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.

Exceptional wines, friendly service and a very relaxing atmosphere made for a very enjoyable…read moreSaturday afternoon.

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.

Wife and I visited yesterday. I'm not a wine drinker but I know what I like. It was very handy to…read morehave descriptions of the wines written out so we could choose which ones to taste. I hate going to a winery and not enjoying half the wines because what they say they are, are nothing like how they taste. That is not the case here at all! Debbie also labeled our flight tray, so there was no confusion over which wine was which. As far as the atmosphere, it was early on a Saturday afternoon and there was only one other couple there when we arrived, but more folks came in while we were enjoying our wine. We sat outside and enjoyed a beautiful day, but there is indoor seating and it is very nice and clean. Debbie (owner) was very friendly and informative about the wines. We did not try the snacks as we had had a large breakfast, so I can't comment on those. We bought 4 bottles of wine, which I felt were reasonably priced $15-$25 with a discount for amount spent, which was unexpected but nice. We will definitely return.

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.

If you want a super chill and very personable wine tasting experience this is the place for you…read more It's small and beautiful. Lots of outdoor seating to enjoy the beautiful weather. The wines consist of their own vintages plus a selection of South African wines. You may also notice a couple of horses and some very friendly puppies roaming around. Highly recommend you try the sangria. We polished off a couple bottles sitting outside enjoying the beautiful weather.

Visited the grayhaven winery for the first time today, and certainly not the last! Deon was the…read moreperfect host and guide through an 8 glass tasting. The highlight for us was the white sangria with white wine and lychee juice. We traversed whites, reds and rosés - to ultimately end with a beautifully fresh sparkling rosé brut. We enjoyed this in the sunny courtyard accompanied by a 5 cheese charcuterie board- all enjoyed alongside the company of puppies zeke and pazuzu who only served to create a more relaxed and enjoyable vibe. We were lucky enough to enjoy the wonderful hosts and their home prepared charcuterie - wines made and thoughtfully curated by the owners whose flavours shone through. We will certainly be back, we only hope to get a table through the busier seasons! Thank you for your generous and warm hospitality.

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.

I had my 40th wedding anniversary there and it was amazing! The people are so friendly and easy to…read morework with. They serve both beer and wine. They also had a playground for my grandchildren to play on. Everyone had a great time!! I would highly recommend this place to everyone!!

The winery is nice! They have tents outside in the back that we sat at. But the air conditioning…read morewent out when we went and it was cooler outside than inside. The wines were good. My friend and I got the flight and each got 4 different ones. The service was super nice and fast.

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.

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.

We had the best fruit wine we've ever had here. The owner, who makes all the wine, was behind the…read morebar and we had a great time talking with him.

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!

I had a difficult time trying to figure out what to eat because all the food looked exceptionally…read moredelicious. Inside is soooo nice. There is just one big problem. There is an insane amount of Hornets everywhere I couldn't even walk outside without having a feeling I was gonna get stung. Take my advice, Hire pest control.

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.

My son had his wedding here. The premises were breath…read moretaking, especially when you turn into the driveway and make your way into the property. It was magical. The food was great. All the guests came up to me and raved about the food. I have 2 items that disappointed me... The staff started clearing our tables of our water glasses and cocktails 1 hour before the end of the evening! Each time I got up to dance I came back to no more water or my drink. Then at the end of the evening I had to retrieve my car from the dark parking lot. There was no lighting along the walkway to the lot nor in the parking lot. A safety concern that I hope the venue addresses in the near future.

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

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!