Local Winery Guide: Where to Tour and Taste This Fall

Where to find the best experience

Of course, quality isn’t the only thing people look for when planning a trip to the vineyards. Many wineries offer unparalleled views, live music, made-from-scratch food and kid-friendly spaces.

If you’re in search of the best overall experience, McIntyre suggests Glen Manor Vineyards, just south of Front Royal, Virginia. He says the wine is excellent and the hillside vineyards are visible from the tasting room. Plus, there are a number of other wineries close by, should you be looking to visit more than just one.

Up-and-coming winemakers

Paradise Springs Winery in Clifton, Virginia, already has a bit of a reputation, but McIntyre said it’s one that deserves more attention. The winery is producing a great tannat, cabernet franc, viognier and chardonnay.

In Maryland, Old Westminster Winery and Vineyard is a young family-run operation that’s worth a visit.

“And these three siblings have just created a dynamic experience and a dynamic winery,” McIntyre said. “They’re setting a high bar for quality in Maryland right now.”

Close to the Beltway

Can’t spend all day on the road? You don’t have to drive far to find great wine. McIntyre said Chrysalis Vineyards in Middleburg, Virginia, is less than an hour away, as is Boxwood and a few others along Route 50.

In Montgomery County, Maryland, there’s Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard, and just a little farther north toward Mount Airy is Black Ankle Vineyards and Elk Run Vineyards. In the opposite direction, toward Antietam Battlefield, is Big Cork, which McIntyre said “is worth a visit.”

Where to find the best reds and whites

RdV Vineyards, Linden Vineyards, Glen Manor Vineyards and Delaplane Cellars are all known for their reds. A little farther south toward Charlottesville, Virginia, McIntyre said red-lovers shouldn’t miss Barboursville Vineyards, King Family Vineyards, Veritas Vineyard and Winery, Keswick Vineyards and Michael Shaps Wineworks.

Barboursville is producing some promising Italian whites, and McIntyre calls Linden’s chardonnays “world class.”

What to do — and not to do — at the wineries

Visiting the area’s multitude of wineries is a lot of fun, but there are a few things to keep in mind while doing so. Tasting rooms have spit buckets on the counter for a reason, so don’t be hesitant to swirl, sip and spit.

“You should spit the wine out when you’re tasting because you need to drive home. And if you’re going to several wineries and tasting several wines at each, you shouldn’t be knocking them back, you should be spitting them out,” McIntyre said.

“Don’t be self-conscious about it.”

Most importantly, keep in mind that you are a guest at someone’s place of business — and often, it’s someone’s home.

While some establishments encourage visitors to bring their own food, it is illegal to bring your own wine. Plus, it’s common courtesy to consume the winery’s own wine while on the property.

Many places welcome families, but remember to respect the land. McIntyre has heard stories of children running through vineyards, picking grapes and having food fights.

“These are not public parks, it’s not there for the taking.” he said.

To help narrow down the region’s options, McIntyre recommends downloading the app, Virginia Wine in My Pocket. Users can search wineries based on a number of factors, including those that are kid-friendly, those that have the best food, and those that are hosting festive events.

“I like to think of us as being on the cusp of something exciting here,” McIntyre said about the local wine industry.

“This is a chance to get to know these people who are trying to do something and create something new. Buy a bottle, take it with you when you travel and surprise your friends with it, and you’ll hear the familiar phrase, ‘They make wine in Virginia?’”

The post Local winery guide: Where to tour and taste this fall appeared first on WTOP.