Vineyards and Wineries
In 1979, there were only six vineyards in all of Virginia. Today, Virginia is home to over 100 vineyards. Nine are located in the eastern region of the state, around 40 in the central region, around 40 in the northern region, six in the Shenandoah Valley region, and 11 in the southwest region. Virginia wine is gaining in popularity and its reputation is spreading. By 2001, these new vineyards were producing over 285,000 cases of wine.
Virginia had a rocky start with wine-making; colonists tried for years to cultivate French grapes, failing each year. In fact, Virginians unsuccessfully tried for 250 years—they certainly were persistent! Finally, after the Civil War, Virginians determined that grapes non-native to Virginia simply wouldn’t grow. In 1770, after 30 years of his own failure, Thomas Jefferson successfully planted and harvested Virginia-native grapes around the Charlottesville area. Vineyards suffered during the Prohibition years, but in the 1970s, vintners searched for European grapes that could withstand Virginia’s climate. Some they found included “Chardonnay,” first planted at the Waverly Estate in 1973. Since that time, winemaking has taken off in Virginia.
The Charlottesville area, in Virginia’s Central Wine Region, has a rich history in winemaking that continues today. There are many beautiful vineyards in the area, including Barboursville Vineyards, Kluge Estate Winery and Vineyard, King Family Vineyards, Veritas Winery, and Blenheim Vineyards.
Barboursville Vineyards’ winemaker, Luca Paschina, produced his first wine at age 14. Since graduating from Italy’s prominent viticultural school, Istituto Umberto I, he has received many awards during the sixteen years he has been at Barboursville, including the San Francisco International’s Gold Medal. Barboursville serves eight white wines and nine red wines. Barboursville offers tasting and tours, and welcomes guests to their internationally and nationally recognized restaurant, Palladio, offering exquisite Italian cuisine.
Blenheim Vineyards is perhaps the least commercial of the vineyards listed above, but in no way is it less well known. In fact, the owner, singer Dave Mathews, may just be one of the most famous men in Charlottesville. You need a reservation for a tour and tasting, or else you need a really good connection to visit Blenheim Vineyard, but the chance is an amazing one. Brad McCarthy, an old friend of Dave’s, is Blenheim’s managing director and winemaker with over 18 years experience in the field. In keeping with the theology behind Blenheim’s organic farming practices, Brad ensures Blenheim Vineyard’s goal of “mak[ing] wine that reflects the ecology of the vineyard that it came from,” which involves as little intervention in the process as possible. Blenheim offers about four whites and five reds, one of which could be the best you’ve ever tasted. Or maybe you have to be looking out over the balcony of the reclaimed wood A-frame building, watching the sun set over a gorgeous hillside of grapes.
Traveling into Virginia’s Eastern Wine Region, you will find The Williamsburg Winery, one of the most southern vineyards in the Eastern Region, about a two hour drive from the Charlottesville area vineyards. The Williamsburg Winery is Virginia’s largest vineyard, producing over 60,000 cases of wine annually. Their most popular wine, the Governor’s White, was the first wine produced at the vineyard, in 1988, and won a Gold Medal within two weeks. Since its establishment in 1985, Williamsburg Winery has grown to offer five blends, seven varietals, six reserve wines, three dessert wines, and one seasonal release, a spiced wine. Williamsburg Winery wines are frequent medal recipients of the Taster’s Guild International Wine Competition. Visitors to the vineyard are only a ten minute drive from Williamsburg, a historic town replete with interesting sights, tours, historic buildings, plays, shopping, and beauty for both adults and children to enjoy.
Traveling north into Virginia’s Northern Wine Region, you’ll find as many vineyards to choose from as in the Central Region. Breaux Vineyards garnered the Best Wine in Virginia award at the Virginia State Fair. Located in Purcellville, VA, Breaux Vineyards mixes delicious wine tasting and views of the beautiful Blue Ridge and Short Hill Mountains.
Westward, in the Shenandoah Valley Region, known as the “breadbasket of the confederacy,” you will find a sprinkling of smaller vineyards, all worthy of the visit. North Mountain Vineyard and Winery produces 3,000 gallons of wine each year, including Chardonnay, Chambourcin, Riesling, Vidal Blanc, Claret, Mountain Sunset, and Sweet Caroline's Blush. Shenandoah Vineyards claims to be the oldest vineyard in the Shenandoah Valley, tracing their roots back to the first plantings of 5,000 vines of a French Hybrid in 1976.
South of the Shenandoah Valley, the Southwest Wine Region of Virginia offers more beautiful views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and many picturesque vineyards. Chateau Morrisette, located in Floyd County, offers fun events year round, as well as daily tasting and tours. Since their first wine release in 1980, Chateau Morrisette has grown to offer a wide selection of wines, many of which you will recognize by their fanciful—and dog oriented—labels. Chateau Morrisette also has a formal restaurant serving locally grown southern style food for lunch and dinner.
Virginia Tourists Guide - Virginia Vineyards
Virginia had a rocky start with wine-making; colonists tried for years to cultivate French grapes, failing each year. In fact, Virginians unsuccessfully tried for 250 years—they certainly were persistent! Finally, after the Civil War, Virginians determined that grapes non-native to Virginia simply wouldn’t grow. In 1770, after 30 years of his own failure, Thomas Jefferson successfully planted and harvested Virginia-native grapes around the Charlottesville area. Vineyards suffered during the Prohibition years, but in the 1970s, vintners searched for European grapes that could withstand Virginia’s climate. Some they found included “Chardonnay,” first planted at the Waverly Estate in 1973. Since that time, winemaking has taken off in Virginia.
The Charlottesville area, in Virginia’s Central Wine Region, has a rich history in winemaking that continues today. There are many beautiful vineyards in the area, including Barboursville Vineyards, Kluge Estate Winery and Vineyard, King Family Vineyards, Veritas Winery, and Blenheim Vineyards.
Barboursville Vineyards’ winemaker, Luca Paschina, produced his first wine at age 14. Since graduating from Italy’s prominent viticultural school, Istituto Umberto I, he has received many awards during the sixteen years he has been at Barboursville, including the San Francisco International’s Gold Medal. Barboursville serves eight white wines and nine red wines. Barboursville offers tasting and tours, and welcomes guests to their internationally and nationally recognized restaurant, Palladio, offering exquisite Italian cuisine.
Blenheim Vineyards is perhaps the least commercial of the vineyards listed above, but in no way is it less well known. In fact, the owner, singer Dave Mathews, may just be one of the most famous men in Charlottesville. You need a reservation for a tour and tasting, or else you need a really good connection to visit Blenheim Vineyard, but the chance is an amazing one. Brad McCarthy, an old friend of Dave’s, is Blenheim’s managing director and winemaker with over 18 years experience in the field. In keeping with the theology behind Blenheim’s organic farming practices, Brad ensures Blenheim Vineyard’s goal of “mak[ing] wine that reflects the ecology of the vineyard that it came from,” which involves as little intervention in the process as possible. Blenheim offers about four whites and five reds, one of which could be the best you’ve ever tasted. Or maybe you have to be looking out over the balcony of the reclaimed wood A-frame building, watching the sun set over a gorgeous hillside of grapes.
Traveling into Virginia’s Eastern Wine Region, you will find The Williamsburg Winery, one of the most southern vineyards in the Eastern Region, about a two hour drive from the Charlottesville area vineyards. The Williamsburg Winery is Virginia’s largest vineyard, producing over 60,000 cases of wine annually. Their most popular wine, the Governor’s White, was the first wine produced at the vineyard, in 1988, and won a Gold Medal within two weeks. Since its establishment in 1985, Williamsburg Winery has grown to offer five blends, seven varietals, six reserve wines, three dessert wines, and one seasonal release, a spiced wine. Williamsburg Winery wines are frequent medal recipients of the Taster’s Guild International Wine Competition. Visitors to the vineyard are only a ten minute drive from Williamsburg, a historic town replete with interesting sights, tours, historic buildings, plays, shopping, and beauty for both adults and children to enjoy.
Traveling north into Virginia’s Northern Wine Region, you’ll find as many vineyards to choose from as in the Central Region. Breaux Vineyards garnered the Best Wine in Virginia award at the Virginia State Fair. Located in Purcellville, VA, Breaux Vineyards mixes delicious wine tasting and views of the beautiful Blue Ridge and Short Hill Mountains.
Westward, in the Shenandoah Valley Region, known as the “breadbasket of the confederacy,” you will find a sprinkling of smaller vineyards, all worthy of the visit. North Mountain Vineyard and Winery produces 3,000 gallons of wine each year, including Chardonnay, Chambourcin, Riesling, Vidal Blanc, Claret, Mountain Sunset, and Sweet Caroline's Blush. Shenandoah Vineyards claims to be the oldest vineyard in the Shenandoah Valley, tracing their roots back to the first plantings of 5,000 vines of a French Hybrid in 1976.
South of the Shenandoah Valley, the Southwest Wine Region of Virginia offers more beautiful views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and many picturesque vineyards. Chateau Morrisette, located in Floyd County, offers fun events year round, as well as daily tasting and tours. Since their first wine release in 1980, Chateau Morrisette has grown to offer a wide selection of wines, many of which you will recognize by their fanciful—and dog oriented—labels. Chateau Morrisette also has a formal restaurant serving locally grown southern style food for lunch and dinner.
Virginia Tourists Guide - Virginia Vineyards
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