We had a large group in for a tasting. We made a reservation in advance and we're seated quickly at the bar on a Saturday afternoon. Most members of our party opted for a glass, but even as one of the only members of our group who wanted a tasting, got very kind and personal attention from the bartender. She explained all of the wines in great detail and made recommendations on which other wines I would like based on my feedback. They also had many dogs on the property which was fun if you're an animal lover. Enjoyed the experience and their wines! read more

See all

This place was really cool and fun to visit! They have a lot of seating areas open in their porch area. Reasonably priced flights and drinks, and the atmosphere was great! We will definitely be back when we return to the mountains in a couple months! read more

Cardinal Point Vineyard & Winery - Sweet(ish) wine flight - Wineries Near Me - Afton, Virginia

See all

We attended the Oyster Festival this past weekend. The venue was great! There was a big tent with a table and chairs, lots of space to being your own seating, and seating inside, on the patio and deck and a cute area in the winery! We loved the live music and the wines were good. My favorite was the green and the rose! What a great Saturday! read more

See all

We go to Nellysford about 4 times a year and just tried this place for the first time. The tastings are affordable and the scenery is lovely. We enjoyed all of the wine tasted but purchased just one bottle - the Frai Rose, a very unique and delicious wine. We are also thankful we stopped in when we did because we found out they are having an oyster festival the following weekend with live music! We bought tickets for it while we were there. Looking forward to visiting again so soon after finding it. read more

Nice winery for a rainy day in the summer! Cardinal Point Vineyard & Winery does not offer much in the way of views and has limited indoor seating. They do offer live music on certain days and they have a covered outdoor seating area. We each tried three wines and liked three of the six wines we tried overall. I think Cardinal Point is a fine destination if it is rainy and warm outside, but, otherwise, there are better options in the area. read more

Cool winery in a beautiful location with PLENTY of space indoors and outdoors for allo of the activities plus lots of parking for the friends and family :) It had been a while since our first initial visit so we decided to revisit Cardinal Point since we were nearby in Charlottesville. Our wine tasting was great and done by the knowledgeable Luca involving some tasty whites and reds (and I mainly gravitate to only reds). The hopped Chardonnay was very flavorful as well as the petit verdot and cab franc. We enjoyed meeting some new folks there while tasting and playing with the winery pooch. Thanks for another great visit and the chocolates Cardinal Point!! read more

See all

I came to Cardinal Point recently with my family because they had a Saturday market featuring women-owned small businesses. It's a beautiful location, it was easy (and free) to park, and it was a great event for the whole family. Live music and kid-friendly activities. I appreciate that they put together these community events and do a great job hosting them. read more

I was very pleasantly surprised by Cardinal Point! I hadn't heard much about the vineyard but was heading to Blue Mountain Brewery for dinner, so it was easy to add a visit to Cardinal Point. We were super happy to discover that a big colony of butterflies were staying at the flower garden here. We probably saw 50 butterflies of a few different kinds while we were here. So cool! We did a tasting and across the three of us, at least one of us was a fan of each wine we tasted (4 whites, a rose, and two reds). Our favorites were the Green, Rockfish Red, and the Hopped Chardonnay. We ended up buying a bottle of the Green to enjoy on the patio. They have a selection of crackers, dips, and other assorted snacks. We liked the jalapeño popper dip! The woman who served us was knowledgeable and nice. The only reason I didn't give CP 5 stars is that the ambiance indoors is not great. I would rather visit here on a nice day when you can enjoy the patio, flower garden, and resident butterflies! read more

We enjoyed our visit on a hot day. Our dog was allowed inside the winery which was a big deal on a day like today. The wines were good and we enjoyed the recommendations from the staff. read more

Decent tasting, a few unusual wines but nothing that blew me away. Because they have their own take on several varietals, I think Cardinal Point is a love-it-or-hate-it location. The patio is spacious, although this doesn't have the grand tasting room that others in the area have. Cardinal Point has 15 acres of vines, so most of their wine is estate. 4000 cases/year, so not big but not super tiny. What I tried: 2015 "Green" white blend (Chardonnay & Riesling): Steel based, very tart. Take it or leave it. 2015 Hopped Chardonnay: Actually you could barely taste the hops, although they were there. I can tell my friends I had it, but wouldn't retry. 2014 Chardonnay: French & American Oak, although it reminded me of steel. I expected it to be sharp but it wasn't at all. 2014 Quattro (Riesling/Gewurztraminer/Viognier/Traminette): Mostly Riesling; not bad. 2015 Frai Chardonnay: Very tropical notes. 2015 Rose (Cab Franc): Not a Rose drinker so no thanks 2015 Rockfish Red (C Frank and PV): Light food-friendly wine. 2013 Union (Mostly Petit Verdot, some Tannat): Earthy, dark color but not as full bodied as I would have expected. 2013 Petit Verdot: PVs are typically full bodied, but not this one. read more

Cardinal Point Vineyard & Winery - Wineries Near Me - Afton, Virginia

Not a great number of selections. Limited red wine available. While the wind we had was fine, it was nothing special. Nice covered deck with plenty of seating. The seat cushions need to be replaced or upgraded, the term cushion is very generous. The day we were there it was overcast in November so there were no real views to speak up. read more

I enjoyed my experience at the Cardinal Point Vineyard. The most pet friendly vineyard I've been too. Friendly staff and the place had a good casual vibe. read more

The wines here are awesome. One of their reds won the 2017 Monticello Cup! I love their tastings, partly because if you buy a bottle, the tasting is free! Their tasting room is not my favorite. It seems like a trailer on an elevated patio. However, there is a nice outdoor seating area to have a glass of wine. Their french baguette was a bit stale, but I forgive them because they have delicious wines and don't bake. I cant wait to visit this spot again. read more

Cardinal Point Vineyard & Winery - Chardonnay with hops. It really good! - Wineries Near Me - Afton, Virginia

See all

This is a cute little winery. Not a large property, but good wine. The tasting room includes a short bar and a little area with a couch and other seating. But the majority of the seating is outdoors, on two little patios. Tastings cost $10, but this fee is waived if you buy a bottle (which I always end up doing). The wine is all very good. I bought a bottle of the Petit Verdot and this winery has one of the only white wines that my sister likes, the Quatro. Generally this one is a quick stop, but worth it for the wine. read more

Cardinal Point Vineyard & Winery - Patio area - Wineries Near Me - Afton, Virginia

Cardinal Point is home of the "A6," one of my favorite white wines in the state--a blend of Viognier and Chardonnay. They also have another unique blend called Quattro: Riesling, Gewurtztraminer, Viognier, and Traminette. They sell this at Total Wine too, if you can't make it down to Charlottesville. They have several award-winners here, both whites and reds. Really you can't go wrong with any of their wines. They know what they're doing. You really get the feel you're in a busy, working winery here. Cardinal Point can get busy (it's a favorite of bikers and hikers), and the patio fills up quickly. The big orange cat outside cracked us up--guests had a dog, and the cat made sure the dog knew who was in charge. A good stop in the southwest Charlottesville "quadrant." read more

Cardinal Point Vineyard & Winery - Wineries Near Me - Afton, Virginia

Delicious wine, friendly staff, and BABY GOATS roaming around the area. Cardinal Point had very flavorful wines (Quattro was great), and a nice outdoor patio area to relax and enjoy a bottle. Their winery was a bit smaller and more intimate, which makes this a good starting point on your tour. Also, make sure to take advantage of their teacher and military discount. The baby goats were adorable and the winery also offered fresh cheeses that paired well with the wines. We really enjoyed our time here and especially appreciated the wines, welcoming staff, and friendly goats. read more

We picked a few vineyards to visit along Rt151 and this was our first of the day. We did some research on the web before arriving and found they offered very affordable wines and a nice selection of whites. They even off a green, if you're into the Portuguese wines, which tastes quite nice! Their membership benefits are GREAT! If you're looking for GREAT deals on some good tasting wine, it's one of the best we've come across. They're dog friendly and have ample seating in various indoor and outdoor locations, including in their barrel room. The staff was very knowledgeable and friendly too, including Tucker, the Golden Retriever. Oh, they offer teachers and military discounts... I would encourage them to offer public safety (police & fire) the same :) read more

Cardinal Point Vineyard & Winery - Green Wine - Wineries Near Me - Afton, Virginia

What wonderful service. I wish would have gotten the name of our wine expert who poured and was knowledgeable about the wines. When we told her we were visiting from Ohio and chose this winery because it meant something special to us as our dads favorite bird was the cardinal and sadly we lost both parents within 2 months of ea other last year. She gave us labels to put in our scrapbooks and that really meant a lot. Not to mention the wonderful wines. We had for the first time a Hops Chardonnay creative on the winemakers part and really worked. We bought a bottle to enjoy at home. read more

See all

This is a cute and friendly place!!! I enjoyed most the wines here and left with a bottle of the Hopped Chardonnay. It was soo good! Staff was very attentive, which we appreciated. There was also a band playing which was a nice touch. A very enjoyable experience read more

I really want to give these guys a positive review. The location is lovely and the people were so nice. It was a fine experience. But, but . . . the wine is terrible. The hops Chard is dreadful; their attempts at red blends have a truly ugly finish. One of the whites was drinkable, but inferior to $10 grocery store wine. They need a new winemaker. read more

Chill, cozy ambience. Live music was a nice touch. Friendly staff who was knowledgeable and offered great recommendations.

Amazing wines in a low-key and relaxed atmosphere. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable and makes you feel welcome! I loved the Green and the St. Rose, but the reds are awesome, too! read more

I hesitate to give any Virginia winery four stars because they have nothing much to offer other than wine tasting, and the wines generally are only okay. But I have seen marked improvements in the last ten years as Virginia has decided it doesn't have to imitate Napa and can do some remarkable things on their own. Cardinal Point is particularly to be commended for this. They have a Chardonnay which they stop fermenting with a small amount of residual sugar, and it is distinctive and quite good. This is as close to a sweet and sour taste as I have ever found in a wine except for a few German Kabinetts, and it is very refreshing. The reds are based mainly on Cabernet Franc and still need help but they are as good as $30 California reds. In a couple of years I want to come back and see what they have developed in the meantime. Visiting dogs were fun too. read more

Fabulous wine, view and atmosphere. Staff was knowledgeable and very friendly. If your a fan of white wine, check out their Green. We will be back for another visit. read more

Beautiful location-great wine, friendly staff & yummy provisions. Definitely put this on your list when visiting Nelson County!

This was our last stop on our day of random wine-tasting... the building itself isn't as impressive as some of the others that we went to, but the quality of the wine makes up for that. There were a bunch of animals running around, and some people love that, but I'm allergic so that is my nightmare. My favorite wine that we tried was the IPC, a hopped Chardonnay! This was mind-blowing to me, and I loved it. We took home 2 bottles & I'm trying to decide what friends are special enough to get to try it! read more

We stumbled upon this place and it was such a wonderful surprise. The staff was so friendly and laid back. The wine was good, they have a great patio area and it was exactly what a wine tasting experience should be, relaxing and fun. Tasting price was cheap, free for teachers and military. Don't miss this one, looks to be very animal friendly too. read more

Had a great Sunday afternoon. Light guitar music a nice white wine, Frai Vidal. Cheese and crackers. Interesting like a soft sauvignon blanc. read more

I revisited this place last weekend after my initial visit several years ago. This place has definitely increased in quality. We tried a all the wines, which were pretty tasty. Our favorites were the Quattro, a sweet-ish wihite-wine blend we'll totally drink with our weekly Thai food delivery, and the Tess, a dessert wine made from riesling. I really like dessert wines, but they have to be made well and they can't be syrupy. This one did the trick and impressed me above most of the other dessert vinos I sampled on my winery trip. The other wines were well made, but none totally blew me away. They were good enough that I'd probably come by and taste again in a future year to see what they've come up with. The atmosphere here is really nice. The tasting room is casual and friendly, and there's a spacious patio for relaxing with a glass of wine or snack. On the night we went, there was a band playing til 8, which was nice because that's later than most of the hours at other area wineries. Check their calendar for other events like an oyster roast I've heard is pretty cool, too. read more

A hip winery with a unique take on some old classics and a large patio space open year round. The immediate impression I had walking into Cardinal Point is that it feels young and full of energy - our pourers were all twenty-to-thirty-somethings, there was modern Americana decor, and lots of colored chalk. This is not a stuffy/uppity winery or an adult Disneyland winery; instead it feels vibrant and hip, with a modest tasting area, plenty of outdoor seating on the patio (enclosed in the winter) along with some corn hole for good measure. The winery is also dog friendly indoor and outdoors, and chances are you'll find yourself introduced to a golden retriever named Tucker. The wine selection parallels the originality of the winery. The wine is crisper and fruitier than others you're likely to have, but there's enough flavor and craftsmanship here to appeal to novices as well as snobs. Our tasting ($5) began with three excellent whites: the Green, the A6 and the Quattro. The Green hardly tastes like a wine but more of a dry apple cider. The A6 and Quattro are also aromatic fruity wines, with my favorite of the three being the Quattro. Next were the reds - Rockfish Red, a lighter red that non-red drinkers can still enjoy, the Cabernet Franc, a little heavier with much more of a dark cherry flavor, and the Union, a mix of the Petit Verdot, the Cabernet Franc and the Tannat and the heaviest of the red with bold flavors of blackberry and leather. As a red drinker, I appreciated the differences between the three, especially the Union. Last was the IPC, a wine I've never encountered before that smells like an IPA beer but tastes like a lemon drop (it tastes much better than it sounds). Overall, Cardinal Point is another can't-miss on Nelson 151. The winery takes some chances with its wines and manages to hit them all out of the ballpark. And if you're under thirty or young at heart, you'll love the vibe. read more

Cardinal Point Vineyard & Winery - Wineries Near Me - Afton, Virginia

See all

My favorite wine maker in Virginia. I love the A6, a Viognier and Chardonnay blend, and the Quattro, a sweet summer wine made from Riesling, Gewurtztraminer, Traminette, and Viognier. The Gormans are great people, and it shows in the wine and the service you get at this vineyard. I have been here for tastings a few times and the staff is always friendly and knowledgeable. Not the most beautiful building, but definitely worth the stop if you are touring the Blue Ridge vineyards. After one visit we made it home and while unloading the wine a couple bottles met their demise on the driveway. After we emailed Sarah a picture of the mess, she sent a replacement right away! Fantastic. read more

I experienced Cardinal Point during the Wine Lovers 5K back in February. The winery is on the smaller side for Charlottesville vineyards, but because of this, it is full of charm. They have a small tasting room that doesn't have seating inside, but there is a very large wood patio with plenty of seating and heat lamps. They have a tasting discount for teachers/military if you are there for a normal visit. A tasting came with the race entry, so we enjoyed five or so different wines. None of them stood out that much to me, but I felt a little rushed with a large line of people behind me. I'd love to go back and try their wines again! read more

Cardinal Point Vineyard & Winery - Wineries Near Me - Afton, Virginia

Very nice. An above average, good place to visit if you ever have the chance. The place is nice, my favorite part is all the dogs and animals. They are very animal friendly, and that's an integral part of VA wineries. A love of animals, a feeling of home when you visit, as if they are opening up their family to you upon arrival, and this place had several sweet dogs. Now, the important part. The wines. They have more whites than reds, and have typically Sweet grapes, although their Reisling/Gewurtz grapes and more Alsace than German. Meaning, not in the sweet version, more in the naturalness of the grape. With the reds, I like the Cab Franc, they have two versions, the 2007 is more powerful and interesting. My favorite, I bought one. The Chardonnay surprisingly works incredibly well. Well balanced and delicious, yet powerful. The reason to visit is for those Reisling/Gewurtz grapes. They are all good, but let me just say, try the Quattro, its a beautiful blend of Reisling, Gewurtzaminer, Traminette, and Viognier. It works great, and is great for these summer months. Maybe with a Thai meal, but largely just without food from my optic. As an aside, this is one of those places that gives you a sip for a taste and won't give you too much to taste. Although, they'll ask you if there is something else you'd like to try before you leave, which is nice. Maybe they were short because we closed the place by getting there late; my fault. Do yourself a favor and consider this place when travelling to this part of Charlottesville, you'll do yourself a favor. read more

This place is a diamond, second one today and had to make sure to post something. Service was great, location is perfect, the outdoor patio was romantic, and the wine was delicious. read more

This is definitely one of my favorite wineries in Virginia. The Green always knocks my socks off. Location is beautiful, wine is delightful, price of $5 for a tasting is great! Concerning the tasting--your tasting fee will be subtracted from the total if you purchase a bottle, which is something not many other wineries offer. Additionally, they offer military and teacher discounts. The whole facility is lovely, beautiful flower beds, the occasional winery dog or cat stopping to greet you, along with well kept grounds that often play host to special events, as well as casual wine sipping. I highly recommend you stop by here for a glass or two! Enjoy! read more

Very nice wines, with the whites shining through. Tastings are $5 and you get a nice selection of various wines. Service is friendly and not overly pushy. There were several dogs in the main building, a few behind the counter and a couple mingling with the crowd. There was also a cat taking a nap on the deck outside... so this seems to be an animal-friendly place. As long as you're not allergic and don't dislike animals, this place would be fine for you. Not the prettiest scenery, but not bad either. read more

This is the first winery we went on our weekend in Charlottesville and we were their first tasters of the day. The lady leading our tasting was wonderful, kind, informative and super helpful. My friend and I normally are red wine drinkers but the white wines here blew us away. I walked away with a bottle of their Green, a type of vino Verde that no other wineries offered on our trip. It was a crisp, light wine with a tart note. My friend loved their Quattro, a more complex white wine with tropical notes. They are dog friendly and had some friendly dogs of their own wandering around. We had a picnic lunch on their patio, it wasn't as scenic as other wineries but still a good, spacious setup. The staff is very personable and friendly and it's one of the smaller wineries but ultimately, one of our favorites. read more

Cardinal Point is one of the best wineries in Virginia. Their selection of whites is especially notable (be sure to check out the Quattro. It's a little sweet but ridiculously delicious). read more

They say they are the most unpretentious winery and think that they are right. We went for a tasting. Rose provided very friendly service. Everyone who worked there seemed to be having a good time. My favorite with is the Rockfish Red. read more

My wife and I really enjoy the wine from Cardinal Point, so much so that we joined the wine club. While it isn't my favorite tasting room, which is to say it isn't as fancy as a few of the others in the area, the staff has always been friendly and knowledgable, even when busy. And if you are looking for a place with food or even a large selection of snacks, you will probably be disappointed. But, who goes for crackers and salami anyway? The wine is what matters and the Green and IPC just knock our socks off. Different from anything else you will find in surrounding wine regions and worth swinging by to try out. We bought several bottles the day we first visited and have gone back to by cases since. Also, while we love the whites, the Cab F + Vio was surprisingly good and Quattro is a really nice red as well. The more I drink from Cardinal Point, the more I love what they've got. read more