Where to Wine and Brine in Virginia

Looking for an indulgent outing to share with your partner or a group of friends? Combine two of Virginia's most delicious exports by sampling oysters and wine at restaurants and vineyards along the coast. 

While all oysters cultivated in Virginia waters are the same species — Crassostrea virginica — each region has a unique expression of place. The salinity, sweetness, creaminess, and texture differ across each region. Oysters cultivated in local inlets and rivers paired with wines made from grapes grown in surrounding soils may be Virginia’s truest wine and food pairing. The following are just a few places to wine and brine in and around Virginia wine country.

EASTERN SHORE

Chatham Vineyards—Machipongo

Chatham Vineyards is the wine and brine epicenter of the Eastern Shore. The 32,000 vines planted in the sandy loam soils at the historic Chatham farm are steps away from Church Creek. Kissed by salty Bay breezes, the vines at Chatham grow in soil atop the same watershed as the Nassawadox Creek, which contributes to the terroir these wines are known for.   

Chatham’s Church Creek Steel Chardonnay paired with Nassawadox Salts or Church Creek Corks from Shooting Point Oysters pulled from surrounding waters confirms the culinary cliche, "what grows together goes together."  The melon, citrus, and saline flavors of the Chardonnay pair perfectly with the briny-sweet local oysters. 

More Ways to Wine & Brine on the Eastern Shore

Several restaurants in the town of Cape Charles, located about 15 miles south of Chatham Vineyards, at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, offer diverse selections of oysters from local waters to pair with local wine and beer.  The Shanty Restaurant, situated on the Cape Charles Harbor, offering expansive views of the Bay is a great place to watch the sun set over the water while enjoying oysters from nearby Hungars Creek along with Chatham’s Steel Chardonnay and other Virginia wines.  About two miles north of the Shanty is The Oyster Farm waterside restaurant that offers a nice selection of local oysters and wine. SouthEast Expeditions offers kayak tours that include visits to clam beds on Cherrystone Creek and Chatham Vineyards. 

HAMPTON ROADS

Gabriel Archer Tavern at The Williamsburg Winery—Williamsburg

Oysters pulled from local waters are even better when paired with wines from The Williamsburg Winery. Try the Wessex Hundred estate-grown Viognier or Acte 12 Chardonnay with the briny and sweet oysters from Gloucester-based Big Island Aquaculture or the Wessex Hundred Vidal Blanc to pair with the salty Pleasure House Oysters.

More Ways to Wine & Brine in Hampton Roads

In Virginia Beach, restaurants like Metropolitan Oyster Exchange, Zoe’s, Terrapin,  and Commune offer Virginia oysters and wine.  Commune, on Virginia Beach Blvd., just blocks from the oceanfront, offers Pleasure House Oysters cultivated in the nearby Lynnhaven River. Horton Vineyards Viognier and Blue Bee Cider Charred Ordinary are available by the glass and pair perfectly with the salty Pleasure House oysters.

For a unique wine and brine experience, consider a Pleasure House Oyster Tour. Chris Ludsford, owner and oyster farmer, offers adventurous oyster epicures a ‘river to table’ dining experience at his oyster farm in the Lynnhaven River.  The experience includes a boat ride to the Pleasure House Oyster farm in the Lynnhaven where diners stand in knee-deep water (waders provided) at an in-water table while enjoying oysters pulled from the water around them.  Guests are encouraged to bring their own bottle of Virginia wine.  

CHESAPEAKE BAY

Located on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay, Virginia’s Northern Neck region is bordered by the Potomac River on the north and the Rappahannock River on the south.  The waterways of the Northern Neck are home to numerous family-owned oyster farms that make up regions 4 and 5 of the Virginia Oyster Trail, eight wineries of the Chesapeake Bay Wine Trail, and other oyster trail locations and events that provide local merroir-terroir experience.

The Tides Inn—Irvington

Situated on a private peninsula in the charming town of Irvington, The Tides Inn is the wine and brine gem of the region. Here, guests can experience the intersection of the Chesapeake Bay Wine Trail and the Virginia Oyster Trail by participating in the Chesapeake Gold Oyster Excursion.  The excursion offers a hands-on merroir-terroir educational experience that includes an overview of Virginia aquaculture history and ecology, culinary demonstration, a one-hour harvest excursion with a local waterman and of course an oyster tasting.

Merroir Tasting Room—Topping

Rappahannock Oyster Company, the largest cultivator of oysters in the region, has an oyster tasting room called Merroir in the town of Topping. Situated on the banks of the Rappahannock River, Merroir serves three Rappahannock Oyster Company oysters — the minerally sweet Rappahannocks from the surrounding river, mild Stingrays from Mobjack Bay, and the briny seaside Olde Salts from Chincoteague. Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc from Barboursville Vineyards are available to pair with the delicious oysters.

More Ways to Wine & Brine on the Chesapeake Bay Region

Don't miss The Hatchery, a unique oyster experience on Gwynn's Island. The open air eatery has food truck style ordering and offers tours of the oyster seed facility.

Of the many wine and brine events on the Northern Neck, the Urbanna Oyster Festival is a must for oyster and wine enthusiasts. The festival offers oysters from across the region and a number of Virginia wine and beers for pairings. The Chesapeake Bay Wine Trail's Fall Oyster Crawl features local oysters served at each of the wineries on the trail. 

More Oyster & Wine Pairing Opportunities

There are no shortage of restaurants, wineries, and events throughout the state to wine and brine (and, ‘cider and brine,’ too). 

• Trendy oyster bars have been popping up around Richmond, from counter-seat restaurant Lillian Oyster Hall to Beaucoup on Robinson Street and Rappahannock's Richmond outpost. 
• Lemaire, inside the luxurious Jefferson Hotel in downtown Richmond, offers pearl oysters from Gloucester-based Big Island Aquaculture along with an extensive list of Virginia wines. Pair with Barboursville Chardonnay, available by the glass. 
• In the northern region, Magnolias at the Mill (known as ‘Maggies’ by locals) in the town of Purcellville offers oysters from Eastern Shore-based War Shore Oyster Company to pair with a rotating selection of wines from surrounding Loudoun County wineries. Pair War Shores on the half shell with the lush Chardonnay from nearby Casanel Vineyards or the crisp, citrusy Sauvignon Blanc from Walsh Family Vineyards. 
• The Virginia Oyster Trail calendar of events is a great resource for a complete list of local Merroir-Terroir festivals and experiences along with information on each of the state’s eight oyster regions. Please share your favorite Virginia wine and brine experience with us!