Gray Ghost Vineyards and Winery might possibly be the most recommended winery I've come to know. Because Gray Ghost is local to my area, I had waited to visit since I could do so without prearranged planning. Turns out that was like waiting to cash in a winning lottery ticket. Get comfy because I've got a lot to tell (and show) you! I'm celebrating a milestone of sorts: This is my 20th Virginia Winery Taste and Tour post! So I wanted it to be special. As you may remember from my ...
Riesling
The Winery at Bull Run – Taste & Tour
Did you ever think that if Grant and Lee could have sat down and shared a nice bottle of Cabernet Franc by a roaring fire that the Civil War might have wrapped much sooner? Okay, maybe not. They would've enjoyed that wine, though. Yet it's a nice alternate reality to play out--especially if you use the Winery at Bull Run as the backdrop. One of the closest wineries to downtown Washington--only 28 miles from the White House!--you can experience a piece of history and cap it (or cork it) with a ...
Prince Michel Vineyard & Winery – Taste & Tour
One of Virginia's top five wine producers, Prince Michel offers standout wine tastings and a self-guided tour of their operation, giving you more than just a peek into how they make their magic. Couple that with gorgeous countryside, abundant indoor and outdoor spaces, a must-visit gift shop, and you've just found a great way to spend a day enjoying (and learning about) Virginia wine. Where better to learn than one of Virginia's greatest success stories? The Facility . . . Zooming among ...
Barboursville Vineyards – Taste & Tour
One of Virginia's crown jewels of wine production, Barboursville Vineyards should not only be on your wine tour list, you should dedicate an entire day there. Famously known for its Octagon Bordeaux-style blend--served to Queen Elizabeth II upon her visit to the Commonwealth--there is greatness to be discovered. And tasted. Riding across the gentle hills of the Piedmont region, you'll be struck with not only vivid history, but an area that time has yet to disturb. And Barboursville ...
Pearmund Cellars – Taste & Tour
If you're becoming familiar with the Virginia wine scene, odds are you've heard of executive winemaker Chris Pearmund and Pearmund Cellars. And that, my friend, is a good thing. Not only are they one of the most award-winning wineries in Virginia, they grow grapes or produce wines for other established wineries, including Vint Hill Craft Winery and the Winery at Bull Run. And if you've tasted Pearmund's wines, it's likely you've added some of their bottles to your collection. The drive ...
Arterra Wines – Taste & Tour
Arterra Wines is indisputably one of Virginia's hidden treasures. And it is hidden. Arterra (and the associated Hawkmoth Art Gallery) are tucked off a pair of beaten paths in Delaplane, Virginia--beaten enough that you may want to take your SUV. But even if you need to hike, the journey will be worth the destination. With some of the finest crafted and true-to-terroir wines in Virginia, Arterra demands not merely to be sought after, but to be found. After twisting through lush forest and ...