Sexy Bougie Winos Take on 53rd Vineyard!…read more We finally made it to 53rd Vineyard in Louisa, Virginia, and the experience was absolutely mind-blowing! From the moment we arrived, Chelsea, Dave, and Tony warmly welcomed us. A special thank you to Tony for helping me plan our tasting and patiently answering my hundred emails! Now, let's talk about the WINES! The ladies loved every single one. Even those who usually prefer reds fell in love with the whites, and we were pleasantly surprised by Chelsea's stainless-steel Chardonnay. Even I, not usually a rosé fan, fell in love with hers. That tells you everything! With delicious charcuterie and a guided tasting, the afternoon was exceptional. You can taste the love, passion, and craftsmanship in every bottle. 53rd Vineyard made us feel right at home, and the ladies left with bottles to remember the experience. And guess what? They're already asking me to plan another trip! Ladies, let me unpack first! Thank you, 53rd Vineyard, for the incredible hospitality, unforgettable wines, and beautiful Sunday afternoon. We can't wait to return! If you haven't visited 53rd Vineyard yet, put it on your list. Your palate will thank you!

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.

Small, family-owned vineyard. Chuck and Debbie were great! Had friendly conversation while they…read moregave us our wine samples for $5. We then ordered a delicious bottle of rose' and drank it in the gazebo. The set up at skipper creek is great. A good amount of space with a very zen-like vibe. If you're looking for a winery that's a bit smaller, but still great, go to Skipper's Creek Vineyard!

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

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.

Grayhaven Winery is a beautiful place to spend an afternoon. The scenery is absolutely stunning,…read moreand the entire property feels peaceful and relaxing. There are plenty of different seating areas, so it's easy to find the perfect spot to sit back and enjoy a glass of wine. The wine selection offers a great variety, and every wine I tried was enjoyable. The staff was also wonderful. They were kind, attentive, and knowledgeable about the different options, making it easy to find something that matched our tastes. Overall, it was a fantastic experience. Between the beautiful setting, great wine, and excellent service, this is a place we definitely plan to visit again.

I arrived and was told to take a table. I asked for a wine tasting and 20 minutes later all I had…read morewas an empty glass with NO WINE! The server said he was coming and so I waited. After two other folks came in,were seated and got wine, I finally left. Also don't even ask me about the 1 bathroom in a dilapidated barnhouse that smelled of mold and dust. My allergies were crazy by the time I left. What an absolutely terrible experience! We will not be back!

Great experience! The atmosphere was welcoming, and it was a nice place to relax, enjoy some wine…read moreor beer, and spend time with friends. The selection was great, and the service made the visit even better. Definitely a spot I would recommend to anyone looking for a good place to unwind and enjoy a nice drink. I look forward to coming back!

Found this brewery/winery today and decided to stop in. You have to drive down an unpaved road to…read moreget to the building, which looks like an old farm with outdoor and indoor seating. As I wasn't familiar with this place, I asked if their beers or wines were more popular and was told that most people drink the beer. I was able to try a couple of samples before deciding on a 4-5oz beer sampler. The beers were all very different and tasty. My favorite was What the Fox. There was ample seating both inside and outside. Overall, it's a nice place to enjoy some beverages with friendly people.

Loved the staff at this winery. Very approachable and welcoming. The wine is very agreeable! With…read moresomething for everyone. Great red flight option and a make your own. Thanks for supporting our military! They gave our friend a discount and have a display by the bathroom.

Byrd Cellars is the kind of place that makes you appreciate the winery you visit next…read more Wines were not great, the music was good and the service was fine..

This place was so unique and unlike the other wineries. The owner Mike was so nice and really took…read morethe time to explain everything. They have different flavor wines and all of them are named after the dogs that they have rescued in the past. They have so many different flavors so I suggest getting the tasting that includes all of them! They also sell Other things that they make on their farm like garlic powder and different soaps too. The tasting room is small but worth the visit because it is very different than all of the other commercial wineries.

Wow, this place is incredible. Small winery with incredible atmosphere. It's fun and small and…read morecasual. The wine maker is great. He explained the wine making and flavors completely. The wine is on the sweet side however, there's one that everyone will love. This a must try for everyone.

The rehearsal dinner we hosted here on Friday, June 26th was wonderful and everything we hoped for!…read moreWe wanted a relaxed, chill environment with good drinks and food and that is exactly what we got! The planning ahead of time was on point, and the owner was so very helpful and accommodating to our needs! We got a lot of compliments from our guests! We can't thank Barbara and team at Everleigh Vineyards & Brewing Company enough!

We spent a Sunday afternoon, from about 1-3pm, at Everleigh Vineyards…read more We were greeted and served by two very friendly women behind the bar. Both helpful with tips on what to order from their beer and wine options based off what we told them of our tastes. The grounds and building were very well kept. We chose to sit outside so our kids could run around (6 kids between us and our friend's family). They tried to light a fire for us, but that was the one downfall: all the fuel was wet from recent rain I think, so the fire never really took and we just had smoke for a while and no warmth or flames to enjoy watching. But they tried! We enjoyed all the wines we sampled, and went home with one bottle. All that I tried were dry, well-bodied and smooth. My husband only found the beer so-so, so next time we go he'll probably stick to the wines that he also enjoyed from tasting my flight. The soft pretzels are huge, delicious and delivered hot and fresh. The cheese sauce for dipping them was really tasty and much better than most cheese sauce offered for soft pretzels elsewhere. The staff was very courteous, offering us blankets as it was chilly outside and they saw the fire wasn't thriving. We are only 25 minutes from them, and we'll definitely go back; we were very happy with our visit!

Everything thing! Food, the place and most of all the service. So professional and friendly!read more

I recently visited Dover Hall for the first time for a company party and I was blown away both by…read morethe opulence of the interior and the professionalism of the staff. For a 32,000+ square foot mansion (that was originally built as a single family private home) the space is immaculately and meticulously clean and maintained to the highest standard. I did not see a single speck of dust, no cobwebs on the soaring ceilings, or stain on any upholstery. The mansion also did not feel austere or cavernous despite its size; on the contrary, it is absolutely bursting with some of the most beautiful, unique, and at times strange but wonderful decor. For example, the game room has both billiards as well as an extensive and exotic big game taxidermy collection, whereas the adjacent two-story library boasts a hand carved fireplace and a spiral wrought iron staircase. I spent most of my evening exploring every room and trying to take in as much as possible. The multitude of staff who serviced our event were both warm in their interactions as well as discreet when necessary. The in-house catering was also very good. We had a tortellini station, a raw bar, breads and spreads, as well as passed hors d'oeuvres and a dessert station, and I enjoyed everything I tried. My only regret is that Dover Hall doesn't seem to do open house hours or guided tours, because I would love to be able to return and see more of this remarkable building.

It was a sultry, humid, rainy Saturday and the natives were getting restless. Suffering from cabin…read morefever, my hubby and a couple of friends and I decided to find an outdoor activity to remedy our listlessness. Being pluviophiles, we didn't mind the light, summer rain. But what to do? Enter wineries!! We headed west toward Charlottesville, and first stopped in Palmyra where the winery there was only open for curbside pick up. My friends loaded the pickup with cases of wine but we were still in search of a charcuterie board and an open vineyard! Yelp to the rescue! We called the winery Yelp advised us was only about 10 miles away in Scottsville. It was open! Yes, they had charcuterie!! What a stupendous find! We approached the thistle blue painted sign and charming gate welcoming us to Thistle Gate Vineyard! Through the misty rain, the white barn-like cottage with the serene blue roof looked something from a Nicholas Sparks movie. Utterly quaint and beautiful! The wide porch was open for outdoor seating, wrought iron tables and chairs sprawled along the long planked flooring. Restrooms were located around the side so one didn't have to enter the winery. We were greeted by the owner who handed us a wine menu and their "flight sheet". The four of us chose our wine flights and each got a charcuterie box! Ahhh, this is the life! While we awaited our libations and sustenance, we spied an inviting gazebo near the vineyards. Our host said we were welcome to it! The grounds were lovely, albeit a bit soggy, a barrel fountain babbled along with the now drizzling rain, a bottle tree rooster glistened in the garden, cute slate signs were placed hither and thither around the shrubbery, it was all so idyllic. Our flights were served in pieces of wood made from wine barrels. Plastic cups were used due to Covid, but that didn't diminish the flavors of the fruit of the vine. I chose three reds and a blush. The Cabernet France was full-bodied with a dry finish. The Meritage (a portmanteau of Merit & Heritage) was delicate blend of varietals with fruity notes, the Thistle Red was a well-balanced blend of Merlot & Petit Verdot with a mild berry flavor and a rich burgundy color, and my favorite was the Thistle Blush, a crisp rosé made with Chambourcin grapes, easily my top rated grape! The blush was perfect for this overcast summer day, sipping the day way! I also tasted the St. George's Red Reserve which was also made with Chambourcin grapes and whispered cherry notes. Also my friend shared with me her Chardonnay which was a tad dry to my taste, but if you like white wine, I'm sure you'll like this one! What we took home??? The Thistle Red, couple bottles of Meritage, St. George and of course, several bottles of Thistle Blush! We enjoyed all these fine wines while in the gazebo surrounded by rows and rows of vineyards. What made the afternoon even better was the gorgeously presented charcuterie box! Two types of crackers served with salami, Brie, Swiss, and Gouda along with huge green grapes, dried apricots and salted almond Ghirardelli dark chocolates. I'm not exaggerating when I say this was the perfect complement to our wine tasting! A heavenly day spent in this dreamy winery, the only one in Fluvanna county, certainly cured our doldrums!! We are certainly returning to this hidden gem!! One sign posted says "We're so glad you're here", so are we Thistle Gate Vineyard, so are we!

Just opened chambourcin from years ago when they first opened. The best dessert type wine I've…read moretasted. Just the right balance of sweet. So happy to see still doing well. delicious! Kudos