The Blue Ridge Mountains. Hogback Mountain. Skyline Drive. The waterways of the Chesapeake Bay. Catoctin Mountain. The Shenandoah Valley. The Channels Natural Area Preserve. Old Rag Mountain. From Virginia’s Eastern Shore to the foothills of the southern Appalachians, north along the Blue Ridge Mountains, there are no shortage of scenic wonders in Virginia.
Many wineries offer spectacular views of Virginia’s beauty. Here are just a few of the many Virginia wineries that offer stunning views of the Old Dominion.
Breaux Vineyards—Purcellville
photo credit: Steven Morris
36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Purcellville, VA 20132. www.breauxvineyards.com
Located in the town of Purcellville, the 404-acre Breaux Vineyards estate offers visitors beautiful views and wines to match. With 104 acres under vine, Breaux is the largest winery in Loudoun County in terms of production and acres planted. Visitors can enjoy award winning wines from the property’s Cherry Hill park (named for the surrounding cherry trees) while taking in views of Viognier and Nebbiolo vines climbing up to Short Hill Mountain. The property also offers a great view of the sun setting over the Blue Ridge Mountains in the distance.
Wine to pair with views: Nebbiolo (any vintage available) — each vintage showcases the potential of this Italian (Piemonte) grape variety in Virginia.
Stone Tower Winery—Leesburg
photo credit: Jeff Maurtizen, @jeffmauritzen
19925 Hogback Mountain Rd Leesburg, VA 20175. www.stonetowerwinery.com
Situated atop Hogback Mountain in southwest Leesburg, Stone Tower Winery offers some of the most beautiful vineyard and mountain views in the area. The second level deck of the newly finished winery building provides the best views of Viognier and Chardonnay vineyards atop surrounding rolling hills. Visitors can enjoy views of the Bull Run Mountains (a range of the Blue Ridge Mountains) from most spots on the expansive 306-acre property.
Wine to pair with views: Estate Viognier — “The red drinkers white wine”, perfect to pair with cooler temperatures and great views.
Bluemont Vineyards—Bluemont
18755 Foggy Bottom Road, Bluemont, VA 20135. www.bluemontvineyard.com
Bluemont Vineyards sits at 951 elevation on an eastern slope of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The tasting room at Bluemont Vineyards is the highest in Loudoun County offering visitors a panorama of the Loudoun Valley and Washington, DC, on clear days.
Wine to pair with the views: Farm Table Red — a versatile blend that pairs well with sunny, cool fall afternoons.
Ankida Ridge Vineyards—Amherst
photo credit: Steven Morris
1304 Franklin Creek Road, Amherst, VA 24521. www.ankidaridge.com
Located in Amherst, VA, about an hour southwest of Charlottesville, the vineyards at Ankida Ridge sit on the eastern slope of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Ankida, an ancient sumerian word that means ‘where heaven and earth join,’ is one of the most special places to take in Virginia’s spectacular views. From the deck of the tasting room at 1,450 in elevation, visitors have an up-close view of Pierce Mountain and Tobacco Row, a chain of hills that run parallel to Route 29 south to Lynchburg, in the distance. Owners Christine and Dennis Vrooman have recently cleared a new vineyard site at Ankida Ridge, at 1,800 feet elevation, with sweeping views east and south. (check website for tasting room hours)
Wine to pair with views: Pinot Noir. Yes, Pinot Noir ‘from’ Virginia! Amazingly delicious.
Early Mountain Vineyards—Madison
6109 Wolftown-Hood Rd, Madison, VA 22727. www.earlymountain.com
The inviting patio and spacious grounds at Early Mountain Vineyards in Madison, just north of Charlottesville, offer visitors views of Tippets Mountain and other Blue Ridge foothills. Visitors will find a broad range of Virginia wines available as part of Early Mountain’s ‘Best of Virginia’ program, which features wines from many of the state’s most notable wineries.
Wine to pair with the views: Block Nine Pinot Gris — aromatics of fresh and grilled stone fruit, citrus and a confectionery apple/baking spice. 100% Pinot Gris from the Block Nine parcel at Early Mountain.
Afton Mountain Vineyards — Afton
photo credit: Bill Crabtree, Jr.
234 Vineyard Lane, Afton, Virginia 22920. www.aftonmountainvineyards.com/
Situated atop rolling hills at the foot of the Blueridge Mountains in the scenic town of Afton, VA, about 25 miles west of Charlottesville. The 82-acre Afton Mountain property is home to some of the oldest vineyards in the region and boasts some of the most beautiful views. The views are equally stunning from the deck patio of one of four rental cottages available property.
Must Try Wine — Bollicine: Pop the cork on a bottle of Bollicine, a dry sparkling wine made in the traditional method with estate-grown Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, to pair with the amazing views. Be sure to take home a couple bottles of their Albarino, too.
Stone Mountain Vineyards—Dyke
Photo Credit: Carter Richardson-Gilliam, @crichardsongilliam
1376 Wyatt Mountain Rd, Dyke, VA 22935. www.stonemountainvineyards.com
Located 25 miles northwest of Charlottesville in Greene County, Stone Mountain Vineyards sits at 1,700 feet elevation in the Blue Ridge foothills. The Stone Mountain tasting room is the highest in Virginia. The expansive views of Greene County and surrounding foothills from the observation deck are breathtaking.
Wine to pair with the expansive views: Bacon Hollow Sunset — a red blend (40% Petit Verdot, 35% Cab Franc and 25% Merlot) named for the local area.
Glen Manor Vineyards—Front Royal
2244 Browntown Rd, Front Royal, VA 22630. www.glenmanorvineyards.com/
Located about 75 miles west of Washington, DC, Glen Manor Vineyards is situated on the western side of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Glen Manor vineyards are planted on the steep slopes of Hodder Hill, named for owner and winegrower Jeff White’s grandfather. Visitors can relax in adirondack chairs with friends and some of the finest wines in the region while enjoying sweeping vineyard views and the beautiful foliage of Dickey Ridge. Part of the Shenandoah National Park, Dickey Ridge climbs to 2,400 feet; about 1,000 feet beyond Glen Manor’s vineyards.
Wine to pair with the views of Hodder Hill and Dickey Ridge: Hodder Hill — one of Virginia’s premier red blends (67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot).
Saudé Creek Vineyards—Lanexa
photo credit: Bill Crabtree, Jr.
16230 Cooks Mill Rd, Lanexa, VA 23089. www.saudecreek.com
Located about about 35 miles east of Richmond, Saude Creek offers wine enthusiasts some of the best views in the Tidewater region. From the upper deck of the tasting room, visitors have views of Chambourcin vines with the Pamunkey River and town of West Point in the distance.
Wine to enjoy with the views: Cabernet Franc — a multi-year Governor’s Cup medal winner, this peppery-cherry Cab Franc would pair well with bowl of chili on a cool afternoon.
Chatham Vineyards—Machipongo
photo credit: Sam Dean, @sdeanphotos
9232 Chatham Rd, Machipongo, VA 23405. www.chathamvineyards.com
Visitors to the historic Chatham Vineyards property (patented in 1640 under English law) on Virginia’s Eastern Shore won’t see mountain ranges rising from valleys speckled with colorful foliage. Here, visitors will experience the beauty of the Chesapeake Bay. A short walk from the Chatham tasting room, visitors will find Church Creek, which backs up to the property (actually the front). Here, standing on the edge of the Creek, visitors have closeup views of birds nesting on Rabbit Island, salt marshes, blue crabs passing by in the water, and water birds like yellow-crowned night-herons, blue herons, osprey, and belted kingfishers along with other wildlife. Visitors may see oysterman pulling oysters from their beds in Church Creek or further up on Nassawadox Creek.
Wine to enjoy with the views and sounds of the Chesapeake Bay: Church Creek Steel Chardonnay — perhaps the state’s most site-expressive Chardonnay, offering tropical fruit and saline notes. Perfect with oysters cultivated steps from where the grapes were grown.
These are just a few of the wineries and cideries that provide views of Virginia’s stunning natural beauty.
Please share your favorite winery to enjoy Virginia’s beauty.
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My favorite is DuCard in Etlan, VA. Its a smaller boutique winery off the beaten path but the wines are superb and the view of Double Top mountain is beautiful.
Stone Mountain Vineyards is one not to be missed.
The views are fantastic and the wines awesome.