Amazing winery and great food ! Highly recommend. I would only suggest a few more vegetarian friendly foods besides salads incase you are hungry read more

Absolutely my favorite winery in the area! Today we had Alejandro do our tasting and he was phenomenal. Although we have been to the winery before, Alex gave us info we had not heard before. He was extRemely personable and engaging! Next, the GM happened to be nearby and we quickly became engaged in conversation. He is delightful and so engaging....all wineries should take his lead. And lastly, the food. So the first time we ate at Early Mountain was July 2019. They had a new chef we were told, but still had their well known grilled cheese although it was now enhanced with pimentos. It was to die for....so much so that we joIned the wine club, knowing we could get fabulous wine and this delicious lunch. Much to our initial dismay, the menu completely changed and there's no grilled cheese! BUT.....we tried the new menu and it's absolutely to delicious. We actually went back 2 days in a row. The Arctic Char was the best we've ever had and priced perfectly. The beet salad was very good,, but the butternut squash salad is 100x better than the name or description. My husband, somewhat anti squash, loved it! read more

What I saw: The building is stone, glass, and exposed beams, and it is beautifully situated on the property in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The tasting room features a super-high vaulted ceiling and a crazy-long, curvy tasting bar. A stone fire place features prominently in the middle of the enormous room, separating the cozy occasional seating from a smaller dining area. You walk through the casual dining area to access the outdoor patio, which draws you in with its comfortable-chic wicker chairs and keeps you there with its amazing view. I was there on the day of the "soft open," but this opening was no secret. There were people a-plenty enjoying all that the Early Mountain had to offer: wine tastings, locally sourced fare, and the welcoming environment. Two things impressed me most. First, Early Mountain Vineyards is accessible. Both my income (modest) and my knowledge of wine (paltry) might be barriers to enjoying a trip to a vineyard. But not at Early Mountain. Comfort seems to be the main goal of the management, which is interesting because it's easy to miss the fact that they really want you to buy wine. It seemed that every where I looked there was a thoughtful detail intended to enhance the wine-drinking experience. Picnic blankets, lawn games, bubble wands, and board games. There is plenty of room for children to roam, and I have even thought of braving an outing with my two 1/2 year-old twins there in the future. I do not make this claim lightly- trust me, there are plenty of places I will not take them. Ever. What I tasted: I selected the #1 Flight: Red, White and You. By far, the best wine was the Early Mountain Pinot Gris. It is so clear it looks like water, and the taste is smooth and mild with just the right amount of complexity. Don't ask me about hint of this or that. I know not. But I loved that Pinot Gris. It's amazing. For a treat, I ordered the small plate of fresh mozzarella, tomato and surryano (thinly-sliced cured deliciousness). Locally-sourced and beautifully-presented, it paired perfectly with the wine. The cheese had that amazing just-firm enough texture, the tomatoes seemed to be several heirloom varieties and the surryano was sliced thin to accent the full flavor and saltiness. Really nicely done. I will be back, Early Mountain. Be forewarned. ;-)) read more

Worst winery near Cville. Very generic, corporate ambience, and their own wine is absolutely terrible. They serve mostly other vineyards' wines, which is really telling. Don't go here; there are so many great vineyards around here. read more

Beautiful facility but the 2017 Spring Oyster Festival was over-priced and not worth the money or lines. Paid $15/person (at a discount rate) for the privilege of walking in the door to get 1 glass of wine on a limited wine list and keep a cheap glass. Oysters were $22/dozen and your kid could get a PBJ for $6.....really. Next time will go to Whole Foods wine room with much larger variety on better wines and better food for the dollar. Won't be back next year sorry. read more

This has to be one of the most beautiful venues in the state of Virginia. The real show stopper is the surrounding landscape of the Midland Piedmont. The building architecture is equal to the natural beauty that surrounds this unique and special place. A considerable amount of money was clearly spent to make this a show place for Virginia wine. It is well worth traveling a bit off the beaten path to see this work of art. We tasted a few wines which were excellent but as we were at a wedding it was difficult to ascertain what we were drinking. We will be back to enjoy more of this exceptional destination soon! read more

This little gem is tucked away in the rural heaven of Madison, VA about 2.5 hours from Washington, DC. We visited during a long weekend (3rd weekend of September, perfect weather!) at the nearby Lydia Mountain Cabins in Standardsville, VA. At this time, the vineyard only has three wines which are grown and produced at the vineyard. I was disappointed they didn't have a tasting option offering only their products. Instead they currently have three tasting options to choose from featuring what they consider to be the "Best of Virginia" which features a nice selection of reds and whites for differing palettes. My personal favorite was the flavorful Early Mountain 2011 Viognier. The tasting room is huge and elegant so if you're planning a special event this most definitely is a place to consider. The backdrop to the sprawling vineyard is the gorgeous scenery of the Blue Ridge Mountains. You'll find comfy over sized couches and an upscale ambiance inside the spacious atrium area. Outside is an area complete with hammocks, picnic tables, fire pits and lots of space to spread out while enjoying the wine and majestic views. This vineyard/winery produces delicious wine and is well worth the trip to visit! read more

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Beautiful building, gorgeous setting. Enjoyed the wine flight. Grilled cheese smelled delicious. read more

Early Mountain Vineyards - Wine tasting, sandwich for my husband. I'm having chocolate covered almonds- delicious with the red wine!! - Wineries Near Me - Madison, Virginia

The winery is BEAUTIFUL. The building is exquisite, and they have a gorgeous view of the mountains. However, the wine is so-so. They only serve a few of their own wines, and mostly sell wine from other VA vineyards in their overpriced flights (at a whopping $12 for 4 wines!). We went there on July 4th, and they had a great bbq for just $5/person. However, I think this place is set up to host weddings and banquets instead of to be a top-notch winery. In any case if you are passing by, stop in for a visit- you'll have a nice time! read more

Tried to visit this winery from out of state on a Sunday, website, sign on the door, and outgoing message on their answering machine all said they were open 11-5 on Sundays. We arrived around 4 and they were closed. The weather was beautiful that day so there were no obvious reasons for the tasting room to be closed, no signs or notices anywhere that they would not be open or had closed early. Highly disappointing and unprofessional. read more

I had the pleasure of visiting Early Mountain on their opening weekend. I went with a group of friends and we were all thoroughly impressed by the vineyards grounds, the wines, the friendly and knowledgeable staff, the whole experience was wonderful. We all have pretty different preferences when it comes to types of wine and we were all able to find something that we loved. Moreover, the wine flights are reasonably priced and generous. Everything was lovely, but what I was most impressed with was their beautiful event spaces. I immediately thought it would be a dream to host a wedding there. Highly recommend visiting this vineyard, You will not be disappointed. read more

This is a beautiful location with nice wines for the tasting and buying. En route to Charlottesville I stopped off here and did a tasting. I tasted the whites, my mother-in-law tasted the reds, and my wife tasted the combo--there were multiple tasting options and several things to choose from to snack while we sipped. The property is huge with plenty of room inside and out. The outside is also dog friendly. In addition to their own wines, something I haven't seen before was they offered wines from other wineries in the region and had them available for tasting and for sale. I can't speak to the other wineries in the area but would think this one was fantastic. We only took home two bottles but if you buy six of their wines you receive 10% off. If you're in the area definitely worth popping in and popping a bottle. read more

Early Mountain has a beautiful reception area. Tall ceilings, Spanish stylings, comfortable seating, sophisticated and moderately priced foods, and a long bar with an attentive and friendly bartender. We sat and had a lunch meal and tried one of three wine flights. We bought a few bottles of wine to take home with us. I recommend a visit. read more

The place is beautiful but expect to pay for it. Tastings are 12-17 dollars for 4 wines ... You choose your selection of reds, whites, or ciders. read more

Early Mountain Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Madison, Virginia

Felt very much like a large operation. Not as intimate as other wineries. Would be great for large events. Plenty of outdoor seating, picnic tables, and space for lawn games. read more

I am giving three stars because I didn't get to try the food on the day I visited. I was visiting family outside of Culpepper, we decided to go have lunch at this vineyard. Unfortunately there was a special members-only event this particular day so the kitchen was not serving their full menu. We enjoyed the wine flights and the cheese board. We will be going back to try this vineyard when the restaurant is in full service. read more

The setting at Early Mountain is gorgeous. This was my husbands first visit and I knew he would enjoy the outside patio area construction and its tasteful details. We brought the dog and were kindly directed to the patio area, where we had lunch and did flights right at the table. W was given the biggest bowl of water I've ever seen and an equally large biscuit to munch while we did our fun human things. The food was excellent, we both had paninis. I would have loved to order one of every meat and cheese available but that wasn't our plan this time around. We each decided to try a different flight, myself doing a flight of only Early Mountain wines, and the hubby opting for Reds. The Early Mountain flight started with their Pinot Gris. Crisp, light, delicate. It was a whisper on the palate. A refreshing start. The Rose on the flight I hated. I don't like using the word hate often, it really has to be something horrible like kicking puppies or punching babies. But I hated this wine. So much so that our server noticed and offered me a taste of their other Rose, which was a Malbec base. So Much Better. They both were dry, the also offer a sweet rose option I saw on their wine sheet. The second Rose I tried was lovely, exactly what I was looking for. Dry, notes of strawberry, especially after the wine warmed up, it was a bit too chilled when it first came out. (Note that didn't help the other Rose. In my opinion anyway, and its my own. There are people that love it and thats great for them. We have different palates) After the Rose came a Chardonnay with a little oak. It was nice, we did buy a few bottles of those two. And one red, their Eluvium, a Bordeaux blend I believe which reminded me of a Pinot in its lightness (is that even a word lightness?). It was tasty but nothing overwhelming or exciting. The hubby had the red flight which really stood out for the let downs. A wine from RdV was less then we had hoped for after hearing so many good things about these remarkable wines. A Pinotage was the fourth and such a huge shift from the Bordeaux styles of the other three we weren't sure what to think. I want to try that again, alone, perhaps while rolling cigars or soaping a saddle. I really enjoyed the setting at Early Mountain. The views were beautiful, they allow dogs , and the food was great. Perhaps we'd have a better time inside at the bar where the attendant could talk us through a more typical tasting experience with the wines, instead of dropping them off at the table and zooming through the descriptions. Maybe not. Its not your typical winery tasting experience, so I wouldn't go for that. Go to enjoy the setting, sip something new and refreshing. Eat lots of food, spend time with friends. read more

I've been here a few times. I'm not sure what the weekends are like, but if you can get down here during the week it is really low key and totally sweet. The building is like something out of a mid-evil fantasy novel. Basically its like chilling sipping a libation in your own private castle. The staff is super friendly. The views are breathtaking. The have fire pits outside, covered seating, gourmet sandwiches, snacks, etc... Its a really peaceful place to spend sometime reflecting and enjoying some good wine (they have wine from all over Virginia, not just their vineyard). Bring a picnic here, thats what I did last time! Absolutely great spot. Don't know how they will ever turn a profit, but then again chasing a profit may not be the case (haha, get it Case). read more

This place is pretty much awesome. Great wine curated from their own vineyards, but also from other Virginia Vineyards. Great example of a company supporting the idea that "Rising tides raise all ships." Food has always been on point, with options for those with dietary restrictions. Great outdoor space with fire pits, outdoor fireplace, etc. If you leave without signing up for their wine club I'd be surprised!! read more

Absolutely beautiful facility. Very nice setting. We arrived a few minutes before opening and the staff were wonderfully accommodating. The cheese plate and marinated olives were delicious. The wine selection was fantastic as they offered a variety of wines from other wineries in addition to their own. I will definitely be back. read more

I love this place despite my husband thinking it is overpriced (which it is), but we still have fun when we go. I really like that they support Virginia wine. The facility is gorgeous and food is good. I will keep going back. read more

As an employee in the wine industry in Virginia, I have visited many across the state. This winery is one of the best in many categories: staff friendliness, aesthetic of the building and grounds, and--most importantly--quality of wines. Certainly, the staff attitude can influence the palate of the wine taster. Siobhan was engaging, informative, and went beyond to make our experience a good one. This winery will be on my "must go back to" when I return to the area. read more

3.5 Beautiful vineyard, Nice ambiance, wine and chocolate pairing was an added bonus.

This winery doesn't mess around. This place is huge - and yet, the atmosphere is very laid back, the people are friendly, the wines are great, and the view is spectacular. It isn't exactly close to us yet it's completely worth the 75 min drive. read more

Great wines, great views, great live music, whats not to love!

Great atmosphere, this is what you'd expect. The wine was yummy too! The only down side was that the musician was TOO LOUD! This made it difficult for conversation. For this I took away a star read more

This place is excellent and highly recommended. The wines are very nice, and you will enjoy the tasting. The food is great - basically heavy tapas. The local sausage dip was fantastic as were the specials do crab cakes and brisket on a biscuit. There was live music and a great, casual atmosphere. read more

I met my mom and dad here last weekend and we had a great time! Their wines were okay, none really jumped out at us, but our server was kind and answered all our questions. I think I liked the chardonnay the most, and I don't normally like chardonnay, so there's that. Our server said it was only her second day and I think she did awesome, I forgot her name though.... Sorry! You even get a little glass at the end of your tasting, that's nice too. EMV gets 5 stars from me for their food though. After our tasting at the bar we sat down at a table to have lunch. The patio is lovely, but it was full so we sat inside. You can order from a menu with salads, sandwiches, and cheese plates. Also dessert which is great. While you're seated you can order a bottle, a glass, or a flight of wines. They serve a ton of other wineries wine, and we ordered a flight of some other wines called the "Off the Beaten Path" flight. It was cool, some cool blends I had never had before. Our server, Maggie, I think, was pleasant and helpful and funny and she even tolerated my dad's jokes with a smile. She was awesome! Like I said, the wines were okay. But the food was excellent. The venue is beautiful. All in all, EMV is worth your time. Even if you're just stopping in for lunch on the patio. read more

I love this winery. Now, I judge winery's different from many. I look for the quality of the wine, the environment and food. This is a 5 star on all areas. I just love sitting by the outdoor firepit, sipping on wine and snacking on a cheese board. They also offer sandwiches which makes my husband happy. read more

The wine was delicious (we only liked the reds), employees were very kind and knowledgable, but the facility was freezing and the food was disappointing. We ordered a meat and cheese plate and it was far below our expectations. read more

i have so many positive things to say about this vineyard: beautiful atmosphere and grounds, friendly service, food was above par in the area for a winery, and an overall great wine tasting. my one con why it's 4/5 is that an employee who was giving a wine tasting to a larger party next to me was so unprofessional and bad mouthing quite a few other vineyards in the area, very loudly! it was really distracting. just a note to the staff, you have no idea who is in your tasting room or where they work so i'd keep your opinions to the wine at hand and act a bit more professional. other than that it was a very fun experience and i'll be back! read more

Place to be seen. Beautiful setting. Unfortunately, appetizers overpriced, so one tends to spend less on wine. Shame really.

PERFECT 10. My husband and I were highly impressed with Early Mountain. Fun staff, AMAZING patio and very relaxing atmosphere. I could go on for a long time about how awesome our experience was... But to keep it short and sweet, it was WOW WOW WOW. Highly recommend anyone to try out this place. read more

Highly enjoyable. We came to hangout and listen to a friend's band play. It was gray and cloudy when we arrived, but as the weather cleared we enjoyed really lovely views (and a rainbow) through all the huge windows in this huge and stylish facility. There was a nice menu of casually tasty food, and we could also purchase ciders and wines by the bottle, glass or in flights of 2 ounces each. Virginia wines were showcased but weirdly there weren't too many from the property. The one that I tried was okay but bland compared to others, and that's my only criticism. read more

Beautiful HUGE facility. Stunning views surrounding the tasting room. This is not a Mom & Pop shop. This is a high end, high dollar destination for weddings and corporate events. Stephanie served us explaining they offered a choice of four different "flights" tasting 4 wines each at a rather expensive $12 per. Fortunately, the pours were nice 2 oz pours. Each flight choice included 1or2 wines by Early Mountain as well as wines from nearby wineries I did not care for the fact that none of the flights were only for Early Mountain wines. If I want to taste Barboursville wines, I'll travel a few miles down the road. However the beautiful setting made up for any negatives. A must do destination to sample VA wines. read more

The building is the most impressive in a vineyard we visited. Our experience, though, was a bit of a let-down. If we are in the area again, we'll know to time our visit for a meal and to sample flights of wine. On our visit, we tasted the wines at the tasting bar. The server was friendly and knowledgeable. Most of the wines were not exceptional. We did enjoy the dessert wine at the end and purchased a bottle. Unlike the other wineries we visit, Early Mountain does not give you the glass with the purchase of a tasting. The server let us know they were available for purchase in the store at the end of the tasting. I found out later by reading comments here that the glasses are Riedel. While I liked the look of the glasses and the neat etched logo, paying another $24 for two glasses we don't really need seemed excessive. So for $8 each we got to taste half-ounce portions of seven OK wines and one good one--something that we could get for free at our local wine shops on most Saturdays. read more

A classy, sophisticated, cosmopolitan winery, in some of Virginia's most beautiful wine country. A genuine gem, just minutes off Route 29, and a wait staff any employer would be blessed to find. Don't miss this wonderful place. read more

The dry rose was great, all the other wines were okay. The tastings were very expensive and the staff was NOT friendly!

Terrible service. Two employees waiting on one couple. Totally ignored everyone else. Need to take lessons in hospitality from the Charlottesville wineries. Don't waste your time. read more

Excellent selection of Early Mountain and other wines. Delicious cheese and charcuterie plate with beautiful scenery.