Wine is very much like food in that there are more varieties and combinations than you could imagine. For many, it is a daunting task to even select a wine, but it doesn’t have to be. Selected a wine is an adventure, and these days you don’t have to be a sommelier to enjoy good wine, either. You need only have an adventurous spirit and a willing palate. Here are a few nearby wineries with tastings, restaurants, and cellars open to the public.
868 Estate Vineyards
Just up the Loudoun County wine trail on Harper’s Ferry Road sits the 868 Estate Vineyards. 868 Estate Vineyards takes cutting-edge technology and blends it with Old-world practices to create distinctive wines from classic varietals like chardonnay, pinot grigio, merlot, and more.
They have a wonderful tasting room, too, where you can select one of four types of tastings. The Standard Tasting is great for anyone, offering a sampling of their finest wines. You probably have a little foodie in you, so don’t be surprised if you find yourself tempted by the Elevated Tasting Menu offering six wines paired with food or the Premier Tasting featuring reserve wines and led by a specially trained guide to help enjoy the nuance food and wine bring to each other.
The food is prepared by the house restaurant Grandale Vintner’s Table. Tastings range from $10 to $44 per person or special group rates are available. It is open by appointment only on Monday and Tuesday, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday and Sunday, and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The restaurant itself is open weekends only.
The Barns at Hamilton Station Vineyards
The Barns is located off Highway 7 in Hamilton, where they converted an old dairy barn into one of the premier tasting rooms in the region. They specialize in wines styled after the French Bordeaux, producing award-winning malbec and meritage wines.
Closed Tuesdays, The Barns tasting room is open every day from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., except for Friday, which is open until 8:30 p.m. Tastings start at $10 per flight. While they don’t have a restaurant on-site, they have marvelous space for private events.
Bogati Bodega
Another Loudoun County winery, Bogati’s tasting room is located on Highway 7. You can taste all of Bogati’s wines, including their distinctive Fat Ass Red, which won gold in the 2015 Virginia Wine Lover Wine Classic. The tasting room prides itself on offering world-class food to pair with their wines, so come hungry and enjoy. Wine tastings are $8 to $10 per person and the tasting room is open seven days a week.
If you enjoy good food and you enjoy good wine, then you know the only way to elevate a great meal is with great wine. The same can be said for great wine being elevated by great food. Either way, these wineries have tasting rooms devoted to elevating the wine and food, no matter your familiarity with wine.
Image “Wine Tasting” by mikeshelby, used under CC BY 2.0
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