Mountain Escape: Monticello Wine Trail
They say Virginia is for lovers, and that is so true.
A few weeks ago, Matt and I drove from Maine to Virginia, making mini trips along the way in Newport, Providence, NYC, Philadelphia, Annapolis, and DC. Originally, we were only planning to drive to DC to attend a behavioral science conference and visit friends, but the plans quickly changed when we decided to visit cities along the way and truly make it an adventure road trip. We continued our escapade further south to visit one of my favorite places - Charlottesville, VA
Charlottesville has a special place in my heart. When I lived in Richmond, VA about 10 years ago, Charlottesville was my special weekend retreat destination in the Blue Ridge Mountains. I always feel at home there, nestled in the Monticello & Shenandoah Valley, where the land is rich with beautiful hiking, delicious wine, and the friendliest folk. The Monticello Wine Trail is my favorite area in greater Charlottesville to stay and visit. Inspired by Thomas Jefferson’s vision of grape growing and winemaking, this area has a deep historic significance, magical relaxation powers, and lush views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. I’m excited to share my favorite spots in greater Charlottesville with you.
Wineries
Veritas: Always a favorite of mine. I just love taking in the mountain views from the big open porch, connected to the tasting room. They have my favorite petite mansang that tastes almost tropical with pineapple notes.
Gabriele Rausse: If I owned a winery, I imagine it would be something like Gabriele Rausse. I fell in love with the minimalist architecture of windows and wood beams. Because the winery is built basically of all windows, there is an endless amount of sunshine that cascades the most beautiful shadows throughout the tasting room. I felt like I was in a Food & Wine magazine, with the smell of the freshly baked baguettes and olive oil that they give you during your wine tasting. Oh, and the wines are incredible!
Septenary: Okay, the location is gorgeous and so are the wines. I was mesmerized by the pool in the front yard, but unfortunately, the pool is off limits for swimming.
King Family: There is nothing better than a Sunday at King Family when you can pack a picnic and watch the polo match with a delicious bottle of Crosé to share.
Hiking/ Mountain Views:
Humpback Rocks: Following a 2 mile trail loop, with a 700-foot climb to the peak, hiking Humpback is a relatively short hike along Blue Ridge with spectacular views of the Rockfish and Shenandoah Valleys.
Shenandoah National Park: Although I haven’t done it yet, I’m excited to hike the Old Rag Mountain Loop during our next visit.
Skyline Drive: The Skyline Drive runs 105 miles north and south along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Shenandoah National Park. You can enjoy Skyline Drive by bike or car. Biking the drive is beautiful and definitely a work out, due to the inclinations. There are nearly 70 overlooks that offer stunning views of the Shenandoah Valley to the west or the rolling Piedmont to the east.
Food:
Greenwood Gourmet Grocery: Pro tip: Most of the wineries will let you bring in food. I love making a roadside stop at Greenwood to pick up picnic essentials like fresh-made sandwiches, local snacks, and sparkling waters to bring to my favorite wineries for a great lunch or afternoon treat.
The Shack: We went for the burgers, but were delighted by the entire menu, featuring New American fare.
Smoked Kitchen: Delicious bbq and giant portions! We loved the collard greens.
Accommodations:
Ridgeside Bed & Breakfast: We had the most amazing stay at Rideside Bed & Breakfast. The innkeepers, Corinne and Josh are the most adorable and talented couple who made our stay beyond enjoyable. We loved their homemade breakfasts, using local ingredients, eggs from their chicken coop, and foraged greens. One of my favorite touches about the whole experience was that Corinne made homemade plant-based soaps and bath bombs, which paired perfectly with our melt-worthy clawfoot tub.