A Taste of Virginia's Viticulture: Following Northern Virginia's Wine Trails

Less than an hour’s drive from the nation’s capital among picturesque rolling landscapes are dozens of wineries that make up Northern Virginia’s wine region. Renowned wineries and vineyards grace Northern Virginia, calling to Virginia’s wine heritage and the unique terroir that make the wines one-of-a-kind. With Washington, D.C. and Shenandoah National Park just a short drive away, Northern Virginia’s winery adventures make for convenient stops for those travelers exploring the area’s well-known landmarks. 

HISTORY OF VIRGINIA WINE

As the birthplace of American wine, Virginia has a long legacy of winemaking. When the colonists arrived in 1607, they brought with them barrels of European wine in hopes of carrying the inspiration for grape and wine cultivation throughout the colonies. Legislation, aided by the Carter family in Northern Virginia, was enacted to establish wine growing regions and to ensure that grapes would be grown in the colonial era.  Through weather, pests, and Prohibition, Virginia winemakers faced many challenges. When the 1970s struck, viticulture in Virginia began to grow rapidly, expanding from a mere six wineries to dozens, finally reaching the hundreds throughout the Commonwealth today. 

MIDDLEBURG AVA

As part of Virginia’s wine country, the Middleburg AVA was created in 2006 with help from Rachel E. Martin of Boxwood Estate Winery. The AVA has grown to include dozens of wineries with well-established praise. Characterized by lush countryside with milder climates in the summer and winter, the wines from the Middleburg AVA are uniquely Virginian with roots in Old World European techniques.

NORTHERN VIRGINIA WINE TRAILS

You can find multiple wine trails and wineries throughout the Northern Virginia region. Fauquier County’s Wine Trail includes wineries in and surrounding the Middleburg AVA from Barrel Oak Winery to Vint Hill Craft Winery. Many notable wineries and vineyards comprise the trail, making it a great place to start for a Virginia wine journey. 

The Loudoun Wine Trail has six clusters – Loudoun Heights, Waterford, Snickers Gap, Harmony, Middleburg, and Potomac – of wineries surrounding the D.C. and Northern Virginia region. Clusters of wineries range anywhere from 6-12 destinations, giving visitors a plethora of options to choose from for an individualized wine trail experience. 

NOTABLE WINERIES 

Arterra Wines

Arterra Wines puts the utmost care into their wine with neutral oak, native yeast fermentation, and no additives in their wine, producing “clean” wine with sustainable techniques. Taste the Aterra Estate Vineyard Crooked Run, a red blend of Petit Verdot, Tannat, and Petit Sirah, for a look into the Virginia-inspired wine, or try their Apple or Blueberry Apple wine for a fun and fruity flavor.

50 West Vineyards 

Stunning views greet guests at the entrance of 50 West Vineyards, looking over the top of the Bull Run Mountain range. Their Petit Manseng 2020 won a gold medal in the 2023 Virginia Governor’s Cup Awards, marking just one of many awards they’ve claimed for their Virginia-produced and carefully crafted wines.

868 Estate Vineyards

In the Loudoun County countryside, 868 Estate Vineyards bring wine, music, food, and art together in one beautiful place. Summers flourish at the vineyards with their summer concert series, perfect for sitting on the lawn with a crisp glass of wine. Family and pet-friendly, 868 Estate Vineyards focuses on creating a full visitor experience at their scenic winery.

Cana Vineyards and Winery of Middleburg

Cana Vineyards and Winery of Middleburg has a total of 43 acres, with eight acres dedicated to Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Manseng, and Norton. Their wines have won several awards and their winemaker Melanie Natoli was the first woman to win the Virginia Governor’s Cup. Sit out on the Sunset Pavillion and take in the picturesque views while tasting some of the rotating wine selections. 

Greenhill Vineyards

Greenhill Vineyards’ Northern Virginia location is known as one of the oldest vineyards in the region, growing from a working farm in the 1700s to a focus on grapes in the 1980s. Greenhill Vineyards officially opened in 2013 with the work of David Greenhill to establish creative, distinctive Virginia wines. 

Boxwood Estates Winery

Boxwood Estates Winery is the dream come to life of John Kent Cooke, former owner and president of the NFL Washington Commanders. Steeped in history due to the historic location and among the Virginia countryside, Boxwood Winery brings Bordeaux influences that reflect Cooke’s admiration of French wines. In 2006, Boxwood helped in the process of establishing the Middleburg AVA, now boasting dozens of wineries in the Northern Virginia wine region. 

Philip Carter Winery

Philip Carter Winery has longstanding roots in Virginia, with the Carter family passing wine legislation in the 1700s and creating many historic estate landmarks. In 2008, the Carter family returned to their winemaking heritage as Philip Carter Strother began Philip Carter Winery in Northern Virginia. Today, Philip Carter Winery is committed to excellence in their wines, alongside their sustainability commitments that shine through their winemaking and growing processes. 

AWARD-WINNING WINEMAKERS

Michael Shaps of The Barns at Hamilton Station Vineyards

Michael Shaps has been in the business of wine for many years, taking inspiration from the techniques he learned while living in Burgundy, France in the 1990s. After his European wine journey, he brought his knowledge to Virginia, working in the Monticello AVA with Jefferson Vineyards and King Family Vineyards. In 2011, The Barns at Hamilton Station Vineyards retained Shaps for their first harvest and followed his inspiration for Old World-inspired Virginia wines in the years following. Winning gold medals in the 2023 Virginia Governor’s Cup for their 2019 Petit Verdot, 2019 Meritage, and 2020 Chardonnay, The Barns at Hamilton Station Vineyards focus on producing only the highest quality wines. 

Rutger de Vink of RdV Vineyards

Inspired by his time growing up in Europe and among the esteemed wineries of France, Rutger de Vink has brought Old World influences to the United States from California to Virginia. With the craft of Bordeaux wines in mind, de Vink has worked hard in Northern Virginia to create a distinct Virginia wine that plays off the region’s terroir and unique grape growth. Esteemed winemaker Joshua Grainer acts as the managing director and winemaker for RdV Vineyards, partnering alongside founder Rutger de Vink to establish praised wines ever since their inaugural 2008 vintage. Try their signature wines– Lost Mountain, a Cabernet Sauvignon ode to the Blue Ridge, or Rendezvous, a devoted red blend. 

Jim Law of Linden Vineyards

Jim Law of Linden Vineyards’ love of wine began with his parents in Ohio, who taught him about food and wine. He then continued on with his studies in Europe and gained additional experience in the Peace Corps. Law purchased land for Linden Vineyards in 1983, but it wasn’t until 1987, after years of tending the new vines, that Law released the very first vintage. 

The vineyards at Linden grow on three sites; Hardscrabble Vineyard which surrounds the tasting room, Avenius Vineyard on a high ridge a mile away, and Boisseau Vineyard on a bluff overlooking the Shenandoah Valley. With aid from several winemakers and viticulturalists on site, Jim Law produces wines that are minimalistic, yet bold with flavor. 

Chris Pearmund of Pearmund Cellars

With a long history in the wine industry, Chris Pearmund of Pearmund Cellars has been bringing stellar viniculture to the region for years. Winning awards year after year for his Virginia wines, Pearmund has also been named Virginia’s best winemaker by Virginia Wine Lovers Magazine. Focused on innovation, the winery began their ‘Ameritage’ blend with five Bordeaux grapes over 20 years ago, which marked the first winery to showcase the barrel room as a part of the winery experience, and the ‘Ameritage’ won several wine awards in the following years. 

NORTHERN VIRGINIA WINE TOURS

Cork and Keg Tours

Cork and Keg Tours offers various options for exploring Northern Virginia wine trails and wineries. Choose a route within one of their clusters from Potomac to Loudoun Heights, or if you’re looking for a specific experience, allow Cork and Keg to customize a route for you. 

Spirited Tours

Led by a wine expert, Spirited Tours takes you through Northern Virginia’s countryside for a unique wine experience. Group tours leave from Washington D.C. while private tours can be picked up from anywhere in the region. Complete with tastings and light snacks, you have the option to choose an informative tour or a relaxed one to suit your needs while exploring wine country. 

Virginia Wine Drives

Explore Virginia Wine Country with Virginia Wine Drives, a wine tour that includes an experienced private driver and concierge service. Local guides offer customized tours of wineries, breweries, and cideries in the Northern Virginia area.

WINERIES WITH EXCELLENT FOOD PAIRINGS

Potomac Point Winery

Potomac Point Winery brings Italian influences to Northern Virginia adjacent to the serene views of the Potomac. Their on-site bistro, Le Grand Cru, specializes in seasonal fare that go excellently with their wide variety of delicious wines. Try their Potomac Point Winery crab cakes or creamy crab dip paired with a crisp glass of Chardonnay. Looking for something sweet? Taste one of the naked wine cakes, a Potomac Point Winery specialty. Infused and baked with delicious flavors of wine, their cakes have an essence of sophistication and decadence and are topped off with wine-infused whipped frosting. 

Bluemont Vineyard

Throughout the year, Bluemont Vineyard offers specialty food and wine pairings from barrel-aged pairings and brunches to holiday food and wine pairings. Reservations for the experience include four tastings and are $35 plus tax and gratuity. If you’re looking to just stop in and grab a bite with your wine, go to the 951 Tasting Room, which offers light fare like baked brie and flatbreads that complement Bluemont Vineyard wines perfectly. 

Chrysalis Vineyards at the Ag District

In the heart of Northern Virginia wine country in Middleburg, Chrysalis Vineyards at the Ag Districth has partnered with Little River Bakehouse to bring pizzas, paninis, and salads to an elevated wine experience. They have also partnered with Locksley Farmstead Cheeses to serve soft and hard cheeses that are always a perfect pairing with wine. Try their spring fromage salad with Sarah’s Patio White Vinaigrette or the caprese salad with a Norton balsamic reduction for a fully wine-incorporated meal that will be sure to impress. 

The Vineyards & Winery at Lost Creek 

Bringing farm-to-table pairings to Loudon County, The Vineyards & Winery at Lost Creek take inspiration from Virginia’s coast and countryside to create food and wine pairings that pay homage to the Commonwealth. Go for a glass of Cabernet Franc 2020 with the braised short rib or the pan-seared salmon with the Vidal Blanc 2022 for your dinner pairing. For the entire table, try out their Chef’s Tasting and Wine Pairing which serves four courses and four wines from the menu all elegantly paired by their executive team of chefs. 

PLACES TO STAY NEARBY

Salamander Middleburg

An hour away from D.C. and in the heart of Virginia’s wine country in Middleburg is the serene retreat of the Salamander Middleburg. Receiving the Forbes Five-Star Award for destination resorts and the only Forbes Five-Star Award for a Virginia spa, luxury is at the forefront of their mission. Go ziplining or check out their equestrian stables for a ride in the countryside. If you’re in the mood to sit down and rewind, book a trip at the spa for all your relaxation needs. Close to many wineries in the area, it’s the perfect destination to stay, play, unwind, and explore Northern Virginia’s famous wine region.

Red Fox Inn & Tavern

The Red Fox Inn & Tavern combines historic charm and modern amenities for a classy stay in Middleburg. With five buildings and twenty-two rooms, each suite and cottage plays upon historical influences with lush green landscaping. Just a short walking distance away from the inn are opportunities to shop, dine, and taste at one of the breweries and cideries in the center of Middleburg. Drive a little outside of the town and you’re in the heart of wine country, with the ability to explore and tour the award-winning wineries that boast bold Virginia flavors. 

Goodstone Inn and Restaurant

Located in the idyllic countryside of Loudoun County, the Goodstone Inn and Restaurant sits on 265 acres of rolling hills and property with elegant guest suites, cottages, and houses. Make sure to reserve a bite to eat at the inn's restaurant, one of the top-rated restaurants in Virginia. Near many of Northern Virginia’s wineries, breweries, and cideries, this luxurious inn is an ideal place to stay on a journey through Northern Virginia’s wine trails.

Check out more of Virginia’s wineries and wine trails:

Follow the Monticello Wine Trail: Your Guide to Charlottesville Wineries (virginia.org)

Where to Stay (& Sip!) in Virginia Wine Country

Fall in LOVE with Virginia Vines: Exceptional Winery Experiences for Every Traveler