Charlottesville VA Wineries- Where Should We Go?

WINE TALK
21

I would second Linden as well worth the drive if wine is your priority. Jim Law (winemaker) is the pioneer of quality, site driven virginia wine. Very well made single vineyard chards and bordeaux blends. The winemaker at the above RdV is a product of Jim’s apprentice program. If you have make the trip to the northern area and have time left in your day Glen Manor Vineyards is also worth a stop, the views are fanstastic and the wines match in quality. Probably the best Sauvignon Blanc in the state as well as very nice bordeuax blends. We have spent a significant amount of time tasting in virginia and these are the only two producers in our cellar. I have heard good things about RdV too, but have never tasted myself, as $40 per person is a bit steep.

22

Thanks, I’ll be travelling through Northen VA to and from Chalottesville, so stops along they way are in the plans. I’ve been to Linden 3 or 4 times over the last 15 years and have always been impressed. Jim law was pouring his Chards a couple years ago ar the SWE confernce in DC and they were teriffic.

I sent RdV an email about visiting and trying to use ITB status to get in perahps under the tourist radar.

Thanks for the Heads up about Glen Manor

23

Thanks all for the incredibly helpful guidance! I feel like I will be going to C-ville with the local’s perspective, which always makes travel better. I am really intrigued by several of the wineries that are a bit further afield and am wishing I had another two days to spend there. But…good reason to come back, right?

I’ll try to post my impressions after the trip.

Dave
Calicaro Wine
www.calicaro.com

24

I would also chime in to visit Linden as Jim’s wines are fantastic IMO and worth the effort if you want to see VA’s best and Glenn Manor’s wines are excellent as well. Plus Jeff posts on here occasionally and worked for years under Jim so he has a similar philosophy per se. Both are really great to talk to if their in the tasting room. Pretty much the only two VA wineries I support at this time, but have heard great things about RdV. Just not really my type of atmosphere as I gather its more stuffy than any of the great OR and WA wineries I was at last week which are much more established. Cheers.

25

Not sure if this still holds true, but the last time I was at Linden they mentioned that Saturday is for visits by their club members only, because of the crowds. This was last year so I don’t know what the policy is now. It was our second visit and we enjoyed both the winery and the wines.

Cheers,
Curt

26

The only thing restricted on the weekend is access to the deck and grounds. Everything else is open to all. The deck and grounds are open to all on the weekdays. Case club membership is applied to anyone that purchases a case and last a year.