Do You Like Wine Enough to Travel for it?

I don’t mind a little wine now and then and I do mean a “little” as to not become intoxicated. In other words I avoid getting drunk so that I’m not dancing on tables and embarrassing myself. I do, however, love a little wine tasting, which is something I will do when passing through Charlottesville, Virginia.

Charlottesville’s wine country is home to a number of wineries that allow individuals of the legal drinking age to come and taste their products. Wine tasting is not only a lot of fun, but it is a way to find the perfect wine that suits your taste. There are several that I like, so it’s hard to make a decision.

The first and most famous of the vineyards is the Jefferson Vineyards, named for the famous founder Thomas Jefferson, with its 20 acres that visitors are able to tour. The tour includes a history of wine making in Virginia. This winery is a big deal because it has a long history that goes along with its famous founder. The wine tasting deck offers a view of Jefferson’s home and of the beautiful Carters Mountains. If you want to engage in the tasting experience here, you can do so for just $5.

If you want to stay in the area so that you can tour The Jefferson Vineyards and all of the others in the area, the Dinsmore House is a bed and breakfast that was built by the same master builder that built Jefferson’s home. It is located just a block away from the University of Virginia and has modern amenities that include flat screen TVs and WiFi. The cost starts at approximately $109 per night.

So if you decide to stay at the Dinsmore House or a local hotel or motel so that you can visit all of the vineyards, the next stop should be the Kluge Estate Winery and Vineyard. This vineyard can be found just south of Monticello, the estate of Thomas Jefferson, and the cost is $10 to enjoy a tasting of the wines that this winery creates.

Almost 20 miles south of Charlottesville is the King Family Vineyards. The farm is 15 acres with polo ponies on the property. This means that visitors can observe free Sunday polo matches from Memorial Day until the last Sunday in September. Tastings are only $5 and visitors can enjoy a picnic on vineyard grounds while eating a Crozet Pizza. This pizza is absolutely magnificent. I’m not from Virginia, but the word is that it is the best that you will find in the state. The pizza costs $11.50 and you choose amongst 30 toppings, including peanuts.

There is a lot to see and do at the vineyards in Virginia’s Wine Country. This is a great way to find a wine that you love so that you can take some home with you. The wines also make great gifts for other wine lovers in your life. You can easily impress them with wine from somewhere such as Thomas Jefferson’s own vineyards.