Celebrate Virginia Wine Month with a day trip from Reston

By Heidi Kibirsky, The Wine Cabinet

October is Virginia Wine Month, making it a good time to escape Reston for a day of wine, food and scenery. For a memorable getaway, head west and south to two Virginia wineries: Early Mountain Vineyards in Madison and Barboursville Vineyards near Charlottesville.

First Stop: Early Mountain Vineyards

Begin your day at Early Mountain Vineyards, nestled at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, about 83 miles, or 1½ hours, from Reston. Autumn is an especially appealing time to visit as harvest wraps up, grapes arrive from the vineyard and nearby farms provide an abundance of seasonal ingredients for the kitchen.

“October is one of the most exciting times to experience Virginia wine country. Harvest is wrapping up, the landscape is beautiful, and there’s this incredible energy at the wineries,” says Bekah Erkel, director of marketing at Early Mountain. “Virginia Wine Month gives people a reason to get out, explore, and experience the quality of the wine, food and hospitality happening across the state.”

Start with a guided tasting of Early Mountain’s wines, then linger over lunch. Executive Chef Tim Moore, who honed his craft at The Inn at Little Washington during its rise to Michelin-star recognition, creates a seasonal menu based on ingredients arriving from local farms, sometimes harvested that morning and plated that afternoon. Choose an à la carte lunch or wine-paired prix fixe experience, or settle in with a glass of wine while enjoying the vineyard views.

Second Stop: Barboursville Vineyards

Continue south to Barboursville Vineyards, just 19 miles, or about 25 minutes, from Early Mountain. One of Virginia’s historic wine destinations, Barboursville offers tastings in the Discovery Room or the Library 1821 experience, featuring current and older vintages accompanied by cheese, charcuterie and seasonal fare.

Leave time to stroll the estate and see the ruins of the Barbour family mansion, designed in the Palladian style by Thomas Jefferson. The combination of vineyards, history and grounds makes Barboursville a destination worth lingering over.

Tip from The Wine Cabinet staff: Try Nascent, Barboursville’s distinctive white blend of Viognier, Vermentino and Falanghina. Floral, fresh and aromatic, it’s a staff favorite and earned 94 points from James Suckling.

Then settle in for dinner at Palladio Restaurant, where a Northern Italian approach to Virginia ingredients complements the wines produced on the estate. Instead of driving back to Reston after dinner, stay the night. Barboursville offers accommodations on the property, making it easy to turn the day trip into an overnight getaway.

Perhaps longtime winemaker and estate manager Luca Paschina sums it up best: “I have been very blessed to be able to live and love this magnificent Estate for 37 years. It always reminded me of my beloved Italy.... This Estate of Wine is full of vivid history, breathtaking landscapes, wholesome wines, fine food and lodging... perhaps sounds like Italy?”

Keep the Virginia Wine Month celebration going in Reston!

You don’t have to drive to wine country to explore Virginia wines. The Wine Cabinet in North Point Village Center will host a free Early Mountain Vineyards tasting Oct. 24 from 1-5 p.m., offering a chance to sample wines from the Virginia producer right here in Reston.