A scenic 3-Day drive offers much to do in the southern gateway to the Shenandoah Valley.

SPONSORED CONTENT / Written by Hope S. Philbrick, Editor Foodie Travel USA.

Make the most of a three-day weekend by visiting Rockbridge County, Virginia. More than 30 attractions are located within a mere 30 miles of one another, so it’s easy to pack as much adventure as you’d like into your stay.

Flanked by the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains, Rockbridge County offers heart-pumping adventures, charming towns, farm-fresh cuisine, historic sites, and so much more.

Use this south-to-north guide to drive scenic U.S. Route 11.

Southern Rockbridge

One of Virginia’s most historic thoroughfares, Route 11 has a 200-year history and is also known as “The Wilderness Road.”

Described by Thomas Jefferson as “the most sublime of nature’s work,” Natural Bridge State Park is a genuine “wow.” Estimated to be at least 500 million years old, this 30-story high natural wonder is simply magnificent.

Descend 34 stories into the earth at The Caverns at Natural Bridge, the deepest on the East Coast, to see formations on a 45-minute guided tour.

Walk through the weirdly hilarious Dinosaur Kingdom II, an artistic display that imagines how the Civil War might have been fought using prehistoric creatures.

At the 180-acre Virginia Safari Park, the state’s only drive-through safari adventure, drive through in your own car, feeding hundreds of animals along the way. Stroll through a ten-acre village for encounters with graceful giraffes, bright birds, and other content creatures.

Great Valley Farm Brewery & Winery produces Belgian-style ales using ingredients from its 27-acre farm.

Halcyon Days Cider Company produces hard ciders from 50 different apple varieties grown in an orchard that’s a stunning labyrinth that’s an adventure itself.

Virginia Gold Orchard is a small farm best known for its juicy Asian pears. Blackberries, raspberries, persimmons, chestnuts, jujubes, local honey, and heirloom vegetables are also available.

Lexington

Several attractions are clustered in close proximity in the charming college town of Lexington, so park your car for free at the Visitor Center and explore on foot.

Local “wild farmhouse beers” made from regional ingredients are on tap at Heliotrope Brewery. Sip your pick alongside creative brick oven pizzas.

Climb aboard a horse-drawn tour with Lexington Carriage Company, and a team of spunky horses will roll you through town while a friendly guide highlights local history.

Oak Grove Cemetery honors more than 3,000 people including General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, 144 Confederate veterans, two Virginia governors, and Margaret Junkin Preston, “the Civil War Poet Laureate of the South.” Book a Haunting Tales Ghost Tour to delve into the city’s eerie past.

Jackson House Museum, the only home ever owned by General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, shares the story of family life on the eve of Civil War. Visit, tour, shop and stroll the gardens.

Campbell House, a historic house built in 1845, displays local furniture and artifacts indoors and lovely gardens outside.

University Chapel & Galleries, a part of the university’s Institutional History Museum and Galleries, shares the post-Civil War Reconstruction story of Robert E. Lee, through artifacts such as the Recumbent Lee statue, an exhibition on President Lee’s Office, and exhibitions that detail the history of the chapel.

Virginia Military Institute Museum houses 15,000 artifacts, from a Revolutionary War musket to seven Medals of Honor awarded to VMI alumni. The firearms collection includes more than 450 rare and one-of-a-kind pieces.

Miller’s House Museum at Jordan’s Point presents the area’s industrial and transportation history inside a house built in the early 1800s.

Buena Vista

The Chessie Nature Trail connects Lexington and Buena Vista, two delightful Virginia Main Street Communities that straddle I-81. The seven-mile trail is located along the former Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad.

A short 6 mile drive, visit the quaint town of Buena Vista, which is nestled in the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains and flanked by the Maury River and George Washington National Forest. Among its attractions is Glen Maury Park, a 315-acre playground that boasts wooded hiking/cycling trails, Kids in Park TRACK Trail, an Olympic-sized pool, campgrounds, disc golf course, and more.

Meander the River Walk alongside the Maury River. See the Paxton House, a National Historic Place built between 1828 and 1831. Roll onto or hike alongside the Blue Ridge Parkway for spectacular views along what’s billed as “America’s Favorite Drive.” The famed Appalachian Trail is just nine miles outside of town.

Northern Rockbridge

Virginia Horse Center is a world-class, 600-acre equestrian event facility with eight barns, 11 show rings, two arenas, a cross-country jumping course, and huge coliseum. Over 80 events take place each year, including horse shows, rodeos, and Balloons Over Rockbridge Hot Air Balloon Festival.

Devils Backbone Outpost Tap Room & Kitchen produces more than 50 different beers based on European brewing traditions throughout the year.

Roadmap CoffeeWorks focuses on sourcing top-quality beans from Latin America and Africa roasted on-site. Enjoy a coffee flight, sip hot or cold coffee drinks, and grab a pastry.

Hull’s Drive-In Theatre, a local landmark since the 1950s, boasts the area’s largest movie screen. Watch a double feature sitting in your car.

Built in 1756, Timber Ridge Presbyterian Church sits behind a marker for the Sam Houston Birthplace. Born in 1793, Houston served as commander-in-chief of the Texas army, President of Texas, U.S. Senator, and Governor.

The Lavender Fields at Tantivy Farm is a pleasant stop for all of your senses. Whiff blooming fields (in season), hike to a picturesque waterfall, taste lavender ice cream, shop for lavender-infused soaps, enjoy peaceful quiet, and more.

A must-stop for quilters and the people who love them, The Quiltery is a supply store packed with patterns, fabrics, notions and more.

At Cyrus McCormick Farm enjoy a picturesque setting then tour a barn filled with exhibits about the invention of the grain reaper that kick-started the mechanical revolution in agriculture.

Rockbridge Vineyard & Brewery produces small-batch wines and beers in a range of styles. Enjoy a glass while gazing out at the 17-acre vineyard.

See the oldest continuously operating commercial grist mill in the Shenandoah Valley at Wade’s Mill, where local grains have been stone-ground in the traditional way since 1750. Stock up on grits, cornmeal, flour and other treats to take home.

To quench thirst and hunger along Route 11 there’s nothing like a country store to sample true local flavor while stocking up on road-trip snacks plus goodies to take home. From salty country hams to sweet jams, Virginia peanuts to Route 11 Potato chips, fresh-made pies to slow-smoked barbecue, there’s much to make mouths water at a country store. Visitors and locals flock to Coiner Country Store, Gertie’s Country Store, Layne’s Country Store, and Natty B’s Country Store.

More To Explore…

To the north – Discover the North Rockbridge Trail, which is comprised of some of the attractions mentioned above plus additional farms, farm shops, antique stores, fabric shops, vineyards, and bed and breakfast accommodations.

To the west – Explore Goshen Pass Natural Area Preserve, a 936-acre preserve protecting the 3.7-mile Goshen Pass gorge on the Maury River. This natural treasure boasts steep slopes, jagged rocks, cliffs, river and shoreline, as well as forests and woodlands.

Wanna Go?

LexingtonVirginia.com

540-463-3777

SMALL TOWNS ALONG THE RIVER BRING A HAVEN FOR RELAXATION, ADVENTURE AND MORE

Evening has begun to creep in as we pass through the 500-person riverside village of Urbanna. Perusing Virginia Street and other heart-of-town corridors brings charming clusters of beachy cottages interspersed with hedge-lined historical homes and buildings dating to the 18th, 19th and early-20th centuries. Elsewhere are brightly painted shopping boutiques, small but interesting-looking restaurants, a coffee house, an old-time pharmacy, a whitewashed brick courthouse that was built in 1745 and is now a women’s club, and the list goes on.

Like many others, I ‘discovered’ the two-county River Realm by way of the nationally-renown Urbanna Oyster Festival, a two-day event that draws about 50,000 visitors each November. Today, however, the vibe is very different. Gone are the crowds and noise, the raucous air of carnival and festivity. Also, the traffic. Now it’s just … relaxed.

I take a deep breath and, heaving a sigh, feel the workaday stress evaporate.

Reaching our destination, the Town Marina, we’re greeted by the sight of dozens of sailboats, sloops, fishing vessels, small yachts and a couple of houseboats bobbing alongside the docks of Urbanna Creek. Known as Bailey Point, the inlet opens on the smooth-flowing Rappahannock River, here about 2.2 miles wide.

We pursue wooden walkways toward the big, vintage, 50-foot-long M/V Veteran. Built in 1914, the former fisherman’s ‘buy-boat’ received a luxury overhaul around 2007. It is now used for chartered recreational, ecological and maritime history tours on the Rappahannock River and the Chesapeake Bay. Options range from 2-hour sunset and sunrise trips, to custom private outings replete with meals at dockside restaurants 5–15 miles downstream.

Virginia tourism sites hail the Veteran as supplying one of the finest marine tours in the state, and we discover that it sets the stage for a premium experience. Sunset finds us luxuriously reclined, cruising eastward down the Rappahannock. We watch the show from the back deck over glasses of wine—a delightful 2017 viognier courtesy of Kilmarnock’s Good Luck Cellars.

Aside from a few distant fishing boats, we have the river to ourselves, and peacefulness falls like a warm blanket.

The River Realm isn’t all built up and super commercially developed, says Golden Age Charters owner-captain Mike Sheffield. “The river’s clean and the banks are beautiful. And [the people here] are serious about keeping them that way. There are all these little towns on the water, but they’re so old, they feel like they’re a part of the environment.”

As the cruise continues, we find ourselves in agreement.

Nightfall meets us disembarking at the softly lighted docks of Locklies Marina. We bid farewell to kind Captain Sheffield and the M/V Veteran and stroll toward our reserved table for two on the porch of the tiny Merroir tasting room in Topping.

Celebrated by media outlets ranging from People magazine to Saveur, the place is, of course, somewhat famous. It was here the cousin-founders of Rappahannock Oyster Co., Travis and Ryan Croxton, lit the first humble sparks of the Chesapeake Bay oyster revolution in the early-2000s. And it does not disappoint.

“Estuaries offer premium oyster farming, and the Chesapeake Bay is the world’s largest and most [environmentally] varied estuary,” says Ryan Croxton. Rappahannock capitalizes on the terroir by taking a no-limits approach to farming superior bivalves. “Our goal is to be the globe’s best oyster producer, period.”

We follow the shellfish with a sampler of tasting dishes.

These include a grilled romaine heart with anchovies and parmesan; a fresh-caught shad roe pan-fried and sprinkled with bacon and caramelized onions; and baked oysters adorned with thick, crispy pieces of Edwards ham. All are fantastic.

Dinner segues into a car ride across the Rappahannock by way of the Robert O. Norris Jr. Bridge. Turning left in the tiny village of White Stone, we proceed to the Tides Inn Resort in Irvington.

Occupying a small private peninsula on Carter’s Creek in Irvington’s National Historical Register district, the 106-room resort dates to the 1940s and offers the finest lodging in the River Realm. But that’s not all. Additional features include an array of amenities like The Chesapeake Room, a waterfront fine-dinery boasting pre fixe meals prepared by chef Alex Pasco; a private 60-slip marina replete with kayaks, paddle boats, tour ships, and sailing school; the full-service Journey Spa; the Fish Hawk Oyster Bar; and much more.

Our suite is furnished in a manner befitting its four-star rating. There are boutique leather sofas and chairs; antiques abound, including tables, lamps, dressers, chest-of-drawers and a carved fourposter bed; windows, ceilings and a pair of French doors are trimmed with ornate mahogany. Wet-bar and bathroom countertops are marble. The jacuzzi tub is backed by pearlescent tiles and looks brand new.

The bedroom’s French doors open onto a private outdoor patio. Outside, the thrumming song of insects and bullfrogs fills the night. We pass through a small gate in the fence, carefully pick through the landscaping and emerge on a manicured lawn of soft grass surrounded by what, in the darkness, look to be the silhouettes of willow trees. Overhead, the stars burn fierce and bright.

“Boy, we don’t get views like this in the city, do we?” murmurs my partner. With the softest of laughs, she takes a seat on the grass; like a child preparing to make snow angels, she sprawls her arms and legs.

Following her lead, I say, “No, we certainly don’t.”

To plan your visit go to VirginiasRiverRealm.com

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Two Great River Realm Events To Explore This Spring

Spring in Virginia’s River Realm is a magical time. Riverbanks and creek sides erupt with new greenery and buds; historical homes bring a delight of floral eye-candy. Among residents, winter’s recent passing evokes an atmosphere of festivity and general mirth.

Interested in experiencing it for yourself? These awesome local events will make your visit all the more interesting.

The Urbanna Cup
2023 DATE: TBD. Urbanna Town Marina, Urbanna
A fantastically fun and quirky event, the regatta is a nationally sanctioned competition for cocktail class wooden boat racers. Held in waters adjacent to the picturesque Town Marina, the pier and grounds are perfect for family-friendly viewing. Events run throughout the day, with food trucks and beer and wine vendors. urbanna.com/events/

Arts in the Middle Fine Arts Festival
June 3-4, 2023. Hewick Plantation, Urbanna
Held at the edge of town on grounds punctuated by giant mature trees and a regal plantation home that dates to 1678.

The setting is as much a draw as the show itself. In its sixth year, the fest features around 100 artists from throughout the U.S., whose work spans at least seven media categories. Expect tents with regional beer, wine and champagne; two stages with continual lineups of music; and food vendors galore. www.artsinthemiddle.com

Savor local foods & drinks produced in the southern gateway to the Shenandoah Valley.

It’s easy to find local foods and drinks on menus throughout Rockbridge County, Virginia, but you can also skip the middleman and go straight to the source. Get out and visit some local producers, from modern farms to historic mills, coffee roasters to craft breweries, cheesemakers to chocolatiers, and you’ll discover award-winning, crave-inducing items so high quality they make even the most refined taste buds swoon.

Wade’s Mill is the oldest continuously-operating commercial grist mill in the Shenandoah Valley. Local grains have been stone-ground the traditional way at this site since 1750. No wonder it’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmarks Register. “Until steam, the mill was the most efficient energy source,” says John Siegfried, owner and miller. He grinds an average of 300 to 400 pounds of grain a day and supplies restaurants in Lexington and other cities in Virginia and Maryland. Grits, cornmeal, flour and other treats—many made of heritage grains—are available for purchase. Explore three floors of historic milling equipment and museum displays.

On Saturdays at select times from April through December, the historic 21-foot iron Fitz overshot water wheel is demonstrated. To linger at this picturesque site, check into the overnight accommodations.

Lexington Coffee Roasters has been named one of the “12 Best Coffee Roasters in the U.S.” by Forbes and “Some of America’s Best Coffee” by USA Today. Its focus is on sourcing top-quality beans from Latin America and Africa. Visit the roastery on Route 11 to see the coffee roasting process, discover innovative brewing processes and equipment, and sip coffee and espresso drinks. Take home some freshly roasted coffee beans and order online when your supply runs low.

Craft beers, wines, and ciders flow in abundance in Rockbridge County with four breweries (all stops along the Shenandoah Beerwerks Trail), four vineyards, and a cidery. On Route 11, Devils Backbone Outpost Tap Room & Kitchen produces more than 120 different beer recipes, all based on European brewing traditions. Enjoy a pint or sampler flight alongside hearty fare at the bar or in the outdoor beer garden.

Great Valley Farm Brewery & Winery (Photo Above: Chris Weisler) produces Belgian-style ales and Cabernet Franc, Gruner Veltliner, Lemberger and Vidal Blanc varietals using ingredients from its 27-acre farm in Natural Bridge. Sip pints or tasting flights against panoramic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

In downtown Lexington, Heliotrope Brewery produces what co-owner Erik Jones calls “wild farmhouse beers” using local ingredients. “We even foraged a wild yeast to give the beer terroir.” The beer lineup will change seasonally and cover a range of styles including IPAs, saisons, pilsners, and lagers among others. Savor a 12-ounce pour from a stemmed glass alongside a creative pizza, made to order in the brick oven.

Rockbridge Vineyard & Brewery, a two-time winner of the coveted Virginia Governor’s Cup, produces small-batch wines in a range of styles. Vinifera, hybrid, and native vines grow on 17 acres. Sample through the portfolio in the tasting room then enjoy a glass of your favorite while gazing out at the breathtaking view of Shenandoah Valley. Lexington Valley Vineyard has been handcrafting red and white wines since 1999. Enjoy them by the glass or bottle while relaxing on the deck and gazing out at the 67-acre property. Jump Mountain Vineyard welcomes visitors to its 32-acre farm on Saturdays and Sundays. Enjoy tastings, wines by the glass, or stock up on several bottles of red and white varietals to savor at home.

Sip small batch cider at Halcyon Days Cider Company. This family-owned cidery boasts a stunning labyrinth orchard. Inspired by the legendary labyrinth at France’s Chartres Cathedral, 2,500 dwarf apple trees are planted in a circuit that stretches 1.7 miles from the center to outer edge. Wander through 50 different apple varieties, from heirloom American, modern American, classic Europe, and Central Asian ancestral apple trees. Step into the pavilion for stunning 360-degree views of the Alleghany and Blue Ridge Mountains. All hard ciders are made using Virginia grown apples in a range of tastes from tangy to spicy to sweet.

Cocoa Mill Chocolates has gained a national reputation for its indelible treats, all made Awards and accolades from The Wall Street Journal, Bon Appetit, Chocolatier, U.S. Air Magazine, CBS Morning News, The Washington Post, among others. The chocolatier strives for excellence each step of the process—using fair trade chocolate, choosing natural ingredients and freshly hand-crafting confections for each order. Whether you bite into a truffle, gourmet bark, dipped fruit, chocolate-covered pretzel or peppermint, or other treat, trust that it’s made with high-quality ingredients and attentive precision.

Sweet Things Ice Cream Shoppe is Rockbridge County’s only homemade ice cream shop. Its retro décor may spark nostalgia, but its now-antique equipment churns out treats that modern equipment can’t replicate—including homemade waffle cones. “We’ve been in business since 1982, but our waffle irons date back to the 1950s,” says owner Chris Williams. And that aroma will get your mouth watering the moment you step into the door! The best-selling cookies and cream flavor ice cream is dark brown, not the usual white, thanks to the fact that this ice cream machine can crunch and crumble a whole lot more real Oreo cookies than modern machines. Flavors like mint chocolate chip, cookie dough, banana, black raspberry, and dozens more—scooped into cones, sundaes, shakes, and other treats—lure locals and visitors alike. Grownups, don’t miss the Guinness beer-flavored ice cream.

As we near the end of Virginia Wine Month, we remember why Wine Enthusiast magazine named us one of the 10 best wine travel destinations in the world. Each turn of our scenic roads brings a new adventure, perfect for your October wine trip. In one afternoon, you can go from rolling vineyards, to picturesque horse farms, to cozy country inns. A mouthwatering barbecue stand to a five-star restaurant serving Virginia’s finest wines. A stunning Viognier to a world-class Cabernet Franc. This is Virginia. It’s how we roll.

The more time you take, the more you’ll discover – every region, every vintage, every winery in Virginia is unique. The one constant is a warm welcome.

Virginia wines are now recognized among the world’s best, and there are over 250 local wineries ready to show you why. Although the exciting events and special promotions of October Wine Month are coming to a close, we encourage you to continue your exploration of Virginia’s stunning vineyards and award-winnings wines. Be sure to visit VirginiaWine.org for a complete list of wine-related activities.

Drink Local October Challenge
Be true to your roots, Virginia! In celebration of Wine Month, please choose a Virginia vintage when enjoying wine during the month of October. Whether at home or in a restaurant, be sure to support our local wineries. Tell us about your Virginia Wine crush at #VAWine and #OctVAWineMonth.

Always drink responsibly.
VirginiaWine.org
804-402-1896

October is Virginia Wine Month and a great time to get out and discover your favorites.

Virginia is the nation’s fifth largest wine grape producer and our wines are now consistently recognized around the globe. Not all wine grapes grow well here, but some truly thrive. Chardonnay is the state’s most planted grape, creating rich and full-bodied wines, that are a testament to the grape’s versatility. There are over two-dozen other Virginia varieties, including well-known favorites like Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Gris/Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc. There are, however, some wonderful surprises, too.

Red Bordeaux varieties, particularly Cabernet Franc, Nebbiolo, Petit Verdot and Tannat, grow well in Virginia’s warm climate and have become extremely popular throughout the state.

Our Cabernet Franc has earned an international reputation and is considered to be among Virginia’s best red wines. It is a spicy, peppery wine with aromas that can contain plum, blackberry, violets and tobacco notes. Well-spiced meat dishes or an aged cheese plate make perfect pairings for this flavorful red.

Nebbiolo is one of Virginia’s best kept secrets. It is grown very selectively throughout the Commonwealth, and requires a long growing season. Nebbiolo has a distinctive brick-orange color and pairs especially well with earthy flavors. A perfect match for truffles, it is also wonderful with braised short ribs, rack of lamb, or mushroom risotto.

Generally used as a blending grape in Bordeaux, Petit Verdot has come into its own as a Virginia varietal. It creates a dark, full-bodied red wine characterized by dense, dark fruit with spicy notes of leather, coconut, smoke and dark chocolate. Pair with steak, rich sauces, barbecue and strong cheeses to showcase both wine and food to their maximum potential.

Another French grape, Tannat, is becoming a rising star in Virginia. Along with earthy flavors and spice, Tannat’s full-bodied palate showcases fruit flavors including plum and raspberry. Usually produced as a single varietal wine in Virginia, its smoky character makes it a perfect pairing for sausage, roasted meats and strong aged cheeses.

Emerging Virginia whites of interest include Albariño, Viognier and another French white variety called Petit Manseng.

Albariño is highly aromatic and showcases intense lime, apple, hyacinth, almond and grass notes that are balanced by a naturally high acidity. This lively wine is made in a dry style without oak and is best served young. It is wonderful with fresh fish and seafood of all kinds as well as other light meats, and is a lovely accompaniment to goat cheese.

Viognier has become somewhat of a signature white wine for Virginia. Internationally, Virginia Viognier has consistently earned praise for its intense and complex aromas of stone fruit with tropical notes. It is a superb accompaniment to rich dishes such as lobster, veal, pork and cheeses, and particularly shines when paired with a rich sauce.

Petit Manseng is a white wine variation of the black Manseng grape, whose name derives from its small berries. It features rich aromas of candied fruit and spice which are often complemented with flavors of honey, nuts and pineapple. Quickly gaining critical acclaim in Virginia, Petit Manseng goes well with a variety of foods including moderately spicy Asian and Thai dishes.

To see how your favorites stack up against the experts, check out the medalist winners from the 2017 Virginia Governor’s Cup wine competition at www.virginiawine.org/governors-cup

Drink Local October Challenge
Be true to your roots, Virginia! In celebration of Wine Month, please choose a Virginia vintage when enjoying wine during the month of October. Whether at home or in a restaurant, be sure to support our local wineries. Tell us about your Virginia Wine crush at #VAWine and #OctVAWineMonth.

Always drink responsibly.
VirginiaWine.org
804-402-1896

October is Virginia Wine Month, and a great time to discover why Wine Enthusiast magazine named us one of the ten best wine travel destinations in the world. Lots of new and exciting things are happening at Virginia wineries these days. The state is consistently recognized in publications like Wine Spectator, the Washington Post and the New York Times as one of the country’s most promising wine regions. Virginia was also named one of the World’s 10 Best Wine Travel Destinations by Wine Enthusiast magazine.

Some are surprised by Virginia’s winemaking success, but in fact, the birthplace of America is also the birthplace of American wine. In 1619, early settlers were required by law to plant grapes in hopes that Virginia would become a major wine source for the British empire. Unfortunately, due to disease and drought, little came of the initial harvest.

Thomas Jefferson tried to grow wine grapes for over 50 years, yet could never produce a single bottle.

In the 1820s, wines made from Native American grapes met with great success, and in 1873, a Virginia Norton wine was named “best red wine of all nations” at the Vienna World’s Fair. Alas, Prohibition promptly halted the momentum in the early 20th century.

Despite the setbacks, some visionary vintners persevered. Thanks to modern viticultural advances and refined planting techniques, the winemaking dream that began in 1619 has finally become a reality.

Virginia wines are now recognized among the world’s best, and there are over 250 local wineries ready to show you why. There are exciting events and special promotions going on all month long. Be sure to visit VirginiaWine.org  for a complete list of October Wine Month activities.

Drink Local October Challenge Be true to your roots, Virginia! In celebration of Wine Month, please choose a Virginia vintage when enjoying wine during the month of October. Whether at home or in a restaurant, be sure to support our local wineries. Tell us about your Virginia Wine crush at #VAWine and #OctVAWineMonth.

Always drink responsibly. VirginiaWine.org 804-402-1896

October is Virginia Wine Month, and a great time to discover why Wine Enthusiast magazine named us one of the 10 best wine travel destinations in the world. Here are a few tips to help maximize your Virginia vineyard experience.
1. Do your homework. Are there specific types of wines you want to try or viticultural areas you’d like to visit?
2. Go to VirginiaWine.org and plan your route. There are existing wine trails designed to make the most of your trip. It’s recommended to visit no more than three to four vineyards per day, and if possible, go during the week for more personalized attention and less crowds.
3. Check out each winery beforehand for details. All have different hours, special events, tasting policies and group availability. Many require advance notice for larger parties.
4. Travel smart. It’s important to have bottled water on hand to stay hydrated between tasting sessions. All those sips can add up. Experts recommend spitting out wine after tastings to ensure sobriety. And be sure to have a designated driver.
Virginia wines are now recognized among the world’s best, and there are over 250 local wineries ready to show you why. There are exciting events and special promotions going on all month long. Be sure to visit VirginiaWine. org for a complete list of October Wine Month activities.

Drink Local October Challenge Be true to your roots, Virginia! In celebration of Wine Month, please choose a Virginia vintage when enjoying wine during the month of October. Whether at home or in a restaurant, be sure to support our local wineries. Tell us about your Virginia Wine crush at #VAWine and #OctVAWineMonth.

Always drink responsibly. VirginiaWine.org 804-402-1896

October is Virginia Wine Month, and a great time to discover why Wine Enthusiast magazine named us one of the 10 best wine travel destinations in the world. Each turn of our scenic roads brings a new adventure. In one afternoon, you can go from rolling vineyards, to picturesque horse farms, to cozy country inns. A mouthwatering barbecue stand to a five-star restaurant. A stunning Viognier to a world-class Cabernet Franc. This is Virginia. It’s how we roll.

 The more time you take, the more you’ll discover ― every region, every vintage, every winery in Virginia is unique. The one constant is a warm welcome. 

 Virginia wines are now recognized among the world’s best, and there are over 250 local wineries ready to show you why. There are exciting events and special promotions going on all month long. Be sure to visit VirginiaWine.org for a complete list of October Wine Month activities.

Drink Local October Challenge Be true to your roots, Virginia! In celebration of Wine Month, please choose a Virginia vintage when enjoying wine during the month of October. Whether at home or in a restaurant, be sure to support our local wineries. Tell us about your Virginia Wine crush at #VAWine and #OctVAWineMonth.

Always drink responsibly. VirginiaWine.org 804-402-1896