AN ABSOLUTE MUST! If you only go to one winery in this region, go here! Breathtaking grounds and tasting room, friendly service, great food, and -of course- fantastic wines! They not only sample their own wines but also other local wines. As I gushed over their 2012 Chardonnay, the server was gracious enough to bring out a free glass of another winery's Chardonnay that he thought I would enjoy. And as if that wasn't enough already, there was incredible acoustic guitar to serenade the tasting. No better way to spend an afternoon. read more

Early Mountain Vineyards - Flight of Early Mountain wines. The Chardonnay is absolutely one of the best I have ever had! - Wineries Near Me - Madison, Virginia

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Early Mountain is amazing! I have been ordering their wine for months and was so excited to experience the vineyard firsthand. Our server, Bailey, was PHENOMENAL. She had the perfect amount of attentiveness, recommendations were on point, and food/wine was amazing. We tried the whipped feta, peach hurrays, chicken skewers, steak tacos and soft shell crab sandwich - all were amazing. We knew we loved the wine but enjoyed some new varieties while admiring the picturesque backdrops of the Virginia mountains. Knew it was the perfect time to sign up for the wine club because we will be back! read more

This was such a gorgeous winery! The views. The landscaping. The castle-like feel. And all the special touches: Riedel glasses, full menu, cute little shop, fireplace, and rustic appeal. It's financed and owned by AOL founder Steve Case which really explains why this place looks so rich. Our wine server was friendly and knowledgeable about the wines. And I have to say, as impressed as I was here, I wasn't a huge fan of the wines. Which is so unfortunate because this place is classy, romantic, and beautiful. We ended up getting a glass of wine and sitting in their lounge area...but perhaps the winemaker needs to go back to focusing on the wines here and not on the ambiance. They have that part down! read more

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A GINORMOUS building in the foothills of the Virginia mountains, it looks almost like a new church, and the parking lot is huge. But it is beautiful inside, with a huge tasting room/dining room main space that is epic! Huge fireplace, wide, tall windows that showcase the mountain view from couches, tables and benches The kitchen serves more than the usual wine tasting nibbles, and there is a whole 'gift-shop' area with local snacks and souvenirs. On top of that, the lodge has conference rooms and a banquet hall for weddings and such. The highlight for me was sitting on the hillside below the building in adirondack-style chairs around an unlit firepit and chatting with my parents and wife while enjoying our individually selected wines. read more

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Don't order the pork chop. Despite being told it was so wonderful, it was overcooked, dry, and tough. Not impressed for $30. We told waiter who really didn't seem that interested. Also, never got my extra water. On the upside the bison tartare was fabulous. The halibut was good. Avoid the pork chop. read more

We stopped by Early Mountain on a Friday evening in March when they had live music and had a very nice time. The place was pretty crowded but we found a comfortable couch for the two of us to sit on near the fireplace. The staff was very attentive and the food was very good. Early Mountain has a few wines of their own and also serves enjoyable wines from area wineries. The server made a specific point to say that they want to promote the entire wine region not just their own wines. The 3 piece band was perfect for the venue. They were loud enough to hear and enjoy but not so loud that you couldn't easily carry on a conversation. Early Mountain closed at 8pm on Friday which felt pretty early to us, but we enjoyed it none the less. Looking for something relaxing and enjoyable on a weekend evening, definitely check the events schedule at Early Mountain and stop by. read more

Early Mountain Vineyards - Large two sided fireplace in the center of the Early Mountain tasting room. - Wineries Near Me - Madison, Virginia

I came here for a 5k this past weekend- let me tell you, this was the most difficult run I've ever done with so many hills and the fluffy grassy fields-but the scenery was absolutely beautiful! This is definitely one of my top 5 favorite wineries. When you sit on the patio you have a great view of the vineyard, with a spectacular view of the hills, the greenery, and the pond. The only downside is the amount of flies there are there, but what can you do! The inside is very spacious and the tasting area has a cool chalk board behind it- a nice touch to the decor. The front has a cute barn with a sunflower garden! I think I found my future wedding venue ;) The wine itself was great! I really enjoyed the Chardonnay and the red blend they had. Make sure to try the flights and panini as well, they're delish. Oh! And they are pet friendly!!! read more

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Great wines, great food, great service, great atmosphere. What a great afternoon my wife and I had at Early Mountain. You will too. Trust me. read more

We joined Early Mountain last year, because it checked all the boxes- wonderful wine, amazing ambiance, big enough to be both kid and adult friendly, and you could even reserve a table for lunch. It was really just everything I could want in a winery I would visit repetitively. They changed up the menu recently, as I think others have mentioned, and while the food is good, it's just expensive and you're not full afterwards. I liked being able to swing by and do a tasting and lunch, especially when people were in town, it was a great place to come even if they weren't wine drinkers. Now it's just for the wine, so if you're looking for great wine, really friendly people and cool atmosphere, this place is definitely for you! If you are hungry, questionable. read more

Good wine, good service, good food, good views. Just lovely. Try the lemon olives and tomato peach gazpacho! We are sticklers with COVID, and the outdoor space felt very safe to us. (We personally wouldn't recommend the indoor space as patrons were not great about masks, though the staff was great.) read more

Early Mountain Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Madison, Virginia

We were just there today with our 6-year-old, very well-behaved daughter. The wines were very good. However, we felt that it was not a family-friendly experience. Our daughter sat very quietly at our table, watching Bluey on dad's phone while we had our wine flight. First we asked if they might be able to make a simple grilled cheese or anything else kid-friendly for her (since they had both bread and cheese on the menu). The server said no without checking with kitchen staff. Okay, fine. Then he told us to turn down the volume on the phone. If it had been loud, I understand that, but it was not. I couldn't even hear it across the table. it was as if he just wanted to make a point that kids are not welcome. If that is the environment that you want to cultivate at your winery, then it should be explicitly stated on the website that it is not child friendly, but there is nothing stating this on the website. We had previously been enthusiastic consumers of your wines, but we will not be back and will no longer buy from you. Very disappointed. read more

One of the most stunning wineries/tasting rooms you'll find anywhere. Such a classy place. The wine is really good too! Especially recommend the Pur and Rise. I look forward to coming back. read more

This was maybe the first time I did a tasting and liked every.single.wine.... even the whites! This place is not messing around, they have redesigned their facility to be an event center and it was a great decision. The facility now provides a large venue for hosting (weddings / conferences / etc), a full size restaurant with weekend brunch dining included (and live bands on weekends), beautiful (and large) indoor and outdoor spaces. The tasting is reasonably priced, although you may feel that given the area you are paying a little more for the price per bottle - but it is all in the quality. I have zero regrets buying bottles after this amazing tasting - cannot wait to go back and try the food too! read more

I had a reservation for 4 for dinner to celebrate a friend's going away. The reservation was at 5pm. I got an email (copied below) the day of "confirming" my reservation, and letting me know that they had an event that evening, so that last call for food was also at 5pm (the time of our reservation), and for wine was at 5:15. Oh, and we had to be off the property by 6pm. I called right away, but they only confirmed that the information in the email was indeed correct, and we had to be off the property by 6. The notice was so late, we were unable to get a reservation anywhere else in town. Anyway, just be upfront and let me know you're cancelling our reservation, and at least do something to try to make it right, or give us enough of a heads up to make other plans. I'd been here for food and wine a couple of times before.. both are OK. I emailed to complain, but didn't get a response, so now I'm a jerk who writes a bad yelp review. Here is the email: Just reaching out to confirm your reservation and to let you know we have an event here tonight and all guests will need to be off property by 6:00pm. Last call for wine will be at 5:00pm and last call for food will be at 5:15 pm. If you need any help with your reservation, please feel free to contact me. read more

Spent Good Friday at Early Mountain Vineyard. The food Chef Tim prepared was uniquely delicious. Highly recommend the burrata. The service superb, the view was delightful, the wine was excellent. I highly recommend taking the time to visit EMV, you won't regret it! read more

My family and I went there today and was extremely disappointed in how we were treated. When we got there there was a sign out front that said masks recommend (but did not say required) which is fine and being that we were all vaccinated we went in wanting to do a tasting and were rudely greeted and told we could sit outside (in the rain). No where in their website did it say anything about their covid restrictions policies which we checked prior to going. We even sat in the parking lot for 30 minutes waiting for them to open. That was the worst waste of my time. Had they simply posted their guidelines on their website, Facebook page or Yelp we would have gladly not gone. read more

Horrible experience at this winery. Staff was rude and pretentious. Cannot believe we had originally planned on ending our day here. Will not return and do not recommend for others. read more

Stopped in here on a Saturday afternoon after doing the Old Rag hike (which I highly recommend). The tasting room was busy, but the hostesses were so sweet and accommodating. They gave us options of where to sit, and we were seated right away. The waiter was so great, and the wine was enjoyable. Beautiful spot. Highly recommend. read more

What an incredibly beautiful vineyard. Our group stopped here on the way into Charlottesville and brought some snacks to enjoy in the outside picnic area. There are plenty of Adirondack chairs, picnic tables and umbrellas. You're allowed to bring your own food to hang on the grass/that picnic area but have to buy food from the place if you want to sit on the patio/in those tables and chairs. HIGHLY recommend the rosé. Light, crisp, dry and refreshing with just a touch of fruit, perfect to enjoy on a hot summer day. Our group also really enjoyed the brut sparkling wine in the tasting but honestly at $40 we felt it was overpriced so we couldn't bring ourselves to buy a bottle of it. If you do the tasting you get a nice stemless wine glass w/ the logo on it. read more

Lovely venue, been many times but won't be going back! My husband and I stopped for a bottle of wine as we were early for an appointment in Charlottesville. As I was closing out our purchase I informed young lady we had purchased a bottle of Vidal Blanc; she replied, "is that all you got?". Hmmm, a rude response, perhaps implying that I was not telling the truth or that EMV has a "minimum " purchase requirement??? We settled around 4:45 pm today, the young lady wore glasses. read more

Starting at the door, you are greeted with smiles and lovely ladies that direct you where you need to be! The furniture is modern and beautiful! The atmosphere sets the tone for a warm, welcoming, clean, modern, farmhouse feel. I had a tasting with Paige who was immediately Informative and kind! She was encouraging to take my time and answer any question I had about the wines, grapes and vineyard. She went above and beyond to make my visit memorable. I can't wait to return and bring friends. The wines. Delicious. The complexity and simplicity can be tasted in each sip. You can easily tell that each wine is carefully crafted to show off the grape and the growth process. Early Mountain easily just became one of my favorite wineries. read more

One of my favorite wineries - the location is absolutely beautiful. The wines are delicious - my favorite is the Rose! The food is so tasty and fresh. They have homemade pickles that have a little kick to them and they are amazing! read more

We pulled up to Early Mountain and the first thing out of my mouth was "I already don't like this place," but I was handily proven wrong (thank goodness!). For starters, Early Mountain is among the larger "wineries" in the area and at that rate seems kind of like a corporate strugglefest. We come to Virginia for a more intimate wine tasting experience, so the glitz and glam of their sprawling facility was a little off-putting to me. With that, we went inside and quickly found ourselves settled into one of their comfy banquettes with a sparkling Virginia wine flight and an appetizer to bide the time. I can't speak to Early Mountain's own wines (do they make their own wines?) as I only saw menus for various wine flights (white, red, sparkling, etc.), and I do like that they curate a variety of local wines this way. Our sparkling wine flight ($20) consisted of four pours of area bubblies, served with an interesting card alongside so we could read up on the wines as we tasted through. A friend and I had a sparkling flight each and an order of their cheesy garlic bread which might've been too heavy a choice for light sparkling wines like these, but was sure to please anyway. The wine tasting area is massive and has a bar along one wall, with banquettes and couches throughout the room as well. It was cozily decorated with holiday cheer in December, and we caught the tail end of a live music performance as we popped in late on Sunday afternoon. In all, Early Mountain proved to be a worthwhile last stop for a nice mid-afternoon break. The experience here was definitely more upscale than at some wineries in the area, and overall this is a place worth going back to. read more

Very nice winery! Big, beautiful building, with covered patio area out back. Came with my pup, and we sat in the patio area. Was the middle of the day on a Thursday, so not too crowded. The place is dog friendly, and they even have poop stations near the picnic area. They also offered a bowl for my dog, and the other patrons seemed excited that he was there. They do have a small food menu. Beyond the patio area, they have a picnic area, with fire pits. They have 3 flights, one being their own wines, and the other two, being wines from other Virginia wineries. Was a little bummed that they were sold out of their new rosé, but can't wait to try it next time. Tip: Make sure to sign up for their wine club! 15% off at the restaurant (including the day you sign up), wine bundles (at a discounted price) every few months, and free tastings every month. read more

Stopped by yesterday to try out Early Mountain Vineyards as it was one of the spots advertised on our Getaway Cabin brochure. The location is absolutely beautiful and the main dining area is just as beautiful. We ordered the Early Mountain wine flight and all of their wines were excellent. The charcuterie board was one of the best I have ever had - everything on the board was high quality! Our service was wonderful and we had a great time. Be sure to try the gnocchi and bone marrow as well. We will be back! read more

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I'm pulling out the 5 star card here. I thought I was already experiencing the pinnacle of VA wineries up north off I-66... but then I stumbled upon Early Mountain! The building is immaculate with great views out back. There's a good amount of outdoor seating as well. It looks like you could probably set up a picnic; but don't worry about lugging your own food because they've got you covered (i.e. we were super pissed because we ate McDonalds on the way down only to discover that the menu at EM is really appetizing). The wine itself was quite enjoyable; several flight options are available. The manager stopped by and we had a really nice little conversation with him, it was that personal touch that really made EM stand out in my mind. Can't wait to go back! read more

I would definitely like to give Early Mountain 5 stars but since they are lacking in selection of their own wines right now, I'll wait to give them a higher rating. The building is awesome with an open fire in the middle. It was nice on a crisp cool Spring day. It has an overall feel of a lounge opposed to a simple tasting room. One downside (that some may like) is that they had 2 huge TVs blasting sports while we were there. I think it took away from the environment but like I said, I'm sure a lot of folks would like the TVs. Overall, it seems like an ideal location for weddings/parties. The tastings are done in flights so it really is more like a wine bar experience. As of right now, they offer mostly other wines from around Virginia since their vines are too young to be producing yet. I enjoyed my sparkling flight although I don't remember what was in it. What really surprised me about Early Mountain was the quality of food. We were looking for something simple as we started our day of tasting. I had a turkey and brie panini that knocked my socks off! The salad that came with it was also very good and had very fresh high quality ingredients. I really wasn't expecting such memorable food! I do look forward to when they begin producing their own wine. The environment is a very relaxing beautiful place to spend time and I will most certainly stop by again when I am in the area. read more

Early Mountain is a destination more than just a winery. Set amongst rolling hills and vines is a mecca for all things food and drink in the Virginia region. I love that they serve tastings of their own wine - but also curate a "best of" other Virginia vineyards so that can you can sample from all over the state without leaving their full service tasting room. The wines are accompanied by a solid menu that starts with cheese and charcreuterie, but builds to sandwiches, salads and entrees that are worth the drive. If you ever plan events, make sure to tour their business facilities, ballrooms and outdoor party spaces. It's a really neat set up that manages to be both chic and rustic. (If you're looking for a place to stay overnight, check out White Moose Inn or Flint Hill Public House.) read more

The wine was delicious. The facility was beautiful. The staff were exemplary. When we started our tasting, Mike informed us that it was his first day. With the exception of not knowing a few questions that only come with working at a specific place for a while, there was no indication that Mike was a "rookie". He was very informative, elegant, professional and engaging. He made our experience. We were very pleased to be part of his first sale. Future returns are guaranteed. read more

The wine flights are an amazing deal for $12 and the pours are generous and the decor is beautiful and relaxing with the backdrop of serenity. The staff is also lovely and wanted to make my experience as wonderful as possible. They even offered to bring the wine flight to a sitting area but I was fine standing at the bar. read more

I absolutely LOVED Early Mountain. I've been to a lot of the Virginia vineyards and this one really ranks up there as one of my favorites. Yummy wines, beautiful scenery, and I reeeeally liked their food menu. (Some places are just eh with their food, but this one had some really good options) I particularly liked the pretzel with spicy mustard (don't worry I didn't find it too spicy) and the spinach and artichoke dip. It's a bit of a drive from NoVa but definitely recommend. read more

Great tasking experience. Good wine in beautiful location. Friendly service and knowledgeable about wine and taste. Rose was the so fresh and tasty! read more

Early Mountain Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Madison, Virginia

Great place to enjoy a tasting paired with delicious food. The setting encompasses a Mountain View and the indoor winery is beautiful and cozy. I do like the fact you can try other local wines . Several of their wines are great . Unfortunately US consumers still want un-blended wines; I believe Virginia can produce magnificent wines if they blend them with different grape varieties, similar to Octogon in Barboursville. I recommend this vineyard as it's a great escape for a tasting and food with blue ridge views. read more

Disclaimer: I'm getting married here in the Fall, so it automatically has a soft spot in my heart which might bias my review! This winery is gorgeous...one of the most beautiful I've ever seen inside and outside. Even compared to the numerous wineries I've visited in the Santa Ynez/Santa Barbara region of Southern CA which I consider one of the most beautiful places on earth. The parking at Early Mountain is plentiful, and the tasting room has plenty of room inside and outside. The wine? Well, it isn't "there" yet for me which is why I can't give a 5 star review. However, they do include wines from other wineries. Inside the tasting room is a fireplace, small "country store", large tasting bar and an outside patio with another fireplace. What is a real winner here and very rare with wineries is the amazing food! They have recently added a flatbread to the menu with blue cheese and arugula which I've tried to re-create at home. Its not a floppy tasteless flatbread either. It was crisp on the outside, soft on the inside with baked blue cheese...wow! The fiance had spinach artichoke dip to snack on which I tried as well, and it was fantastic! Down a few stairs or the elevator is the ballroom for weddings/events which has 2 more fireplaces and a private patio. It is absolutely gorgeous, but not really available if you are coming to the tasting room - but you can probably get a peek if you are going to the bathrooms. I wish this place was closer to me, because I would make it a regular lunch spot on the weekends as the food is absolutely amazing. The views are gorgeous and the interior is spectacular. The wine, I'm not sold on yet. But they are putting so much effort into every detail of Early Mountain, that I think that will come in time. read more

This is a beautiful winery a bit more out of the way from the cluster of wineries surrounding Charlottesville. I did a lot of research of which wineries I wanted to visit that would accommodate a large group (our group consisted of 11). I can not thank the staff at Early Mountain enough for their friendliness & willingness to help us (especially our waiter, Alex, who was so kind & even took several group pictures of us!). The winery was not super busy for a Saturday afternoon. The inside & outside are exceptionally beautiful ! As other reviewers mentioned, if you can go on a nice day you are in for a surprise because their patio & views are breathtaking. We made reservations for lunch & were seated promptly at a large farmhouse style table. The wine was great and food was mediocre (small fare so I do not recommend going with a big appetite). The food was why I only rated 4 stars. I had the meatball sub which was average, but other guests who ordered were a bit disappointed in portion size. All 10 guests with me received their food about 20 minutes after ordering & my food took an additional 30 minutes after that (total of 50 minutes). The communication between wait staff & kitchen could have been better to keep me informed of why the wait was so long. It was a bit awkward to eat my food after everyone else's plates were taken up. All else aside I recommend checking Early Mountain out & I plan to visit again on a more intimate level. read more

Early Mountain Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Madison, Virginia

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This winery is stunning with a beautiful layout. Perfect place for anything from weddings to a relaxing day. My husband and I came here while on our honeymoon and absolutely loved it. The wait staff here is the kindest that I have ever experienced at a winery. They are dog friendly with plenty of room on the back patio and picnic area for them to run and play. Absolutely recommend this winery to anyone and everyone!!! read more

Favorite Vineyard in the area. Kid friendly, huge open spaces, welcoming environment and large cozy seating gives you the feeling of lounging at a friends house sipping on amazing vino. The food is a little in the expensive side, but it's always fresh and always delicious. A must see spot if your visiting the area. read more

Early Mountain Vineyards - Wine & Design with Five Forks...you can't beat it. - Wineries Near Me - Madison, Virginia

One of my favorite wineries in the area, Early Mountain Vineyard is absolutely beautiful! Their decor has a country feel that is open and airy with plenty of couches to lounge on or chill at a tall table listening to live music. Leading out to the outdoor terrace is a custom crafted glass doorway that is gorgeous. I also loved the vaulted ceilings, exposed beams, and stone fireplace in the middle of the tasting room. Open later than most vineyards, there is plenty of time to soak in the surrounding countryside and sunset in front of the terrace fireplace or around one of several lawn fire pits. Another cool thing about Early Mountain is it boasts the newest technology features making your stay here as convenient as possible. For example, the owner Steve Case (former AOL executive), has equipped the faculty with free wifi and the wait staff are all equipped with ipads to take your order or close out your tab at anytime anywhere on the grounds making new orders or leaving for the night as quick, convenient, and easy as possible. Early mountain offers three different 4oz flight tastings of four wines each. One flight is of their own wines and the other two are wines from around the Virginia region. The Virginia regional wines were specifically chosen by the vineyard as being the best Virginia wines outside of their winery. We chose the Early Mountain flight which had three white (Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Viognier) and one red (Merlot) wine. We were not overly impressed by the wines so we ended up sharing a bottle from the best Virginia wine list instead. The only reason I am not giving Early Mountain five stars is because it is a young vineyard with just four wines of their own. Their ambiance makes up for it though, so I will definitely be back to visit and update my review as the vineyard matures! read more

Overall nice place, but they need to rethink prices: - Very overpriced food: we ordered some cheese starter that was $22 and the board came with three 1x0.5 inch pieces of cheese. It said it came with mustard and honey and came with, literally, less than a teaspoon of each ingredient. We ordered an additional bread basket that was $5 for three loaves. Food quality was ok, but certainly not worth the price. - Slightly Overpriced wine. This winery offers poor to average wine for $10-15 more than other better quality wines in the region. A bottle costs between $30-40. Spent $50 per person read more

The wines were impressive but this review is more about the experience than the wines. Arrived on a too cold to sit outside kind of day. Winery was packed and incredibly noisy. No outside food can be brought in unless you sit outside. Well OK. Tasting done and we foolishly purchased a bottle of 2106 Chardonnay to drink there. This winery features a full restaurant and the majority of seating areas are only for folks who plan to eat. If you don't eat, there are fewer choices to sit. We were told there was a 45 minute wait for a table since we did not plan to eat, despite the fact that the food only tables were mostly empty! We were offered a couch in the cold basement next to the restrooms- no thank you. Staff did not seem to care that we were left standing with an opened bottle and nowhere to drink it. We left and spent the rest of the afternoon at prince Michele where we enjoyed comfortable seats, good Wine (PM's) and our sandwiches in a unhurried friendly atmosphere. read more