Stopped by because a friend said it is one of her favorite wineries in the area. Really nice building with outdoor seating in front and a large tree covered deck in the back. Tasted the Chardonnay that was more fresh style with some nice honeysuckle flavors. Also had th"e L. Scott that is mostly Tannat with Merlot and Malbec. A very complex wine with some cassis and high tannic and some earthy flavors. Really a nice place to spend a little time tasting wines. read more

We previously visited this winery when it was Thatch Winery several years ago. I remembered enjoying the winery and the gorgeous, large deck out back. Unfortunately, this visit felt very different. Miscellaneous weird items seemed to clutter around in several areas. There were large areas that were unused and in the main area that was a little seating around a fireplace and some random tables scattered about. Nothing felt warm or inviting other than the staff member serving the tastings. It was our original plan to share a tasting and then sit and enjoy a some wine and a charcuterie, however, the feel of the venue was a huge deterrent and we left after sharing a tasting. Maybe in better weather, the feel is different with the outdoor area but we were really disappointed. read more

Michael Shaps Wineworks - Wineries Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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First stop on our wine tasting weekend: Friday 11:15am. We followed signs down a gravel road to find this gem. The tasting room has a French Chateau / Castle vibe with beautiful grounds. Two tastings were available: $20 for five wines or $30 for seven (the five from the first tasting plus two premium extras). *See pictures. All of the wines were tasty, but I especially liked the complex rosé and Cab Franc. It was well worth the off-road excursion. read more

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Gorgeous cab sav and tasty chardonnay, friendly staff, lovely space. If you're looking for spot giving rustic elegance and small operation feels, this is it! Had a nice chat with the staf, including Michael Shaps himself. Would love to be back to enjoy their outdoor yard games. Don't miss the poster on the way to the bathrooms that shows all the tastes and scents that sommeliers have to learn. Fascinating! read more

Food wine great- especially the Bouzeron Aligote and Breanne Les Verottes. Yum. Service by Kim during our wine tasting was very friendly and informative. She told us about the dual Virginia/French connection. Ambiance was wonderfully wine. read more

Michael Shaps Wineworks - Great tasting. Fun. - Wineries Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Really lovely little place. Loved the merlot that I had. It was fruity and smooth. The ambiance was peaceful. The staff was extremely friendly. I will definitely be going back! read more

This was our last stop for the afternoon and towards their closing time....so I wish it had been earlier on our list. The grounds out front looked very pretty as well as the outdoor patio seating in the front. We ventured inside and each ordered a glass at the wine bar. The inside was nice and bright and our wine tender was personable. We headed to the back deck to sit and enjoy our glass. The back deck is not nearly as attractive as the front, it is almost like it is an afterthought lacking the ambiance of the rest of the venue. Next time I will stay inside or relax out front. I'd like to give it another chance to explore it more. read more

We visited the small tasting room near downtown Charlottesville. There is another one south of Charlottesville. They have indoor and outdoor seating, and it all seems very cozy. They have plenty of parking! The young lady serving us was very personable, and we had fun chatting with her. Got some good intel on local restaurants to visit. The winemaker creates French and Virginia wines, and we ordered tastings of both. We thought they were all good but especially enjoyed the Virginia wines. The merlot is outstanding! read more

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Visited back in June, forgot to review. Great location near Charlottesville. Quality of wines was amazing. Some of the reds taste like they're straight out of France. Back deck has a great view of the woods. This is not a huge commercial winery, so don't come here if you're looking for that. Come here if you're looking for amazing wine. It's truly a hidden gem. My friend and I are wine snobs and we had a case shipped home. Wine room attendants were very knowledgeable and helpful. I will likely order from this winery in the future and really hope to make it back in person one day. read more

The Virginia Governor's Wine competition judges the best wines in VA. Michael Shaps was in the case (12 best wines) this year. He refused to sell the case winner because he is trying to sell his older wine first. This isn't in the spirit of the competition and he should be disqualified from ever competing again. Every year I gather the case for my wine club, and today was the first time someone refused to sell me their case winner. read more

If you are into Michael Shaps wine this is a must visit. But I warn you he's about the wine, not a super fancy tasting room experience. Think mellow adult couple experience. There will be no college drunk buses here nor large families doing a wine picnic with the kids and a dog. Just need to be clear. We came in with knowledge of his Virginia wines. You can find many of them at Wegmans, Total Wine and other leading retails plus good regional restaurants including the The Inn at Little Washington and the Salamander Resort & Spa in Middleburg. We feel his tannat, cab franc, and petit verdot are the strongest offerings. The Petit Verdot is very tannic with strong dark berry (mostly blueberry blackberry for me) notes. This wine pairs great with any red meat or fatty dish. The cab franc is almost the opposite side of this spectrum. It's very smooth, more smoky and spicy (think tobacco perhaps). This is more drinkable on it's own without food. Michael Shaps makes wine in Burgundy France and this tasting room provides and opportunity to try those wines. We were impressed with the rose and pinot noir. read more

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The wine is excellent, the ambiance inviting and comfortable. Indoor or outdoor seating available. Private members space upstairs is worth it if you visit the area often. I've been here twice, service was excellent the first time and aloof or disinterested the second time. read more

Great winery! The tasting was awesome with a good variety and the host was very knowledgeable! Loved their wines!

Michael Shaps is one of my new favorite wineries in Charlottesville. It's not a fancy tasting room, none of the glitz and glam, but their wines are stellar - from the sparkling wines to their reds, I'm a huge fan. Here are the highlights from the tasting we had, and what I purchased: Sparkling Crémant de Bourgogene - This bottle of bubbly is crisp and has the perfect balance of acidity. The grapes are grown in France, and this bottle produced in the classic méthode traditionelle process. Also, it is aged in stainless steel for about a year prior to being bottled, which gives it the crisp and clean notes. Crémant Rose de Bourgogene - This sparkling has the Pinot Noir grape, and has had minimal contact with the skin, thus giving it a nice color. Also, it has gone under the same bottling and fermentation process as the former wine mentioned as well. Reds Petit Verdot - This wonderfully complex Petit Verdot, is high in acidity, but full in flavor of dark berries and concentrated fruit. There are a lot of tannins that embrace the palette, and has earthy as well as floral notes. Also, the Petit Verdot was barrel aged in 40% new French oak for eighteen months, which gives this wine a lot of body and makes it very well-rounded. Cabernet Franc - The grapes for this wine were grown in Charlottesville, mainly on Carter's Mountain. Also, similar to the former mentioned wine, it was aged in 40% new French oak, for 16 months. The tannins on this wine are softer, and Michael Shaps uses a unique egg white fining process to help soften the finish. The notes on this wine are berries, spice, tobacco, and smoke finish that really takes this bottle to the next level. Tannat - This wine merges to worlds, French & American wines. Michael's story of being one of the first winemakers in Virginia to work with this grape is simply amazing. Similar to the reds mentioned before, this wine was also aged in 40% new French oak for 14 months. The acid, alcohol, and tannin in this wine are high. Also, you can age this wine for up 10 years. This bottle resembles berries, tobacco, and leather on the palate. Dessert Wine 2013 Raisin d'Etre Red - The story behind this wine is unique. The winemaker utilized a drying technique, in which grapes were dried out in the barn using heat to fry them out. The grapes began to resemble raisins during the process. This method also produced high concentrated fruit, which makes an excellent dessert wine in the outcome. This can be aged for 10-15 years, and is the perfect pairing to anything chocolate. I've already made an amazing chocolate wine sauce using this bottle for my homemade brownies! read more

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Good wine. Not great ambience. Went here when doing a few wineries with some out of town friends. One of them was a "winer" and had heard about Michael Shaps so wanted to make sure to make it to the tasting room to try their wine. We started at First Colony, which is literally only a matter of yards (less than a mile) away down a gravel road. So it's a really convenient wine tasting pairing. If you've started at one or the other, you can technically visit two wineries without driving between. Anyways, compared to most wineries, Michael Shaps isn't buying into the full tasting room experience. It's really just a warehouse/manufactured set up with a bar inside, connected to where all the winemaking happens. We stood at the tasting bar and tasted some good wines. I wasn't amazingly blown away by the experience, but the guy doing our tasting was giving us some good factoids and info into the wine and winemaking process, which I always appreciate. The wine wasn't especially memorable except I know I generally liked most of it. And you get to keep the cute stemless tasting glass. Worth going to try the wine, it has won lots of awards, I think. And also if you happen to be at First Colony. Kill two birds with one gas tank kinda thing. read more

Great wines! His Petit Verdot is my favorite Virginia wine, and each time we enjoy it I have remind myself that it's not a Margot or juice from Saint-Emilion full-bodied, rich, beautiful wine. worth every penny, this is an international-caliber wine, spectacular read more

Come for the wine, stay for the history/culture course on winemaking (generally), Virginia wine, and Burgundy. My wife and I went here recently because we have heard Mr. Shaps name throughout the region and his noted success on Virginia governor's cup selections. What we weren't expecting was the gain of so much information on winemaking both near and abroad. Holding my 4-month old while she slept, sipping on a rosé, hearing customers' small-engined cars labor up the gravel hill, and feeling the warm breeze was pretty awesome. What made it extra awesome was the accommodating staff invite me into the barrel room for an impromptu tour of where the rubber hits the road in a winery. Thanks, y'all. read more

Had a great time w Pan today. She was our wine hostess for the tastings. The Virginia and French wines are excellent. Usually there are one or more in the tastings that are ok or not favorites. Michael Shaps wines (all of them) and few off menu were all excellent. She was also gracious enough to offer some dinner recommendations tonight in Charlottesville. I'd like to keep this place a secret, but it's to good not to let others know about it. We highly recommend the wines at Michael Shaps Wineworks. All of the employees were friendly and knowledgeable about their wines. As I said before, we had Pan, and she was a rockstar today read more

Great stop for a wine lover, especially if you've heard of the name Michael Shaps. It's possibly disappointing for people looking for a 'traditional' wine tasting with all the accoutrements (fancy tasting room, music, ect) but if you like his wine then you must visit. Wine: 4 stars. Consistently good tasting for whites and reds Facilities: 2 stars. The tasting room is a corrugated metal shack, and you have to walk through the production area to get there. Not a place to hang out. Staff/Ambiance: 3 stars. I was alone when I visited. My server was quiet but attentive. Note: this review mixes together two different wine flights: the 'standard' tasting and his flight of Bordeaux wines (yes real Bordeaux...straight from France!). Each flight by itself was $10 or both for $15. Michael Shaps is something of a legend in the Virginia wine industry. Having been to several of the 27 places where he's the wine maker (Hague, The Barns at Hamilton Station, others), a pilgrimage to his own place was inevitable. Whites: 5 whites; all fairly good. The Chardonnay in neutral oak wasn't buttery at all. The Mon Bidon Blanc was nice and bright, and the 2013 French Oak Chardonnay was just a little creamy (and ironically enough, sold in a box). And the 2014 Viognier was floral. All in all, the whites were above average for me, and I'm not a white drinker. Rose: 1 Rose, the Mon Bidon, which has Tannat! Reds & Desert: The 2013 Mercury Rouge Pinot Noir I liked a lot, and possibly my favorite red. The 2012 Cab Franc was slightly too earthy for me. The 2012 Merlot was really smooth. But my absolute favorite was the 2011 Raisin d'Etre Red Desert wine. It comes in a half-sized desert bottle for $25, which I guess was about average for what you get. If I had one complaint, is the name "Michael Shaps" is so famous you'd think that his place is wine heaven on earth. I guess once you've hyped something in your mind for so long, anything less than an stunning tasting is a let down. While I certainly recommend Wineworks, don't think you're going to taste his premium wines (which he might have for sale but not for tasting). But visit for yourself and decide. read more

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Wonderful in every way. We had the premium-tasting flight. Every wine was good and some were great according to my palate. And then there was the venue and staff. Paula was our hostess. She was knowledgeable, fun, and informative. The venue is gorgeous. The are options to kick back and enjoy the serene woodland setting or tastefully appointed wine room. We will back the next time we are in the area. read more

Though I enjoyed the wine more this visit than prior visits, I was disappointed to be "trapped" -- ;old school' at the counter for our tadtings.I preferred taking the flight to an outside table and enjoying the views, instead, we were stuck staring at the wall behind the counter. I know wineries switched to the flight/tasting takeaway option for COVID, but it was much more relaxing and enjoyable. Yes, there is an overhead that comes with that model, nut it's so much more fun. Sorry, M. Shaps, you missed the mark at the best part of your taking over ^hatch Winery and their amazing grounds read more

Wow! As others have stated, there is no view and little atmosphere here. But, if you want to taste some of the best wine in Virginia, this place will not disappoint you. Selections include fruit from local vineyards as well as wine made at the vintner's location in Burgundy. Great service provided by Bill... One of my new favorites! read more

OK .. let me share This place totally off the beaten path and super chilled!! The wines are beyond awesome!! Rodger is a total reservoir of knowledge, has a positive spirit and rolled with my crazy sense of humor!! I'm not a wine person my woman is SoOH,it is what it is!! I encourage you to read their website and to visit this place, you'll leave with a couple of bottles, a positive groove wanting to come back with friends!! read more

Definitely one my favorites on this trip. The people working there really know their wines and I got to get my wine nerd on with them about terroir and production and even pricing. It was highly recommended by locals and with good reason. read more

So disappointed. When it was Thatch Winery, the tasting servers were so very friendly. The glasses were so cool. I belonged to the wine club and loved their wines. Today I visited with two friends from Colorado and it is not the same. We were rushed thru the tasting, no water provided to cleanse our palettes, even though we went from white to red. $20 for 5 2-sip wines. Couldn't keep the glasses (which were chintzy anyway) because of a "glass shortage". The venue is beautiful but that is all thanks to Thatch. Need to up your game! read more

We had fun here. It's like the bare bones of wine tasting. The woman who served us our tasting was fun. The atmosphere was real, you got the feeling of being in a wine start-up. Glad we went. read more

Michael Shaps Wineworks - Me amongst the barrels - Wineries Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Staff was pleasant! Hidden gem on a small hilltop. Very very tight passage to get in with a suburban but so worth it. The flights we ordered were so good. read more

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As a wine club member here, we love to drive out to the winery to taste the wines and take home some of the best of Virginia's wines. The staff is always knowledgeable and the other patrons are friendly. This is not a fancy facility but the wines are first rate. Tip: Join the wine club and get invited to an amazing member's only party in January. read more

First it's a major project getting there and then up the gravel hill. The tasting room was nice with a good host and the tasting board was easy to carry outside. That's where the good points end. Of the 7 wines we sampled, none were that great. Unless you like something so dry that is. No scenery at all, not even some of the vineyards, just the steel presses In the area with the tables. Bottle prices were high. We definitely won't be returning. read more

Visited 4 wineries in Charlottesville VA this Thursday and planning to visit more in this coming month. The first stop was 1. Jefferson Vineyards 2.Gabriele Rausse 3.First Colony Winery ( see reviews). Fourth and last : 4. Michael Shaps Wineworks On the same road of the winery First Colonial: Expect to fine great wines here (French Winemaking) and probably some of the best in Charlottesville so far - I still have more wineries to visit in the area. Maybe a little pricey but no good wines are cheap because Michael's wines are produced and bottled at Michael's winery in Meursault France and imported to the United States. The staff is definitely knowledgeable and very friendly ( we didn't get charged for the Brie and the French baguette) how nice! The wines selection will get a 4 1/2 stars The facility/ tasting room a 2 stars Eventually, I met Michael who speaks French and we talked for a little while. Nice and genuine man. His staff server was very knowledgeable and professional knowing all Michael production. Now being French and knowing French wines, I am more interested to taste and to know about the Virginia wines grew and produced in the state of Virginia like the 3 other wineries visited. read more

Amid COVID times, this was a lovely find for a socially distanced day outside. Though I did not get to see the inside tasting room, there were small tables set up in between the large tanks of wine that served as a nice wall between us and the other tables. We got the viogner and petit manseng, and both were absolutely delicious and refreshing. Our experience was pleasant, quiet, and peaceful. The views were not all there, if that is what you're looking for. The wines speak for themselves, and are worth the trip on its own. Can't wait to try more from Michael Shaps. read more

Virginia Wineworks must have heard our cries - they've opened a new tasting room! The outside parking is still a little bit of a mess and it's still not the fanciest looking winery, but they are moving in the right direction. My girlfriend and I got to try their second tasting menu of Michael Shaps. For $10 (it includes the glass) you try three of the Michael Shaps Burgundies from France, which go for $32-$54 a bottle. Our pourer was very knowledgeable about the wine and pointed out where in France these wines were made. I have to admit, the French know how to make excellent wine - it's some of the best you're going to taste and is a definitely a step-up from most of the local Virginia wine. My favorite was the Savigny-Les-Beaunne ler Cru Les Narbantons 2012 red - it was simply one of the best reds I've ever tasted. Although you only get three tastings, definitely try out that Burgundy line. You'll thank me later. read more

Michael Shaps Wineworks - Wineries Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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We stopped in while in the area and although the looks of the tasting room and outside don't look like much, the taste of the wines were pretty darn good and the customer service was great! They have two tastings; one that is of their French grown and manufactured wines and one that is done here in VA. Between the group of us, we tried both tastings and the VA wines were definitely much better, but to each their own - so you might prefer the French wines. The chardonnay was amazing - had to have it - GOT IT! We also found it interesting and slightly odd that they sell growlers for $10 and you can fill them with table white or table red, directly from the barrel in the tasting room. They also have boxed wine - the first VA winery we've ever seen offering boxed wine and the first winery we've ever heard of using growlers. Definitely worth a try... Judge for yourself and let us all know what you think! read more

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A little out of the way and we'll worth the trip. Staff were knowledgeable about the wine and I liked so much of what I tasted. Some nicely rich and robust reds that I had to bring home. read more

We have been there twice in the last 6 months and have gotten their flights of wine. They have tables set out either outside the winey or under the tent. Good service along with good wine. read more

Solid lineup of wines, but the wines don't make up for the lack of an attractive space. No view, no outdoor spaces, spare, cold tasting room. I would like a more complete experience. For the price, I expected a bit more. Petit Verdot was over extracted, with harsh tanins and no finish. Meritage was very nice. Very interesting dry Petit Manseng. Ordinary Chardonnay. Cab Franc was over oaked and lacked depth. An enjoyable red, but not for the price. Odette is a forgettable white blend. Staff was knowledgeable and friendly and made up for the setting. Jessica was great. Gabriele Rousse, King Family, Thatch, Mount Ida Farm, Pollack, and others offer better settings for your experience, if you are out with friends. Pippin Hill offers a wonderful setting, but can be crowded. read more

Don't bother unless you want to feel as if you are intruding. After 5 minutes we were told "be right with you" although only one other person there. No explanation of anything or offer to explain. Rude! read more

only 2 ppl in the place on a Tuesday afternoon. poor service, no greeting, felt ignored, never going back. read more

We had the best experience here - Bill offered so much knowledge and insight into the wines, and gave us great information behind the different French wines they also make! Mr. Shaps is behind a lot of Virginia's delicious wines, and that holds true for these at his tasting room as well. We look forward to enjoying the wine we brought home and look forward to returning soon! read more

Virginia Wineworks features the creations of French wine expert Michael Shaps. Two levels of wines are for sale here: Michael Shaps and Virginia Wineworks. Michael Shaps wines are produced in small lots from vineyards that are leased and grown under the supervision of Michael Shaps and Philip Stafford. These wines are very high quality and have won lots of awards. As a result, they're also on the pricier side for Virginia wines, with an average per bottle price of about $32. That said, they are superb. I particularly like the Chardonnay and the Cab Franc. Virginia Wineworks wines are crafted to be more value oriented. The wines are made from Virginia grapes purchased from local grape suppliers and wineries. Shaps uses the grapes to create wines in the $12-16 price range. These wines are great bargains. They're more easy drinking than the Micheal Shaps wines, and they're also less complex. The still are tasty, though. The tasting room isn't much to look at, it's more functional. In addition to making his own wines, Shaps helps other winemakers there. This place is about tasting and buying wine, not so much hanging out and drinking. The wines are so good, I always make a point to stop here. read more