Undoubtedly the best way to spend a Saturday in Charlottesville, Va is touring various wineries in the area, savoring delicious local wine while enjoying the unbeatable backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains. As two double University of Virginia alums, Charlottesville is one of our favorite places in the world and one that we know very well. In this article, we’ll lay out 23 of our favorite wineries in Charlottesville, Va to help you plan the perfect wine weekend!
Wineries in Charlottesville, Va
Charlottesville, Virginia is a small town nestled in the heart of Virginia wine country. It’s the perfect location for a girls’ weekend getaway or a family-friendly weekend in the mountains!
The wineries in Charlottesville are home to stunning Blue Ridge Mountain views and produce some of Virginia’s best wines. What’s not to love?!
But with so many wineries to choose from, it can be difficult to plan your wine weekend itinerary! In this article, we’ve rounded up 23 of our all-time favorite wineries in Charlottesville. We’ll tell you why we like each location and what nearby wineries (or breweries, cideries, etc) it pairs well with.
Other Virginia resources
Looking for more to do in Virginia? You may also be interested in these guides!
Winery regions in Charlottesville, Va
Before we get into it, it’s important to note that while there are tons of wineries all around Charlottesville, many of them are actually quite far apart.
However, many of the wineries are clustered together, making it easy to visit several in one day without having to drive too far. With that in mind, you’ll likely want to pick an area and stick with it for the day.
Below are what we’d consider the main wineries regions or clusters around Charlottesville. We’ll group each of the best wineries in Charlottesville into these sections to help make your planning easier:
- Crozet/Afton: Located just southwest of Charlottesville, the Afton and Crozet area is what we’d consider the “mecca’ of Charlottesville wineries. If you’re visiting from out of town, this is the place to be! These wineries are closest to the mountains and have the best Blue Ridge Mountain views of all Charlottesville wineries. Plus, the area has the highest concentration of amazing wineries, making it super easy to visit several in one day.
- South of Charlottesville: If we had to pick a second favorite cluster of Charlottesville wineries, it’d definitely be those to the south. This includes wineries like Blenheim and Jefferson Vineyards.
- Gordonsville Area: If you’re coming from Richmond, the wineries clustered around the Gordonsville area are the most convenient. Because these wineries are further East, the views are more rolling hills and mountains, but nevertheless quite lovely!
- Northwest of Charlottesville: The final cluster of wineries is located to the northwest of Charlottesville. Like the Afton and Crozet area, these wineries also feature awesome mountain views. That being said, the area doesn’t have the same concentration of wineries – expect to drive a bit more to hop between places.
Fun Fact | We may be a little biased towards Afton because it’s where we call home! When we’re traveling, we love to share out little Blue Ridge Bungalow with guests – it’s the perfect spot for a Charlottesville wine weekend!
Best wineries in Charlottesville, Va
So let’s get into the wineries! Below we’ve compiled a list of our favorite wineries in Charlottesville within each of the regions described above. This list features some of the most popular (and rightfully so) wineries, as well as several more off-the-beaten-track options.
For each winery, we’ve included other wineries, restaurants or breweries in the nearby area to help you plan your winery hopping excursion.
Crozet/Afton
- King Family Vineyard
- Pollak Vineyards
- Afton Mountain Vineyards
- Veritas Vineyards & Winery
- Cardinal Point Winery
- Septenary Winery
- Hazy Mountain Vineyards and Brewery
- Flying Fox Vineyard
- Valley Road Vineyards
- Hill Top Berry Farm Winery and Meadery
South of Charlottesville
- Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyard
- Blenheim Vineyards
- Jefferson Vineyards
- Trump Winery
- Gabriele Rausse Winery
Gordonsville Area
Northwest of Charlottesville
Map of wineries in Charlottesville, Va
The map below displays the location of each of the best wineries near Charlottesville that we’ve included in the article below. As you can see, many of the wineries are clustered near each other.
- To view more details about each location, click on the marker on the map.
- To save this map for future use, click the star next to the title. From your phone, open the Google Maps app and click the “saved” tab, followed by the “Maps” icon. From your Gmail account, navigate to Maps –> “Saved” –> “My Maps” –> “Maps” tab.
- To email this map to yourself, click the three dots in the upper right corner.
Charlottesville wineries in Crozet & Afton
We’ll start first with the large selection of awesome wineries in our favorite spot to go winery hopping in Charlottesville: Afton & Crozet. Location about 20 to 30 minutes southwest of Charlottesville, this area is home to the well-known “Nelson 151“, a road known for its abundance of wineries, breweries, and cideries!
1. King Family Vineyard
- Location | 20 minutes west of Charlottesville
- Stops nearby | Pro Re Nata Brewery (5 minutes), Pollak Vineyard (11 minutes), Blue Mountain Brewery (13 minutes), Septenary Winery (7 minutes)
King Family Vineyard is a sprawling vineyard set in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Although King Family is one of the more popular vineyards in the area, there is always plenty of space to spread out across their expansive and perfectly-manicured lawn.
They are well-known for the polo matches held each Sunday (weather permitting) throughout the summer. There is no better way to fight off the Sunday scaries than a tailgate and a few bottles of wine, while enjoying horses speeding past with perfect views of the Blue Ridge in the background.
King Family’s perhaps most popular wine is their Crosé, a light and crisp Rosé, named after the nearby town of Crozet. Bottles of Crosé go down like water on a hot Sunday while watching polo. The Viognier, Roseland (Viogner + Chardonnay blend), and Meritage (red blend) all embody King Family’s dedication to showcasing the beauty of Virginia grapes.
2. Pollak Vineyards
- Location | 25 minutes west of Charlottesville
- Stops nearby | King Family Vineyards (11 minutes), Veritas Vineyards & Winery (11 minutes), Septenary Vineyards (6 minutes), Valley Road Vineyards (5 minutes)
Another often overlooked gem, Pollak Vineyards has both picturesque views and top-notch wines. Its hands down one of the best wineries in Charlottesville, VA!
They have a large, wrap-around porch overlooking a pond and the outskirts of the Blue Ridge. Their Viognier is among the best in the area, and one of my personal favorite wines of all time.
3. Afton Mountain Vineyards
- Location | 35 minutes west of Charlottesville
- Stops nearby | Blue Mountain Brewery (10 minutes), Veritas Vineyard (8 minutes), Cardinal Point Winery (10 minutes), King Family (14 minutes)
Afton Mountain Vineyards’s slogan is, “Grapes don’t grow in ugly places,” and while I can’t confirm that universally, I can confirm it is true at Afton Mountain.
One of the more picturesque vineyards in the area, the rows of vines stretching out before the Blue Ridge Mountains is the perfect setting to enjoy a glass of local wine. Afton Mountain is a little out of the way, nestled high in the mountains on windy back roads, but the views along are worth the trip.
Afton Mountain probably has the most inventive indoor/outdoor space of any vineyard. At most places, space gets extremely limited when the weather turns. But at Afton Mountain, they have a large pavilion with picnic tables, comfy leather couches and walls made of large glass windows providing unimpeded views are the surrounding area.
When it’s warm, the walls open up to enjoy the fresh air but can be closed when the temperature takes a dip. If it is cold or raining and you still want the outdoor vineyard experience, Afton Mountain is the place to go.
4. Veritas Vineyard and Winery
- Location | 30 minutes west of Charlottesville
- Stops nearby | Afton Mountain Vineyards (8 minutes), Blue Mountain Brewery (7 minutes), Cardinal Point Winery (11 minutes)
With an extensive wine list, sprawling lawn, beautiful views, and tasting room menu offering sandwiches, charcuterie and flatbreads, Veritas Vineyard and Winery has it all.
The name Veritas is a reference to the quote of Pliny the Elder, “in vino veritas” meaning “in wine, there is truth.” Well the truth is that Veritas is a spot you can’t miss on your Charlottesville wine adventure.
During the winter, Veritas sets up bubble tents (shown in the photo above) that allow you to still enjoy your glass of wine with a view, even when it’s chilly outside! To ensure you can snag a bubble, make a reservation in advance.
The Farmhouse at Veritas also offers dinners Tuesday through Sunday featuring a fixed 4-course meal with wine pairings, and a 3-course Sunday brunch paired with sparkling wine. If you’re visiting Charlottesville for the weekend, this is a great place to splurge or celebrate a special occasion!
5. Cardinal Point Winery
- Location | 30 minutes southwest of Charlottesville
- Stops nearby | Afton Mountain Vineyard (11 minutes), Veritas Vineyard and Winery (7 minutes), Blue Mountain Brewery (5 minutes)
Perhaps a bit less scenic than other stops, Cardinal Point is on the list because they do the most important thing better than anyone else – make terrific wine. Tucked away in Rockfish Gap, Cardinal Point is a smaller winery that is too-often overlooked in the Charlottesville wine circuit.
Their Cabernet Franc won the Gold Medal in the 2019 Monticello Cup and cannot be missed. Also try their A6, Quattro, and Hopped Chardonnay for some creative and adventurous whites. In terms of our favorite Charlottesville wineries, the A6 at Cardinal Point comes in a close second to Pollak’s Viognier.
6. Septenary Winery
- Location | 20 minutes southwest of Charlottesville
- Stops nearby | Pollak Vineyards (6 minutes), King Family Vineyards (7 minutes), Blue Mountain Brewery (7 minutes)Pro Re Nata Brewery (5 minutes)
Often overlooked in favor of more popular Charlottesville wineries, Septenary Winery is home to sweeping mountain views and masterful Virginia wine. Septenary has a large outdoor seating area, but indoor seating is limited so you may have trouble finding a spot on cold or rainy days.
You must be older than 21 to visit Septenary Winery, so if you’re traveling with kids, best to skip this one. Additionally, reservations are required for groups of six or more.
7. Hazy Mountain Vineyards & Brewery
- Location | 30 minutes southwest of Charlottesville
- Stops nearby | Pollak Vineyards (6 minutes), King Family Vineyards (7 minutes), Blue Mountain Brewery (7 minutes)Pro Re Nata Brewery (5 minutes)
We’ll be honest, out of all the incredible Charlottesville wineries, Hazy Mountain is not our favorite. Resembling an Italian Villa, the massive stucco building with a red shingled roof feels out of place in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Their wine is not the best, and unlike other wineries in Charlottesville, the massive complex feels impersonal and stuffy (case in point: dogs are not allowed, even outside).
All that being said, we’ve included Hazy Mountain on this list for one reason: the views! Perched atop a mountain with a sweeping panoramic vista, you really can’t ask for a better view. Of all the Charlottesville wineries, we have to say that Hazy Mountain has the best view.
Additionally, Hazy Mountain gets bonus points for variety. It serves food and beer, making it a crowd pleaser for the whole family or group, and its a solid option if you need something in your stomach to soak up all that wine you’ve been drinking…
8. Flying Fox Vineyard
- Location | 25 minutes southwest of Charlottesville
- Stops nearby | Valley Road Vineyards (3 minutes)
Flying Fox Vineyard is singularly focused on producing the best wine. No frills, no beautiful views, but killer wine.
Located right off Nelson 151, Flying Fox is often skipped over because it doesn’t have what many people come to Charlottesville for: Blue Ridge Mountain views! Nonetheless, Flying Fox produces some of the region’s best wines and is certainly worth a stop!
With lots of indoor seating, Flying Fox is also a good option on rainy or cold days.
9. Valley Road Vineyards
- Location | 25 minutes southwest of Charlottesville
- Stops nearby | Flying Fox Vineyards (3 minutes),
Relatively new on the Charlottesville Winery scene, Valley Road Vineyards has quickly become a crowd favorite. With sweeping Blue Ridge Mountain views, beautiful red barns, and awesome wines, what’s not to love?!
During the winter, Valley Road serves up a hot mulled red wine – sure to warm you up on a chilly day in the mountains! In the summer, cool off with a Frose or Sangria.
Valley Road even hosts live music, staying open until 7:00 pm on many Friday nights during Spring through Fall. Although the winery does not serve food, food trucks are often on site on weekends.
Note that reservations are required for private tastings and parties larger than 8. Dogs are permitted outside, but not inside the winery.
10. Hill Top Berry Farm Winery and Meadery
- Location | 35 minutes southwest of Charlottesville
- Stops nearby | Flying Fox Vineyard (12 minutes), Bold Rock Cidery (7 minutes), Devil’s Backbone Brewpub (9 minutes), Blue Toad Cider (10 minutes)
If you’re looking to get off the beaten path and experience a very different type of wine, check out Hill Top Berry Farm. Located on State Route 631 just off Nelson 151, Hill Top Berry Farm is located in the heart of Charlottesville wine country but gets much less attention.
Serving unique sweet wines and mead, Hill Top Berry Farm is a great place to try something different! They pride themselves on wines made from all fruits “other than grapes” – this includes blueberries, apples, peaches, blackberries, plums, and more.
In addition to their unique wines, they also serve tasty charcuterie boards with fresh local cheeses and jams. During the summer, they host several festivals including the Honey and Mead Festival in June and the Blackberry Harvest and Music Festival in August.
Wineries south of Charlottesville
The region to the south of Charlottesville is home to many of the best Charlottesville wineries, including Pippin Hill, Blenheim, and Jefferson Vineyards.
11. Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards
- Location | 20 minutes southwest of Charlottesville
- Stops nearby: Loving Cup Winery (8 minutes), Dr. Ho’s Humble Pie (3 minutes), Albemarle CiderWorks (5 minutes), Woodridge Farm Brewery (16 minutes)
Perched upon the top of a gentle hill, Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards boasts a beautiful tasting room and large veranda with expansive views of the foothills of the Blue Ridge below. The view and ambiance may be the best in the area.
Pippin Hill is also known for its exquisite food menu featuring fresh, local, or even vineyard-grown ingredients. This is the perfect place to relax with a bottle of wine and a cheese board.
Be warned, Pippin Hill is very popular and space is limited. If you don’t have a reservation in advance, you’ll likely be turned away before you even make your way up the hill.
Although we’ve grouped Pippin Hill with the wineries south of Charlottesville, it is a little isolated relative to other wineries. It could be combined with a trip to Blenheim, Trump and Gabrielle Rausse, or any of the wineries in the Afton and Crozet area, but expect to drive about 20 to 25 minutes.
12. Blenheim Vineyards
- Location | 20 minutes southwest of Charlottesville
- Stops nearby: Jefferson Vineyards (10 minutes), Gabriele Rausse Winery (4 minutes), Trump Winery (1 minute), Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards (21 minutes)
Tastings at Blenheim Vineyards are hosted in a cute restored barn, with a lovely patio off the back to enjoy your wine. Here you’ll enjoy nice views of rolling hills and farmland (but not quite the mountain views found in the Afton/Crozet area).
Blenheim has grown quite a bit in recent years, and its small indoor space has been supplemented with a huge outdoor seating area with plenty of space to hang out on a nice summer day!
Because the indoor area is so small, groups are limited to 4 or fewer. Larger groups are welcome outside. Tastings are offered inside for $25 and reservations are recommended.
13. Jefferson Vineyards
- Location | 11 minutes southwest of Charlottesville
- Stops nearby: Blenheim Vineyards (10 minutes), Gabriele Rausse Winery (8 minutes), Trump Winery (11 minutes), Michie Tavern (5 minutes)
Jefferson Vineyards is one of the most convenient to access wineries in Charlottesville, located just over 10 minutes outside the city.
The Rose at Jefferson Vineyards is our personal favorite – light and refreshing on a hot summer day! If you’re into sweeter wines, try the Vin Blanc – it’s got a touch of sweetness that isn’t too overpowering.
Jefferson Vineyards hosts a Music in the Garden series every Sunday from 2:00 to 4:00 pending good weather. Listen to local musicians while you sip your wine outside!
Note that vans, buses, and stretch limos are not permitted at Jefferson Vineyards due to their limited parking area.
14. Trump Winery
- Location | 11 minutes southwest of Charlottesville
- Stops nearby: Blenheim Vineyards (1 minutes), Gabriele Rausse Winery (5 minutes), Jefferson Vineyards (10 minutes)
The wine at Trump Winery isn’t personally our favorite, but the location is quite beautiful. It’s worth a stop of you’re visiting Blenheim or Jefferson Vineyards.
Tastings are offered inside and the outdoor area has plenty of Adirondack chairs to spread out, relax, and enjoy your wine with a view. A limited and rotating food menu is also available inside the tasting room.
15. Gabriele Rausse Winery
The teeny-tiny winery has room for only a few visitors at once. Nestled in the forest, it doesn’t have sweeping views like many other Charlottesville wineries. But what Gabriele Rausse Winery lacks in size and views, they make up for with great wines!
You can do a wine tasting from their unique green house-like tasting room, or enjoy a glass or bottle outdoors. Note that seating is limited both indoors and outdoors, so Gabriele Rausse is not a great option if you have a big group.
Wineries in the Gordonsville Area
Conveniently located about 45 minutes west of Richmond, some of the best wineries in Charlottesville are located in the Barboursville area, nestled among green rolling hills in horse country.
16. Keswick Vineyards
- Location | 20 minutes northeast of Charlottesville
- Stops nearby | Castle Hill Cider (6 minutes)
A smaller vineyard, Keswick Vineyards is known for producing smaller batches of high-quality wines. The tasting room is cozy and there is plenty of space outdoors for sipping on a glass.
Keswick has a more laid-back vibe and can be a more serene experience than some other vineyards where the hustle and bustle can dampen the experience.
17. Barboursville Vineyards
- Location | 25 minutes northeast of Charlottesville
- Stops nearby | Barbecue Exchange (11 minutes), Horton Vineyards (3 minutes), Keswick Vineyards (17 minutes), Early Mountain Vineyards (21 minutes)
Barboursville Vineyards is a must on your Charlottesville wine excursion!
Set on the grounds of the property of James Barbour, a lawyer, governor of Virginia, senator, and Secretary of State under John Quincy Adams, you can still wander through the ruins of his Jefferson-designed mansion that partially burned to the ground on Christmas Day in 1884. At Barboursville, that history is taken seriously and no detail is over-looked.
Their restaurant, Palladio, is perfect for special occasions.
Wine at Barboursville harkens back to the owners’ and winemakers’ Italian heritage. Beyond the typical Virginia varieties, you can also find Barbera, Bebbiolo, Sangiovese, and Vermentino.
For us, a trip to Barboursville is usually preceded by a stop at Barbecue Exchange, one of the best barbecue restaurants in the state. Grab some barbecue, buy some wine, and sit outside enjoying the views.
18. Horton Vineyards
- Location | 25 minutes northeast of Charlottesville
- Stops nearby | Barboursville Vineyards (3 minutes), Barbecue Exchange (8 minutes), Keswick Vineyards (15 minutes)
Horton Vineyards looks something like a medieval castle, with massive stone walls and a red roof. If you’re visiting Barboursville, Horton Vineyards is definitely worth checking out. Horton has a huge selection of wines, so there’s sure to be something for everyone here.
Horton was one of the first producers of Viognier in Virginia, a grape that is now known as the state’s official grape. Today the Viognier remains one of the vineyard’s most popular wines. Horton is also known for its large selection of dessert wines and fruity wines, like strawberry, pear, blueberry, and peach.
19. Early Mountain Vineyards
- Location | 42 minutes northeast of Charlottesville
- Stops nearby | Barboursville Vineyards (21 minutes) Horton Vineyards (23 minutes), Bald Top Brewing Co (8 minutes)
If you look at the map, you will see that Early Mountain Vineyards is a little bit out there! It’s about a 40-minute drive from downtown Charlottesville, but just over 20 minutes from Barboursville Vineyards.
What sets Early Mountain Vineyards apart, and earns it a spot on this list of the best wineries in Charlottesville, Va, is its massive and beautiful tasting room. With cozy couches and plenty of space, the Early Mountain tasting room also features a full-service kitchen featuring a menu prepared with local ingredients.
If you’re looking to enjoy a meal while you sip your wine, Early Mountain is the place to go!
Wineries northwest of Charlottesville
Last but not least, the cluster of wineries northwest of Charlottesville, such as Glass House, Stinson, and Grace Estate.
20. Glass House Winery
- Location | 26 minutes northwest of Charlottesville
- Stops nearby | Stinson Vineyards (18 minutes), Grace Estate Winery (19 minutes)
Glass House Winery is unlike any other Charlottesville vineyards on this list. First, the name gives it away, but the tasting room actually is a glass house filled with tropical plants. It might be a little different vibe than most other vineyards in the area, but it is cool to feel like you are sitting in a tropical oasis.
Second, they have an in-house chocolatier serving the perfect accompaniment to a glass of wine: homemade chocolate. They offer chocolate tastings to pair with either white or red wine, and it is pure heaven.
Glass House is a really unique experience and worth going a little bit out of the way for.
21. Stinson Vineyards
- Location | 24 minutes northwest of Charlottesville
- Stops nearby | Glass House Vineyards (18 minutes), Grace Estate Winery (3 minutes), White Hall Vineyards (6 minutes)
A vineyard with stunning mountain views, Stinson Vineyards has become increasingly popular in recent years. The family-owned winery is known for its production of small-batch wines. Their Sugar Hollow White is light and crisp: sure to be a crowd favorite!
Stinson Vineyards also has an inn where you can enjoy views of the vineyards from your room. Included with your stay is a luxurious three-course breakfast!
22. Grace Estate Winery
- Location | 25 minutes northwest of Charlottesville
- Stops nearby | Glass House Vineyards (19 minutes), Stinson Vineyards (3 minutes), White Hall Vineyards (6 minutes), King Family Vineyards (12 minutes), Pollak Vineyards (20 minutes)
Located just a few minutes from Stinson Vineyards is Grace Estate Winery. Grace Estate is nestled below the Blue Ridge Mountains and also features some of the best views in the area!
While most wineries in Charlottesville, Va close between 5:00 and 5:30pm (even on weekends), Grace Estate Winery stays open until 7:30pm on Fridays and Saturdays, so its a great option if you’re looking for somewhere to go later in the evening.
Although we’ve grouped Grace Estate with the wineries northwest of Charlottesville, it’d also be easy to combine with King Family or Pollak Vineyards.
23. White Hall Vineyards
- Location | 28 minutes northwest of Charlottesville
- Stops nearby | Stinson Vineyards (6 minutes), Grace Estate Winery (7 minutes), Glass House Winery (22 minutes)
Last but not least on our list of the best wineries in Charlottesville, Va is White Hall Vineyards. Located just under 30 minutes northwest of Charlottesville, White Hall is the perfect spot to enjoy a picnic with a stunning Blue Ridge Mountain view!
White Hall Vineyard’s Gewurztraminer stands apart from other wines in the area. The Gewurztraminer grape was originally grown in Germany, and it produces a crisp white wine with a slightly sweet hint of honeysuckle.
Other useful resources
Looking to sweat a little before getting your drink on? We’ve compiled a list of our favorite hikes in close proximity to Charlottesville:
For all things Virginia: Virginia Travel Guide
If you are headed to Charlottesville for a weekend get away, you truly can’t go wrong with any of the wineries on this list. Beautiful Blue Ridge Mountain views and delicious wine – it doesn’t get better than that!
Have you been to any of the Charlottesville wineries on this list? Let us know your favorite in the comments below!
