A Wintery Wine Outing

It’s no secret that I adore the Virginia wineries. To me, nothing is more perfect that a workout class in the morning (OTF is my personal favorite), followed by vegging out in the Old Dominion, sipping wine while looking at gorgeous scenery. If you’ve been following me for a while, you know that I’ve been to dozens of Virginia wineries and often report back on my favorites. So, I (wrongfully) assumed that I had been to all of the good ones within manageable driving distance of D.C. (an hour or less). I know there are several good wineries near Charlottesville that I haven’t been to yet, but I feel like that’s more of a weekend away thing.

Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that I hadn’t, in fact, been to all the good ones.

Today I wanted to introduce three wineries that are great for a winter wine outing. Winery outings are great in the summer months, but they’re cozy and gorgeous in the winter months too!

Naked Mountain: I have no idea how I’d never been here before. It was decorated so well for Christmas AND they were serving mulled wine, which totally brought me back to my semester abroad in Austria! I really enjoyed the tasting too. A lot of their table wines are gimmick-y, but they still tasted good. I usually don’t like gimmick-y wines because often their catchy names are to make up for their horrible quality. Remember Caymus Conundrum? Why did we fall for that? Anyway, check Naked Mountain out.

Arterra Winery: One little tip I always give first-time winery visitors is to only decide on your first winery before you go, and ask around while you’re there about where to go next! That’s how we found Arterra. It had a very different vibe from Naked Mountain, but the wines are very unique and the tasting room really highlights the natural beauty around it. Plus, it’s right down the street, which is super convenient.

Aspen Dale Winery: Now, to be honest, this is the third winery I went to in one day, so my memory was a little hazy. You don’t always think you’re drinking that much at these tastings, but, well.. You are. Take a look at how cozy and gorgeous this tasting room is! There was also an incredible, and I mean incredible, guitarist playing when we were there, which only enhanced the already amazing vibe. For the tasting, they give you (very) small bites to pair with the wine, which added a fun variation. The wines were great too!

So, if you thought winery days were only a spring/summer/fall thing, think again. These cozy spots are great for a wintery day out in the Old Dominion, and I had a blast! Do you have a favorite winery to visit when it’s cold outside? I’m always on the market for new ones!