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. 

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.

Use this guide to find the best wineries near each of the four park entrances, plus more nearby vineyards that shouldn't be missed. 
 

Find Wineries Near Each SNP Entrance: Rockfish Gap | Swift Run Gap | Thornton Gap | Front Royal | More Wineries 

ROCKFISH GAP ENTRANCE

Horseback Riding at Veritas Vineyard

Veritas Vineyard

Photo Credit: Jordyn Verzera & JT Mocarski @themobilehomie

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 Vineyard and Winery, Afton

From the park's Rockfish Gap entrance, it's a 10-minute drive to 50-acre Veritas Vineyard and Winery in Afton for award-winning wines and pristine views. 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 views across the Blue Ridge Mountains. Book a wine educator-led tasting or just sit and sip. 

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

Afton Mountain Vineyards, Afton

Just 10 minutes from the Rockfish Gap entrance, Afton Mountain Vineyards is one of the state's first farm wineries. Nearly a dozen grape varieties are grown across the idyllic 25-acre vineyard for the award-winning reds and whites.

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.

Hazy Mountain Vineyards & Brewery

Hazy Mountain Vineyards & Brewery

Photo Credit: Chad Williams @echadwilliams

More Wineries Near the Rockfish Gap Entrance

SWIFT RUN GAP ENTRANCE

Early Mountain Vineyards

Early Mountain Vineyards

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.

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. 

Come hungry to Early Mountain. The vineyard is known for it's farm-to-table, seasonal menu of small plates and shareables, or you can splurge on the prix fixe menu. 

Brix & Columns Vineyards, McGaheysville

From the park's Swift Run Gap entrance, Brix & Columns 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. 

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.

More Wineries Near the Swift Run Gap Entrance

THORNTON GAP ENTRANCE

Quievremont Winery

Quièvremont Vineyard & Winery

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.

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 it still produces over 14 different types of wines. 

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. 

More Wineries Near the Thornton Gap Entrance

FRONT ROYAL ENTRANCE

Glen Manor Vineyards

Glen Manor Vineyards

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. 

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

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. 

Delaplane Cellars

Delaplane Cellars

More Wineries Near the Front Royal Entrance

More Wineries Near Shenandoah National Park

Sharp Rock Vineyards

Sharp Rock Vineyards

Photo Credit: Bill Crabtree Jr.

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

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. 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. 

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. 

More Wineries Bordering Shenandoah National Park

Find more things to do near the entrances to Shenandoah National Park or keep exploring the best Virginia wineries.