Charlottesville Wineries: Sensational Sips in Virginia's Heartland

Charlottesville is known for its rich colonial American history. Three of the country’s first presidents had homes there (that are open to the public). Plus Charlottesville is home to many wonderful wineries – dozens of them. In fact, there are about 300 wineries in Virginia as a whole. This article describes ten Charlottesville area wineries that stand out for the overall experience including tasting options, scenery and other inviting features for guests. It goes without saying that they all offer excellent wines, and many are award-winners. In fact, Barboursville Vineyards, Michael Shaps Wineworks, and Pollak Vineyards won the prestigious 2022 Governor’s Cup Case awards. Most of the wineries profiled in this article are in or very near Charlottesville (and all are on the Monticello Wine Trail); others are a short drive away. Two of the ten wineries also offer lodging and restaurants onsite. All offer wine tastings (for a price) as well as wine by the glass or bottle. In addition to sampling wine, consider exploring some fascinating colonial history (in a general article about Charlottesville) and a walk along one of the great Charlottesville trails.

Popular Virginia Grapes for Making Wine

Dozens of grape varieties are grown in the state; the most prolific ones are the Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay and Viognier. And fun fact: Viognier is the state grape. Other popular varietals are the Petit Manseng and Petit Verdot. In 2018, Virginia was the sixth highest wine-producing state in the country, so the proliferation of great wineries should come as no surprise.

Diversity of Experiences

Variety is the spice of life, and there’s plenty to choose from at the Charlottesville area wineries. Most of the ten wineries produce their wine from grapes grown onsite (their estate wines) or nearby in the state. All the wineries described in this article have onsite winemaking operations.

There are dozens of wineries in the Charlottesville area, though several in this article are up to 25 miles away. When heading to the ones outside the downtown, you’ll most likely enjoy some scenic drives. (Sometimes those drives include winding two-lane roads.) They include Barboursville Vineyards, Keswick Vineyards, Pollak Vineyards, Septenary Winery, and Veritas Vineyard & Winery.

Size, Food, Views, and More

The hospitality industry continues to experience change. Thus, a winery’s operations, hours, food offerings, and event calendars can alter from time to time, so check online (or call them) to learn more about the winery(ies) you plan to visit. Here are a few ways wineries can vary:

Size: Winery settings can vary from ones that cater to small numbers of guests (like Gabrielle Rausse Winery and Jefferson Vineyards) to larger establishments that can easily accommodate – and welcome – large groups (like King Family Vineyards).
Days of operation: Smaller operations and boutique wineries tend to have limited schedules on and around the weekends (like Thursday through Sunday only). The larger wineries tend to be open most, if not all, days of the week.
Food: A few wineries offer a variety of prepared food for visitors (like Barboursville Vineyards and Veritas Vineyard & Winery) while others have pre-packaged snacks for purchase. Some allow you to bring your own food to accompany the wine you purchase; others prohibit outside food.
Personal attention: Wineries often offer personal, guided tastings, where someone will provide details about the wine as you taste it. Sometimes this is their normal operating procedure, as at Michael Shaps Wineworks; other times, a personal tasting comes at an extra cost. However, all of the ten offer self-guided tastings.
Scenic views: Wineries outside the city usually offer scenic views, as they often have more open space and expansive vistas. Of the wineries in this article, Barboursville Vineyards, King Family Vineyards, Pollak Vineyards, Septenary Winery, and Veritas Vineyard & Winery boast the most panoramic views for guests to soak in while sipping.

Self-guided Wine Tastings

All the wineries offer self-guided tastings, so you can purchase a flight of red, white, or mixed (red and white) wines. At some locations, guests can choose which wines they want in their flights; at others, the winery predetermines them. Expect the wine to be accompanied by an information sheet with basic facts about the wine, or by short videos you’ll access by scanning QR codes on your smartphone.

Ten Best Charlottesville Area Wineries to Visit

1. Barboursville Vineyards

17655 Winery Road, Barboursville (about 16 miles northeast of downtown Charlottesville) | 540-832-3824

Barboursville Vineyards sits on land that was once an 18th-century estate, and it has two tasting room options. You can sample wines from dispensers in the Discovery Tasting Room, which also has tables and chairs, as well as prepackaged food for purchase. In addition, you can have a guided tasting in their Library 1821, a large room with several groups of tables and inviting, comfy chairs. The classic tasting in the Library consists of 6 wines of your choosing. In addition, you can order food prepared by the onsite Palladio Restaurant while in the library. Also, the Italian-inspired Palladio Restaurant is the spot for more formal dining for lunch and dinner. (If choosing the Library tasting or a meal in the restaurant, make sure to secure reservations ahead of time.) In addition to the tasting rooms and the restaurant, Barboursville Vineyards has an on-site inn and cottages.

Our time at Barboursville Vineyards was so relaxing and enjoyable. We opted for the tasting in Library 1821, and it was a perfect choice. The day we visited was cool and misty. Inside was warm and inviting. Plus, our wine educator/server was quite knowledgeable and personable.

Historical Ruins

The remains (brick walls) of an 18th-century brick mansion built for the Barbour family sit on the Barboursville Vineyards grounds. (James Barbour served as Virginia’s governor, a U.S. senator, and Secretary of War in John Quincy Adams’ administration.) Thomas Jefferson designed the home, one of the largest in the area at the time. The home was built between 1814-1822, but it was destroyed in a fire on Christmas Day, 1884. Today, you can view the remains – a short walk or drive from the main winery building.

2. Blenheim Vineyards

31 Blenheim Farm, Charlottesville (10 miles from downtown Charlottesville) | 434-293-5366

Located near Charlottesville, Blenheim Vineyards‘ tasting room has a deck where you can enjoy vineyard views. Blenheim sells a variety of cheeses that complement the wine you’ll be tasting. Alternatively, you could purchase pre-packaged snacks. Dave Matthews, of the Dave Matthews Band, owns this vineyard and winery. Guided tastings (at busy times of the year) are by reservation only. Outdoor seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

3. Gabriele Rausse Winery

3247 Carters Mountain Road, Charlottesville (9 miles from downtown Charlottesville) | 434-981-1677

Nestled in the woods in a modern concrete and glass structure, Gabriele Rausse Winery is a unique property. Gabriele Rausse, the owner, is renowned in the area for helping establish other vineyards, including Barboursville Vineyards, Blenheim Vineyards, and Jefferson Vineyards. Rausse has served as the Director of Gardens and Grounds at Monticello since 1995 and has helped Monticello establish its vineyard, as well. His grown children are integral to today’s winery operations.

All the wines (but one) are produced from offsite Virginia-grown grapes. This is a small winery with limited seating. In fact, Gabriele Rausse Winery does not overtly advertise their location as there was no signage on the road at all when we visited. Thankfully, our GPS had no problem finding the winery.

4. Jefferson Vineyards

1353 Thomas Jefferson Parkway, Charlottesville (5 miles from downtown Charlottesville) | 434-977-3042

Thomas Jefferson worked with the Italian Filippo Mazzei to establish a vineyard on these grounds, using vines imported from Europe. Those first vines were planted in 1773 (but were later trampled by horses – yikes!). Today’s Jefferson Vineyards wines are produced from much later vine plantings, of course. The winery has indoor and outdoor seating. Pre-packed snacks are available to pair with your wine. (Note that today, Jefferson Vineyards is not associated with Monticello or the Jefferson family.)

5. Keswick Vineyards

1575 Keswick Winery Drive, Keswick (14 miles northeast of downtown Charlottesville) | 434-244-3341

Keswick Vineyards markets itself as kid- and dog-friendly and features live music on certain days of the week. Pre-packaged crackers, cheese spreads, and other snacks are available. Choose your wine in the tasting room, then relax on the covered deck, the tent-covered grassy area, or the lawn. We were fortunate to visit Keswick Vineyards after a lovely drive through the Virginia countryside on a day when they had live music; that was a treat and made the experience all the more enjoyable.

6. King Family Vineyards

6550 Roseland Farm, Crozet (17 miles west of downtown Charlottesville) | 434-823-7800

King Family Vineyards is a unique family-owned property as it has an active polo field on its property. Guests can purchase a set flight of wines for tastings; included with the wine is a QR code to access short videos on the wines in your flight. Pre-packaged snacks are available for purchase to accompany tastings.

Enjoy your tasting on the brick terrace or on the expansive lawn. Seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Bring your own chairs on busy weekends, as it could be crowded. While enjoying your wine, you’ll be able to view the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains.

**Polo horses exercise near the vineyard at King Family Vineyards.**

Plan your visit during polo season (on most Sundays at noon from Memorial Day weekend through mid-October) and you’ll be able to relax with your wine while watching the action on the field.

7. Michael Shaps Wineworks

1781 Harris Creek Way, Charlottesville (13 miles from downtown Charlottesville) | 434-296-3438

Michael Shaps Wineworks is up a steep hill south of Charlottesville, but the drive pays off with a complimentary, personal guided wine tasting. The wines are produced on-site as well as those from Michael Shaps’ vineyard in Burgundy, France. Michael Shaps learned his wine-making skills in Burgundy in the early 1990s and then moved to Virginia a few years later to work at local wineries. After a while, he went out on his own and created Michael Shaps Wineworks. In addition to this winery, he has Michael Shaps Wineworks Extended in downtown Charlottesville that offers tastings.

8. Pollak Vineyards

330 Newtown Road, Greenwood (20 miles west of downtown Charlottesville) | 540-456-8844

Pollak Vineyards has a large indoor tasting room with plenty of seating outside as well. Mountain and pond views dominate the outside seating areas. This is one of the wineries where you can’t help but relax, enjoy the delicious wines and beautiful vistas.

9. Septenary Winery

200 Seven Oaks Farm, Greenwood (18 miles west of downtown Charlottesville) | 434-996-6292

Septenary Winery is a small family-owned winery west of Charlottesville. Its tasting room was once a poolhouse for the former property owner. Although there’s limited seating inside, there’s ample outdoor options: around the pool, on the covered porch, or in one of the other outdoor spaces a little further from the pool. Septenary is adults-only (no children or infants).

**Some outdoor seating at Septenary Winery**

10. Veritas Vineyard & Winery

151 Veritas Lane, Afton, VA (25 miles west of downtown Charlottesville) | 540-456-8000

Take a short walk from the parking lot through rows of grape vines, and you’ll reach the Veritas Vineyard & Winery tasting room. Tastings are offered as flights of four wines (2 white, 2 red), each paired with its Taste in Place offering. Choose one of two flights of wine (Classic or Reserve), and you’ll get small bottles of 4 different wines along with corresponding QR codes. Once you’re ready to taste one of the samples, use the supplied QR code to access a video of the winemaker in the vineyard describing that vintage.

A selection of nibbles (such as charcuterie trays, cheese plates, sandwiches, and salads) is available, too. In addition, visitors can reserve (for a fee) a special Reserve Tasting that is hosted by one of their Tasting Room educators. Guests may also opt to dine and/or stay at the on-site Farmhouse at Veritas.

There are beautiful views of the mountains and a farm from several outdoor seating options: an expansive covered porch with tables and chairs; a large brick terrace with picnic benches; and groupings of adirondack chairs clustered around fire pits on the grassy lawn. Inside are tables and chairs as well as sofas centered around a large fireplace.

Planning Winery Visits

To help plan your visit, spend a little time on the Monticello Wine Trail website. It has a curated list of over 30 wineries, all within 25 miles of Charlottesville. The most appealing feature is a helpful planning tool: you select the wineries you want to visit, and the site generates an itinerary for you. Even more helpful is the option to reorganize the list it generates to match your daily plans. For example, my husband and I were approaching Charlottesville from the west along Route 64 (off Route 81), so I reorganized the list so we could visit the wineries west of Charlottesville as we drove into town. Note that most, but not all, of the region’s dozens of vineyards participate in the Monticello Wine Trail.

Final Thoughts

Wine is such a personal preference. I like dry whites; my husband prefers full-bodied reds. Although we favor different varietals, we both agreed that these wineries offer up a delicious array of fine wines and enjoyable experiences.

Favored Experiences

It’s a given that each of these ten wineries serve up excellent wines. There’s something for everyone’s tastes. So given that, I factor in the experience at the wineries — things like scenic vistas and personal attention — to make recommendations. Here’s a quick rundown of my picks:

For open mountain views, we enjoyed King Family Vineyards, Pollak Vineyards, Septenary Winery, and Veritas Vineyard & Winery.
For a woodland setting, Gabrielle Rausse is the perfect place.
For an expansive view with polo field (with matches on some weekends), head to King Family Vineyards.
For personal attention, we really enjoyed our time sipping wine (after being guided by a wine educator) and eating delicious food from the on-site restaurant at Barboursville Vineyards’ Library 1821. Michael Shaps Wineworks offered personal, guided wine tastings at no charge — a nice practice that you don’t find most places. Keep in mind, though, that the other wineries do also offer personal, guided wine tastings — for an additional fee.
For scenic drives, we enjoyed our treks to Barboursville Vineyards, Blenheim Vineyards, Keswick Vineyards, Pollak Vineyards, Septenary Vineyards, and Veritas Vineyards.
For prepared food options at wineries, check out Barboursville Vineyards and Veritas Vineyards.
For lodging at vineyards, consider Barboursville Vineyards and Veritas Vineyards. Both have attractive inns (and restaurants).

Charlottesville History and Hikes

There’s plenty to do and see in and around Charlottesville. Three founding fathers (James Madison, James Monroe, and Thomas Jefferson) called Charlottesville home, and their properties are open to the public. In addition, the prestigious University of Virginia, founded by Thomas Jefferson in the early 1800s, is located in Charlottesville. It has a historic core area that includes the impressive Jefferson-designed Rotunda, well worth a visit. Finally, there are several good walking trails, including some at the three former presidents’ estates.

Our Charlottesville Itinerary

On our last visit to the area, my husband and I spent the mornings visiting the homes of the former presidents. After that, we went for walks on the trails on those properties. Finally, we “wined down” at an area vineyard. All in all, that daily plan worked well for us!

Straight rows of grape vines stand by the entry to a winery outside Charlottesville, VA. — **Up close and personal! Vines greet visitors at Veritas Vineyard Winery.**

Planning Your Visit

Charlottesville-area wineries offer top-notch wines, warm hospitality, and unique ways to educate guests about their varietals. Do a little research (the Monticello Wine Trail website is an excellent start) to find the winery(ies) that best suit your interests. One last tip: you may want to pack some portable lawn chairs in your vehicle, so you’ve got a perch from which to enjoy your wine during busy times at wineries (like sunny, summer weekends). Cheers!

Virginia

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Comments?

Feel free to share your thoughts and experiences from a visit to some of Charlottesville’s wineries. 🙂

Charlottesville Wineries: Sensational Sips in Virginia’s Heartland

Popular Virginia Grapes for Making Wine