A Weekend Getaway in Virginia Wine Country
When planning a weekend wine getaway look no further than Charlottesville in the heart of Virginia Wine Country. As one of the country’s oldest wine regions, it’s the perfect place to partake in a few wine tastings, have dinner at a local farm to table style restaurant, and visit some of America’s most beloved landmarks. We recently spent a summer weekend drinking wine and relaxing in the warm weather at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
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Where We Stayed
We wanted to stay somewhere that would have the convenience of being able to go into Downtown Charlottesville for dinner but also be convenient to the wineries. We decided on the Boars Head Resort which is just a short 10-minute drive to Downtown Charlottesville.
The Boars Head Resort is a sprawling AAA Four Diamond resort set on a 600-acre property with 168 elegant rooms and suites. We decided to book a Premier King room to be close to the lobby and the restaurant and as it turns out our room ended up being on the ground floor in the Hunt Club building which was right next to the main building and the adult pool! The room has been recently refurbished with new furniture, carpet, and completely updated bathroom. My favorite features were the mini fridge hidden in the dresser, barn door leading into the bathroom and private patio with screen door.
The first day, we did a lot of walking and ventured over to the Sports Club and visited the Olympic sized swimming pool, fitness center, and tennis courts. We saw lots of activities going on including rock wall climbing, squash, and tennis lessons. We sat down and had a bite to eat for lunch at Racquets Restaurant where they had some healthier options like smoothies, power greens salad, and soups.
The premier restaurant at the Boars Head Resort is The Mill Room. While we didn’t get a chance to have dinner here, we did visit for happy hour which is every Monday-Thursday from 3-6pm. The prices are very reasonable, everything on the happy hour menu is $6 and includes wine by the glass, cocktails, lamb sliders, and flatbreads. Even their main restaurant prices are extremely reasonable, Monday-Thursday you can get a three-course meal for only $39.00 per person which includes appetizer, main course and dessert.
The second morning we decided to go for a run and venture around the massive property. We picked up a trail map from the front desk so we wouldn’t get lost and off we went! Much of the trail directly around the resort is gravel but once you cross the Morey Creek Bridge, it’s mostly dirt and grass. We ran all the way to the Round Top trail head which was about 2.25 miles. If you keep going, the trail runs into the Ragged Mountain trail system. We decided to turn around and head back as it was a humid July summer morning but we would like to return and hike Ragged Mountain.
The Boars Head Resort is absolutely lovely and we truly enjoyed staying somewhere away from the hustle and bustle of Downtown Charlottesville. Next time, we plan to splurge and do the hot air balloon ride!
Where We Ate
Zinburger
Located in Barrack’s Road Shopping Center, Zinburger offers unique burgers, salads and sides. We ordered the Zinburger which has Manchego cheese, Zinfandel braised onions and lettuce and tomato and the El Diablo Burger which has Pepper Jack cheese, fire-roasted jalapenos, braised onions, and lettuce with chipotle mayo. For a side, we shared the sweet potato waffle fries which came back yogurt and maple dipping sauces.
Hamiltons’ at First and Main
Located in the Downtown Mall area, Hamilton’s at First & Main is a more upscale restaurant serving farm to table cuisine with local ingredients. We got the Grilled Swordfish with Saffron Polenta with braised artichokes, fennel-olice orange salad and Meyer Lemon Buerre Blanc and Grilled Seven Hills Beef Tenderloin with Fava bean puree, local heirloom tomato-olive relish, and red wine reduction.
Blue Mountain Brewery
Located off Rt. 151 in Nelson County, Blue Mountain Brewery is a short drive from Charlottesville. While it might sound strange that two people that can’t drink beer would go to a brewery for lunch, it’s not! Blue Mountain Brewery not only has an awesome gluten free menu but they also serve cider and wine. We both had the Kale Power Salad for lunch which came with diced apples, roasted red peppers, red onions, blue cheese, and spice toasted pumpkin seeds on a bed of shredded kale mix drizzled with balsamic vinaigrette.
Bizou
Also located in the Downtown Mall area, Bizou uses French culinary techniques with local ingredients. We got the Pan-Seared Salmon with roasted carrots, celery root, rutabaga, turnips, fingerling potatoes with a Dijon mustard cream and Shrimp & Grits served with wild mushrooms, crispy bacon, scallions, in a white wine sauce.
Wineries We Visited
Pippin Hill Winery
Located on a sprawling estate in …. County, Pippin Hill is known for its beautiful setting and award winning wines. We were able to get a seat on the newly added patio which overlooks the lovely mountains. We tasted a few of the red wines and ended up both getting a glass of the Petit Verdot which had notes of plum with a smoky finish. We also split the Cheese Board which had three local cheeses, spiced nuts, fig mostarda and jams.
Veritas Winery
Located on 50 acres in Afton, Virginia, Veritas Winery has a wonderful setting on the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. They have a lovely tasting room with lots of seating options. They feature a small menu including cheese and charcuterie boards, soups & salads and sandwiches. Our favorite Veritas wine is the Claret which as notes of black cherry and blackberry with a smoky, rich oak finish.
Valley Road Winery
Valley Road is a smaller winery located in Afton, Virginia and just began producing wine in 2016. Valley Road has a rustic tasting room and offers a few food offerings from local purveyors. They also popular food trucks come by on Saturdays. We tried something different and got a glass of their Frose, a wine slushy made with their popular 2018 Rose which is a blend of Merlot, Pertit Verdot, and Chambourcin.
Trump Winery
Located on Trump Vineyard Estates in Charlottesville, Trump Winery offers magnificent views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. One of our favorite things about Trump Winery is the huge, covered outdoor patio and the Adirondack chairs that you can sit in while you sip your glass of wine and gaze into the mountains. Trump Winery has an extensive food menu offering cheese and charcuterie boards, salads, sandwiches and flatbreads. We split the cheese & charcuterie board which featured three cheeses, two cured meats, olives, figs, and jams. We also each got a glass of the Meritage which has notes of plums, cherries and blackberries with a slightly spicy finish.
King Family Vineyards
Located in Crozet, Virginia, King Family is arguably one of the most beautiful vineyards in Virginia. King Family Vineyards is a family affair started by the King Family in 1998. One of the neatest things about the vineyard is that during the summer months, they host polo matches. Additionally, they have a few food offerings including local cheeses and breads. Our favorite wine here is Seven, named after the 7th Chukker in a polo match, is a port style wine aged for two years in Kentucky Bourbon barrels.
With over 35 wineries within a 30-mile radius of Charlottesville as part of the Monticello Wine Trail, you will have plenty of options to try a variety of different wines on your next trip to Charlottesville. Charlottesville also offers several breweries, cideries and distilleries as well. If you plan on drinking a lot, we suggest booking a tour through C’ville Hop On, Hop Off Tours. They offer several different route options and are highly customizable.
Where We Visited
Charlottesville Downtown Mall
Located in historic downtown Charlottesville, the Downtown Mall is one of the largest outdoor pedestrian malls in the country. It features over 120 shops and 30 restaurants housed in historic buildings. Parking is available in nearby garages and trolley service is also available.
Monticello
Thomas Jefferson’s home is an iconic landmark in Charlottesville. Monticello is the only home in America recognized by the United Nations as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We decided to pay the $25 and take a guided tour of Monticello which included visiting Thomas Jefferson’s private spaces as well as the newly restored slave quarters and the 1,000 foot long vegetable garden.
Carter Mountain Orchard
One of the most popular Charlottesville destinations, Carter Mountain Orchard is open from early July – Thanksgiving and features pick-your-own and select-your-own peaches and nectarines in July and August. We got to pick peaches right off the tree and it was so much fun! In September-November, over a dozen varieties of apples are available for pick-your-own.
Michie Tavern Ca. 1784
Located near Monticello and right at the bottom of Carter Mountain is Michie Tavern which serves an authentic Southern lunch with servers dressed in period attire. The dining experience includes southern fried chicken, marinated baked chicken, hickory smoked pork barbeque, stewed tomatoes, black eyed peas, buttermilk biscuits and so much more. While we didn’t eat here, we did visit the four unique shops – The Tavern Shop, The Metal Smith Shop, The Artisan Shop and The General Store – all housed in historic buildings.
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