Cross Keys Vineyards
Located in Mt Crawford Virginia, near Interstate 81 exit 240 in the Shenandoah Valley. The winery is the creation of a pair of Iranians, Bob and Nikoo Bakhtiar. The vines were planted in 2002 and the winery opened in 2008. Winemaker Stephan Heys is from South Africa. The name Cross Keys comes from the nearby old community center and tavern, which tended to the wounded in the Civil War during fighting in the Valley.
Wine. One of the Top 20 wineries in Virginia, with a run of very successful showings in wine tasting competitions the last three years. At the Atlantic Seaboard Wine Competition in 2024, Cross Keys’ 2023 vintage Sauvignon Blanc was judged “Best Sauvignon Blanc,” while their 2022 Cabernet Franc was also awarded a gold medal. At the 2024 Finger Lakes Wine Competition, their 2022 Meritage was awarded a gold medal, while at the 2023 Finger Lakes event, their 2022 Fiore (a Chambourcin and Cabernet Franc blend) and Joy white hybrid both were awarded prestigious platinum medals. Their 2022 Petit Verdot and 2023 Chardonnay were awarded gold medals at the 2025 annual Virginia Governor’s Cup state-wide wine competition, while three of the winery’s entries were awarded gold medals at the 2024 Governor’s Cup: their Blanc de Noirs sparkling was judged part of the “Governor’s Case” (the top 12 wines in Virginia for the year), and their 2022 Viognier and Chardonnay also received gold medals. Cross Keys’ sparkling 2020 Blanc des Noirs and dessert Ali d’Oro wines were both awarded gold medals at the 2023 Governor’s Cup. The Ali d’Oro is a Traminette and Vidal Blanc blend. The Pinot Noir based Blanc des Noirs was voted “Best of Show” at the 2022 Atlantic Seaboard Winery Association competition. You can also have a tasting of sweet fruit wines here.
Setting. One star. An enormous estate sized for large wedding parties, and relative large plantings (33 acres) for the area, so not the place if you’re looking for small and cozy. Large outdoor seating area with excellent views of the surrounding mountains: the Alleghenies to the West and the Blue Ridge to the East. In particular the view of Massanutten Mountain, rising dramatically near the vineyard, is impressive. There is a bistro with an in-house Executive Chef for lunch or brunch to accompany the wines. Reviews of service are pretty mixed.
Stories. Massanutten Mountain. Massanutten Mountain is one of the most visible landmarks of the northern Shenandoah Valley, between the Blue Ridge and Alleghany mountain chains. It stretches from Strasburg to Harrisonburg, with a gap between its northern and southern reaches at New Market. Massanutten is a popular recreation destination, with many hiking trails and a large resort at the southern end. Cross Keys Vineyards is a twenty-minute drive south from Massanutten Resort. The Military Academy of the same name located in the town of Woodstock, Massanutten Military Academy, is one of Virginia’s better-known prep school.