Grace Tang ‘21
Ousted Foreign Correspondent
Charlottesville is a wine lover’s dream. The city is right in the middle of the famous Virginia wine trail with numerous award-winning vineyards within easy access. Full disclosure, I am not a big wine connoisseur, but I really enjoy visiting the different vineyards and learning about the history and people behind each winery. I highly recommend doing a wine tasting at each winery, because it provides a sampling of different wines available, and it can help narrow down favorite wine options at that location. Winery views are usually gorgeous, and the drive to the winery is usually beautiful, since wineries are often located in the Virginia countryside. As Ernest Hemingway once pointed out, “Wine offers a greater range for enjoyment and appreciation than possibly any other purely sensory thing which may be purchased."
I think going to a local winery is wonderful, because you can learn about the winemaking process while drinking wine made from locally grown grapes, and support a local business. Additionally, a winery offers a lovely place to gather outside with friends and relax while enjoying nature and lovely scenery. It is also perfect for socially distant get-togethers. Whether you are a seasoned sommelier or trying your first winery, I hope this list of recommendations helps you plan the perfect vineyard adventure.
We drink wine for sophisticated, Nobel Laureate reasons. No ulterior motives here. Photo courtesy of: Grace Tang '21 at Chisholm Vineyards
I could not have written this article without the help of my favorite wine specialist. Huge thanks to my wine expert Natasha Halloran ’21 for her advice and tips.
Overall Wine Selection – Thatch Winery
1650 Harris Creek Rd, Charlottesville, VA 22902
Thatch Winery has it all. With over a dozen wines made from over eleven grape varietals, this winery produces a broad spectrum of delicious wines. This is the one winery where I have consistently enjoyed every type of wine offered. Thatch has wonderful floral and crisp whites, and a delicious, fruity house red with bright flavors. They have a number of award-winning wines available to sample as a wine flight or by the glass. All of Thatch’s flights are fantastic, and they offer a sweet flight, a white flight, red flight, and their medal-winning flight. There is ample seating out front or in the back of the building, and the staff are very knowledgeable and helpful. Thatch also offers snacks, cheese boards, and chocolate for purchase along with wine.
Spring is for softball and wine flights. Photo courtesy of: Grace Tang '21 at Thatch Winery
Red Flight – Chisholm Vineyards
135 Clan Chisholm Ln, Earlysville, VA 22936
Chisholm Winery is located close to the airport and I recommend visiting on Friday evenings in the summer as they have live music and food trucks. Chisholm offers great flight options and their reds are particularly good. They also have special flights depending on the season, which are worth checking out.
Supplemental award for best photo of the edition, awarded to Garce Tang for her attention to detail. Even the phone case matches! Photo courtesy of: Grace Tang '21 at Chisholm Vineyards
Stunning Views and Spacious Seating – Mount Ida Winery
5600 Moonlight Dr, Scottsville, VA 24590
Mount Ida is absolutely gorgeous. They offer lots of seating outdoors, with a breathtaking view of the mountains. I recommend visiting on a weekend because the bar offers a rotating selection of wine-based cocktails. I tried the berry pomegranate mimosa made with bubbly white wine and it was very good. There are fire pits around the outdoor seating and rooftop seating is available. Mount Ida also offers a large selection of food along with craft beer.
A mountain sunset just before the fire pits are lit. Photo courtesy of: Grace Tang '21 at Mount Ida Winery
Best Eats – Pippin Hill Winery
5022 Plank Rd, North Garden, VA 22959
Pippin Hill is a Charlottesville classic. Located only 15 minutes from the law school, it is one of the closest winery options. If you want table seating, I highly recommend making a reservation well in advance because they get very busy. Otherwise, bring a picnic blanket and enjoy the views of the rolling hills while enjoying a glass of wine. While the wine at Pippin is good, I think their food is the real star of the show. Pippin has an excellent food menu, and my personal favorites are the beef sliders and the burrata pesto.
Come for the wine, stay for the finger foods and sunshine. Photo courtesy of: Grace Tang '21 at Pippin Hill Winery.
Best Chocolate and Wine Pairing – Glass House Winery
5898 Free Union Rd, Free Union, VA 22940
Glass House offers lovely views indoors and out, along with their house-made fancy chocolates. What more could you ask for? Like its name suggests, Glass House has an indoor greenhouse area full of tropical plants, and seating outside overlooking the lake. The winery has an in-house chocolatier that makes amazing fancy chocolates to go with the wine (that is literally the coolest). They have wonderful wine and chocolate pairings for purchase, and you can buy the glasses (both stemless and stemmed) for only a few dollars which make for perfect souvenirs. Pro tip: order their sweet wines as an add on to an existing chocolate-wine pairing. They are excellent.
Plants in a greenhouse, chocolate in fancy boxes, wine in jello-shot cups. This place gets us. Photo courtesy of: Grace Tang '21 at Glass House Winery
Polo Match and Picnicking – King Family Vinyard
6550 Roseland Farm, Crozet, VA 22932
King Family is famous for its beautiful views, great wines, and weekend polo matches. King Family hosts food trucks, live music, and polo matches throughout the year. The polo matches start at the end of May and run through mid-October on Sundays. I think King Family is a great place to take family or friends who are visiting Charlottesville because the wine tastings are great and the Sunday polo matches are a unique and memorable experience. It’s a beautiful sight to see horses dash across the field against the backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Best Sweet White and Mansion Ruins – Barboursville Vineyard
17655 Winery Rd, Barboursville, VA 22923
Barboursville winery has my favorite sweet white wine in town: their Phileo. It’s floral and sweet, with hints of honeysuckle, which pairs well with cheese. Barboursville Vineyard features a fantastic (and spacious) tasting room, lined with stocked shelves of local foods and products. The building has a rustic feel, filled with big barrels and wood paneling. The vineyard is also home to Palladio Restaurant, which serves up excellent local food. Additionally, the Barboursville Ruins are only a few hundred yards away from the vineyards. In 1884, a Christmas Day fire destroyed the brick mansion designed by Thomas Jefferson for his friend James Barbour who was an American lawyer, governor of Virginia, senator, and Secretary of War.
Wine and dine with history. Photo courtesy of: Grace Tang '21 at Barboursville Vineyard.
“Sick of Grapes?” Special Mention – Hill Top Berry Farm and Winery
2800 Berry Hill Rd, Nellysford, VA 22958
Hill Top Berry Farm and Winery offers a fun and interesting alternative to the traditional grape wines. Their winery features meads and alternative fruit wines with names such as Pounding Branch Persimmon, Dragon’s Blood, Eden, Blue Heeler, and Madison Peach Sangria. Hill Top is currently offering $5 flights that can be paired with cheese and honey. Definitely give them a try if you’re looking for something new!
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gt5ay@virginia.edu