We attended the 2017 event because it was close to us. Tickets-$ 45.00 for my wife and I. Much…read morehigher than another local festival and what festivals we have attended charge. Nice people, 5 wine vendors with maybe of 30 wines total to try. Sample pours (based on other tastings in VA and in other areas of the country) appeared less. One, in my opinion, would do better going to the individual wineries- they were all within a 15 minute drive of this location. Prices of the host winery wines were out of line with other VA wineries I have visited in the last 2 years. Their price point for all of their wines was $29.00. This wine festival attracted a vendor who sold a 'tannin reducer' product sums it up. Even though it has very close proximity to where I live, I will not return to future events

From the owner: The Doswell Food and Wine Festival is happening May 14th and is hosted by Castle Glen Estates…read moreWinery. Just 6 mins from Kings Dominion. Come and enjoy 5 wineries, 40 vendors, 3 pet adoption agencies, live music, and much more! Bring a chair, your family, and your dog! Buy tickets on-line before you arrive and get a nice discount. Use coupon code WINEFEST

I took a drive on a sunny weekend afternoon and ended up here. It looks like someone's home with a…read moresmall vineyard in the back yard. You enter through the gate and head inside to get your wine. The couple running this winery were very nice and helped me pick our four wines to try. I don't like oaky whites or tanniny reds, but was able to find four whites to try: 2024 Sunrise on the James, which was semi-sweet and tart from the blood orange; 2024 Island Time, semi-sweet with a tart pineapple flavor; 2021 Vidal Blanc, which I thought had a funny smell and taste; 2023 River Breeze, which was citrusy but also kind of watery. I sat outside and listened to a talented guitar on the covered patio. The service was top notch, and the owners were really friendly, but I personally didn't like any of the wines I tried.

Very friendly, family-run vineyard and winery. The family converted a home into their tasting room…read more The winery has only been open for 3 months, so they were pouring all of their wines for the tasting (10+ for $15). The grapes are a bit younger (oldest vines about five years) so the flavors are sharp and punchy. There drinkable now but also will age well. They have quite a variety on the tasting menu - from port style, whites and reds. We had a great tasting experience with one of the owners and felt comfortable sitting and drinking wine after our wine tasting. No snacks yet, but they are planning on getting.

What a beautiful establishment. Not only is the building interior and exterior beautiful, but the…read moregrounds are beautiful as well. I have been to Saude Creek, two times now. I do with there were a better offering of snacks/food available inside. But, there has always been a food truck available with hot food offerings. As for activities I have been there once for an even Rusted Rabbit has hosted. While there I was able to sample/purchase some wine to try. The event was nice and very well thought out. We were located upstairs which has a balcony that over looks the back of the property. My friends have raved about their wines and even sangria. There has been people there singing and a band once. So it was nice to have some entertainment. I enjoyed sitting outside on the porch. We even sat down below the exterior where it was quieter. The staff have always been accommodating, knowledgeable on their product and kind. The grounds has always been well put together and clean. There is defintly attention to detail throughout the property.

Great rainy afternoon at Saudé Creek Vineyards with friends! This afternoon we met up with friends…read morefor a little wine therapy. All of their wines are great, and we were able to bring in our own food spread, which makes the wine even better! Added bonus, there was live music to brighten up the dreary day. On a sunny day, this winery has gorgeous grounds to enjoy the weather.

Good selection of wines. Associates were helpful in helping us find the wines that we liked. We…read moredecided on a flight, which are 4, 2oz pours. All were good. A great place to go for peace and a serene view. I will be returning.

We adore this place. It's the perfect distance from Richmond. The venue is adorable. My favorite…read morepart is the staff. Every time we make the trek out to Fifty-third winery the staff are so sweet. When they are busy they are quick to help get you your next bottle. When they aren't busy it's so fun to hear about their enthusiasm for the wine, the process and their varieties. We've met multiple employees and always have a great experience. They always make me laugh. They are attentive and well informed. We finally, after two years of coming here every few months, joined as members. My boss actually is a member too, which is so fun to meet up as families. There are multiple seating options. The patio/balcony is my favorite. The tables in the lawn are perfect if you want more space. And there is plenty of room for your picnic blankets or your own chairs. I love that they have the grape vines too. So many wineries in and around Richmond are missing that vibe. 10/10 Will recommend.

Don't be fooled by the location. You have to go in and try it…read more Hal gave us a great wine tasting and each couple left with a very nice bottle of wine.

A close friend and I met in the middle in Fredericksburg to celebrate her birthday and wanted to…read moretry a local winery - when we found Bacchus online, we expected it to be like in a vineyard as we were used to, so we were surprised to find the entrance in a suburban strip mall type location. But don't be fooled! We had an amazing experience and definitely recommend Bacchus. The owner was very kind and introduced us to the winery, showing us around and explaining how they do things. We opted for a tasting of both the red and white wines (complimentary!) and sat in a high top table at the tasting area adjacent to the shop. The owner explained each wine's name and flavor when he brought the trays over. We had so much fun! Each one was delicious and we had a great time tasting & talking.

We love a tasting room where we can just pop in, impromptu and get great service. You can create…read moreyour own flights minus a few exceptions which is also nice. The wine-tenders are knowledgeable and talked us thru their options, answered our questions, and then you're off to choose your seating and enjoy the wine. They have cute little merch and food purchasing options, a lively event calendar and ample indoor/outdoor seating. 21+ is another lovely amenity!

We were really excited to try James River Cellars Winery mainly because it was just down the street…read morefrom my friend's house, and two because the videos and photos we saw online made it look like a great spot. What we were most looking forward to was the wine flights. When we arrived, the person at the entrance was super friendly and asked what we were looking for since there was an event happening that day. He pointed us in the direction of where to order drinks and mentioned that someone would walk us through the wines as we selected them. Each flight includes four different wines, but once we got up to order, we quickly realized we weren't going to get the full tasting experience. Since it was a Friday, flights were served in plastic containers instead of glass. When we asked why, the man helping us said, "Are you kidding me? There's 300 people out there." I assume this meant they didn't have enough glassware for the crowd or couldn't keep up with washing them. They do give you a single glass you can pour your samples into, if you prefer drinking from glass. We were handed a list of wines to choose from, but unless we asked specific questions, we weren't offered any information or recommendations. I don't know much about wine, but I do know I like sweet ones so I chose the four that were marked as sweet. Seating is first come, first served, and there was live music playing, which was a nice touch. That said, we weren't sure where the "300 people" were, as it didn't feel particularly crowded. One downside was the flies that were really annoying, which made it hard to relax and enjoy our drinks. We ended up leaving shortly after finishing our wines. There were a lot of dogs around maybe part of the event, though we weren't sure. Overall, it wasn't a bad experience, but it didn't live up to the hype or the pictures we'd seen. If you're looking for a more traditional wine tasting with glass flights and staff guidance, I'd recommend going on a different day or calling ahead to find out what to expect.

Great winery off the beaten path! Pet friendly and great VA wine! Perfect patio to enjoy the peace…read moreand quiet. Check it put!

An amazing find in a neck of the woods that isn't known for wine country. I didn't know what to…read moreexpect, but was blown away how good they are, especially given how this is a smaller winery. Skipper's Creek has 5 acres of vines and makes under 1000 cases/year. Co-owner Chuck was joking that he likes having a day job since it lets him afford hiring people to do some of the 'farm' work, letting him concentrate on the wine making. Well, his division of labor seems to be working out well, because out of the entire lineup, I liked-to-loved everything. Prices were exceptionally good too. 2013 Chardonnay: Blended with 20% Viognier, made in steel. Lemongrass notes and tangy/tart finish. 2014 Chardonnay: Blended in American Oak & steel. I don't have good tasting notes but I remember liking it. 2015 Chardonnay: Oak and steel, buttery nose and notes of oak and butterscotch. 2014 Viognier: Made in steel, melon flavor. 2015 Viognier: I can't find my wine tasting notes, but I remember it was ok. 2014 Merriwether red blend: 60% Cab Franc, 20% Petit Verdot, 20% Merlot. Black cherry nose & finish. My friend bought a bottle (and at $19 it was a steal). 2014 Malbec: Soft cherry notes; a real winner! Aged in Hungarian Oak for 2 years. I rarely find Malbecs in this area (and Chuck admitted it didn't grow exceptionally well) but was very good, especially at $21 a bottle. Bought two. 2014 Petit Verdot: Good, but the way they pressed the grapes resulted in the wine not having the tannins that I'm accustomed too in PVs (I'm a Tannin-fanatic). Also aged in Hungarian oak for 2 years.

We had a fun visit, tasting their wines and learning about the business. This is a small vineyard…read moreand winery, only a few hundred cases of each wine per year, with local distribution. They are doing a great job of growing varietals that do well in central Virginia, Petit Manseng, Viognier, Cabernet Franc, etc. I tasted most of their white wines, and liked ALL of them, which is quite a surprise for this California boy. They are creating some really nice variations, like Petit Manseng (2024 vintage) that does not hit you over the head with pineapple, and has great balance. Their Pinot Gris had a strong fruit component and more complexity than most, good acid without making your mouth pucker. The Viognier is less performed and drier than most, with good body and balance. They serve charcuterie that is locally prepared, and have a large cheerfully tasting room with comfortable couches and fireplaces for the winter. It's air conditioned and very comfortable right now, with great views of the vineyards. This is a family owned vineyard, and Noel and his wife and son were all charming and knowledgable. Strongly recommended! Ask them about the horse track next door, and you will learn some local history and family background that is not well known in the area.

Love this winery! Very good wines and great people working there. I shared the 8 wine flight with…read moremy husband. They had 9 wines available. So I was offered a separate pour of the 9th. My favorite was the 2023 Norton. My husband's favorite was the 2023 Got Everything, a blend of several varietals. At first look from the parking lot, you'd think it was a tiny place. But once inside you feel how big it is. The upstairs has a cozy area with couches. The large nearly floor to ceiling windows face west to watch the sunset. You're also facing the barn with a large field and rolling hills. The horses and cows have plenty of acreage to roam. It's mid fall, but when the sun came out the large patio was warm enough to enjoy the outdoor seating. They had live music and a small bbq tent set up. Both were great. Definitely coming back again.

We were driving from OBX to Baltimore and this came up as one of the places on the way back north…read more I was skeptical but so glad we stopped! First, amazing wines. They even had Nobiolo Rose made with Rkatseteli grape juice which is an amazing grape varietal from the Republic of Georgi. Second, the employees! Very knowledgeable and welcoming! Hello to Carolyn! I recommend to anyone passing by or looking for hidden gems!

Great wine, fantastic service. We did a tasting of 7 wines, all the wines were good. I'm more of…read morea dry red lover, so I was very happy that they had 3 dry reds. The Syrah was my favorite and the Tannat was my husband's favorite. The winery is small, with an outdated feel to the decor, but the wine is worth the visit. I know the atmosphere is important to some people. The wine is what is important to me and I gave them 5 starts for the excellent wine. You can bring outside food. They have tables large enough for 8 people. They have a nice covered porch with seating to enjoy the beautiful outdoors. The staff is very attentive to their customers and knowledgeable with the wines and processes used to make the wines.

Having drinks here is an experience. The staff is out of this world friendly and professional. They…read moremake an effort to learn your name and have fun conversations with you. They even offered to change the music because we had a child with us and there was profanity in the mix they had on (we declined, as we love 90s R&B). I did not expect to be wowed by a wine bar in a strip mall next to a Hooters, and yet I had a wonderful time. You can do a wine flight or a wine tasting, both of which are very reasonably priced. And - they make blue wine. That's right, blue wine. The catch phrase is wine with a vibe and that captures the experience perfectly.

This is a great spot! Just be forewarned that it is in a strip mall. Their wines are really good!…read moreYou get to select the wines you wish to have in your flight from their tasting list! The staff here is very friendly and on top of it!