Things To Do
Monticello
Home of the Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence. A World Heritage Site, historic house and plantation, museum, research institute, presidential library, and private, non-profit organization.
Downtown Mall
The Downtown Mall is a vibrant collection of more than 120 shops and 30 restaurants (many with outdoor cafes) housed in the historic buildings on and around old Main Street.
Blue Ridge Wine Excursions
Blue Ridge Wine Excursions offers various wine tours with custom or predesigned itineraries and is all-inclusive of tasting fees or bottle service.
Cville Hop On Tours
Hop on and off the rotating shuttle on several different routes, with pick-up at Three Notch’d Brewing and select hotels. Schedule a private tour that includes transportation, tastings, and behind the scenes access.
Keswick Vineyards
Our favorite winery in Charlottesville, but we're obviously biased! Keswick Vineyards is a family owned and operated winery just outside downtown Charlottesville. Founded by the Schornbergs in 2000, their first vintage was 2002 and won the honor of “Best White Wine in America” at the Atlanta International Wine Summit. Open Daily 10am - 5pm. Distance from Downtown: 30 minute drive Food Available: light fare available – cheese, crackers, meats, and plenty of other great snacks!
Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards
It’s got it all going on — between the drool-worthy food menu, stunning views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and delicious wine selection (the wine program is run by renowned winemaker Michael Shaps), they’ve really crafted every detail to perfection. Distance from Downtown: 20 minute drive Tasting Fee: $10 per person Food Available: Full menu – try the cheese board, it’s out of this world! Go Here If: You’re hungry! Not only does Pippin Hill have excellent wine, they also have a phenomenal food menu that you won’t want to miss.
Barboursville Vineyards
If you want the most expansive wine tasting selection along the Monticello Wine Trail, Barboursville Vineyards is it. It’s a bit further out of downtown than many of the other wineries, but worth the drive to experience their stunning property, rich history, and generous tasting experience featuring almost 20 wines! Distance from Downtown: 30 minutes drive Tasting Fee: $7/person for a tasting of the current vintages. They also run free winery tours hourly on weekends. Food Available: Dine at the Palladio Restaurant attached to the main tasting room. Go Here If: You want to taste A LOT of wines.
Veritas Vineyards and Winery
Definitely one of the most picturesque wineries in Charlottesville is Veritas Vineyards, a family-owned winery located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Veritas has a massive tasting room that gets quite bustling in the warmer months, but their outdoor area is even more expansive with picnic table style porch seating and a great bit lawn for groups to enjoy the views with kids, dogs and whoever else wants to join. Distance from Downtown: 30 minute drive Tasting Fee: $7/person Food Available: They have a great cheese plate and sandwiches available for order. They do allow outside food but it cannot be consumed in the tasting room. Go Here If: You’re looking for a spot to spend a full afternoon.
King Family Vineyards
If you’re looking for the best Charlottesville winery tour, then King Family Vineyards should be on your radar. The family run vineyard was nominated for Best Winery Tour in 2019 by USA Today and won the #2 spot for Winery Tour in 2018! Distance from Downtown: 25 minute drive. Tasting Fee: $10/person for a classic tasting of five wines. Special reserved tastings can also be booked for $15/person and includes an extra wine and more thorough walk through of the wines with one of the winery’s knowledgeable staff. They also offer a unique Library Tasting for $25/person that takes place in their climate controlled wine library and features a sample of one of their Library Meritage wines. Food Available: They have a small store that offers meats, cheeses and bread for purchase. Go Here If: If you’re interested in catching a polo match while you drink some of the best wines on the Monticello Wine Trail, King Family is a must.
Blenheim Vineyards
Owned by Dave Matthews (yes, that Dave Matthews!), the Blenheim property is beautiful, with the tasting room situated in a unique A-frame style structure made from reclaimed wood that overlooks the vineyard. You can even peek into the cellar below through glass paneled flooring. Distance from Downtown: 20 minute drive Tasting Fee: $7/person Food Available: They have light crackers and cheese available but outside food is allowed in the outdoor areas, just not in the tasting room. During certain times of year, Blenheim also has a food truck come in on Saturday from 12-4 pm, but it’s best to call ahead to double check. Go Here If: You’re a huge Dave Matthews Band fan or just want an approachable wine tasting in a beautiful setting.
Ragged Branch Distillery
Year-round breathtaking mountain views! Take a self-guided tour of the Still Barn to learn about our distillation process, visit the Barrel Barn, and finish your visit in our Tasting Room where you can sample our handcrafted bourbon and purchase Black Angus beef.
Castle Hill Cider
Castle Hill Cider’s tasting room and grounds are open year-round and offer beautiful views and a comfortable place to enjoy our Virginia hard cider. Hours Thursday 2-9 / Friday-Sunday 12-7
Charlottesville Ale Trail
The Charlottesville Ale Trail is a 1.5 mile urban pedestrian beer trail that encompasses six breweries. Breweries include: Champion, Three Notch'd, South Street, Random Row, Rockfish, and Starr Hill Downtown.