A hidden gem around Washington DC: The best Virginia wineries
A true hidden gem can be found on your Washington DC trip! If you want something you don’t have to walk your daily step count to, then give those tired feet some rest and head out of the city! The Virginia country side has many different wineries for you to explore.
Below is a list of wineries my parents have rated. They are local Virginia residents. Every Sunday afternoon they head out to a vineyard. When I come to visit, they will take me to a winery or two.
Morais Vineyards & Winery
Morais Vineyards & Winery is situated south west of Washington DC in Bealeton, VA. It is a little more than an hour drive from Washington DC.
The Morais website writes: “The Morais family has been making wine for over a hundred years. In Portugal, the heritage of wine making has been passed down from generation to generation. Joining this age old family tradition with Virginia’s rich history of winemaking, the Morais family has built a legacy which has become an area landmark. The Winery opened its doors to the public in 2011.”
tasting hours are:
Fridays, 1:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Saturdays and Sundays 12:00 Noon – 6:00 pm
There are 3 wine tasting options. They are the Classic Tasting for $12, the Deluxe Tasting for $17 and the Wine Flight for $15.
The Deluxe Tastings offers 12 wines with a tray of food. The tray of food contains two bread sticks, crusty bread slices, 2 bars of milk chocolate, 2 dark chocolate, 2 different types of salami, slices of yellow and white cheeses.
The wine tasting includes pre-selected reds and whites. You can switch one out if you request it.
The dessert wines come out second with pre-selected red and white wines. The second tray comes with the chocolate liquor cup with cherry wine inside.
how they make their wine
They do not put the skins into their fermenting process. The process helps with the tannins. They do not use mechanical machinery to crush the grapes. The grapes a crushed similar to how they make it in Portugal. Since their red port is low in tannins, my mom can drink it.
my review
I have been here once. The property is very pretty! I love the tasting room building. The circular design is fantastic! The wine tasted very good. I loved the food that came with it. This is one of my favorite places my parents have taken me.
my parent’s review
My parents like this place because the people are nice and friendly. They have always have good tasting wine. My mom can drink the red port. The property is very nice. The vineyard is on the property. There is a place for weddings. They have a side yard for kids to play on. My parents love this one, as it is close. They go here often.
They visited the city of Porto in Portugal. They did an 11 hour wine tour and loved them. My parents learned that what they experienced in Portugal, they experience at this winery.
Kids can sit in the tasting room. Dogs are not allowed.
Barboursville Vineyards
Barboursville Vineyards is a 2 hour drive from Washington DC. Plan this day with other major historical sites! Great to pair with Montpelier (Madison), Highland (Monroe) and Monticello (Jefferson). The guest house is the only thing left of Monroe’s Highland mansion. The Barboursville Vineyards is between them.
The Barbour’s Mansion, designed by Thomas Jefferson, burnt down on Christmas day. The fire started with the candles in a Christmas tree in 1884. You can see it from the vineyard and can walk around it.
This vineyard constantly gets medals in competitions. Their Octagon 2020 wine won the Gold Medal in the Virginia Governor’s Cup in 2024. They grow their own grapes.
They have two tasting rooms.
- Discover Tasting room for $20
- From their site, “A tasting in this room entitles you to twelve current reserve wines, presented in .5 oz. pours by our knowledgeable staff, priced at $20.00 per person. Prosecco, whites and reds make up the tasting line up. Bottles and glasses may be purchased, cheese/charcuterie and light stacks, prepared by our Chef Michael Clough, can be enjoyed at cozy tables or the outside decks near the barn~served until 4 o’clock.”
- Library 1821 Experience ranging from $20-$350.
- The 1821 tasting is a seated food and wine experience of current and older vintages.
- From their site, “In the Library, selected wines are offered in flights ranging $30.00-$90.00 to accompany your wine, Cheese, Charcuterie and a changing “Trattoria-style” menu, by Chef Michael Clough, is offered daily 11am-4pm. The Library’s Tasting List changes periodically, always to afford a diversified exposure to our varietal range in white wines and in reds, but always including Octagon, Paxxito and older distinguished vintages of more limited supply.”
You can stay at their The 1804 Inn. Room range from $265-$420 with nice amenities.
my review
When my parents took me to this one, we sat outside on the their expansive patio overlooking the burnt mansion, the peaceful landscape which included their grapes. We tasted wines and ate purchase snacks.
my parent’s review
My parents really like this vineyard. They think the wines from this vineyard are probably the best around the Virginia area. They have done tastings in both rooms. Their impression of the inside leaves them with a cold feel. As it is 2 hours away, they do not go often. They love it every time they do go!
They do recommend picking one place and the winery if you want to do the winery.
Gray Ghost Vineyards
Gray Ghost Vineyards is named after General Mosby. Lots of pictures from the civil war are their walls. It is nestled in Amissville. It is one hour from Washington DC.
This is an award winning vineyard. They grow and sell their own grapes to other vineyards. Among their wines is the German wine, Gewurztraminer.
When it’s time to harvest the grapes, volunteers come in to pick. The volunteers are repaid with a meal.
The winery is open on certain days. They keep their open dates up here.
my review
Many times when I visit my parents, they are usually closed. I have gone here 2 times. When driving onto the property you can see some of their lovely grape vines are next to the building. They have a small tasting building. We had our flight tasting right at the counter. My parents and I picked one and had a glass. Even though it smaller, it’s still a great place to go and sit outside and enjoy the quiet.
my parents review
My parents love this one. They usually talk to me about this when I come to see them. The people are very friendly. Their mixer is a trainer to other winners. Their main stay wine is Gewurztraminer. The owners are an older couple. A teacher works there as well. She is quite friendly. You can sit in the nice upstairs room or outside in one of the seating areas. They do tours in the barrel room and have a party room.
Kids are allowed in . Dogs are not allowed inside.
Conglomerat Wineries
There are wineries that stand on their own. Some of these are above. They create wine with their grapes. There are wineries that buy juice from other wineries. It’s almost like they are craft wines. They mix the different wines to create a new blended wine.
Vint Hill, Effingham and Pearmund work together as a conglomerate. Pearmund is the one that grows their own grapes.
my vint hill review
I have been to the silos at Vint Hill. In driving there, it is in the middle of a small town. Walking inside, there is a lot of war artifacts. This place a great military history with reading into. For me, the wine was okay. Not bad tasting but nothing spectacular.
my effingham review
My parent’s took my husband and I here on our last visit to Washington DC. This was a great winery. The old house is super cool. We sat in the dining room for our wine tastings. My husband liked it so much, he bought 3 bottles that were on sale for Black Friday. My husband preferred the red Reserve and I preferred the Tannet. This is definitely a winery I would go back to.
The Take Aways…
- If you are in Washington DC, plan a day outside of it! You can rest your weary feet and the crazy city life.
- If you are going to make a one time trip to Washington DC then plan on going to the Barboursville Vineyard. You will not regret taking the extra few hours to see some many historical places and have some award winning wine!
Awesome
Good