Winding Road Cellars [closed]
Located in Markham, just south of Interstate 66 in western Fauquier County. Opened in 2013 by Scott and Linda Culver, after Scott’s retirement from the Fairfax County Police Department. As of November 2019, the winery was listed for sale at just below $1.2 million.
Wine. Tier II. The wines are currently made from grapes grown at nearby Mediterranean Cellars, while Winding Road’s vines mature. Available whites include Chardonnay, Viognier and a blend; available reds are Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Chambourcin and a red table wine.
Setting. One star. A beautiful drive on a back road of I-66 to arrive here (see below). Plentiful seating on the outdoor deck which overlooks a lake. The tasting room is built by Amish carpenters, who also refurbished the tasting room at Sunset Hills Vineyard. Very positive online comments about service and attention.
Stories. Virginia’s Scenic Byways. “Winding Road” would be a good designation for what wine lovers will find driving to most of their favorite wineries across the state (we’ll exclude the ones that sit right alongside Interstate 66). A big part of the appeal of Virginia’s countryside is vast network of scenic roads. Along with the famous Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway, over 3,500 miles of roads in the state have been designated Virginia Scenic Byways, or in some cases a National Scenic Byway. Free maps are available from the Virginia Department of Transportation, either by request or printable online. Out here in this part of Fauquier, practically every road is a scenic byway, and the same holds in much of rural Virginia. Of course, all the more reason to plan on a designated driver in advance of your winery tour.