Dragging my family to visit at least some of the 300 best wineries in Northern Virginia was not as difficult as I predicted.
The kids rebelled until I told them that so many wineries have playgrounds and great food. And men were elated when they learned that there are some fantastic breweries as well. Food got them as well.
It also helped that the whole region is breathtakingly beautiful, stretching between the Blue Ridge and the Appalachian Mountains and the magnificent Potomac River.
Here are just a few wineries and breweries we visited. Good to start with. I plan to go back and taste some more of that great Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot.
Best Wineries in Northern Virginia
Barboursville
Editorial credit: Kristi Blokhin / Shutterstock.com
Located in the Piedmont region, this is definitely one of the best wineries in Northern Virginia. It’s only a two-hour scenic drive from Washington DC, Barboursville is probably the most famous Virginia winery.
This 900-acre property includes a vineyard, a fantastic tasting room, and a historic inn.
The vineyard was founded just outside Charlottesville in 1976 on the 18th-century estate.
They make wines in Italian tradition and many of their wines have received high awards. Their flagship wine is Octagon red Bordeaux blend, but Chardonnay and Viognier are world-class too.
A visit to this winery is becoming a choice destination for wine lovers, but for tourists as well. Strolling through the orderly vineyards and across verdant lawns before going for wine tasting is a pure delight.
Their current vintages are offered in the Discovery Tasting Room, while the Library 1821 offers a rotating selection of current and older vintages, together with delicious culinary pairings created by their chefs.
Do not miss a visit to the ruins of the mansion Thomas Jefferson designed for the original owner, which is part of the property.
The tasting room is open from Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., and Sundays starting at 11 a.m.
Additional Reading:
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Ankida Ridge Vineyards
Known as “Little Burgundy,” Ankida Ridge is a family-run farm, micro-boutique vineyard, and winery located on the eastern slope of the Blue Ridge Mountains near Amherst, at 1800 feet.
This small but revolutionary vinery produces highly acclaimed Burgundy-style wines from their own Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes. They make their famous “Rockgarden” wine from grapes from other vineyards in the area.
The beautiful green fields that surround the winery are great for a picnic or just relaxing on one of many chairs and benches.
The views are magnificent. They offer light fare at their tasting room but you can bring your own picnic. Dogs are allowed too.
Additional Reading:
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Blenheim Vineyards
Located about a 20-minute drive from Charlottesville, Blenheim Vineyards was established in 2000 on the 18th-century historic Blenheim Farm.
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Blenheim Vineyards has 30 acres planted with a range of varietals. The vineyard is part of the Monticello American Viticultural Area (AVA).
Their indoor tasting room is located in a wonderful timber-framed building with a cathedral ceiling. It has a lovely patio with a view of the vineyards on one side and the view of the cellars if you look through paneled glass floors.
The property includes several historic buildings. One of them is the 1730 “Claim House” built originally by the owner to secure the land grant.
If you would like to sit indoors, call for a reservation. They are open Thursday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. You can also enjoy their wines on one of the outside tables if available.
Their flagship wine is the Painted Red, a Bordeaux-style wine blend as well as the Painted White Chardonnay/Viognier/Sauvignon Blanc wine blend. Both have fantastic retro labels.
Early Mountain Winery
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Early Mountain Winery is a 300-acre elegant winery in Madison, at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, on the Monticello Wine Trail.
Their tasting room is cozy and inviting and outdoor spaces offer spectacular views of the vineyards and surrounding mountains.
Early Mountain’s goal is to promote Monticello wines, so you will be able to taste not only their best wines but those of their competitors such as Barboursville and Linden. The Marketplace adds to the experience with gourmet meals and various snacks.
Before going, check their website for the calendar of events. There are often live concerts. They are open for wine tastings Thursday through Monday, from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Reservations are recommended.
Additional Reading:
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Linden Vineyards
Linden Vineyards is one of the premier wineries in Virginia. It is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, about 60 miles from Washington DC. The 4,000 cases the vinery makes come entirely from their three vineyard sites and are highly sought after.
Linden is best known for its Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Bordeaux red blends.
This is a quiet place where wine and vineyards are what matter and are taken very seriously. Unplanned visits are discouraged. There is no entertainment and no food. Tastings are offered on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday by reservation only.
King Family Vineyards
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King Family Vineyards is a highly respected family winery near Crozet, a 15-minute drive from Charlottesville, on the breathtakingly beautiful slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Known as one of the top Virginia wineries, King Family specializes in premium wines that reflect the exceptional terroir of the famous Monticello AVA.
The vineyard’s flagship wine is Meritage, but they also produce a range of other wines, including the experimental Small Batch Series.
The daily tastings are available from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and a reservation is not required for the Classic Tasting. There are several tasting options, but most people like to serve themselves and then find a nice spot to enjoy the wine inside or outside overlooking the vineyards.
A tour of the vineyard and winery starts with a glass of wine and follows with a visit to the tank and barrel rooms.
The guests have free access to the polo field which is part of the property. They even offer polo lessons. Food trucks are regularly available on a rotating basis.
RdV Vineyards
Spread over the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, only about 60 miles from Washington DC, RdV Vineyards is a gorgeous hillside property near the picturesque town of Delaplane.
The unique combination of southern-exposed hilly slopes and dry rocky soil creates makes this one of the best wineries in Northern Virginia and is the ideal ‘terroir’ for making exceptional wines.
It also provides a colorful and charming destination for wine lovers from all corners of the world.
You will get most of the visit to this first-class operation by joining one of their hosted tours. They cover visiting the winemaking facilities and tasting their latest release wines.
The wines are skillfully matched with just the right food prepared by local chefs. Tours are offered by appointment only.
Additional Reading:
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Best Family Friendly Wineries in Northern Virginia
Walsh Family Wine
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Walsh Family Wine, formerly known as North Gate Vineyards, is a family-friendly vineyard and winery in Purcellville. They have 54 acres of wine grapes on six sites – one in Clark County and five in Loudoun County. They make a large selection of wines they ship to 32 states.
Their tasting room is cozy and feels like an elegant living room with comfortable furniture and a lot of space.
The winery also has a great open patio overlooking the vineyards. It is perfect for kids and dogs to roam and play.
The tasting room often invites local chefs to craft and offer their gourmet delights. They also serve wines from other regional wineries. Instead of live music, there is a classic record player the guests are invited to use by playing their favorite vinyl.
The tasting room offers a rotating selection of four wines grown, made, and bottled by Walsh Family Wine. The food baskets of local bread, cheeses, and meats are offered as well. You can also bring your own food.
If you want to stay longer, the winery has a number of apartments and cottages for rent, most of them with a fantastic view of the vineyards.
Wine Reserve at Waterford
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Wine Reserve near Waterford is known mostly for two things: their exceptional wine, including their famous Smitten Petit Manseng 2018; and a huge lawn in front of the winery that is irresistible to kids with a ball, a kite or a dog, to roam and have fun.
While kids are spending energy, parents can relax in the sun with a bottle or two of the estate wine. Many have won numerous awards.
Older kids love movies in the vineyard and various food trucks that park in front. Great fun for the parents is volunteering to help during harvest – there is a liquid reward.
Wine Reserve is happy to serve its competitors’ wines, including those made by Bluemont’s October One Vineyard. They are open every day from noon to six pm.
Additional Reading:
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Best Wineries and Breweries in Northern VA
The great thing about Northern Virginia is that wine is not the only delight they make. There are some great breweries as well if that is your thing.
Crooked Run Brewery and Senor Ramon Taqueria
Located in Sterling, Virginia, Crooked Run Brewery and Senor Ramon Taqueria partnered to offer a perfect combination: beer and tacos.
It does not matter that their shared space does not look like much – it is just an office park, but what they create is true magic. Crooked Run’s owners started making beer in 2013 as the youngest brewery owners in the States.
They now make traditional as well as innovative brews, always using local ingredients.
Currently, their tap room offers nine beers on tap. Try their famous Flapjack porter with maple, and everyone’s favorite sour IPA named Raspberry Empress.
If great beer is not enough for you, Senor Ramon’s tacos will make you totally happy, especially his shrimp taco and the carnitas. Don’t take our word for it, come and try them all.
The Winery at La Grange
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If you want your wine tasting to be an exceptional experience, you have to visit the Winery at La Grange.
Snuggled at the foothills of the magnificent Bull Run Mountains, this winery with spectacular views is located in a wonderfully preserved 18th-century palace. The local lore claims the house is haunted.
When the winery opened its doors in 2006 it was the first winery in Prince William County. They now have eight acres of lush vineyards, a modern production facility, and the historic manor house.
The winery is known for several grape varieties such as Norton, Merlot, and Cabernet.
Their tasting room works from Sunday to Thursday from noon to 6:00 PM and
Friday and Saturday from noon to 8:00 PM. You can rent the property for weddings and other private events, a ghost and all.
Effingham Manor Winery
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Effingham Manor Winery is located in a historic 1767 manor built by the renowned William Alexander.
This magnificent, wonderfully restored house is furnished with original furniture and artifacts and is a great pleasure to explore and get the vibe of the times when it was someone’s real home.
Enjoying history is not the only fun you will have at Effingham. They make some exceptional wines, such as “King’s Ransom,” the winery’s signature wine, but also Norton, Meritage, Tannat, Merlot, Chardonnay, Traminette, Rose, and others. The views from anywhere on the estate are spectacular.
Keep in mind before coming that nobody younger than 21 will be allowed on the property. Dogs are not allowed either. They are open every day from 11 AM to 6 PM.
2 Silos Brewing/Farm Brew Live
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2 Silos Brewing/Farm Brew Live is a beer lover’s dream: it is the first brewery campus in Northern Virginia. Occupying almost eight acres on a historic farm, they offer craft beer, local food, and music by local musicians.
They have big plans, but currently, in the first phase, you can enjoy 2 Silos Brewing Co. and their tasting room, The Pit BBQ, Beer Garden, The YARD – an outdoor live music venue, and La Gringa Food Truck.
Farm Brew LIVE is located on the Thomasson Barn’s original site and is included in the Prince William County’s Innovation Park.
Best Wineries in Northern Virginia With Food
While all the best wineries in Northern Virginia have some food to go with their wines, some wineries go all out, with full restaurants and fantastic menus.
868 Estate Vineyards, Purcellville
Stretching on 120 acres of magnificent Loudoun County countryside, 868 Estate Vineyards is a place to come for some great wine, art, live music and exceptional food. There are views as well.
The winery produces 3,500 cases of wine every year. Many of their wines earned numerous awards including the 2020 Virginia Governor’s Cup. They host a summer music series featuring local talent.
The winery is also known for its few exceptional restaurants. The full-service restaurant, Grandale Vintner’s Table, offers an upscale menu of fresh and local food for lunch and dinner. There is Sunday brunch as well. The best spot is on the deck – the view of the vineyards is breathtaking.
If you feel for a lighter fare, check out The Grill, located just outside the Pavilion. They serve burgers, bbq, and other delights. They are open from May through October.
Potomac Point Winery
A short 45-minute drive from Washington D.C will take you to the Widewater Peninsula near Stafford and the Potomac Point Winery. This Mediterranean-style estate will make you feel transported to Tuscany.
With superb wines, a romantic atmosphere, and gourmet food in their Le Grand Cru Bistro, Potomac Point Winery and vineyard is a popular destination for wine lovers.
Le Grand Cru Bistro serves lunch and dinner from Wednesday to Sunday and offers great Sunday brunch. The menu includes mussels, crab cakes, duck confit, shrimp and grits, creative salads and sandwiches, and Rappahannock oysters on weekends.
You can enjoy Sunday brunch in the D’Vine lounge, or relax outside in the Outdoor Courtyard or Veranda. An elegant water feature adds to the romantic atmosphere.
Spacious green spaces around the winery buildings are perfect for picnics. Dogs on a leash and kids are welcome.
Before coming check their calendar of events, there is always something going on.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this totally subjective selection of some of the best wineries in Northern Virginia whetted your appetite and you are already planning your next weekend.
The scenery on the way to the wineries is so magnificent the kids might not bother you with ‘are we there yet?” And all that space around the vineyards is just perfect for spending some energy while you are sampling the best the wineries have produced.
