If you are reading this article, we can only guess that you enjoy a glass or two of wine and are planning a trip to Charlottesville in Virginia with the hope that there are some wineries that you can visit.
Well, we are pleased to tell you that there are many excellent wineries in the city and surrounding area, and we are going to tell you about our 13 favorite ones. We feel sure that you will enjoy visiting any of these.
1 – Jefferson Vineyards
Jefferson Vineyards first started producing wine grapes as far back as 1774 which is quite a pedigree. They stock an amazing number of wines all of which are of high-quality. Try their Petit Verdot Reserve 2019 which is one of their best.
It has an aroma of violet and cherry with black tea and cranberry flavors on the palate, and a blueberry finish and tea-flavored tannins.
The Vineyards are open from Wednesday to Sunday for tastings and have two indoor tasting rooms as well as an outdoor space. They offer a choice of 2 seasonal wine flights, and you can also order wine by the glass or the bottle.
To accompany your wine, you can ordere shareable plates of food, such as cheese, charcuterie, crackers, and chocolates. On Sundays, there is live music in the garden.
You will find the staff helpful and courteous, with a good knowledge of the wines on offer. Don’t hesitate to ask their advice about the vineyards and the winemaking process.
Join their wine club for shipments or pick-ups four times a year, early access to new release wines, a discount on all purchases, a yearly wine club pick-up party, and a complimentary glass of wine whenever you visit.
2 – Trump Winery
Trump Winery is owned by Eric Trump, one of Donald Trump’s sons. It has an excellent selection of wines including red, white, and sparkling. Their 2017 sparkling Blanc-de-Blanc is a gold medal winner and is made from 100% estate-grown Chardonnay grapes.
It tastes of green apple and fresh citrus with a luscious hint of brioche. It has a perfect balance of acidity, a creamy mousse, and a long finish.
The tasting room is open from Wednesday to Monday. You can choose a flight of either red wine, white, or sparkling wine and can choose either 4 pours of 2 oz each or 4 pours of 3 oz each. Wine is also available by the glass or the bottle.
If you want to eat with your wine, always a good idea, they serve shareable plates like a cheese and charcuterie board, flatbreads, salads, and sandwiches.
If you really want to shower yourself with luxury, Trump Winery also has a hotel with 10 guest rooms.
They have a choice of 5 wine clubs that you can join.
3 – Wineworks Extended
The owner of Wineworks Extended lived in Burgundy for five years, and now produces wine in the Burgundy style. He also imports wine from their winery in Burgundy so when you visit you can taste both Virginia and Burgundy varietals.
At Wineworks Extended, there is a taproom and wine bar while the tasting room is at the owner’s winery, Michael Shaps Winery. You can order a flight of wine at the tasting room which will be a combination of the wines produced in Burgundy and those made in Virginia.
With your wine, you can order bread and cheese plates at additional cost.
Join their wine club for 4 shipments a year, discounts on wine, complimentary wine tastings, discounted tickets to special events, and access to pre-release and library wines.
4 – Tastings of Charlottesville
Tastings of Charlottesville is both a wine bar and a full-service restaurant, as well as a wine shop. They have over 30 varietals of wine in stock with a combination of white and red wines.
They always have around 300 bottles of wine in stock so you won’t have to worry that they might run out! There is a combination of wines, some from Virginia and others from Europe. You can order wine either by the glass or the bottle.
Tastings of Charlottesville is locally owned and has staff who have excellent knowledge of wines. They will be able to help you to choose wines that will suit your palate.
5 – The Wine Guild of Charlottesville
The Wine Guild of Charlottesville holds tastings on Wednesdays and gives you 20% off if you then purchase a bottle or more of wine. They also have a wine bar which is open from Tuesday to Saturday and a shop that is open all week, except for Sundays.
They haven’t got an extensive range of wines but what they do have is high-quality. They also serve and sell a small range of craft beers.
Although they are open to the public, if you become a member, you get 20% off everything in the wine shop and you are invited to members-only tastings.
6 – Gabriele Rausse Winery
This is a lovely winery which serves excellent wines, has friendly and knowledgeable staff, and has a relaxed atmosphere. Their aim is to serve you good wine and to make you feel at home so that you return.
You can visit for tastings daily and these are held in yurts in the grounds. On cold days, there are outdoor heaters to keep you warm. With your wine, you can order fresh bread and dips.
Try their Cabernet Franc 2022 which is an organic wine as it has no sulfites and has been made totally from Cabernet Franc grapes, all of which have been grown in Virginia. It is full-bodied and has tastes of raspberry, bramble, and bell pepper.
7 – Eastwood Farm and Winery
This is a family-run winery which is owned by a group of women. They produce several top-quality wines as well as beer and alcoholic cider.
You can choose a flight of wine which consists of four pours, or you can order wine by the glass or the bottle.
They also serve food and have three menus, the Barn and Veranda Menu, which is available 7 days a week, a food truck which is at the winery from Friday to Sunday, and finally, there is a lunch specials menu which is available Monday to Friday.
Try their 2021 Chardonnay which has flavors of apple, grapefruit, and bell pepper. It has a gold medal VA Governor’s Cup as does their Cabernet Franc which has notes of rich cherry, peppercorns, and roasted coffee beans.
Join their wine club for 4 shipments a year, discounts, exclusive wines priority access, weekly members Happy Hour, and more.
8 – Blenheim Vineyards
Blenheim Vineyards own 4 vineyards, and all their wines are produced from the grapes they grow. Their tasting room is open from Thursday to Monday, and they offer a flight of 5 wines, or you can order wine by the glass or the bottle.
The tasting room is unique because it’s above the wine production facility and they have put down a glass floor so that you can see the wine being made.
They offer cheeses, charcuterie and other snacks at an additional cost to accompany your wines. There is also a food truck on Saturdays from April until December.
Join the wine club for 3 shipments of 4 bottles each year, complimentary tastings, 20% discount in the tasting room and in the online shop, and discounts for winery events.
9 – Meriwether Springs Winery & Brewery
This is the area’s first winery and brewery combined. They have been in business since 2013 and are family-run.
Their wines are high-quality. Try their 2020 Chambourcin which is a dry wine with notes of black cherry and red fruits such as strawberries and raspberries, as well as a hint of herbs, peeper, and even chocolate.
The winery also has a bed and breakfast which is ideal if you want to enjoy more than a few sips of wine. You won’t have to worry about driving home or to your hotel. In the summer, they have live music, and they will also host corporate events and special events such as weddings.
10 – Knight’s Gambit Vineyard
Knight’s Gambit Vineyard makes all its wines from estate-grown grapes, and you will find that there is an impressive list of wines. It is family-owned, and the staff are friendly and knowledgeable about the wines produced on-site.
They have three tasting areas, indoors in the tasting room, on a covered deck, and in the grounds. The scenery is beautiful, so we suggest sitting outside if the weather is good.
You can purchase snacks to accompany your wine. On offer is cheese, crackers, cured meats, and chocolates. On Saturdays, there is a food truck and live music.
Join the wine club for 2 pick-ups a year with a special members pick-up party, and free admission to musical events.
Knight’s Gambit Vineyard will host private events for groups of between 25 and 250 people.
11 – Mill Farm and Vineyard
The main house dates to 1857 but the decor is anything but. The tasting room is funky with an eclectic collection of art such as animal print wallpaper. The vineyard is owned by the Petty family who come from the UK.
Their tasting flight is composed of 5 wines, each a 2 oz pour. You can purchase food to accompany your wine such as pizzas, salads, and shareable plates.
Try their Petit Verdot which is a luxurious layered wine. You can first taste plum and blackberry, then stewed dark fruit and savory spices, finishing with vanilla and soft tannins.
They can host private events for up to 40 people.
12 – Keswick Vineyards
Keswick Vineyards was founded in 2002 and is family-owned and operated. They have a 400-acre vineyard and therefore produce a lot of wine.
The Tasting Room is open every day, with live music on Saturdays. You can build your own flight of 4 wines. They offer food to accompany your wine at additional cost such as charcuterie boards, sandwiches, and light finger food.
They also serve beer and alcoholic cider.
This is a great place to spend the day enjoying wine and food. They also have a miniature golf course so you can enjoy a game or two.
Join one of their wine clubs for regular wine pick-ups, discounts and priority access to exclusive events.
They will host weddings as well.
13 – Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards
The view from Pippin Farm & Vineyards is stunning and the barn is very attractive and has a tasting room. There is also a covered veranda and lawn seating for the good weather.
You can order wine by flight, glass, or bottle. Flights consist of 4 wines, and you have the choice of 2 pre-selected flights. They also serve food and both wine and food are table-service.
However, they now have an exciting and new Estate Tour & Wine Tasting. You are first taken on a tour of the grounds, vineyards, and gardens, followed by an hour’s tasting of 6 wines at the bar with small bites paired to the wines.
Finally, you take your place at a table and are served wine by the glass as well as 2 signature dishes. This is a tour and wine tasting that is highly recommended. Don’t worry about drink-driving as they have an inn where you can stay the night.
Join their wine club for quarterly shipments, complimentary tastings, first access to events, and discounts at the inn,
Final Thoughts
We hope that we have whetted your appetite and now want to visit some of the wineries we have told you about. We think that they are all well worth a visit so perhaps you could take a tour of some of them. Enjoy!