Virginia Winery Reviews Archives - BS Guide to Virginia Wineries

Zoll Vineyards

Located in Dutton, on the border of Gloucester and Matthews counties and along route 198 in Tidewater Virginia. The 16-acre property is a unique Farm to Table winery, created by Frank Zoll, a pastry chef who self-taught himself winemaking. Zoll moved here from the Boston area in 2017 and planted the vineyards at the time, opening the winery’s doors in late 2019.

Wine. Tier II. The property grows a wide range of grape varieties including Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Sangiovese, Barbera, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Traminette, and Chardonel. The focus is on relaxing wines that pair with Chef Zoll’s various food and pastry creations. Prices are low for Virginia wines. Along with wine, sangria, hard cider and mead are also available.

Setting. The focus here is inside, rather than on expansive views. The paired food and wine menus are extensive and varied, and the main attraction of the property. The winery offers a small tasting room in an old school building, a large dog friendly patio, a private event space, a playground for kids, and trails or dog-walking.

Stories: Fort Nonsense. Such a wonderful name for a military installation, Fort Nonsense has been used in more than one state – one Fort Nonsense being located in New Jersey, the other in Matthews County, Virginia, five miles from Zoll Vineyards. This confederate battery has been preserved (not restored), is now owned by the Matthews County Historical Society, and was opened to visitors in 2014. It now features walking trails, vistas, and historical placards. Fort Nonsense was never a scene of battles, but is an example of installations built during the early phase of the Civil War to protect the Confederacy’s capital at Richmond from attacks coming from the Chesapeake Bay. The fort also served to protect the local salt industry, which was historically significant and produced an important commodity during the Civil War. The installation was originally named North End Mill fortification. During the war, as fighting ebbed and flowed, most Union advances in the area actually came from the west, rather from the Chesapeake. This meant that the defenses faced the wrong way, and locals began to refer to the installation as “a load of nonsense,” which henceforth became the de-facto name of the Fort.

Great Valley Farm Brewery and Winery

Located just north of Natural Bridge, off of Interstate 81 south of Lexington. A small 2.5-acre vineyard, focused on small batch craft wine and beer. Owners Nathan and Irma Bailey opened Great Valley in 2016 as a brewery, after purchasing the 27-acre property in 2008. Grapes were initially sold to other wineries, prior to construction of a winery production operation on site in 2019.

Wine. Tier II. Wide range of wines, single varietals and blends, utilizing grapes both from the estate and other vineyards in the Shenandoah Valley. The farm grows Cabernet Franc, Gruner Veltliner, Lemberger, and Vidal Blanc.

Setting. Two stars. Beautiful views from the winery overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains. Picture postcard effect over fields, farms, woods and hills. On good weather days, there is plenty of outdoor seating on the porch and yard with Adirondack chairs and picnic tables. Indoors basic looking tasting area with bar and long, bar-type tables. Extensive craft beer selection to go with the wines.

Jump Mountain Vineyard

Located in Rockbridge Baths, in Rockbridge County, 30 minutes north of Lexington and 20 minutes west of Raphine and Interstate 81. This is an interesting (if a bit out of the way) family-run winery. Mary Hughes and David Vermillion purchased a 32-acre farm in 2006, and began producing wine in 2012. Small range but of unusual wines, featuring northern Italian and Austrian grape varieties that do well at altitudes.

Wine. Tier II, but one of the more interesting producers in the Shenandoah Valley. Jump Mountain’s 2019 vintage Borderland, a Tannat-led blend, won the 2023 Shenandoah Cup, while their 2021 Livia, a very original red blend featuring Italian grape varieties Refosco, Lagrein and Sagrantino, as well as local Cabernet Franc (named after Caesar’s wife), was awarded a gold medal at the same event. Their Livia was reviewed by the Washington Post in 2024. The largest plantings here are Cabernet Sauvignon: Jump’s 2021 vintage Cabernet Sauvignon was awarded a gold medal at the 2025 Virginia Governor’s Cup, the annual state-wide wine tasting competition, while their Borderland took home a silver medal at the event. There is also a sparkling Gruner Veltliner, from the white Austrian grape. Very reasonable prices.

Setting. One star. Good views of local landmark Jump Mountain as well as the vineyards. The winery has a small tasting room with a tasting table where guests are offered samples of the estate grown wines as well as tours, if desired. Open Saturday and Sunday afternoons only.

Wind Vineyards at Laurel Grove

Located in Tappahannock, a few miles southwest of the town along Richmond Highway, and 40 miles northeast of Richmond. Wind Vineyards is a combination winery and entertainment venue. By entertainment, the winery does not mean just occasional quiet music: guests here can engage in Bingo, Line Dancing, and watching Monster Truck shows – a bit out of the ordinary. Opened in 2021 by Taylor and Ashley Wind, the large 700-acre farm property includes 37 acres of vines. A sister property, also named Wind Vineyards, will be opening in Moneta, near Smith Mountain Lake in southern Virginia.

Wine. One of the Top 50 wineries in Virginia. The winery’s 2022 vintage Sangiovese and Chardonnay were both awarded gold medals at the annual Virginia Governor’s Cup state-wide wine tasting competition in 2025. Four other Wind wines, their 2020 Chambourcin, 2021 Tidewater, 2022 Malbec and Bordeaux Blanc white blend received silver medals at the event. Their 2021 vintage Chambourcin received an impressive platinum medal and “Best of Category” award back at the 2023 Finger Lakes Wine competition; five of the winery’s wines received silver medals at the 2024 Finger Lakes event. Their 2022 Bordeaux Blanc was awarded a gold medal at the 2024 Atlantic Seaboard Wineries competition. The Winds offer no fewer than 34 different kinds of wines here, ranging from traditional dry to sweet wines of various flavors.

Setting. Fairly flat setting in this part of Virginia; the winery is set in a large field, with plenty of outdoor seating as well as large indoor spaces. If you want a quiet place to sip wines, make sure to check the events calendar on the winery website, as it can be pretty raucous when the monster trucks or other entertainment is on tap. Wind Vineyards also features a wide array of food from their Deadrise Kitchen on the premises, featuring everything from snacks to sandwiches to multi-course dinners.

Southwest Mountain Vineyards

Located off of Route 22 in Keswick, 25 minutes east of Charlottesville. Southwest Mountains Vineyards is a new large Virginia winery opened in Keswick since September 2023. Virginians Paul and Diane Manning are the founders, and have lived in the area since 1996. Diane loves horses, horse breeding and the fox hunt. The team behind the winery has been cultivating vinifera grapevines on the property since 2016, with 72 acres planted across three separate vineyards. Winemaker Boela Gerber is formerly of Groot Constantia—the oldest wine estate in South Africa—where he worked for over twenty years.

Wines. This new winery is already one of the 40 best wineries in Virginia, thanks in part to South African winemaker Boela Gerber. Southwest Mountains came away with two gold medals at both the 2024 and 2025 state-wide Virginia Governor’s Cup state-wide wine competitions. Their 2021 vintage Petit Verdot and 2023 Petit Manseng were awarded gold medals at the 2025 Governor’s Cup, while their 2021 Cabernet Franc and Petit Manseng were awarded gold medals at the 2024 Governor’s Cup. Four other offerings, a Cabernet Franc, a Viognier, a Chardonnay and a Gruner Veltliner, received silver medals at the 2025 event.

Setting. One star. The expansive tasting room and state-of-the-art production facility were finished in the summer of 2023. In the tasting room, wood tables top wine barrel bases, and picture windows with gorgeous views of the Southwest Mountains that the vineyard is named for. The equestrian décor reflects the owner’s passion for horses and fox hunting. There is a wide menu supervised by chef Gregory Lewis.

The Barn @ 678

Located in Barboursville, off of Route 33 in Orange County. The Barn is a small family-run operation owned by Ricky and Lorrie Bryant

Wine. Among the Top 100 wineries of Virginia. This new winery has taken home a gold medal at each of the last two state-wide Virginia Governor’s Cup wine competitions. At the 2025 Governor’s Cup, The Barn at 678’s 2019 vintage Meritage was awarded a gold medal. Five other wines received silver medals: the 2021 Petit Verdot and Reserve Red, and 2022 vintage Viognier, Cabernet Franc and Meritage. The 2021 vintage Reserve Red was awarded a gold medal at the 2024 Governor’s Cup. Whites here include a Petit Manseng, a Viognier, a pair of Chardonnays, and another sweet Petit Manseng, along with a Vidal Blanc and Petit Manseng white blend. Red wines include a Petit Verdot, a Cabernet Franc, a Cabernet Sauvignon, a sweet Chambourcin, and three different blends. There are two sparkling wines as well.

Setting. Relaxed setting with a lovely view from the front porch onto the lawn and vineyards. The property features a serene, covered patio area with outdoor couches, tables, and hammocks, as well as a greenhouse and separate pavilion area. Guests can also make themselves comfortable at the adjoining covered porch or inside at one of the many available seating areas. Cold food options include a very impressive charcuterie board. The Barn also serves beer and mead wine.

Eagle Zen Winery

Located in Dillwyn, Buckingham County, 45 minutes due south of Charlottesville and close to Scottsville. Eagle Zen Winery is a small winery owned by Cindy and James Reynolds, who also own Fallen Glory Vineyard. James is a former Army Colonel, and Cindy a former Military Wargame Planner. Their first vines were planted in 2015, and they sold their grapes to other wineries for several years, under the name of Fallen Glory Vineyard. The property has some 50+ acres, of which 6.5 are planted in vines.

Wine. Tier III. Wines based on interesting grape types. Current offerings include the “Peaceful Patriot” (from Rkatsiteli), Harmony (a white Traminette-Vidal Blanc blend), a Chambourcin, and a Rosé. The vineyards grows an impressive variety of grapes, including Chambourcin, Cabernet Franc, Traminette, Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling, Vidal Blanc, Norton, Petit Manseng, Petit Verdot, and the unusual Rkatsiteli, Saperavi, and Mencia. The wines are currently produced at nearby Above Ground Winery, and a winery production operation is under construction at Eagle Zen.

Setting. Front porch on white log cabin with Adirondack chairs overlooking the lawn and vineyards. Chalet-style inside tasting room with bar. Friendly owners. Low-cost tastings.

Sweet Briar College Farm Winery

“Located” on the Sweet Briar College campus in Sweet Briar, Amherst County. This is a unique player in Virginia’s wine industry, owned by an academic institution, Sweet Briar College. Sweet Briar’s wines are produced from grapes grown in 17 acres of vineyard in two locations on the College’s campus, and in collaboration with Michael Shaps wineworks in Charlottesville.

Wine. Tier II. For the first time in 2025, the College Farm entered wines in the annual state-wide Virginia Governor’s Cup competition. The winery’s rosé, “Earned the Rosé” (a reference to the college motto) was awarded a gold medal, while their 2023 vintage Chardonnay and Merlot both received silver medals. Sweet Briar Farm’s vineyards, started in 2019, include merlot, chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, and cabernet franc grapes. The gold medal wine, Earned the Rosé, was made from merlot grapes from Sweet Briar’s vineyard. Sweet Briar College Farm entered two other wines in the Governor’s Cup competition, the 2023 Leading the Way Chardonnay and 2023 Meadow Merlot; both earned silver medals, also significant achievements.

Setting. This unusual vineyard/ winery does not include a tasting room. One can stroll through the beautiful college grounds, and buy bottles of the College Farm’s wines at the Wailes Wine Shop on campus.

Stories. Wine and Academia. There are a tiny handful of American colleges known for their contributions to viticulture, of which the most famous is the University of California at Davis. UC Davis and its fellows have played important roles in technical and agricultural training, supporting the development of the vineyards and wineries in California and elsewhere. Virginia, thanks to Sweet Briar College, has now gone beyond these precedents into a whole new frontier: a college that produces its own wine. Sweet Briar opened its doors as an all-female college in 1906. Its campus is known for its Georgian Revival architecture and picturesque setting in the hills of Southern Virginia. The school went through a difficult period in recent decades, nearly closing in 2015 until it was rescued, largely by alumni donations. Since then Sweet Briar has refocused on some key areas, including agriculture. U.S.World News & Report has recognized Sweet Briar College three times in five years as one of the country’s most innovative schools, partly because of its focus on diversifying its programs and stewardship of its natural and agricultural resources. These resources include a honey-producing apiary and a 26,000 foot greenhouse. Alumni Cornelia Matson ’58, who with her husband had owned and operated a winery in the Dordogne region of France, provided the funding to develop Sweet Briar’s vineyards. In 2019, Sweet Briar planted rootstock for chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, merlot and cabernet franc varietals, which were identified as most appropriate for the college’s microclimate. The business was originally established in response to demand from Virginia wineries for a larger supply of Virginia-grown grapes. After two years of Sweet Briar selling its entire grape harvest to Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards, the college joined hands with Virginia’s #1 winemaker, Michael Shaps, and launched into producing wines with its own label. Vineyard management is by the students, under the guidance of a professor. Depending on the day, you’ll find students clad in their beekeeping veils harvesting honey, with dirt under their fingernails from planting in their greenhouse plots, or walking back from the vineyard after educational sessions with leaders in the Virginia wine industry.

Woodbrook Farm Vineyard

Located in Orange, four miles west of the town center, and essentially across the road from James Madison’s Montpellier. Woodbrook is a former horse training farm which celebrates its legacy. The Vineyard was established by siblings Vaughan Jenkins and Robert Twyman, grandchildren of the farm’s founder, and their spouses. The founder, Delmar Twyman, was an elite horse showman who was inducted in both the Virginia Horse Shows Association Hall of Fame and the National Show Hunter Hall of Fame. Delmar’s son Noel, also an inductee in both the Virginia Horse Shows Association Hall of Fame and the National Show Hunter Hall of Fame, built the training barn as part of a successful business in breaking and training 2 yr old Thoroughbred race horses and Steeplechase race horses. The vineyard was planted in 2022.

Wine. One of the Top 100 wineries of Virginia. The winery in its first two years of bottling has won gold medals at both the 2024 and 2025 annual state-wide Virginia Governor’s Cup competition, and at the 2024 Monticello Cup. Woodbrook’s 2023 vintage Viognier was awarded a gold medal at the 2025 Governor’s Cup, their 2022 vintage Petit Verdot was awarded a gold medal at the 2024 Governor’s Cup, and their 2022 Cabernet Franc a gold medal at the Monticello Cup. Their 2021 Petit Verdot, 2022 Cabernet Franc, and 2022 Petit Manseng received silver medals at the 2025 Governor’s Cup. The vineyard includes Petit Manseng, Pinot Gris, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Norton. Petit Verdot, Viognier and other grapes are sourced from elsewhere in Virginia.

Setting. The “Training Barn Tasting Room” reflects back on Woodbrook Farm’s heritage. The building dates to 1982, and was remodeled in 2021 by the owners as a tasting room.

Everleigh Vineyards and Brewery Company

Located in Mineral, Louisa County, on Route 33, Jefferson Highway, just south of Lake Anna. Everleigh Vineyards is a family-owned boutique winery opened by Virginians Joe and Barbara Evers in 2022. The Evers have long been wine collectors, and decided to move from there into winemaking. Everleigh’s first vines were planted in 2015, and the plan was to only provide grapes to other wineries, but the owners subsequently decided to make their own wine. Their son Ryan was interested in cidermaking, so a cidery was added to the winery, along with a brewery.

Wine. Among the Top 100 wineries of Virginia. In their inaugural entry to the annual, state-wide Virginia Governor’s Cup wine competition, Everleigh’s 2020 and 2021 vintage Chardonel were both awarded gold medals. Their 2019 Cabernet Franc and Devil’s Profit Meritage, along with the 2021 vintage Angel’s Confession Rosé, received silver medals at the event. Chardonel, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc are grown on the property. Everleigh’s wines are based on 100% estate-grown grapes. The wines are produced in Charlottesville at Wineworks Extended, by Michael Heny.

Setting. A very modern-looking building with first and second floor windows overlooking the property, with a view towards the rolling hills of Louisa County. Outdoor deck and picnic grounds available in season. Food trucks and seasonal live music.