10 Stunning Wineries Near Shenandoah National Park

Let’s be honest, it’s hard to beat a glass of wine after a hike, especially at a bucolic vineyard with wide-open views at one of the best wineries near Shenandoah National Park. Imagine settling in to an Adirondack chair, glass of award-winning wine in hand, savoring wondrous mountain views. Ahh, heavenly.

Shenandoah National Park is large though, nearly 200,000 acres. There are hikes all along the 105-mile stretch of Skyline Drive, which runs north to south through the park. There are four park entrances between Front Royal and Waynesboro, and several other access points from the outer park boundaries.

With this in mind, it’s a must to know about the best vineyards and wineries near Shenandoah National Park. Thankfully, we’ve you got you covered, highlighting ten of the best wineries near Shenandoah National Park, including the park entrances to which each one is closest, as well as other wineries within a short drive of the entrances. Cheers!

ROCKFISH GAP SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK ENTRANCE

Located near the intersection of I-64 and U.S. 250, the Rockfish Gap entrance to Shenandoah National Park is the southernmost entrance, close to towns like Staunton, Crozet, Charlottesville, and Waynesboro.

Veritas Vineyards and Winery, Afton

Photo Credit: Chad Williams, @echadwilliams

From the park’s Rockfish Gap entrance, it’s a 10-minute drive to 50-acre Veritas Vineyards and Winery in Afton for award-winning wines, including a 2017 Petit Verdot and a 2019 Sauvignon Blanc. Both were recognized by the Virginia’s Governor’s Cup in 2021 as among the very best wines in Virginia.

Sample wines from the comfort of a private picnic table with a roaring fire pit or settle in on the lawn with a bottle and wildly scenic views across the Blue Ridge Mountains. Book a wine educator-led tasting for up to eight people or scan a QR code to watch flight-specific tasting videos hosted by Veritas winemaker, Emily Hodson.

Veritas Vineyards is open every day and sells sandwiches, salads, and charcuterie boards. Guests are also welcome to bring their own picnic lunches. The vineyard is both dog-friendly and kid-friendly.

Afton Mountain Vineyards, Afton

Photo Credit: Steven Morris

Just 10 minutes from the Rockfish Gap entrance, Afton Mountain Vineyards is one of the state’s first farm wineries. It’s also one of 40 wineries and vineyards that make up the esteemed Monticello Wine Trail. Nearly a dozen grape varieties are grown across the idyllic 25-acre vineyard for the award-winning reds and whites.

After a visit to the park, take a seat on the patio or lawn with a glass of wine, maybe the 2017 Tradition. This well-balanced red was recognized in 2020 by the Virginia Governor’s Cup, a respected competition to choose the very best wines in Virginia.

Bring your pup to Afton Mountain Vineyards for the afternoon or stay the weekend in one of four pet-friendly, one-bedroom vineyard cottages. Afton Mountain Vineyards is open Thursday through Sunday. Bring your own food or purchase light snack fare, like cheeses and crackers.

More Wineries Near the Rockfish Gap Entrance:

POllak Vineyards, Photo Credit: Bill Crabtree Jr.

SWIFT RUN GAP SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK ENTRANCE

Heading north from the Rockfish Gap Entrance, the Swift Run Gap Entrance to Shenandoah National Park is accessible via U.S. Route 33. Madison, Elkton, Shenandoah, McGaheysville, and Harrisonburg are all close to the Swift Run Gap Entrance.

Brix & Columns Vineyards, McGaheysville

From the park’s Swift Run Gap entrance, Brix & Column Vineyards is an easy 15-minute drive. Go to sample award-winning wines, savor vibrant sunsets, and of course, say hello to Wyatt the Great Dane, the resident wine dog who greets guests and tromps across the vineyards. He even has his own blog, Wyatt on Wine.

Brix & Columns Vineyards sells wine by the glass, by the bottle, and as part of a flight of five wine samples that can be red, white, and/or sweet. Enjoy wine outdoors year-round at this four-season winery thanks to outdoor fireplaces that warm in winter and canopies that provide cooling shade in summer.

Open seven days a week, Brix & Columns Vineyards is a dog-friendly and family-friendly winery with plenty of space to roam and play. Bring a blanket and a picnic lunch to enjoy on the grounds with your wine. This farm winery does not sell food.

Early Mountain Vineyards, Madison

For big views and exquisite wines, look to Early Mountain Vineyards in Madison. This gorgeous vineyard at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains is a 25-minute drive east of the Swift Run Gap entrance. It’s also every bit worth the drive for their Virginia wines after a scenic hike to Hawksbill Summit or South River Falls.

More than a dozen Early Mountain wines – from vibrant Chardonnays to rich and aromatic Cab Francs – are available by the glass or bottle in the indoor tasting room or from the open-air patio. Three curated “Best of Virginia” flights allow guests to sample four palate-pleasing wines from noted vineyards across the state.

Early Mountain Vineyards is open to wine-loving guests (and their on-leash pups) Thursday through Monday. A small food menu of locally-sourced sharables and small plates is available to guests, as are rotating main dish options, like halibut.

More Wineries Near the Swift Run Gap Entrance:

Glass House Winery

THORNTON GAP SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK ENTRANCE

About halfway through the park at the intersection of Skyline Drive and Route 211, the Thornton Gap Entrance is close to towns like Luray on the western side of the park and Sperryville, Washington, and Flint Hill on the eastern side.

The Valley Cork, Luray

A short 15-minute drive west of the Thornton Gap entrance is The Valley Cork in Luray. This in-town wine bar on Main Street has an impressive wine menu with more than two dozen wines, including the Sugar Hollow White from Stinson Vineyards in Crozet and the Rendezvous Red from RdV Vineyards in Delaplane.

The wine menu features reds, whites, sparkling, and sweet, but The Valley Cork also sells beers and ciders by the glass. A food menu tempts with flatbreads, charcuterie boards, and small plates, as well as sweets, like the popular Cookie Skillet.

The Valley Cork is open Wednesdays (lunch only), Thursdays (lunch, dinner), Fridays (lunch, dinner), and Saturdays (dinner only). On Wednesdays, The Valley Cork sets up a Breakfast Buffet with eggs, sausage, and pancakes.

Gadino Cellars, Washington

Gadino Cellars is a modest winery just 15 minutes east of the park’s Thornton Gap entrance. This winery may be small, but many park-goers are pleased to learn that Gadino Cellars offers multiple wines made with estate-grown varietals, including the full-bodied, award-winning 2017 Petit Verdot.

Located in Rappahannock County, Gadino Cellars is a stone’s throw from both Shenandoah National Park and the Inn at Little Washington, which his especially nice for those eager to make it a weekend in the area. Sample wines in the tasting room or take a glass or bottle outside to revel in expansive vineyard views.

Gadino Cellars is open Friday through Monday. Bring your pup to this dog-friendly winery and get in a game of Bocce at the on-site court. Hungry? Box lunches are available thanks to a partnership with Before & After Café in Sperryville.

More Wineries Near the Thornton Gap Entrance:

Quièvremont Winery

FRONT ROYAL SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK ENTRANCE

The northernmost entrance to Shenandoah National Park, the Front Royal Entrance begins where U.S. Route 340 meets Skyline Drive, and as the name suggests, the town of Front Royal abuts the entrance, with towns like Strasburg, Winchester, Paris, and Delaplane close by.

Glen Manor Vineyards, Front Royal

Glen Manor Vineyards is just 10 minutes from the Front Royal entrance station, enabling park-goers to have an award-winning glass of wine in hand in no time. The 2019 Dry Petit Manseng was hand-picked from among 30,000 wines for a coveted spot on The Wine Advocate‘s Top 100 Wine Discoveries list for 2020.

Enjoy a glass or a bottle outside at this peaceful and picturesque estate vineyard where both pups and kids are welcome. Settle in on an Adirondack chair under a large green umbrella to savor the sensational mountain vistas. Reservations are required and are limited to two hours.

Glen Manor Vineyards is open Wednesday through Sunday. There is no food available for purchase, but the winery does allow guests to bring a picnic lunch to enjoy with their wine on the lawn.

Chester Gap Cellars, Front Royal

Photo Credit: Bill Crabtree Jr.

Chester Gap Cellars is a small estate winery less than a 10-minute drive from the park’s Front Royal entrance. Sip a variety of hand-crafted reds and whites that range from a full and fruity Petit Manseng to an expressive Cab Franc.

Revel in far-reaching views across the Shenandoah Valley from an outdoor patio that beckons wine-loving guests to sit and stay the afternoon. Consider staying the night at Idle Hour at Chester Gap, a quiet, three-bedroom retreat adjacent to the vineyard with an outdoor fire pit and endless starry skies.

Chester Gap Cellars is open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Pets are welcome, as is outside food, though the winery does offer snacks for sale, including meats, cheeses, breads, and crackers.

More Wineries Near the Front Royal Entrance:

RDV Vineyards, Photo Credit: Jeff Maurtizen, @jeffmauritzen

BORDERING SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK

Here are a few excellent wineries within eyesight of Shenandoah National Park but not exactly close to the entrances. You’ll still get gorgeous views of the famed Blue Ridge Mountains at these vineyards, even if you’re not planning on entering the park!

Sharp Rock Vineyards, Sperryville

Photo Credit: Bill Crabtree Jr.

Given Old Rag is among the most popular hikes in the state, we have to include a vineyard a stone’s throw from Old Rag Mountain. Thankfully, Sharp Rock Vineyards is a mere five minutes away by car. Settle in on the back porch with a glass of sweet Chamois Blanc or a well-balanced Cab Franc.

The Old Rag Red is also a favorite and pairs well with the cheeses, crackers, and venison sausage available for purchase at this 100-year-old barn winery and tasting room. Cuddle up with one of the wine dogs that welcome guests to the small winery. Make it a weekend with a stay in one of three on-site cottages.

Sharp Rock Vineyards is open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. In October, the winery is also open on Thursdays and Mondays for leaf peepers eager to tackle Old Rag and sample a glass of wine amongst the colorful fall foliage.

DuCard Vineyards, Etlan

DuCard Vineyards in Etlan is another top pick for wine lovers, particularly among those eager to hike to the top of Old Rag or to cascading Whiteoak Falls. Both trails are less than 15 minutes by car from this boutique winery that handcrafts wine from grapes grown at three Madison County vineyards.

Order a flight, a glass, or a bottle of DuCard wine to enjoy inside the tasting room or outside on the back lawn. Both locations wow with sensational mountain views. Two bottles honor Shenandoah National Park, including Shenandoah, a sweet white, and Black Bear, an easy-drinking red. Both feature iconic labels that celebrate the park.

DuCard Vineyards is open daily year-round. Look for food trucks and live music on Fridays and Saturdays. Pups are allowed both inside the tasting room and on the grounds. The vineyard also has water bowls and free treats for good doggos.

ROCKFISH GAP SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK ENTRANCE

Veritas Vineyards and Winery, Afton

Photo Credit: Chad Williams, @echadwilliams