Going wine tasting in Charlottesville, Virginia is a Bucket List experience in this beloved foodie town, which is secretly one of the most beautiful places to go wine tasting in America.
Celebrity Chef Jose Andres once said that this bucolic, verdant region of the Blue Ridge is “more beautiful than the Napa Valley”! (And that’s saying something!)
Here, gorgeous landscape and age-old agricultural practices and Southern grit combine to create a masterful context for winemaking. And how fitting, too, as Virginia is exactly halfway between Europe and California, embodying what Virginia Wine calls “the subtlety of the Old World with the boldness of the new”.
Viognier and Cabernet Franc are super successful varieties in Virginia, and as such they tend to feature prominently at various vineyards in and around Charlottesville. (Look out for these two unique varieties if you want a super-local experience, or try the regional twists on the international classics that also grow here, like Chardonnay.)
Virginia Cab Franc, meanwhile, tends to be fruity, low tannin wine with flavors of cherry, cranberry, and sage that feel vaguely autumnal– which is, incidentally, a surprisingly great time to go wine tasting in VA (after the summer heat has passed). October, moreover, is officially Virginia Wine Month, since the grapes that grow in this region are typically harvested from late August through October, which is one of the more popular months to go wine tasting in Virginia.
Virginia-grown Viogniers are white wines that appeal to those who like a drier palette, though I’ve found that Virginia Viogniers are so bright and spunky that most people, regardless of wine preference, tend to enjoy them. Ultimately, when in Charlottesville or Albemarle County, I think it’s super special to seek out Viognier because you don’t see it in many other places. Try it if you have the chance!
That being said, going wine tasting in Charlottesville is also wonderful because of the verdant scenery of central Virginia– one of the most beautiful parts of the country. It’s a bucket list experience for anyone visiting or spending meaningful time in the area.
Below, we spotlight the best places to go wine tasting in Charlottesville, Virginia– in no particular order. Whether you’re a newcomer visiting for school or vacation, or a local looking to knock out your Bucket List, you’re sure to find a spot here that dazzles, transports, and inspires you.
Bookmark this list for easy reference later!
Enjoy!
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Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards
Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards is a true “culinary vineyard” where the vineyard, garden, farm, and kitchen are seamlessly interwoven.
In addition to estate tours and wine tastings, they offer delightful farm-to-table dining, a cooking school, a wine school where you can learn about everything from winemaking 101 to how to best pair wine with food, and a series of seasonal greenhouse educational courses like cut flower workshops, winter wreath making, and gingerbread making classes.
We love the genteel Southern beauty of this classically agrarian Virginia property, which showcases the lushness of the region perfectly. Oh, and the seasonal burrata they serve with their estate tour and tasting? It’s divine.
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For a Beautiful On-Site Stay
For a fun immersive experience, consider a stay at the on-site Crossroads Inn at Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards. Dating back to 1820, this beautiful historic inn once hosted figures like Thomas Jefferson and Martin Van Buren.
The modernized historic property unfolds within a gorgeous landscape of secret gardens, with warm hospitality and plenty of modern touches (heat! internet! huzzah!). This way, you can sip your wine into the evening and go to bed cozy without ever having to leave the property.
King Family Vineyards
Known as one of the most popular vineyards in Virginia, King Family Vineyards in nearby Crozet is a staple for Blue Ridge Mountain views and horses all around. Casual picnic tastings are popular here, as are weddings.
Wine tasting here typically consists of tasting flights or the option to enjoy by the glass or bottle. Choose between self-guided white, red, or premium mixed flights or a guided 5-tasting flight reserved with an in-house specialist.
If you’re opting for a bottle, see if you can ask to try their 2017 Mountain Plains Red, which has aromas of cherries, plum, and black currants. (An ideal fruit-forward late-summer treat.)
Reservations are not necessary, but both indoor and outdoor seating fills up on a first-come, first-serve basis.
They also do movie nights and polo matches at the vineyard! Lovely!
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Insider Tip
The most popular vineyards in and near Charlottesville tend to have lots of interesting programming throughout the year, like food + wine festivals, evening road races that end with wine tastings, or holiday-themed parties.
Be sure to check the events page of wherever you decide to go wine tasting in Charlottesville to make the most of the experience. Enjoy!
Keswick Vineyards
Born from “the soil and soul of Virginia”, Keswick Vineyards is situated on a beautiful countryside estate that reminisces of the French countryside. Their award-winning wines and notably great Chardonnay are a complimentary tour-de-force in these parts, as Keswick is often mentioned when you ask locals about their favorite places to go wine tasting in the greater Charlottesville-Ablemarle area.
Keswick is located about 25 minutes north-east from UVa and downtown Charlottesville, but it feels worlds apart. From the geometrically manicured gardens to the verdant rows of vines flanked by pastoral mountain views, the place is as picturesque as the wine is crowd-pleasing.
For the quintessential experience, try one of the white wines like the aforementioned Chardonnay (super citrus-y!) or the regionally-specific Viognier, a niche, hyper-local wine that grows particularly well in the Virginia Blue Ridge climate.
Barboursville Vineyards
If you want to visit a vineyard where you can also settle in for a proper meal, Palladio Restaurant at Barboursville Vineyards is a perfect destination. Food + Wine once named it the Best Vineyard Restaurant in America— and true to that designation, it has excellent cuisine in an equally idyllic setting. This place is super high-end, historical, and archival… a winery where people go to show up and show out.
Try the 2016 Paxxito if you can get your hands on a bottle. Otherwise, be prepared to drink and dine for the quintessential experience– the food here really is lovely.
For a more casual option, you can visit the tasting room and stroll grounds independently, or a bring a picnic of your own. They also offer beautiful food-and-wine pairing events, like oysters in the library, truffle lunches, and regional celebrations of the Chesapeake foodshed.
Blenheim Vineyards
Blenheim Vineyards takes a sustainable approach to winemaking, growing cultivars that are uniquely suited to local soil conditions of the region. Musician Dave Matthews (who famously lived locally for many years) owns this vineyard, and he also designed the wine bottle labels. (As you can see above, they are super cheeky and feature colorful, original pop-art, in the vein of Andy Warhol. For bottle collectors, this is a cool offering. Plus, they also sell beautiful art in the same style.)
In addition to the vast array of tasting wines, the funky artwork on their bottles is also designed to have minimal environmental impact.
Try the lovely Cabernet Franc for the quintessential experience– it’s a signature item.
Veritas Vineyards
The incomparable Veritas Vineyards is nestled on 120 breathtaking acres within the bucolic landscape of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and this strong sense of place and visual identity makes it a beautiful destination for those who want to picnic.
The food served at the on-site Farmhouse restaurant is delightful, and offers a more upscale dining option to pair with wine tasting. Otherwise, guests are welcome to bring their own chairs and picnic blankets for a more casual outing.
Oenophiles should look out for the 2015 Scintilla (their most unique wine offering) and be sure to check their events page before booking, as this vineyard offers a constantly rotating list of lovely events. These can include everything from one-day mini epicurean retreats to a seasonal dinner series with local celebrity chefs, sparkling wine brunches, and farmhouse four-day retreats where guests can partake in yoga, hiking in the surrounding mountains, lush farm-to-table meals, spa treatments, exclusive winery tours, and more.
Jefferson Vineyards
Jefferson Vineyards is a quintessential Charlottesville vineyard that serves award-winning wines just down the road from the Monticello estate. Their signature “Music at the Vineyard” series is a popular draw to the venue in the fairer weather months, as is the on-site food truck serving shareable bites, sweet treats, and light bites to pair with any wine tasting flight.
Above all, they’re known for their Viognier wine, a signature regional variety and one of Virginia’s premier Viogniers. We recommend their seasonal tasting flight, which features four unique samples that can pair with cheese, charcuterie, crackers, and chocolate if you so desire.
Well-behaved leashed dogs are welcome both outside on the large grassy hillside and in the tasting room– which has limited space for cozy sipping by the fire in the colder weather months.
Knight’s Gambit Vineyard
This solar-powered, family-run vineyard offers low key wine flight tastings on their lovely covered deck overlooking a horse pasture. Knight’s Gambit Vineyard is a great option for people who “don’t want anything too fancy”, as the entire property has the air of a fun family member’s home.
Most wine flights during the tasting season feature all six of the family’s estate-grown wines (including a delightful Rose and rich Meritage, as of this writing) while people mill about casually with kids of all ages and dogs.
The setting, moreover, is pastoral, casual, and low-key– and there are often pop-ups featuring live music, specialty food trucks, or even an oyster festival in the spring.
During the fairer weather months, they occasionally also offer late-morning drop-in yoga classes that can segue nicely into afternoon tasting sessions, if you want to make a day of it. Check the events page for the latest offerings.
During warm weather visits, be sure to try their Monticello Cup Gold Medal-winning Pinot Grigio, a refreshingly soft pear-scented wine with notes of lemon and honey. It’s as bright as a summer’s day– and helps ground you in the sense of place and time that this unique region embodies so beautifully.
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Related: Wanna do dinner afterwards? These are The 15 Best Restaurants in Charlottesville for uniquely local meals. (Plus: round out your perfect weekend with the best brunch in town.)
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