We visited on a Sunday for lunch and the place was empty, which was surprising for such a pretty day. The venue and atmosphere are lovely, the red wine flight is OK, but only 2 out of the 4 wines are worth recommending (Tannat and #1 Red Blend). The Zachariah needs aging. The menu has a nice variety, that should please most anyone, but the food was disappointing overall. The lobster tempura from the sharable menu (4 skewers with1/2 of a 3 oz. lobster tail on each [$39] is completely unseasoned and pretty much flavorless, so the lobster must be farm raised. The smash burger is served only well done because as the server said "That's the way we do it here". Other restaurants manage medium to medium-well, but this kitchen doesn't. The sharable menu boasts 1/2 lb of seasoned chilled jumbo shrimp. The shrimp were far from jumbo, more like the 45 count per lb size (large but not extra large, and certainly not jumbo), and lacked any seasoning except cocktail sauce on the side with so much horseradish it burns the sinuses. The service was good until it came time to pay the bill. I bought a bottle of the Zachariah red wine to give as a gift to someone with that name, and the waitress added it to the food bill and then added a 20% tip that also included the cost of the wine. Additionally, they collected the 6.3% served food tax to the cost of the bottle of wine, which is illegal. When I brought this to the server's attention, she refused to correct this, saying "This is how we do it here". Lastly, I paid cash and the server tried to pocket the $10 change and when I asked her for it she condescendingly asked, "You really want your change?" I said that I made no mention that she should keep it, and had already tipped her 20%. She was obviously annoyed and when she returned thrust the $10 at me, and without a word turned and walked away. read more

Don't let the 30 minute drive deter you. It follows the Capital bike Trail through deep woods and is fun. When you make that right hand turn the road goes to dirt. You're in the midst of huge working farms. A wooden sign at the field's edge will point you into the vineyard and you're immediately immersed in grapes. When you get to the huge white barn, it will be wrapped in 14-16' wide covered old southern porches. The back side faces the river. Last time we were there we saw a bald eagle flying down the James. Was beautiful. Food is good. A small plates feel. I always have the charcuterie board with their wines. It's a fun day. Good place. read more

View is beautiful, the restaurant is clean and the food was great. The food and wine are the strengths here. Overall we were very pleased with both. I ended up using the homemade chips to eat the chicken salad as the croissant was a little overpowering. Our server disappeared several times so who I presume was the manager took our order. She (the manager) was very attentive and kind. Our server didn't check in well and that was really the only main reason for 4 stars. They could use some updates to chairs, wine glasses and checkout books as well-as monograms were rubbed off and splits were in chair cushions and checkout books. read more

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Upper Shirley Vineyards is a beautiful space! I came here with a group to celebrate our friends who got engaged that day. It was a beautiful sunshiny day! We wanted to sit outside, but if you want to do self-service, you have to sit beyond the patio. There wasn't a lot of shaded seating left so we decided to go by the river with some blankets for more shade (we were a group of eight). We ordered both of their roses. I really enjoyed their bubbly rose. We also go the truffle fries and charcuterie board to share. We enjoyed munching on those. They have women and mens restrooms indoors. There is a lot of free parking out front. There are indoor seats available, but I believe inside and the patio are only for full service. If you want something a bit closer to the city, this is a pretty spot. read more

Upper Shirley Vineyards - Rose - Wineries Near Me - Charles City, Virginia

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Well this was a second visit here with the first time last fall (September 2024). Today (July 2025) we found out that in our opinion this place is consistent. Each visit we brought out of town visiting guess for lunch and flight tasting. Let first talk about the meals. This time I decided on a burger and chips. It was a nice size meal and perfectly cooked. The wifey had the Turkey Bacon Ranch Panini with chips. She liked it and it also was a very filling meal. My guest has the Southwest Cobb Salad and she really liked it and the portion was huge. She ended up taking about 1/2 home for a late dinner. The Truffle Fries appetizer was outstanding and also a very large portion. The both ladies did have wine flights and both found a wine that they really enjoyed. As for service: our young lady was very nice and took decent care of us. She checked on us a couple times during our nearly 2 hour stay. As for the location: We love it. The view on a sunny day of the water/grounds from the patio deck is wonderful. Although on both times of my visits we have eaten outside but the inside is really nice and cool inside on hot day like today was. One last thing - reservations. We made a request for the outside patio and we got exactly what we wanted. We are also glad we made reservations because we would not have been outside without them today. The inside although a nice crowd - wasn't full. There were tables. But with all this said I highly suggest reservations. So go and enjoy your visit at USV. read more

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Upper Shirley Vineyards is a great place to get away and enjoy good food and wine while taking in views of the James River. Both the interior dining area and the long porch in back contain ample comfortable seating. We dined there for lunch and enjoyed a flight of their white and rose wines, as well as a glass of their Divertido, which is a red wine. The wines all complimented the food. I especially liked the sparkling rose! It exudes flavors of strawberry. For lunch, we ordered the grilled cheese sandwich composed of bacon, tomatoes, and spinach with sharp cheddar and havarti cheeses. We also ordered the turkey, bacon, cheese, arugula panini. Both sandwiches were excellent and came with multiple choices of sides, and we chose the yummy house chips. The restaurant was busy and had more than enough staff to accommodate everyone. They were informed and cheerful. After lunch, we strolled the back of the property, which overlooks the James River. It begins with a patio containing couches and chairs under the cover of large umbrellas. It's a relaxing space to sip wine and enjoy time with friends. Beyond the patio is a large grassy area leading to an area overlooking the river. Upper Shirley Vineyards also has a banquet facility. Parking is good and easily accessible. read more

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Great local winery not to far from us at a historic plantation house on the James. Great views tasty food and wine! read more

Upper Shirley Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Charles City, Virginia

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Food was amazing! The brussel sprouts and the truffle fries were soo good! The wine was great too! We got a bottle to celebrate for our wedding anniversary today! read more

Upper Shirley Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Charles City, Virginia

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I love this place! Our car club met there and had a great experience, the food was great as was the friendly service. I will be back on my own. read more

Family scheduled an event that was supposed to be indoor and out. After we arrived on a 90° day, we discovered we had been put outside on the porch with a fan that didn't even work above us. It was excruciatingly hot and the flies were terrible. The food was very good. The attendant was pretty good, although it took him a while to get our drinks. He was not as attentive as would've been appropriate for a large group. It was so hot that several of us used our cloth napkins under us because the plastic seats were miserable and did not ventilate at all. I thought it was rather overpriced for the experience, although we enjoyed each other's company. I would not recommend it for a group event. read more

I really enjoyed the bright lighting in dining area. I ordered the white wine flight with the spinach and artichoke dip. I enjoyed the #2 white wine the most out of the flight. It was the very fruit forward and light which is what I enjoy. The spinach and artichoke dip was nice but a little oily. The crostini was toasted perfectly. I had a great experience and will be back! read more

Upper Shirley Vineyards - White wine flight - Wineries Near Me - Charles City, Virginia

Update on Upper Shirley! All the Stars!! Our work had a gathering here... a private wine tasting by the incomparable Nate! He was so knowledgeable yet not at all condescending. He was amazing, his service was on point! The grounds are gorgeous. The estate is fabulous and we all had a grape time!! We had apps with our tasting and afterwards we enjoyed an exceptional lunch on the veranda overlooking the knoll and the river! I had the charcuterie board (to match my earrings!) and the rest of our clan had burgers, pulled pork, salads, and dandy sandwiches. As we dined and sipped our way to elation... we received incredible attention from the servers. No whining from us... we had a blast! To top off the afternoon, we enjoyed nightingale ice cream sandwiches which hit the sweet tooth to perfection! Upper Shirley is Tops with us!! read more

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The ambiance and views are insuperable, the food is not bad but nothing special either, it is a place to come for the experience. The service was good. We will be back! read more

Upper Shirley Vineyards - The view from the back deck! - Wineries Near Me - Charles City, Virginia

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Decided to take a road trip for some wine and ended up here! The place is stunning, and has plenty of outdoor space for an event like a wedding. The inside has a restaurant feel without feeling too formal. We decided to sit in the back with a view of the water. There's tables on the deck with additional lawn seating (the lawn is huge). My brother and I both got a flight and some shared appetizers. The food was an unexpected standout! I absolutely loved the collard greens in the oysters Rockefeller. We couldn't stop raving about the food after we left. We came here on a weekday afternoon so it wasn't too busy. They have a sign stating that there is a 2 hour seating limit for tables with a server but that didn't seem to be a problem for us. I'd definitely come back again! read more

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First time here and had a great time!! Solid food and solid drinks! Their sparkling rose was pretty good! It was filled with fruity flavors but not too sweet. The mushroom flatbread was cheesy with mushroom slices, truffle oil, and arugula. I personally wish it could have been seasoned a little more but it was still yummy overall. The charcuterie board had your standard 3 meets and 3 different types of cheeses as well as some pickles and pickled asparagus. It came with a fluffy baguette! There was plenty of parking and seating options inside, patio, and outside. I liked the open space with live music, as well as the fairy lights on the patio. Tables were clean. The food came out pretty quickly and staff were nice. Would recommend!! read more

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What a beautiful place to visit. Even though it's out of the way, the views are tranquil and perfect for a girls day out. The initial service to get seated is a bit confusing since the front attendant was missing, but once we were seated, the server was excellently attentive. The food and wine were deliciously paired. I got the white wine flight and had it with a charcuterie board and the fried green tomato caprese. It's a lovely place and somewhere I'd recommend those visiting nearby Richmond. read more

Upper Shirley Vineyards - Charcuterie board and fried green tomato caprese - Wineries Near Me - Charles City, Virginia

We ventured here by bike via the Virginia Capital Trail. They had plenty of space to lock up bikes and an ample parking lot for vehicles. As you arrive, you will enter alongside some horses meandering in a field. This kinda sets the scene for this lovely vineyard. We headed straight to the back field along the river and found a shady spot under a tree. You really couldn't ask for a better location. Some musicians were playing and we relished in the enjoyment of being in such a scenic plantation setting. We had a picnic lunch (chicken salad and a club sandwich) from their menu and it was delicious! We also enjoyed a bottle of the sparkling rosé. I would definitely come back here again! read more

Upper Shirley Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Charles City, Virginia

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This is probably my favorite winery around because it checks all the boxes-- has great food, a wonderful view and great wine! I love their wine flights, and that there's a variety of options. The truffle fries are delicious !!!! The water view is super nice, too. read more

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Just go! It's worth the drive to experience this food. The fish was amazing and the sides were so good! My aunt and uncle love the lobster rolls. It was a memorable lunch on the back patio. So delish! read more

Great time for my friends birthday. We went in a Saturday 12-3. Extremely pack inside and out. The offer a wine tasting kit for$15 or in person for $25 We set outside on the patio. Took awhile to get my food as I joined the party later and it was packed but that would be my only critique! My mushroom flatbread was delicious! Only suggestion is to toss the arugula in olive oil and seasoning. Great experience and prices will definitely be back! Hopefully for the fried green tomatoes topped with pimento cheese! read more

Upper Shirley Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Charles City, Virginia

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We reserved a room for a grandmother's birthday party. It was to be inside; however, when we arrived to prepare, we were told it would be outside on the porch, and it was very hot on a very hot day -- mid-90s! Not good. You should honor your word. read more

Came here on a beautiful afternoon with my wife and a friend. Gorgeous porches! We had the Sauvignon blanc and Viogn. and enjoyed both while we waited for food. We shared the truffle fries and their fried chicken biscuit special, which was delicious. The biscuit is not the star of the show which is fine! Fried chicken is perfect My advice is to bring a blanket and enjoy a bottle by the river before getting food! read more

Upper Shirley Vineyards - Truffle fries - Wineries Near Me - Charles City, Virginia

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Excellent food and service. I had the roast beef sandwich and my husband has the Turkey stack. We had the fried tomatoes caprese as an appetizer which was phenomenal and chocolate covered strawberries for dessert. Highly recommend for an excellent atmosphere and good food. read more

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We have been there numerous times. Good food, service is attentive, very relaxing place

Fancy without being bombastic, this winery was the starting point and final destination for our friend's birthday bike tour through "Basket & Bike. " We had opted to add lunch at the vineyards for an additional cost for our group and the tour itself included wine tasting. I'm so thrilled that the two partnered with each other, because they make quite the pair! The grounds are beautiful and vast with the backdrop of the scenic James RIver. A sign marked "play" pointing to the left to the winery and restaurant and the other sign marked "work" pointing to the right towards the vineyards are a playful yet truthful message that welcomes you. Entering the grounds the vineyards are to your right and the gravel/ rocky parking lot is to the left with Archey, an important race horse with history greets you with a winning pose. This winery/restaurant has class but charm with southern hospitality. We had a wonderful experience! It could be that Anne, (the owner of Basket & Bike) made our experience very enjoyable and seamless since we had added lunch to our bike tour. She was able to contact Upper Shirley to have our table ready for us indoors after our active, long bike adventure on part of the capital bike trail. We were seated expeditiously upon our arrival. It was a very busy time, we arrived around noonish. Service was prompt and our server always ensured that our water glasses were always full on that hot summer day. We had two appetizers we shared "cheeses from here and there" and the " vineyard board " both were delicious! We all happened to order the crab cakes and they were tasty. My sister is allergic to bacon and there were scrumptious bites of these pig bits mixed in with the succotash. Our server was notified about the allergy and there was a slight overlook, however he quickly remedied this with a new plate of crab cakes sans the bacon. Also included with the bike tour was wine tasting, however by the time we finished our meals and our bottle of wine we had with lunch, myself and our friend, the birthday girl were too full to imbibe in the wine tasting. They kindly allowed us to exchange our wine tasting in lieu of a wine bottle which was very kind of USV. Everyone including staff and customers alike were super friendly and there was a good mixed crowd. Thank you Upper Shirley for putting the icing on the cake to what seemed to be a fantastic birthday outing for my friend and for the rest of us! read more

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I love everything about Upper Shirley -- the wine, the wonderful food and the beautiful spaces. Our daughter and son-in-law were married here and we love to go back. We recently ordered wines online and had a great experience with that, too! read more

I love spending time here and their white wines especially. I do wish they sprayed more for mosquitos, I know they are on the water so can't do but so much. Just remember to bring your own bug spray! The atmosphere is gorgeous. read more

I'm surprised they are rated so high, I gave 2 Stars for the beautiful house, view, and location. As an avid (red) wine drinker their offerings were ok. The Petit Verdot is the best red wine on their menu but at $12 a glass (one of the cheaper red wines, mind you) this was waaaayy overpriced. Their higher end reds were meh and are $40 a bottle - you've got to be kidding me. I am a big supporter of local wineries (I'm a member of two in my area) and I always hope the wine is good enough to recommend to others, sad this wasn't the case here. I do understand there aren't many wineries nearby so it's slim pickings and based on that this place is very popular. So, to be honest if the red wines were cheaper, say 8-10 (instead of 12-14) I'd given it a better rating because it's really about value if the taste isn't there. So it's decent if you live nearby - the house and view are absolutely gorgeous. That alone is a reason to visit. I come at least once a year and I may visit again because my local friends like it - I was just hoping for more. Sad face. They had a limited food menu when we came but it was decently priced. We had the fries, which were good, and the stew. Tip: Also, in the future when a band is playing and people just want to hang in the tasting room and not the banquet-concert room please consider not charging $20 just to get in (if you are going to charge $20 maybe include one glass of wine to those not going to listen to the band in the other room, especially on a Saturday! Or charge $10! Not once did our party go to the banquet room to hear the band, paying $20 to go in plus $14 a glass was a bit much). read more

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Stopped in on a Sunday afternoon. Live music- large yard for seating- bring a chair or blanket in case the seating provided is full. Tasting of 9 wines is $15. Nice variety of red and white preboxed with descriptions plus a free glass. A great value for the Richmond area. Limited food menu but they did offer fried green tomatoes, burgers and cheese charcuterie boards so I was happy. Plenty of seating on covered deck however being the closest winery to Richmond it is quite popular and fills up fast. read more

Upper Shirley Vineyards - Sauvignon Blanc on a warm Labor Day is delicious - Wineries Near Me - Charles City, Virginia

This is an amazing place lot's of space the offer tasting boxes (flights of wine) all in little plastic cups numbered with a nice description of each and a tasting glass for 15.00.. we got the Truffle Fries w/ a dipping Aioli which were delicious (except the Parmesan on top was grated so fine that it didn't melt and actually blew off by the wind, the Sourdough Grilled cheese with tomato soup was fabulous and the Mezze (a Mediterranean plate was to die for!) after tasting our wines we did decide on two bottles! They had someone singing and playing music...it was beautiful day! read more

Upper Shirley Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Charles City, Virginia

Such a disappointing visit. We went for a Mother's Day lunch because I have work Mother's Day. My mom is immuno compromised so we had to sit outside - which should have been great given the weather/setting. Instead the band was SO LOUD we literally couldn't talk to each other. I couldn't hear anyone unless we yelled, including those next to me. I got a headache from having to talk so loud and the noise from the music. We asked our waiter twice to help, he said everyone had been complaining all day, they had to move a bunch of people inside because of it. We asked the manager twice to ask them to turn down and every single request was ignored. The food was mediocre and expensive. What should have been a fun lunch turned into a stressful in enjoyable time due to something that should have been handled by management. There are a lot better restaurants in terms of food, I would avoid going if they have music. We will just go to the boathouse next time- lesson learned! read more

So this is not a winery. This is a restaurant! They don't do tastings. They have 3 SET menu flights and changes are not allowed. You are sat at a table and forced to drink there set wine flight. Very disappointed! read more

Had so much fun have snacks and wine on the back porch! They setting is very nice over looking a lake with plenty of parking, of course this was during the week so I'm not sure what it is like on weekends. The staff was very nice, we ordered a cheese board and the bread baskets as well as wine flights. I would definitely go back. read more

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Great atmosphere. Beautiful scenery. Wine is good but the food is too. Try the crab cakes read more

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This is a cozy winery. The scenery is beautiful. It sits right on the river, and is very spacious. There's an option for back porch seating or you can sit just down on the stairs "yard". Of course, indoors is closed due to COVID. The seating is very spaced out and each table is cleaned between groups. This winery is a bit more pricey than the others I've visited and the food options are limited, in my opinion. Staff is friendly and there's plenty of parking! read more

Upper Shirley Vineyards - White wine (sweet) - Wineries Near Me - Charles City, Virginia

Let's start with the facts! Upper Shirley is a gorgeous plantation. The views are absolutely amazing! I would consider this the classiest vineyard going east. My first trip here was eerily nostalgic, but calming and serene. The staff is very friendly and welcoming! The waitstaff is very attentive and knowledgeable. The tasting room is rustic, but modern. It has a huge porch and deck for people watching. It sits on the water which adds a calming touch. It's a great place to have a selfie photoshoot! Upper Shirley offers lunch until 3pm. After 3pm you can order desserts or cheese plates. The reason I gave them 4 stars and not 5 is because I love their wines and cheese boards, but some of the food isn't as impressive. The cheese boards include a range of cheeses, pepper honey, figs, and pecans. You could actually fill up on the cheese boards. But, I'm a foodie so I always feel the need to dine. Now, let's talk about what wasn't impressive. The oysters and collards did not meet my expectations. I ordered the fried oysters with collard greens. When I think collard greens I think sautéed or cooked with a ham hock. I never think cold, collard greens. Let's say I was caught by surprise. The oysters were lightly fried and plated in an aioli sauce with two patches of cold cooked collard greens. The greens threw me for a loop. I could have done without them. I can't un-taste them. The oysters were friend perfectly. Very light and seasoned well. Enough, about food! Please over indulge and do a wine tasting on your first trip! All of the wines are refreshing! I personally love the Viognier, White Blend, & Rose'. If you are a wine enthusiast and you enjoy views and a great charcuterie board Upper Shirley is the place for you. read more

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The food and wine were delicious. The service was attentive and courteous. There was a group celebrating a birthday and they were a bit loud, but as more people arrived, the noisy table was less of an issue. The vineyard is located on a beautiful spot overlooking the water. I would heartily recommend meal and wine-tastings here! read more

Great wines and excellent views. Enjoy their $15 wine tasting and them choose to buy a bottle wine r two of any of their delicious wines. Then take another bottle or two home. We also had truffle fries, Brussels sprouts, chocolate chip cookies and a cheese and charcuterie board. The view is perfect. Bring lawn chairs and blankets. Sit back and enjoy. read more

Upper Shirley Vineyards - Sweet baby Grace @ Upper Shirley - Wineries Near Me - Charles City, Virginia

Absolute scam. We went for Valentine's Day and this is what the info online says, "oin us this February for our special three-course candlelit prix fixe Valentine's Dinners. Cost is $80 per person (excludes tax and gratuity). Seatings are available at 5:30 & 7:30 on the following dates: Dinner will start with a pour of Blanc de Blancs and then you will then have your choice of three courses and wide selection of wines, cocktails, and beers to choose from. Guests will be allotted two hours at their table" We were charged $240 WITH $80 EACH for our appetizers and a "large party gratuity." For two of us. None of this was made apparent to us and we will absolutely not be returning read more

This is an AMAZING destination Vineyard/Winery/Restaurant in Charles City, Va., USA. Also adjoins the historic Shirley Plantation property on the James River.. I have been coming here since Suzie opened this venue. 30 minutes from Richmond,Va., 30 minutes from Williamsburg, Va. Wine, Food, Service, is Impeccable... read more