There were six of us looking for a fun night out and decided on The Wine Whisperer since it had…read moregreat reviews, had been on my list to try, and none of us had been before. What a great decision! When you walk in, you immediately notice that all of the wines are beautifully displayed -- it doubles as a wine shop, which gives it such a warm and welcoming vibe. It feels cozy but elevated at the same time. They don't offer flights for groups larger than five, but we were able to order one dealer's choice flight based on our preferred flavor profiles. From there, we could select a bottle inspired by the flight. A few of us gravitated toward reds. Our waitress was incredibly knowledgeable -- we told her the flavor profiles we liked, and she brought out three reds to try. The Wade & Wayfarer Pinot Noir was our favorite (so good!), though a bit pricier. We also tried the Alkoorai Cab/Merlot blend, which ended up being our least favorite. Ultimately, we chose the Denner Nightshade GSM -- excellent pick. Bonus tip: if you purchase a bottle $50 or more, there's no corkage fee; under $50, there is. Our waitress also mentioned that South American Merlots are the best Merlots as we all mentioned Merlot tends to be more dry. A few in our group ordered the Masterpiece Theatre cocktail on our waitress's recommendation -- she did not steer us wrong! Food-wise, everything was a hit. Our friends ordered the Cacio e Pepe burrata, pickled shrimp, Caesar salad, mushroom and leek flatbread, and the Brie and pear flatbread (both flatbreads were huge!). They loved every dish. My husband and I shared the bread with olive oil (simple and delicious), the charred octopus (tender with amazing flavor), gnocchi Bolognese, and lamb chops. Everything was fantastic -- the only small note was that the lamb could've been a bit more rare -- but still very flavorful. By the end of the night, all six of us agreed we'd absolutely be back. We're even looking into their wine club -- $60/month for two bottles (pickup required at the shop), which honestly sounds like a great deal. Apparently, they change up their wine flights weekly, which makes it even more fun and gives us a reason to return. Such a great experience all around -- can't wait to go back and try more wines!

We went with friends on a Tuesday night and it was pretty busy which says a lot. It's small but…read morehas a cozy luxurious feel and the staff is friendly and helpful. They like what they are doing. It's in a strip mall parking lot so parking is pretty easy; if it's crowded, you might not be able to park right in front of the restaurant but there's still plenty of parking. We chose flights of wine to start out and really enjoyed each of the three we picked. For appetizers we got the pumpkin hummus and the Muhammara which is a roasted red pepper and walnut dip with toasted pita. My friends enjoyed their hummus, and my husband, and I thought the pepper and walnut dip were out of this world. We wanted more for dinner. The pita was the perfect crispiness and accompaniment for the dip. Having had limp pita at another restaurant recently makes me especially locked in on this detail lol For mains we got the duck confit tacos, the gnocchi bolognese and the hippie chick salad with roasted salmon. My friend enjoyed her salad, but I forgot to ask how she liked the roasted salmon on top. It looked tasty and was something I was considering for next time. I got the duck confit tacos which were definitely different from your standard fare and had a nice kick to it without being overwhelming. On my first bite I thought it was gonna be too spicy, but the heat did not build to unbearable. Still not sure I'm a fan of duck, but it was done very well and I wasn't disappointed. My husband's gnocchi Bolognese was done perfectly. I was shocked how light and pillowy the gnocchi were and loved the Bolognese, which was the perfect amount of savory without being too rich; elevated comfort food for sure . We were too full from dinner to order dessert which kept our bill down to a little over one Benji for drinks, one appetizer and two beans, , which is pretty typical for a nice meal out these days. I do miss the days when you could go out for $30-$45 a person even with a shared appetizer and drinks but WW is more on the reasonable side compared to most. We will definitely be back though and Iwoll be investigating the private room option for a milestone birthday or anniversary. Well done WW!

We had a really fun Sunday afternoon at Gauthier for a Paella class conducted by the chef at…read moreSaudade, formerly La Tienda. The class was held at Gauthier's event center. Chef Greg demonstrated how to prepare two types of paella: chicken and seafood. They also had a good selection of salads, crudite, cheese, and meats, as well as almond cookies and brownies. Everything was very good. We enjoyed Gauthier wine with our food. For whites, they sold Chardonnay and Viognier. For reds they had Cab Franc and Petit Verdot. Gauthier has some nice wines. It was a fun afternoon, and they will be hosting more events like this in the future.

This is one of my favorite wineries! All of their wines are great, but we especially love their…read moreNorton! Fun afternoon on their covered deck with friends. All of the winery staff was friendly and helpful, as always. Today we got to experience baked oyster from Big Island Aquaculture with our wine...super yummy! Great experience!

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!

Lake Anna winery in Spotsylvania VA, Lake Anna area to be exact. I want to highlight how calm and…read moreserene the area looks, the spaciousness of the winery itself. How welcoming the owner Jeff was. We got a wine tour which wasn't planned, and the facilities behind the curtain were immaculate. There is no formal kitchen but it isn't necessary because there are wine snacks, charcuterie, nuts,etc. This is one of my favorite wineries and I am glad to be able to visit for the first time. We stayed for a few hours and had a blast. Cant want to see what events they put on next year when the weather breaks.

Location makes it desirable. The guitar player made it bearable. Wine is ok. Likely an ok spot if…read moreyou have a group - personally found that unless they knew me personally- the staff was not accommodating.

Truly cannot recommend Early Mountain enough! It is one of the most beautiful wineries I've…read morevisited- the tasting room reminds me of Crimson Lane or Barboursville- and definitely one of the more upscale options of the wide range of Virginia wineries. The wines are excellent and there are several tasting options you can choose- I believe there was a red flight, a white flight, and a "signature" option that had both. You also have the option to build your own flight, which I always love. The 2024 rosé is a standout, we picked up several bottles to bring home. We could not believe how good the food was- it was worth a trip in its own right! It's on the pricier side but it is clear why, the plates wouldn't be out of place at a fine dining restaurant. We also had the kindest server, Chelsie, who made our experience so special and memorable! She stopped by to chat several times, gave us great recommendations, and she could not have been nicer to me and my friends. We were lucky enough to attend our dear friends' wedding here and it was a spectacular wedding venue. The space is just beautiful and the catering was incredible- some of the best wedding food we've had by far. We liked it so much we came back to visit the tasting room the next day :) This is a perfect stop on the way to Charlottesville from the DMV and a gorgeous place to spend an afternoon.

This place is absolutely gorgeous. We showed up with a group of 6 and they were more than…read moreaccommodating to us and fit us in. I cannot stress how beautiful this place was. The view was amazing. I can imagine in the summer when they have someone out there performing or the fires lit, it's amazing. I got the experience flight. Loved the red wine options. Buratta and cheese board were amazing and so beautifully plated.

The most memorable experience with Little Washington Winery's owners, Carl and Donna, was the…read moreintimate Winemaker's Dinner where we spent hours chatting about wine and food, the quirkiness and beauty of Little Washington, and just life in general. My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed every wine tasting experience, especially the Triple Threat with cheese and chocolate, and have gained an incredible amount of knowledge on wine, charcuterie building and combining with various foods! Didn't know grapes actually do not go with wine! Our suite was lovely and so comfortable it was difficult to leave, especially with serene views of the mountains! The variety of wine is countrywide, many from female winemakers, from locals and made at Little Washington Winery. We bought a case with a variety, including their Meritage Masterpiece "George". The weekend getaway had plenty of wine tastings in a very welcoming home with plenty of areas to kick up the feet and relax. Carl's dinner recommendation to The Blue Door was also appreciated as we enjoyed the romantic outdoor dinner with beautiful flavorful entrees (especially the lamb chop!) and desserts! Thank you Carl and Donna for an amazing experience we hope to have again with you in the future!

This was a delightful surprise. Great selection of wine, very informative host ... would rate clear…read morein top 10 of the 150 Va wineries I've been to

Stopped in this shop to pick up some beers for a friend and wasn't disappointed ! I'm far from a…read morebeer lover and the gentleman (possibly the owner) was so nice to help me pick out some IPAs my friend would enjoy. Quaint and welcoming! Next time I will be checking out their wine selection for myself!

Great little wine store in Smithfield they carry hard to find wines and everyday day wines great…read morefriendly knowledgeable staff if your looking for a special wine or just a wine to enjoy with dinner check them out

Their Farmhouse store gets 6 out of 5 stars!!! We love this place and feel welcomed everytime we…read morecome. There aren't many food options at the Farmhouse but you can bring food and there's usually a good truck just a short walk away. Children aren't allowed past a certain point on the property though. We usually come here after visiting the alpaca farm across the street. The rooms upstairs are very warm and cozy. The staff will pop in to check on you every once in a while but you can also go downstairs to get/ask for whatever you need. I appreciate that they don't hover. The people that work here are amazing. The wine is fantastic. And the property is beautiful. I've mostly been to the Farmhouse because we always come with children, but the couple of times I've been quickly up the street, the properties looked very nice and elegant. Highly recommend.

Beautiful views, fabulous service, and a wonderful day off! They do have light snacks, cheeses and…read morewarmed up baguette, which was fabulous! We enjoyed a few of the wines!

This was one of my favorite spots on our Virginia wine tour - huge, beautiful property with lots of…read morehistory and sprawling fields. The ones were delicious, particularly the Chardonnay and the sangria I would recommend if you're doing wines by the glass! It was very busy with several events going on the Saturday we went, but the vast amount of indoor and outdoor seating did not make it feel that way. I thought it was so cool that they had an adults only section of seating outside, with a different section for families with kids. Just subtracting one star because they didn't allow our dog to sit with us outside on the picnic tables

This was my 3rd stop on my wine tour for the day and I muse say they did NOT disappoint!!! The…read moreyoung lady was very knowledgeable about the wines that we tasted. When you walk up they have a family section and an adults only section. When you walked up to the entrance of the wine tasting it was a little confusing but we were able to get the tasting quickly. There was a live band going on and another outside section where you can purchase other drinks.

Jefferson Vineyards has a two small-medium size tasting rooms. We stopped purposely to purchase…read moretheir Viognier. It tastes good and makes a great gift since the bottle has Jefferson's signature on it. The people are really friendly. There are tables to enjoy your wine outside on a beautiful day!

A friend and I visited this vineyard last weekend. She opted for the white tasting and as I don't…read morelike oaky whites or tanniny reds, the gentleman who was working there put together a mix of two whites and two reds for me to try. As it was a nice day, we bought some cheese and crackers and sat outside to enjoy our wine. My two favorites were the chardonnay '23, which was aged in steel and the cab franc '23. It's a pretty location, especially on a nice day. There's plenty of outdoor seating. They have a wide selection of wine to try. I'd recommend stopping in.