Twelve Best Wineries in Charlottesville, VA
I absolutely love living in Charlottesville, Virginia. There is so much to do here, from hiking in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains to brewery hopping on the Charlottesville Ale Trail. One of the things I love most about this area is the number of beautiful wineries right in my backyard.
Wine in Virginia has been a longstanding tradition. In fact, you can trace its beginnings all the way back to 1609. Granted, it wasn’t necessarily great wine – but it was a start! Over the centuries it is a craft that has been honed, from Thomas Jefferson’s passion to grow grapes all the way up to the renewed interest starting in the 1950s. Currently, it’s a huge industry in the state. According to the Virginia Wine Board, wine brought in $1.7 billion to the state’s economy in 2019!
It’s not super surprising, given Virginia is considered one of the top wine producing states in the US and is home to over 300 wineries. Yes, you read that correctly – 300! Amazingly enough, despite how vast the Virginia Wine Trail is, it is one of the best-kept secrets among wine lovers. I’m sharing a roundup of the twelve best and most picturesque wineries in Charlottesville, VA. Grab a glass of wine and join me!
Twelve Best Wineries in Charlottesville, VA
Barboursville Vineyards
Located approximately 18 miles north of the Downtown Mall, Barboursville is one of the first wineries I visited upon moving here. It’s also beautiful, set on an 18th century estate in Barboursville, VA.
The tasting room is popular here, as the tasting includes a choice of six one ounce pours of sixteen self-dispensed wines. The tasting fee is $15. If you are looking to splurge on a bottle, their Octagon, a blend of estate-grown Bordeaux varietals, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot, is what they are known for. It runs about $65/bottle at the vineyard, but you will also likely spot it at various stores around town.
While at the vineyard, be sure and stroll through the Landmark Ruins. Destroyed by a fire in 1884, this residence was designed by Thomas Jefferson and has been preserved for people to explore while visiting.
Blenheim Vineyards
While the history of Blenheim Farms dates back to 1730, Blenheim Vineyards was established fairly recently in 2000. It initially gained buzz for being a sustainable winery started by Dave Matthews of the Dave Matthews Band. Over the years it has kept the momentum going with a lovely setting, solid wine, and the creation of the Oenoverse, an inclusive wine club for beginners and professionals.
Tasting for parties no larger than four can be scheduled Thursday through Monday from 11:00 AM to 5:30 PM. Tastings include five wines guided by staff and lasts one hour for the experience. This runs $25/person.
If you have a larger group and just want to enjoy their beautiful outdoor setting with a bottle of wine, outdoor spaces are first come, first served. I would suggest going with Painted Red - and bring your puppy! It’s a super dog friendly spot.
Eastwood Farm & Winery
I’ll be honest with you - the main reason I was excited to try Eastwood was its proximity to where I live. Finding a good winery less than ten miles away was the dream! Trying it made me even happier. Eastwood is in a beautiful spot, the outside is dog friendly (I love taking Ollie places), and they have beer and cider offerings in addition to wine. This makes my husband very happy, as he does not share my love of wine.
Open seven days a week, Eastwood also has a kitchen onsite with farm to table offerings (which is why only the outside is dog friendly). It’s a nice option for a lovely afternoon of wine and food with friends. This is a popular spot for weddings and events, so I would recommend checking out their calendar before going. It’s also a great way to see what fun events they are offering, like live music!
Flying Fox Vineyard
Flying Fox feels like something you’d find in a Wes Anderson movie. It does not look like your typical Virginia winery from the outside, but once inside you’ll find fun décor and solid wine.
This spot is one of my favorites because it is super dog friendly. You are even able to bring well behaved dogs inside, as they do not have a kitchen on the premises.
Another unique feature of this winery is they make and sell their own vermouth. You can even add it on to your wine tasting if you are up for something a little different! I’ve purchased it to use in cocktails at home, and it also makes a fun Charlottesville specific gift for friends.
Flying Fox is open seven days a week from 11:00 AM to 5:30 PM.
Gabriele Rausse Winery
If you are learning about Virginia wine, the name Gabriele Rausse is going to come up. A native from Italy, he is also considered the Father of Virginia’s Vineyards (starting at Barboursville, the first winery on my list!) and this is a name you are going to hear mentioned when coming up with places to visit.
Gabriele Rausse Winery operates on limited hours, open Thursday and Friday from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Sunday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and Monday from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM. I would definitely give them a call before visiting to ensure hours, but it’s a winery you should experience if you are really interested in the history of Virginia wines.
Jefferson Vineyards
I can’t mention anything to do with the Monticello Wine Trail and not mention Jefferson Vineyards. Just one mile south of Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, this is also where Virginia’s first commercial wine company was founded. Needless to say, it has played a big role in Virginia wine history.
Open Wednesday through Sunday from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM with last call at 4:30 PM. The maximum number allowed for groups is eight. Be sure and grab a bottle of their Viognier while you are there and enjoy.
Keswick Vineyards
If you are looking for a winery that is both family and dog friendly, this is the spot. They even have a mini-golf course and a dog park onsite! Ollie is a huge fan.
Family owned and operated since 2000, they are known for their white wines but I actually prefer their reds. You can do a tasting flight or grab a bottle! They are open Monday - Sunday, 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM with last call at 4:45 PM. If you are planning on going with a larger group (10 or more) please note those can only be accommodated until 1:00 PM and are first come, first served.
This is also another great spot if you have someone who doesn’t love wine in your midst, as they serve beer and cider as well.
King Family Vineyards
King Family boasts my absolute favorite winery view in the area – the grounds here are absolutely stunning. This spot is also known for one unique feature: weekly Polo matches. Held every Sunday at noon from Memorial Day weekend through October (weather permitting), Roseland Polo is a winery event you have to experience. You can check out the schedule (including information like food trucks onsite) here. The Polo field can get quite busy, so be sure and get there early to set up your spot.
In addition to Polo, King Family is also known for their Crosé wine, a dry Merlot- based rosé. Nice and light, you can enjoy this any time of the year. It pairs perfect with cheese and charcuterie.
Reservations are not required and seating is first come, first served.
Michael Shaps Wineworks
My first encounter with Michael Shaps Wineworks was when I went to their tasting room location located just one mile from the Downtown Mall. I liked it because it is close to where I live and has an intentional neighborhood (wine) bar feel. Learning this spot is a mere offshoot of something much larger was very cool to find out. In fact, Michael Shaps Wineworks does contract winemaking, which means you’ve likely had their wine in some capacity. Check out a list of their clients here.
While it’s cool to have a nearby option in the tasting room, venturing out to the winery itself makes for a great and much more traditional winery experience. Located in the old Thatch Winery location, it’s a beautiful setting tucked away on a lot of land.
My friend Ali and I were lucky to be able to do a tasting with Stephen, who is passionate about wine education and makes learning about it both accessible and fascinating. One of my favorite things I learned was that the Rosie Rosé got its name from a chicken, but he offers a lot of information extending beyond fun facts. I recommend doing a tasting while you are here to learn more about the process, as well as to experience any of the Maison Shaps high-end Burgundian wine they export to the United States. It makes for a fun afternoon!
Get Directions - Wineworks Extended
Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards
Pippin Hill is not your typical Charlottesville winery experience, but is is one worth having. Considered more of a culinary vineyard, this is a popular spot for weddings and events due to its farm to table foods and Instagrammable views.
If you are coming here, you’ll definitely want to make reservations. You can expect this to be much more of a bougie experience rather than a lowkey winery visit, so leave the kiddos and puppies at home!
I recommend grabbing a bottle of Chardonnay and ordering some cheese and charcuterie. If you love Pippin, be sure and also check out some of the cool experiences they offer, like cooking classes and wine school.
Pollak Vineyards
In my opinion, Pollak is one of the most underappreciated wineries in the area. This small, family owned winery has an idyllic setting with a pond and beautiful views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Also, the wine is good, as they serve French varietals (these grapes grow well in Virginia). You can spend such a nice afternoon here.
The other great part? They are dog friendly!
Open 12:00 - 5:00 PM (last call 4:30) Wednesdays through Sundays, if you are going with a group larger than six you’ll need to make a reservation. Groups cannot be larger than 12.
Veritas Vineyard and Winery
Rounding out my list is another one of my long standing favorites, Veritas. This is another popular spot for weddings and events, as it’s a large space, they have great food options onsite, and the views are beautiful. Plus, the wine is fantastic. I personally really like their rosé paired with charcuterie.
While the lawn area usually has open seating, I would recommend making a reservation if you are looking to be inside or on their covered patio. You can do so here. It is also important to keep in mind outside food is not allowed inside or on the patio.
I also recommend combining your visit to Veritas with one to Flying Fox (mentioned above), their sister winery down the road. They are both great but are different vibes, so they can be fun to pair together.
There you have it! My list of my twelve favorite wineries in the Charlottesville, VA area! I hope you get to try and enjoy all twelve of them - be sure and let me know what you think!
Check out the map below in order to plan your visits.
Until next time, cheers and happy wine drinking!
