’ve heard several people in the wine industry discuss and am super bummed I didn’t make it.
Getting Around
You can easily use ride share to visit the wineries that are about 15-20 minutes out from Charlottesville, but anything further gets dicey. We had to cancel a reservation to a second winery on day two because we could not secure a car and it took several attempts over an hour before we were able to find a ride back to Charlottesville from Barboursville Vineyards. When the winery staff noticed us still hanging around a while after saying ‘bye, they were shocked that we were even attempting to find a ride share that would “come out this far”.
On the other hand, if you’re planning to drive yourself, be extra careful of your wine intake. The region is hilly, the roads are winding and narrow, and VA police are always around. Probably the best option would be to hire a driver/book a wine tour instead, especially when traveling with a group.
Happy tasting! 🥂
ALI IN OZ 