Across the 469 miles that make up the Blue Ridge
Parkway, split-rail fences and scenic overlooks connectdestinations such as Humpback Rocks, the Peaks of Otter,the Blue Ridge Music Center and the historic Mabry Millbefore the parkway continues down into North Carolina,where it ends in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
With a name shortened from “River
Anna” in honor of England’s Queen
Anne, the Rivanna River is the largest
tributary of the great James River.
Reaching from its north fork in Greene
County to the southern terminus in Albemarle
County, its banks once were home to the
Monacan Indian tribe and still provide a lush
habitat for a variety of plant and animal species,
including humans and dogs with an interest in
the great outdoors.
This sustainable family
farm near the Charlottesville Albemarle
Airport dates back to the 1950s. Morris
Chisholm bought the land, and it is still
home to the third and fourth generations
of his family. In 2006, they established a
vineyard and offer small-lot wines from
their Chardonnay, Viognier and Petit
Verdot vines, among others. They also
raise beef cattle and sell their own crops,
including corn, soybeans, wheat and
pumpkins. The tasting room is open from
noon to 6 p.m. Thursday through Sunday,
except Friday when it is open noon
to 9 p.m. to accommodate live music
beginning at 6 p.m. 1135 Clan Chisholm
Lane in Earlysville. (434) 971-8796;
adventurefarmvineyard.com.
This
Nelson County vineyard grows 15 varieties
of grapes on 25 acres near the top
of Afton Mountain. A glassed-in, heated
pavilion makes winter tastings of their
award-winning wines possible without
sacrificing scenic views. The winery,
at 234 Vineyard Lane (Route 631), is
open 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily (Friday
through Sunday in winter). Tastings
are $10. Reservations are required for
groups of seven or more. (540) 456-
8667; aftonmountainvineyards.com.
This
Orange County winery at 17655 Winery
Road was named one of the Top 101
U.S. Wineries by msn.com. Along
with producing more than a dozen
award-winning wines, the estate also
houses the Palladio Restaurant, which
serves northern Italian cuisine for lunch
Wednesday through Saturday and
dinner Friday and Saturday. The estate
was the plantation of former Gov. James
Barbour, whose home was designed
by Thomas Jefferson. The building
burned on Christmas Day 1884, but
its ruins still are standing and open for
self-guided tours. The tasting room is
open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through
Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday,
with tours from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday
and Sunday. The vineyard’s 1804 Inn
and Cottages, (540) 832-5384, offer
overnight accommodations. Tastings are
$7. For winery information, call (540)
832-3824. Make dinner reservations at
(540) 832-7848; bbvwine.com.
This familyoperated
Albemarle County winery was
established by Grammy-winner Dave
Matthews in 2000. The tasting room is
open 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily at 31
Blenheim Farm. Matthews also designed
the winery building and wine labels. The
winery serves Petit Verdot, Cabernet
Franc, Merlot and Chardonnay, along
with Painted White and Painted Red.
Tastings are $7. Groups of eight or
more should call first. (434) 293-5366;
blenheimvineyards.com.
Tracie and
Jorge Raposo’s farm winery is situated
just off U.S. 29 at 100 Brent Manor
Lane. Known for offering a tasting room
where the Old World meets the new,
Raposo offers some of his favorite local
wines along with samples from his native
Portugal. Tastings are subject to change,
but Brent Manor grows Chambourcin,
Traminette and Vidal Blanc. Tastings
cost $9. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Saturday and 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sunday. (434) 826-0722; brentmanorvineyards.
com.
This Albemarle
vineyard, one of the oldest in the area,
produces wines from 32 acres of grapes
at 4500 Winery Lane near Barboursville.
Selections range from Chardonnay to
Cabernet Sauvignon and Chambourcin.
A guesthouse, Fernando’s Hideaway,
offers overnight accommodations. The
tasting room is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Thursday through Monday from April
through December, and 11 a.m. to 5
p.m. Friday through Monday from January
through March. (434) 960-4411;
burnleywines.com.
This wellestablished
vineyard at 9423 Batesville
Road in Afton started making its own
wine in 2002. Visitors can taste the
award-winning wines, including their
2016 Governor’s Cup gold medalwinning
Cabernet Franc, from 11 a.m. to
5:30 p.m. daily. From January 10 through
March 1, the tasting room is closed
Tuesday through Thursday. Closed Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas and
New Year’s Day. Tastings are $10. You
also can arrange an overnight stay at
the 19th-century, five-bedroom Cardinal
Point Farmhouse. (540) 456-8400;
cardinalpointwinery.com.
This boutique
winery opened in 2014 in Orange
County. An old barn that once housed
corn and farm equipment has been
renovated into a tasting room. Wines
include Chardonnay, Vin Gris, Cabernet
Sauvignon and their signature Bordeaux
blend, Governor Spotswood Red. The
tasting room is open March through
November. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and
Saturday and 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Hours extend in June, July and August
to 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through
Monday. 16234 Marquis Road. (540)
656-6177; chateaumerrillanne.com.
This winery
produces small lots of single-varietal
wines, including Petit Manseng and
Cabernet Sauvignon. Its handcrafted
wines are aged in oak at 5050 Stoney
Point Road in Barboursville. The tasting
room is open noon to 5 p.m. Saturday
and Sunday. (434) 964-9104; chestnutoakvineyard.
com.
Susan and David
Drillock bought this 103-acre farm vineyard
in Louisa County in 2015, bringing
with them two miniature donkeys, four
Newfoundlands and six draft horses.
Cooper’s tasting room, opened in 2011,
earned a LEED Platinum certification
for its commitment to “green” design
and building technology. The winery, at
13372 Shannon Hill Road, makes more
than a dozen wines, including Chardonel,
Chardonnay and Chambourcin. The
tasting room is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday through Thursday and 11 a.m.
to 7 p.m. (540) 894-5474; coopervineyards.
com.
This new winery
planted its first vines in 2013. Located at
3304 Ruritan Lake Road in Palmyra, they
have 11 acres of Chardonnay, Viognier,
Pinot Gris, Cab Franc, Merlot and Petit
Verdot vines (and a couple of acres of
strawberries and pumpkins). Tastings
are $8. Groups of eight or more should
call first. Winery events include Yoga & a
Glass classes and live music on Saturdays.
Open 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday,
11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday,
11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, and
11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday. Closed
Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s
Day. (434) 207-3907; cunninghamcreek.
wine.
This vineyard, at 500 DelFosse Winery
Lane in Faber, offers tasting packages
from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. One of just a few terraced
vineyards in the state, DelFosse
grows varietals that include Petit
Manseng and Malbec. Visitors can picnic
by the lake or bike and hike trails through
the 330-acre property. Tastings are
$10. Groups of 6 or more should make
reservations by calling ahead. (434)
263-6100; delfossewine.com.
This sustainabilityfocused
winery is open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Friday through Sunday, plus Monday holidays
and by appointment. The wine list
includes its signature Viognier, a 2016
Gold Medal Winner from the Virginia
Governors Cup, as well as Chardonnay,
Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. This
pet- and family-friendly winery is located
at 40 Gibson Hollow Lane in Etlan in
Madison County. Walk-in tastings are
$8, reservations required for groups of 9
or more at $15 per person. (540) 923-
4206; ducardvineyards.com.
In 2010,
Jean and Steve Case purchased this
Madison County winery and, in 2016,
earned the title of one of the Top 10
Vineyards in Virginia from wine.net. The
shop, at 6109 Wolftown-Hood Road,
offers visitors mountain views while they
sip wines ranging from Chardonnay and
Pinot Gris to Cabernet Franc and Merlot.
The tasting room is open 11 a.m. to 6
p.m. Wednesday through Monday, except
Friday when it closes at 5:30 p.m.
Tastings start at $12. (540) 948-9005;
earlymountain.com
This southern
Albemarle winery, formerly First Colony
Winery, boasts “charming Old World”
gardens and started off strong with
a successful first vintage in 2001.
The shop, with its distinctive thatched
roof, is at 1650 Harris Creek Road.
Tastings, which are $9 for Standard
tastings and $8 for Reserve tastings,
are held 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. (434)
979-7105; firstcolonywinery.com.
This small familyrun
winery, named for the fox weathervane
on the main building, features
Viognier, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit
Verdot and several blends. Off Route
151 at 27 Chapel Hollow Road in Afton,
the winery is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday to Monday from January through
March, and open daily 11 a.m. to 5:30
p.m. April through December. Groups of
5 or more are asked to call ahead. (434)
361-1692; flyingfoxvineyard.com
Gabriele
Rausse has been called the “Father of the
Modern Virginia Wine Industry.” For more
than 18 years, the director of gardens and
grounds at Monticello lent his skill to help
other local wineries, including Barboursville,
Afton, Blenheim, First Colony and
White Hall. Although he started his own
label in 1997, he didn’t have a tasting
room. But now, you can drop by 3247
Carters Mountain Road and sample his
award-winning work. Hours are 11 a.m.
to 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 10
a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. (434) 981-1677;
gabrieleraussewinery.com.
Jeff and
Michelle Sanders moved to the area
in 2006 and opened a winery with a
distinctive taste — chocolate. While the
winery makes Pinot Gris and Viognier,
the owners also offer Megilo del Sesso,
a dessert wine made with Norton grapes
and chocolate. The couple also built a
glass conservatory, replete with tropical
plants that functions as a picnic area.
They opened a B&B with three bedrooms
downstairs and a two-bedroom
suite upstairs, overlooking the vineyard.
The winery, at 5898 Free Union Road,
is open noon to 5:30 p.m. Thursday
through Sunday, with extended hours —
open until 9 p.m. — Friday. Tastings are
$8, $10 if you’d like to keep the glass.
Groups of more than 10 should email
mj@glasshousewinery.com in advance.
(434) 975-0094; glasshousewinery.com.
This winery
at 5273 Mt Juliet Farm near Crozet
sits on 50 acres and cultivates 14
varietals, including Viognier, Chardonnay,
Petit Manseng, Merlot, Malbec and
Cabernet Franc. Open 11 a.m. to 5:30
p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, with
extended hours Friday (9 p.m.) and
Saturday (8 p.m.). Tastings are $9. (434)
823-1486; graceestatewinery.com.
Since 1993, this family-owned farm and
winery in Nellysford has been making
fruit and specialty wines that are “true
to the fruit,” made from produce on a
pick-your-own berry farm. Visitors can
pick their own blackberries in season.
The winery, at 2800 Berry Hill Road, also
produces meads of Roman, Anglo-Saxon
and Viking traditions. Try a glass of
Dragon’s Breath or take on the Hunter’s
Moon, a spiced pumpkin mead. Open
11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. (434) 361-1266;
hilltopberrywine.com.
This vineyard
near Gordonsville offers samples of their
own wines, other Virginia wines, including
Michael Shaps and BlueStone, as well
as jams and sauces from BerryWood
Crafters. The tasting room is open 11
a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.
to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Hours vary
from November through March. (540)
406-1313; honahleevineyard.com.
Horton has
produced nearly 50 wines, including
reds, whites, dessert wines, fruit wines
and port. Tasting room open 10 a.m.
to 5 p.m. daily. Tastings are $6. 63.
99 Spotswood Trail; (540) 832-7440;
hortonwine.com.
One of
Albemarle’s oldest wineries is on Route
53 between Monticello and Highland,
the area where Thomas Jefferson and his
friend Filippo Mazzei, an Italian viticulturist,
once experimented with growing
wine grapes. Today, the third generation
of the Woodward family, Alexa and Attila,
owns the vines that Wine Spectator said
produces “one of the region’s most consistent
track records.” The winery, tasting
room and gift shop, at 1353 Thomas
Jefferson Parkway, are open 11 a.m. to 6
p.m. daily. Tastings are $12. (434) 977-
3042; jeffersonvineyards.com.
This winery at
1575 Keswick Winery Drive was part of
the historic 400-acre Edgewood estate.
The site was witness to Revolutionary
and Civil War visitors like British Col. Tarleton
and Confederate Gen. Longstreet.
Today, Al and Cindy Schornberg are the
owners, claiming the 2016 Governor’s
Cup trophy for their 2014 Cabernet
Franc Reserve. The tasting room is open
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. (434) 244-3341
ext. 105; keswickvineyards.com.
Named for the
owners’ three daughters, this vineyard
in Greene County has been producing
grapes for other growers since 1994.
In 2009, Kilaurwen began bottling its
own wines, including Three Sisters Red.
Picnickers are welcome to relax in the
boxwood gardens. The winery, at 1543
Evergreen Church Road, is open noon
to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday and
holiday Mondays. (434) 985-2535;
kilaurwenwinery.com.
Winner of
the 2010 Governor’s Cup, this scenic
winery at 6550 Roseland Farm, just
outside Crozet, produces about 10,000
cases of wine a year. Family-owned and
operated, the vineyard and winery offer
outdoor seating on the covered veranda
or brick patio with views of the Blue
Ridge Mountains. The tasting room is
open 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily, with
the last tastings at 5 p.m.. Wednesday’s
hours extend until 8:30 p.m. Classic
tastings cost $10. The vineyard also is
well known for hosting polo matches on
Sunday mornings from Memorial Day
through mid-October. (434) 823-7800;
kingfamilyvineyards.com.
More than
five acres of Petit Verdot, Pinot Grigio,
Merlot and Cabernet Franc grow at this
winery at 2218 Lake Albemarle Road.
Knight’s Gambit has provided grapes
for other local wineries for years, but
now sells wines under its own label. The
tasting deck offers samples from 2 to
6 p.m. Friday, noon to 8 p.m. Saturday
and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. (434) 566-
1168; knightsgambitvineyard.com.
This vineyard, which opened in 2014 in
North Garden, is certified organic. They
also grow disease-resistant grape hybrids.
Karl Hambsch’s wine list includes
Loving Cup White, Dudley Nose Red,
and Loving Cup Red among others. The
winery, at 3340 Sutherland Road, is dogand
picnic-friendly and open 11 a.m. to 5
p.m. Friday to Sunday from April through
December. Tastings are $5. (434) 984-
0774; lovingcupwine.com.
A small number
of handcrafted wines, ranging from
Cabernet Franc to a South African-style
Pinotage, are produced at this Nelson
County winery built into the hillside of a
family farm. Its Estate Reserve 2009 won
gold at the 2013 Governor’s Cup. The
winery, at 885 Freshwater Cove Lane,
is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday
and Thursday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday
through Sunday from April through November,
and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays
from January through March. (434) 263-
8467; lovingstonwinery.com.
This Albemarle County winery, located
at 1040 Owensville Road, is situated
on 40 acres that include four acres of
vineyards. Its first planting included Petit
Verdot, Merlot, Chardonnay and Pinot
Grigio. A 5,000-square-foot event space
plays host to private and public events,
which is currently the only times the
winery is open to the public. (434) 270-
4299; meriwethersprings.com.
Michael
Shaps, who has been making Virginia
wines since 1995, started Wineworks in
2007. Jake Busching joined in 2015 as
a second winemaker. It sells the Virginia
Wineworks brand, and carries Shaps’
line, crafted in an Old-World-tradition. In
2016, Wineworks Extended opened at
1585 Avon St. Ext. as a second tasting
room. Original location: 1781 Harris
Creek Way in Albemarle County; 11
a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; (434) 296-3438.
Extended: 1 to 7 p.m. Wednesday
through Sunday. (434) 296-3438;
michaelshapswine.com.
Sitting nearly 1,000
feet above sea level, this vineyard in
Nortonsville has 9,000 vines, including
Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot,
Merlot and Viognier. Wines include Architettura
and Vino Rosso. The vineyard,
at 1849 Simmons Gap Road, is open
noon to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday
and holiday Mondays. (434) 990-0111;
mossvineyards.net.
This is
one of the oldest continuously operated
wineries in the state, and one of only a
few to be listed as vegan. Skyline White
is their signature wine, made from the
Villard Blanc variety. At 1362 Fortunes
Cove Lane in Lovingston, the winery is
next to the Nature Conservancy’s hiking
preserve. The winery, with its picnic area
and pavilion, is open for tastings noon to
5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday from
March through December. (434) 263-
5392; mountaincovevineyards.com.
Winemaker
Lizzy Kellinger and her husband, Chris
Yordy, who tends the grapes, decided
they no longer would have regular hours
at their Crozet tasting room. Instead,
they have made Mountfair into a private
club. If you want to try their Bordeauxstyle
varietals, you will have to join the
club. Membership, which includes
monthly parties and tastings by appointment,
is limited based on wine production.
(434) 823-7605; mountfair.com.
This boutique winery at 5022 Plank
Road is known for its signature
vineyard-to-table cuisine. With a culinary
director, as well as a wine consultant,
Lynn Easton and her husband, Dean
Andrews, offer wine flights along with
a food-pairing menu. An open-vaulted
central area adjoins a porch bar that
overlooks scenic North Garden. Its signature
Sauvignon Blanc is served along
with barrel-fermented Chardonnay and
Cabernet Franc, among others. The farm
table and wine bar is open 11 a.m. to 5
p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Closes
4:30 p.m. Saturday. (434) 202-8063;
pippinhillfarm.com.
This winery is near
the entrance to Skyline Drive and the
Blue Ridge Parkway at 330 Newtown
Road in Greenwood. Founded in 2003,
Pollak offers Meritage blends, Cabernet
Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Chardonnay,
Viognier and Pinot Gris from its 31 acres
of vines. Open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
Tastings are $10. Picnickers are welcome
to dine by the pond or warm up by
the fireplace during the cooler months.
(540) 456-8844; pollakvineyards.com.
Prince Michel is easy to reach
on U.S. 29, about eight miles south of
Culpeper. The facilities at 154 Winery
Lane in Leon include a wine shop and
tasting room above its barrel cave and
tank room. Overnight guests also can be
accommodated in its French Provencal
luxury suites. Tastings include both
Prince Michel and Rapidan River wines
from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday through
Thursday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The winery also has a
satellite tasting room at Carter Mountain
Orchard in Albemarle County, where it
purchases many of the grapes that are
bottled at the Madison County facility.
There is also a tasting room at Chiles
Peach Orchard in Crozet. (540) 547-
3707; princemichel.com.
Roe and Dee Allison graduated from
Piedmont Virginia Community College’s
initial enology and viticulture programs
in 2006 and started a winery on land
they purchased after being married in
1976. The winery, at 16109 Burnley
Road in Barboursville, produces a variety
of wines, including Petite Manseng,
Cabernet Franc and Viogner. The tasting
room is open noon to 5 p.m. Friday and
11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and
holiday Mondays. (540) 832-3895;
reynardflorence.com.
This family-run
winery opened in 2011 at 4744 Sugar
Hollow Road in Crozet. The Stinsons
— father Scott Stinson and daughter
Rachel Stinson Vrooman — turned an existing
garage into a unique tasting room
with 360-degree views of the White
Hall countryside. Stinson offers small-lot
wines, including Chardonnay, Imperialis,
Rosé, Sugar Hollow White, Petit Manseng
and Turk Mountain Vineyards La
Tour d’Afton. Tastings are available 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday
and holiday Mondays. They cost $10.
(434) 823-7300; stinsonvineyards.com.
Perched about 1,700 feet above the
rest of Greene County in the Blue Ridge
Mountains, Stone Mountain was built
into the mountain to make room for a
wine cave. A picnic area and observation
deck look out on the valley below.
At 1376 Wyatt Mountain Road in Dyke,
the winery is open for tastings noon
to 5 p.m. on Thursday, 11 a.m. Friday,
Sunday, and Monday, and 11 a.m. – 7
p.m. Saturday and Wednesday. Tours
available with a reservation. Tastings are
$10. (434) 990-9463; stonemountainvineyards.
com.
In a homage
to its location near Scottsville, Thistle
Gate’s wines include a Scott’s Landing
White blended from several varietals.
Other wines include Cabernet Franc,
Viognier and Chardonnay. Tastings can
be had from noon to 5:30 p.m. Friday
and Saturday and 1 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday
from March through December. The
winery is at 5199 W. River Road. (434)
286-7781; thistlegatevineyard.com.
Reality-TV-star-turned-
President Donald Trump was on hand in
2011 to open the winery formerly known
as the Kluge Estate Winery and Vineyard.
Today, son Eric Trump is in charge of the winery, located in Albemarle. It has
won double gold at the Governor’s Cup.
The wines include Viognier, Meritage
and Cru, a fortified Chardonnay. The
tasting room, at 3550 Blenheim Road,
is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday
through Monday. Tastings are $12. The
Albemarle House estate was turned into
a luxury hotel in 2015. (434) 984-4855
trumpwinery.com.
This winery,
located on Route 151 in Afton just a mile
from U.S. 250, planted its first vines in
2016. Meritage, Chardonnay, Destana,
and sparkling Viognier are just a few
of the wines it produces. The tasting
room features views of the Blue Ridge
Mountains and is open 10:30 a.m. to
5:30 p.m. Wednesday through Monday.
Groups of 8 or more should make a
reservation. (540) 456-6350; valleyroadwines.
com.
Andrew
and Patricia Hodson started the Nelson
County winery in 1999. Today, it features
Scintilla, a sparkling wine made in the
traditional Champagne method, as
well as Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay,
Kenmar and Othello, a ruby port. At 151
Veritas Lane in Afton, the staff offers
tours of the crush pad, wine cellar and
barrel room. Tastings, which are $10,
are available from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to
5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Groups
of seven or more require a reservation.
Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and
New Year’s Day. (540) 456-8000;
veritaswines.com.
This family-owned-and-operated winery
is at 206 Harris Creek Road in Louisa.
Ten acres of vines were planted in 2005,
and Weston opened its doors for visitors
in 2010. Animal lovers can bring a picnic
and enjoy the resident French bulldog,
rescued horses and cows. Open 11
a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.
(540) 967-4647; westonfarmvineyardandwinery.
webs.com.
This 48-acre
winery at 5282 Sugar Ridge Road
near White Hall was the winner of the
Governor’s Cup in 1997 and 1998.
Owned by Tony and Edie Champ, White
Hall produces 10 wines, including
Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Cabernet
Sauvignon, Merlot and Edichi. Open for
tours and tastings from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Wednesday through Sunday. Tastings
are $5, $10 for reserve wines. (434)
823-8615; whitehallvineyards.com.
Located just
south of Walnut Creek Park, this family
owned and operated small-batch winery.
While a selection sandwiches and
charcuterie are available for purchase,
outside food is welcome for picnickers.
Wine selection typically includes
Meritage, North Garden Red (blend),
Chardonnay, Petit Manseng, Cabernet
Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Rosé,
Viognier, and Single Barrel Experiments.
Tastings are available 11:30 a.m. Thursday
through Sunday for $9 per person.
Reservations are highly recommended
for groups of 8 or more. (434) 984-
4272; wisdomoakwinery.com
The annual
old-time country celebration is held on the
grounds of Highland, President James
Monroe’s home. In 2018, the festival was
held July 26-28. Highland hosts familyfriendly
entertainment, baked goods,
farm animals, exhibits, crafts and pageant
queens. albemarlecountyfair.com.
A tradition
since 1976, Batesville Day includes a
10K foot race, a village fair, music and
the “Shortest Parade in Virginia” along
Plank Road in mid-May. Another big
event, Apple Butter Days, is set for late
October; the fundraiser was established
in 1975. batesvilleva.org.
Various events, including a
downtown parade, Dogwood Pageant
and Queen’s Ball, fireworks and carnival
rides at McIntire Park, take place each
March or April. The festival was first held
in 1950. (434) 218-5656; charlottesvilledogwoodfestival.
org.
Formerly
known as Ash Lawn Opera, the company
presents opera and musical theater
during the summer at the Paramount
Theater. Summer 2018’s productions
were “The Marriage of Figaro” and “Into
the Woods” Year-round programming
has included productions of “Amahl and
the Night Visitors,” and outreach includes
collaborations with such local groups as
Charlottesville Ballet and the Oratorio
Society of Virginia. (434) 293-4500;
charlottesvilleopera.org.
In July, the
29-year-old free festival brings crafts,
food, music and dance to the Jefferson
School African American Heritage Center
and Carver Recreation Center, as well
as a community health fair at Washington
Park. (434) 825-0115; chihamba.
eventbrite.com.
Popular 38-year-old fall festival will be
back Oct. 6 and 7 at Claudius Crozet
Park. A spring festival is held on Mother’s
Day weekend. The events feature more
than 100 national artisans and crafters,
live entertainment and Virginia beer and
wine tastings. (434) 326-8284; crozetfestival.
com.
The seventh
annual event will be held at the Sprint
Pavilion on Sept. 15, 2018. The festival is
preceded by events the week prior in celebration
of the local LGBTQ community.
cvillepride.org/2017-cville-pride-festival.
The 31st annual festival will put fiber arts in the spotlight. Look for hands-on demonstrations,
displays, workshops and contests
Oct. 6 and 7, 2018 at Montpelier.
fallfiberfestival.org.
The eighth
annual outdoor music festival will be back
at Arrington’s Infinity Downs Farm from
Oct. 5 to 7, 2018. Founded and curated
by The Infamous Stringdusters, the event
offers bands, outdoor activities and locally
sourced food and beverages. 2018 performers
will include Greensky Bluegrass,
Sam Bush Band, Gillian Welch, Railroad
Earth, Carbon Leaf, The Hackensaw
Boys, and others. thefesty.com.
Started in 1982,
this alcohol-free community New Year’s
Eve celebration is the second-oldest First
Night program in the country. Thousands
of people have watched performances of
music, magic, dance, drama and
swordplay in more than a
dozen venues throughout
downtown
Charlottesville.
Volunteers who
pitch in get to
see all the fun
for free. (434)
975-8269;
firstnightva.org.
This mid-June
tour gives visitors a
peek beyond the gates
of stately farms in the Keswick
area of Albemarle County. The Colonialera
Grace Episcopal Church also hosts
an old-fashioned country fair with 4-H
livestock, artisans, food vendors and music.
(434) 293-3549; gracefarmtour.org.
Top bluegrass acts come to Syria in
Madison County for three days in early
June. Lou Reid, Blue Mafia and Ralph
Stanley II were some of the acts that performed
for this year’s 27th annual event.
(540) 923-4231; gravesmountain.com.
Set for
Sept. 22, 2018 at Thomas Jefferson’s
Monticello, the festival includes workshops
on food, heirloom plants and
various sustainable living topics. Events
include seed swaps, vegetable tastings
and children’s events. heritageharvestfestival.
com.
Professional
summer theater at UVa’s Culbreth,
Helms and Caplin theaters on Culbreth
Road offers a mix of comedies, dramas,
musicals and creative one-person
shows. (434) 924-3376; heritagetheatre.
virginia.edu.
Sponsored
by the Garden Club of Virginia, this
self-directed tour series takes visitors to
some of the state’s most beautiful homes
and gardens at the height of springtime
colors. The 86th-annual event will be held
from April 27th to May 4th, 2019. (804)
644-7776, ext. 21; vagardenweek.org.
In
June, Wingina in Nelson County, Howardsville
and Scottsville in Albemarle
County and Slate River in Buckingham
County are among the stops for crews
in period costumes taking Colonial-era
flat-bottom wooden boats on a weeklong
journey down the James River. The
33-year-old fest travels from Percival’s
Island in Lynchburg to Maiden’s Landing
in Richmond. Scottsville, the halfway
point on the nearly 120-mile trip, hosts
an all-day festival. vacanals.org/
batteau.
Dating
back to 1865, Juneteenth
is the oldestknown
celebration
of the end of
slavery and the
contributions of
black Americans.
Charlottesville
celebrates its
annual community
festival with free
events held over two
days in mid-June at the Jefferson
School African-American
Heritage Center. jeffschoolheritagecenter.
org.
A demolition
derby and live music combine with
games, livestock shows, a draft horse pull
and other family events at the Madison
County Fairgrounds for four days in
mid-July. (540) 948-7073; madisoncountyfairva.
com.
The 25th annual
collection of 80 boutique shops will raise
funds for breast health programs and
women’s health care, especially breast
cancer screenings and treatment, from
Oct.5 through Oct. 7, 2018 at John Paul
Jones Arena. Hosted by the Women’s
Committee of Sentara Martha Jefferson
Hospital. (434) 654-8258; mjh foundation.
org/marthas-market.
For the past 27 years, this festival was
known as the Montpelier Wine Festival.
This year it changed its name, as it was
the last time the festival was held at
Montpelier. The 29th annual event in
2019 will see a new venue. The festival hosts nearly two dozen wineries and
cideries offering tastings, along with food
demonstrations, arts and crafts, live music
and entertainment for children. (540)
672-5216; orangevachamber.com.
An old-fashioned county
fair with crafts, livestock and activities for
the whole family for four days in July at
the New Fairgrounds on Old Gordonsville
Road. (540) 661-5393; orangecountyfairva.
com.
Albemarle
County’s only incorporated town
celebrates Independence Day with an
annual Volunteer Fire Department Parade
in the morning along Valley Street,
plus fireworks at dusk at Dorrier Park.
scottsville.org.
Launched in 2012, this weeklong series
celebrating creativity and innovation
features block parties, concerts, talks
and workshops in mid-April. The 2017
event drew almost 45,000 attendees.
Most events are free. Look for its seventh
annual Tomtoberfest on Sept. 29, 2018.
tomtomfest.com.
The
largest gathering of authors, writers and
readers in the state offers panel discussions,
readings, musical events and
speakers. The 25th annual event in 2019
is scheduled from March 20 to 24 at a
variety of area locations. Most events are
free. (434) 924-3296; vabook.org.
A chance to
see new releases, as well as classics
and independent offerings, and listen to
directors, actors, producers and scholars
provide insight on films. The 31st annual
film festival with a full schedule of events
will be held from Nov. 1 to 4 at various
sites around Charlottesville. (434) 924-
3376; virginiafilmfestival.org.
Presented
by The Virginia Foundation for
the Humanities’ Virginia Folklife Program
helps sustain time-honored traditions
by pairing practitioners of arts and skills
with apprentices for everything from
making fiddles to playing them. Look for
teams who preserve skills from curing
country hams to hewing logs to cooking
soul food to calling square dances at an
annual festival in May at James Monroe’s
Highland. virginiafolklife.org.
Symphonic and chamber
music ensembles bring classical, pops
and more to Wintergreen Resort in
Nelson County. Also popular are cooking
classes, daily seminars and pop-up concerts
by the festival’s academy students
in unusual places, including farmers’
markets, hotel lobbies and mountain
overlooks. The festival runs for four
weeks starting in early July. Many events
are free. (434) 325-8292; wintergreenperformingarts.
org.
Blue Mountain Brewery, which opened
in 2007, created a production brewery
to focus on higher-end beer in 2012.
In May, it was listed on AllAboutBeer.
com’s “80 Places to Drink Great Beers
Outdoors.” The tasting room at 495
Cooperative Way in Arrington is open
seven days a week, with a food truck on
site on weekends. Selections include
Rockfish Wheat, Hopwork Orange, Dark
Hollow, Full Nelson and Kolsch 151. The
tasting room’s hours are 12 to 8 p.m.
daily, except Friday and Saturday when
it is open until 9 p.m. (434) 263-4002;
bluemountainbarrel.com.
Blue
Mountain Brewery and the Barrel House
combine to make about 310,000 gallons
of craft-brewed ales and lagers each
year, ranging from the Dark Hollow
artisanal ale to a seasonal bourbon
barrel-aged stout. Other selections
include Evan Altmighty, a Dusseldorfstyle
alt beer with a name that nods to a
film shot in Central Virginia. The Nelson
County brewery grows its own hops for
use in Full Nelson pale ale and other
select beers. Its kitchen offers a menu
that includes beer-boiled bratwurst and
seven varieties of pizza. The brewery, at
9519 Critzers Shop Road in Afton, is
open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through
Saturday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.
(540) 456-8020; bluemountainbrewery.
com.
This
outfit produces experimental and traditional
brews in two locations in Charlottesville.
There is a production facility
— the Missile Factory — in Belmont and
a tap room two blocks off of the Downtown
Mall. Champion opened in 2012
and pours a rotating variety of brews
and one-off beers, including Missile IPA
and Killer Kolsch. The brewery serves
up food from its own kitchen and also
operates a brew pub in Richmond. Drop
by 324 S. Sixth St. Monday through
Thursday, 4 to 11 p.m. Friday through
Sunday, 12 to 11 p.m.. (434) 295-2739;
championbrewingcompany.com.
A lot
has been brewing at Devils Backbone.
In 2016, Anheuser-Busch announced
an agreement to acquire the company
that Steve and Heidi Crandall founded
in 2008. The locals will be joining a
collection of other craft breweries in
the company’s High End division. This
Nelson County brewery has won awards
ranging from the 2014 Great American
Beer Festival Mid-Size Brewing
Company to a 2016 World Beer Cup
Gold in the Irish-Style Red Ale category.
Its award-winning beverages include
Vienna Lager, Eight Point IPA, Schwartz
Bier and Danzig Baltic Porter. The tap
room, located at 200 Mosby Run in
Roseland, is open 11:30 a.m. to last call
daily, and serves food from a pub menu
that includes burgers, salads, salmon,
steak and more. Devils Backbone also
has a brewing facility and tap room
known as the Outpost in Lexington at 50
Northwind Lane, wich also operates its
own kitchen. Brewpub, (434) 361-1001;
Outpost, (540) 462-6200; dbbrewingcompany.
com.
Billed as a pilot brewery and taproom,
Hardywood’s expansion into Charlottesville
from Richmond sports a relatively
small 3.5-barrel brewhouse for “experimentation,
development and collaboration.”
A rotating selection of flagship,
seasonal and small-batch beers is available
from 16 taps. The tap room is open
3 to 9 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, 12
to 11 p.m. Thursday through Saturday
and 12 to 6 p.m. Sunday. (434) 234-
3386; hardywood.com.
Located in a
19th-century brick warehouse in Scottsville,
James River Brewing honors the
river and the past in its beer’s names and
logo. Live music is featured most weekends
in the tasting room or beer garden
at 561 Valley St. The brewery produces
a variety of beers, including Hatton Ferry pale ale, Galaxy pale lager, Queen of
Tarts dunkelweizen and Fluvanna Fluss
hefeweizen. Open 2 to 9 p.m. Monday
through Thursday, 2 to 10 p.m. Friday,
noon-10 p.m. Saturday, noon to 8 p.m.
Sunday. (434) 286-7837; jrbrewery.com.
Pro
Re Nata asks you to enjoy its beer “as
needed,” playing off of the medical
phrase from Latin that gives this brewery
its name. Located in Crozet just off of
Interstate 64, the brewery offers views
of the Blue Ridge Mountains along with
a patio and fireplace by which you can
enjoy a Pre-Med pils, Doctor’s Orders
lager, Pavlov’s Bell-gian ale or Beans
Deep Coffee stout among others. Open
Monday and Wednesday 3 to 10 p.m.,
Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and
Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday
from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. 6135 Rockfish
Gap Turnpike in Crozet. (434) 823-
4878; prnbrewery.com.
Founded in
2015 and opened in 2016, Random
Row was co-founded by a former homebrewer
and a number of friends and is
billed as “Charlottesville’s neighborhood
brewery.” Its location, 608 Preston Ave.,
is just off the Downtown Mall and West
Main Street with plenty of parking. Signature
brews Method IPA and The Hill
lager are featured among a rotating tap
list of specialties and seasonal offerings.
(434) 284-8466; randomrow.com.
On a “mission to create
beers that exemplify balance, creativity
and flavor,” Reason Beer is Albemarle
County’s newest brewery. Opening
later in 2017, the brewery’s taproom
will be located at 1180 Seminole Trail,
Suite 290, but launch parties around the
state already have brought the flagship
blonde, pale, black and saison to craft
beer fans. (434) 260-0145; reasonbeer.
com.
In the
heart of downtown Charlottesville, this
brewery is at 106 South St. in a historic
building that served as a grain warehouse
during the 1800s. The old brick
walls and hardwood floors add charm to
the establishment, purchased in 2014
by Blue Mountain Brewery. Mandi and
Taylor Smack both worked for South
Street prior to founding Blue Mountain.
You can still find the familiar Satan’s
Pony, along with Barhopper IPA and
Acoustic Kitty. Open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m.
to midnight Friday and Saturday. (434)
293-6550; southstreetbrewery.com.
Founded in
1999 as a small operation in the former
Starr Hill Music Hall in Charlottesville,
Starr Hill is now in a much larger facility
at 5391 Three Notch’d Road in Crozet.
Its offerings have won 21 beer festival
awards for offerings like Whiter Shade
of Pale Ale. The lineup includes Northern
Lights IPA, Grateful pale ale, Jomo lager,
Double Platinum IPA and The Love
wheat ale. The tap room is open 3 to 9
p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, noon to
9 p.m. Friday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday
and 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday. Closed on Monday.
(434) 823-5671; starrhill.com.
Three friends — Derek Naughton, Scott
Roth and George Kastendike — are making their mark on the local beer scene
at their brewery at 946 Grady Ave. in
Charlottesville. Last year, the brewery
opened its flagship location at IX Art
Park in Charlottesville, which houses a
restaurant and production facility. Brews
include No Veto English brown ale, 40
Mile IPA, Jack’s Java, Hydraulion Red
and 64 West Coast IPA. Open 11 a.m.
to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11
a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Saturday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday.
In the past three years, locations have
opened in Harrisonburg and Richmond.
threenotchdbrewing.com.
The
brainchild of a mother and son team,
Mary and Danny Wolf, this Nelson
County gastropub and brewery opened
in 2011 in an old schoolhouse at 2461
Rockfish Valley Highway in Nellysford.
House beers include the unfiltered
Blonde Hunny ale, Alpha ale, Whoa Nelly
and Primal Instinct. The restaurant menu
includes gluten-free options. Dogs are
welcomed in the outdoor biergarten.
Open 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday
through Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Friday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and
11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday. (434) 361-
0088; wildwolfbeer.com.
A “dirt
to the glass” brewery, Wood Ridge
grows and malts its own barley. The
brewery promises that you can point to
the ingredients in your beverage from
your seat. The tasting room is open 3 to
9 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 12
to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Food
trucks are available most days of the
week. 151 Old Ridge Road in Lovingston;
woodridgefarbreweryva.com.(434)
422 6225
This
family-run cidery and tasting room in
North Garden offers samples of seven
traditional American hard ciders made
from local apples. Among the distinctive
choices are Jupiter’s Legacy, Pomme
Mary, Red Hill, Royal Pippin and Ragged
Mountain. The shop, at 2545 Rural
Ridge Lane, is open daily 11 a.m. to 5
p.m., except January through June, when
it is closed Monday and Tuesday. (434)
979-1663; albemarleciderworks.com.
Conceived in
2015 in Scottsville, New York, by three
friends, Blue Toad “honors the tradition
and legacy of America’s first preferred
beverage” with its New York- and Virginia-
grown apples. Located at 462 Winery
Lane in Roseland, the cidery is open
Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (434)
760-9200. bluetoadhardcider.com.
Owners and founders
John Washburn and Brian Shanks
have seen a lot of expansion lately. They
unveiled a newly constructed taproom in
Nellysford, added satellite tasting rooms
at Chiles Peach Orchard and Carter
Mountain Orchard and opened a facility
in Mills River, North Carolina. In Nelson
County, the new tasting room and restaurant
is next to the bottling facility at 1020
Rockfish Valley Highway. Tastings in the
Cider Barn are offered from 11 a.m. to
8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m.
to 6 p.m. the rest of the week. The Cellar
at Carter Mountain Orchard is at 1435
Carters Mountain Trail. Hard ciders include
India Pressed Apple, Virginia Draft,
Virginia Apple, Pear Cider and Vintage
Dry. Similar to beer, the alcohol content ranges from 4 percent to 7 percent.
(434) 361-1030; boldrock.com.
Built in 1764,
Castle Hill was the home of Col. Thomas
Walker, a mentor to Thomas Jefferson.
The cidery and wedding venue known
as Castle Hill Cider sits on land that
once was a part of that historic estate.
The tasting room, with its mahogany bar,
opens onto an octagonal porch. Ciders
are made on-site and sold in wine-size
bottles, including Terrestrial, Levity,
Celestial, and Serendipity. Levity, a sparkling
cider, is aged and fermented in clay
amphorae called “kvevri.” Open 11 a.m.
to 5 p.m. daily except for major holidays.
(434) 296-0047; castlehillcider.com.
Two college
buddies, Tim Edmond and Dan Potter,
started making cider at Wildair Farm in
Free Union. In order to provide a permanent
tasting solution for their own brews,
their cider is now served at the Bridge
Progressive Arts Initiative in Charlottesville
from Friday through Sunday.
Their ciders include Farmhouse Dry, Oak
Barrel Reserve, Citra Amarillo, Grapefruit
Hibiscus and Passion Fruit Mosaic.
(850) 528-6314; potterscraftcider.com.
Founded in 2010,
Ragged Branch was born from the desire
to establish a bourbon distillery in the
Ragged Mountain outside of Charlottesville.
Each bottle of Ragged Branch
Straight Bourbon is distilled and patiently
aged, with commitment to tradition, patience
and excellence. The distillery is
located at 1015 Taylor’s Gap Road.
Tasting room hours are Thursday, Friday
and Sunday from noon to 6p.m. Saturday
noon to 8 p.m. Distillery and Barrel Barn
Tours are available every day from noon to
2 p.m. and 3 to 4.30 p.m. 434-244-2600
This Earthfriendly
distillery is said to be “100
percent grain to glass.” Co-owners
Christine and Denver Riggleman, a retired
intelligence officer who is the Republican
nominee for the 5th congressional district
for the upcoming election in November,
opened their two-story facility in Nelson
County in 2014. Tastings, limited to three
ounces of alcohol, include straight pours
and mixed cocktails, including Moscow
Mule, Alpha Elixir and smoked Old Fashioned.
Siverback produces vodka, gin,
rye whiskey, bourbon whiskey, honey-rye
whiskey and a sour mash corn whiskey.
Hours are noon to 5 p.m. Monday and
Thursday, noon to 6 p.m. Friday and Sunday
and noon to 7 p.m. Saturday. 9374
Rockfish Valley Highway in Afton. (540)
456-7070; sbdistillery.com.
Inspired by George G. Moore’s vision,
this distillery creates Virginia-Highland
Malt Whisky by aging malt whisky from
Scotland in Virginia port-style wine
barrels. The distillery plans to release
its Virginia single malt whisky in a few
years time. Wine Enthusiast gave the
Virginia-Highland Malt Whisky a 92-point
rating. Sample the Highland Malt and
some seasonally inspired cocktails like
the Virginia Julep and May-Berry Sour
between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday
through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m.
Sunday. 299 Eades Lane, Lovingston.
(434) 285-2900; vadistillery.com.
Stop by to take a
45-minute tour of Charlottesville’s new
small-scale working distillery founded
by Ian Glomski, a former professor of
microbiology at the University of Virginia
School of Medicine. Add in principals
Zuzana Ponca and Eric Glomski, who
also is a top winemaker in Arizona, and
you have the recipe for their Platinum
and Golden rums. They make their spirits
from a 250-gallon, custom-built copper
pot still made by Vendome Copper and
Brass Works in Louisville, Kentucky. The
distillery offers samples and sales in the
tasting room it opened in 2016. Find
their rum at local ABC stores and at several
downtown restaurants. Hours are 2
to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, 10
a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and noon to
6 p.m. Sunday. 715 Henry Ave., Charlottesville;
vitaespirits.com.
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