My favorite wineries located right outside of Richmond, VA at the moment are:
1. Upper Shirley Vineyards
2. Saude Creek Vineyards
3. New Kent Winery
4, Elk Island Winery
5. 53rd Winery & Vineyards
I still have a couple more to check out but I'm loving these three! Keep reading to learn more about them!
1. Upper Shirley Vineyards
2. Saude Creek Vineyards
3. New Kent Winery
4, Elk Island Winery
5. 53rd Winery & Vineyards
I still have a couple more to check out but I'm loving these three! Keep reading to learn more about them!
Upper Shirley Vineyards
View. Leading up to the winery are rows of the vines. The building itself is beautiful with a deck and patio overlooking the extensive lawn and James River. Unfortunately it was an abnormally chilly day in September but I could see myself hanging out by the water on nicer days.
Wine. I really liked almost every wine here! We had an amazing tasting experience and then decided to get a bottle of the Viognier, which is typically one of my favorite local varietals.
Atmosphere. I went for my birthday and there were so many other groups celebrating birthdays too! They had live music on the porch, which is typical for weekends. Another great thing about this winery is that they have a full menu that changes seasonally. Our group was very impressed with our meal.
Location. Upper Shirley is located about 40 minutes outside of Richmond.
Price. Tasting prices: $11 for 8 wines or $16 for 12 wines. Bottle prices roughly $20-$40.
Wine. I really liked almost every wine here! We had an amazing tasting experience and then decided to get a bottle of the Viognier, which is typically one of my favorite local varietals.
Atmosphere. I went for my birthday and there were so many other groups celebrating birthdays too! They had live music on the porch, which is typical for weekends. Another great thing about this winery is that they have a full menu that changes seasonally. Our group was very impressed with our meal.
Location. Upper Shirley is located about 40 minutes outside of Richmond.
Price. Tasting prices: $11 for 8 wines or $16 for 12 wines. Bottle prices roughly $20-$40.
Saude Creek Vineyards
View. The woman who led our wine tasting told us that Saude Creek is the highest point in New Kent Winery. It has beautiful views where you can see miles in the distance. They also have a deck that can be accessed upstairs above the tasting room that was a special spot.
Wine. I really enjoyed their wines! I ended up choosing a glass of Cabernet Franc after the tasting but it was a tough choice. They have a fun winter spiced wine called Tavern Red which was described as "christmas in a glass." Another unique one was their Saude Creek White which was made from apples instead of grapes. If you're a cider lover like me you will find this one interesting. When I return in the warmer weather, I could see myself drinking Sauvignon Blanc in their adirondeck chairs!
Atmosphere. Before visiting I was told that Saude Creek is like Charlottesville vineyards. It definitely had that vibe especially with an expansive seating area that can easily be transformed from summer to winter weather. They have live music on the weekends, and it was overall a very hopping place for a Saturday afternoon in February. I could definitely see myself returning in the summer to enjoy the view.
Location. 40 minutes outside of Richmond or 30 mins from Williamsburg. Conveniently located a couple miles off 64.
Price. Classic tasting for $10 (7 wines) or premium tasting for $17 (11 wines). Most of their bottles seemed to be in the $18-40 range.
Wine. I really enjoyed their wines! I ended up choosing a glass of Cabernet Franc after the tasting but it was a tough choice. They have a fun winter spiced wine called Tavern Red which was described as "christmas in a glass." Another unique one was their Saude Creek White which was made from apples instead of grapes. If you're a cider lover like me you will find this one interesting. When I return in the warmer weather, I could see myself drinking Sauvignon Blanc in their adirondeck chairs!
Atmosphere. Before visiting I was told that Saude Creek is like Charlottesville vineyards. It definitely had that vibe especially with an expansive seating area that can easily be transformed from summer to winter weather. They have live music on the weekends, and it was overall a very hopping place for a Saturday afternoon in February. I could definitely see myself returning in the summer to enjoy the view.
Location. 40 minutes outside of Richmond or 30 mins from Williamsburg. Conveniently located a couple miles off 64.
Price. Classic tasting for $10 (7 wines) or premium tasting for $17 (11 wines). Most of their bottles seemed to be in the $18-40 range.
New Kent Winery
View. Inside the winery is beautiful! You can also sit outside where the seating overlooks some of their vineyards.
Wine. Their white wines were sweeter than I am used to, but I really liked a couple of reds. Personally my favorites were the Cabernet Franc and the Heritage, which is a blend of wine from 16 local wineries! Both are dry reds.
Atmosphere. They have some food options that you can order, always a plus! They have a nice deck and patio that have been winterized for the colder season, and will be a nice space to hang out in the summer.
Location. 30 minutes outside of Richmond or 40 minutes from Williamsburg.
Price. $10 for classic tasting (6 wines) and $16 for the premium tasting (9 wines). Most bottles seemed to be in the $20-$30 range with a handful being significantly more.
Wine. Their white wines were sweeter than I am used to, but I really liked a couple of reds. Personally my favorites were the Cabernet Franc and the Heritage, which is a blend of wine from 16 local wineries! Both are dry reds.
Atmosphere. They have some food options that you can order, always a plus! They have a nice deck and patio that have been winterized for the colder season, and will be a nice space to hang out in the summer.
Location. 30 minutes outside of Richmond or 40 minutes from Williamsburg.
Price. $10 for classic tasting (6 wines) and $16 for the premium tasting (9 wines). Most bottles seemed to be in the $20-$30 range with a handful being significantly more.
