Say good riddance to the heat and humidity of summer and toast the crisper air of fall. Take a scenic drive through Virginia Wine Country or pile the kids – and dogs! – into the car and head to a location closer to home. Just be sure to designate a driver before setting out to one of these seven vineyards.
DuCard Vineyards
Situated at the edge of Shenandoah National Park, this vineyard takes environmentalism seriously. It limits the use of chemical sprays, uses organic materials, composts grape waste byproducts and plants wildflowers next to the vineyard to welcome beneficial insects. The property offers a tasting room plus shaded lawns, a tented patio and a deck for outdoor seating. Available wines include the 2019 petit verdot, which won the 2022 Virginia Governor’s Cup Gold Medal, as well as chardonnay and pinot gris. On the winery’s calendar, find live music on Friday and Saturday nights and some special events such as the Chocolate and Wine Pairing on Oct. 9, 2-3:30 p.m. Approximate drive time from Arlington: 90 minutes. //40 Gibson Hollow Lane, Etlan, VA 22719, 540-923-4206
Paradise Springs Winery
The closest to Arlington and the first in Fairfax County, this 36-acre Clifton winery sits on property that was originally part of a 1716 land grant from Lord Fairfax to the Kincheloes, and it’s been in the family ever since. The site, which borders the Bull Run River, has a log cabin that is estimated to have been built between 1800 and 1825, and was renovated in 1955. Operating as a winery since 2010, Paradise Springs is open to guests for tours and tastings, and is family-friendly. Swing by for Bingo Night, Trivia Night, Sunset Yoga or Movie Night (“The Goonies” is playing on Sept. 23). Looking for more of a day trip? Paradise Springs is opening a second location in Charlottesville and will host a preview event Oct. 1. Approximate drive time from Arlington: 30 minutes. //13219 Yates Ford Road, Clifton, VA 20124, 703-830-9463
Early Mountain Vineyards
Pull up a seat at the Virginia Table, a tasting room and patio that serves wine pairings with artisanal charcuterie and cheese boards, rockfish, grilled pork chops and other seasonal dishes. Early Mountain’s tasting room was voted the best in the country by USA Today’s 10 Best Readers Choice survey in 2016. For a more rustic setting, grab a picnic table in the meadow, which has its own menu featuring sandwiches such as country ham and gouda, smoked salmon and roasted eggplant. On its 55 acres of vineyard, Early Mountain grows grapes for merlot, malbec, sauvignon blanc and other varietals. Approximate drive time from Arlington: 90 minutes. //6109 Wolftown-Hood Road, Madison, VA 22727, 540-948 9005
Barboursville Vineyards
Barboursville’s 2018 Paxxito, a dessert wine, won the 2022 Virginia Governor’s Cup wine competition. Sip it—or choose from a variety of sparkling, red and white options—in the Discovery Tasting Room, Library 1821 and Palladio Restaurant. Open daily, the Tasting Room has the broadest selection of vino, while Library 1821 (closed Tuesdays) offers a revolving menu of current and older vintages, plus small plates. The latter is so named because it is “a repository for selected documents from our history,” including a letter from President John Quincy Adams appointing James Barbour to his cabinet as secretary of war, along with original household china. For a full meal, reserve a spot at Palladio, where northern Italy meets Virginia with dishes such as veal ravioli, risotto with gorgonzola and Maine lobster cake. Work up an appetite or walk off your overindulgence by strolling to the nearby Barboursville Ruins, the mansion Jefferson designed for Gov. James Barbour. Approximate drive time from Arlington: 1 hour, 45 minutes. //17655 Winery Road, Barboursville, VA 22923, 540-832-3824
Linden Vineyards
It’s easy to unplug at Linden. The idyllic winery has no public wifi, and cell service is sporadic, so your best move is to simply kick back and relax. Known for its chardonnay, sauvignon blanc and Bordeaux-style red blends, Linden was an abandoned apple orchard when the 76-acre property became a vineyard in 1985. Indoor and outdoor seatings for wine tastings are open only to Friends of Linden members and their guests, at a cost of $20 per person. Traditional tastings are available to nonmembers at the tasting counter for $25 per person. The maximum group size for either is four. Note that reservations are required. Approximate drive time from Arlington: 1 hour. //3708 Harrels Corner Road, Linden, VA 22642, 540-364-1997
Pearmund Cellars
Always dreamed of stomping grapes? Get down and dirty on Fridays throughout the fall at Pearmund Cellars’ Crush Monkey events. From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., guests learn to press, punch, stir and stomp in a cathartic experience with the promise of refreshment at the end. The $100 per person fee includes a t-shirt, lunch, a bottle of wine and stained feet. (Kidding about that last part.) You’ll also learn about cleaning and washing, but dress for a mess and bring a change of clothes. Approximate drive time from Arlington: 45 minutes. //6190 Georgetown Road, Broad Run, VA 20137, 540-347-3475
Breaux Vineyards
Tucked between the foothills of the Blue Ridge and Short Hill mountains, Breaux has 404 total acres, 104 of which are vineyards that produce grapes for 17 varietals, including cabernet franc and viognier. The vineyard’s 2020 sauvignon blanc and 2019 Nebbiolo were featured in the 2022 Governor’s Cup Case, which recognizes the state’s best wines. Dogs on leashes and kiddos are welcome, and there’s live music on weekends. Reservations for indoor and outdoor seating are required on weekends and cost $5 per person for a three-hour window. Approximate drive time from Arlington: 1 hour. //36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Purcellville, VA 20132, 540-668-6299