Unfriendly and inflexible Felt unwelcome as soon as we walked in with the older woman who held her hands up like she was stopping traffic to let us know, there was no possible way she could let us come in to taste the wine. And from looking at other reviews, she seems to be the problem. Chasing a vibe that is unnecessary and if you're looking for hospitality you'll have better luck at a fast food restaurant. read more

I'm not sure how this winery has anything less than 5 stars, we would give it a perfect 10 if we could! Our visit was absolutely amazing from start to finish. * We enjoyed a wine tasting where they surprised us with a bonus pour of an award-winning wine. It was delicious, and such a thoughtful touch. * Our birthday girl was treated like royalty, which made the day feel extra special. * We purchased a bottle along with cheese and a warm baguette to savor with our wine--simple, perfect, and so enjoyable with the pretty view. * We even got to meet the winemaker and take a tour downstairs, which made the experience feel personal and unique. * To top it off, we met the owner himself, the "Godfather" of Virginia wine! He was bussing tables, incredibly humble, and such a genuine presence. Another winery had told us we had to try this one, and they were absolutely right. We had a wonderful experience and will be telling everyone to put this winery at the top of their list! read more

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Excellent experience. We had reserved spot online. The staff greeted us warmly as we walked through the door and provided an informative and fun discussion during our tasting. Beautiful tasting room, easy to get lost in the great views, and light food options were delicious. Of course we loved the wine and bought four bottles from their cellar. read more

Exceptional Chardonnay and very good Sauvignon Blanc. The reds were good but young. The person pouring was very knowledgeable and provided great information on the different growing seasons and terrior of each wine. The setting was gorgeous, great views. The owners daughter even gave us a tour of their cellar. A great experience. read more

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We stopped into Linden after a seven-mile hike on a snowy day. So glad we did. It's a beautiful ride up the driveway past rows of vines. Inside, it's bright and sunny with pretty views. In the summer you can sit outside on the deck; in the winter they have a great side room with a wood-burning stove oven and the same views. We did the wine tasting for $20 a person. I wish I asked the name of the guy who poured for us. He was great, knowledgeable, and gave us enough information to understand each wine without hovering over us too much. Then we each had a glass of the "17 Chardonnay, warm baguette, olive oil and manchego cheese. Perfect post/hike afternoon. I'm guessing that Linden can get crowded in the spring and fall. But Winter was awesome. read more

The best wine tasting we've done - We all enjoyed the comparisons between vintage years, soil/elevation and processing. And the wine was great. Plus our "wine guide" was friendly, knowledgeable and fun to hang out with. Plus it a beautiful drive from the main road. The tasting room is charming and porch seating is relaxing. We didn't order any of the food offerings so we can't offer an opinion. Linden winery will always be on our list of vineyards to stop by! read more

Unfortunately, I have to echo the other one star reviews here: linden is very un-accommodating. It has been our favorite vineyard, we have been members multiple times, but after our visit there this weekend, we won't be returning or recommending it to others. I have lived in this area my entire life. There are only three businesses I will not revisit due to service issues. Linden is one of them. Recommend trying Crimson Lane instead. read more

Staff were all super friendly and welcoming. They worked as a team and always made sure we were taken care of during the tasting. We really enjoyed the side by side comparison for each wine, as well as the depth of knowledge they had about the wines, vineyards, winemaking process, and farming. The views and property were stunning and the tasting room was clean and relaxing. We stayed and had a bottle after our tasting - they do serve food (very simple: bread, olive oil, maybe a local cheese). A very chill vibe for a Friday afternoon at the vineyard! read more

Was very disappointed with our whole experience yesterday at your location. It was recommended that we stop here after a visit to Crimson Lane. Upon walking in a dark haired older woman (black striped shirt/ black pants) was at the tasting counter when we asked about purchasing a few bottles of wine to enjoy. She informed us that they were not allowed to sell us bottles or glasses of wine unless we did a tasting first. We were a party of six. We agreed to do the tasting and then she said only four of us could do the tasting. Four. So two of us decided to walk the small grounds while the other 4 did the tasting. The two of us who were denied a tasting stood around and watched the other four. Upon observation of other groups just walking in they were offered to purchase a glass of wine without a tasting requirement. The 4 in our party that did the tasting said that the wine they were offered were not good at all. In fact they only semi liked the Riesling. When the tasting finished the group decided it wasn't worth purchasing any additional wine and we left for another location. It's a shame that this was the level of customer service we received and the potential to sell bottles of wine to us from the onset was denied. The grounds are pretty so therefore you get 2 stars Instead of 1. read more

If I could give 6 stars, I WOULD! We always enjoy coming here and enjoying the beautiful setting of Jim Law's rustic tasting room while overlooking his perfectly-pruned vineyard. Jim has been VERY instrumental in the VA wine industry and has been a huge part of the fact that some VA wineries have national as well as international acclaim! Here's a good article on Jim: https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/jim-law-of-linden-vineyards-the-virginia-wine-industrys-oracle-marks-30-years/2014/06/05/b1aac8e2-ea82-11e3-b98c-72cef4a00499_story.html If you aren't seriously into wine or enjoying the library-esque setting that is Linden, you might not understand why so many truly appreciate visiting as well as enjoying Linden wines. This is definitely NOT A PARTY PLACE! Please don't bring a party or large groups, you won't be welcome. There are plenty of bar-style wineries in VA that are suited for large crowds where you can enjoy mediocre wines... this isn't one of them. Jim's staff is incredible as well! We love that we see familiar faces each time we go and appreciate the welcoming atmosphere and great service they provide. If you are learning wine, this is a great place to learn! The staff are all quite capable of helping you learn and while enjoying their incredible wines. read more

I can't believe it's been over 4 years since I did my last review of Linden. Well, at the risk of sounding like a broken record, everything I said last time is still true. This is one of the best wineries in the state, period. If you don't believe me, do a poll of local winemakers who they think is the best. They will point to Jim Law, Linden's owner/winemaker. If you STILL don't believe me, ask local somms or wine shops what Virginia wines they carry. If they do, a disproportionate number carry Linden's Chardonnay, perhaps his red blends as well. If you STILL, STILL don't believe me, research fancy wine reviews from folks like James Suckling. When they visit Virginia, they go to Linden, RdV, and maybe Glen Manor (the last two were mentored by Jim Law...see a trend here?). Yes, this place has a 'members only' vibe to it which is off putting to new people who only visit on the weekends. But that doesn't prevent you from doing a wine tasting, a cellar tasting, or sitting on the patio. Of course there's an excellent chance you'll want to buy a case and become a Linden member as well. It's worth the price. To those who complain about the 'no group' rule, I'd be happy to recommend lots of other places to visit. Please respect the peacefulness of Linden. This is a quiet location that doesn't do groups, music, or other events. That may garner a one star review from some, but to me that's worth 5 stars by itself. My favorite wine is their 2015 Hardscrabble Chardonnay. But I've yet to find a wine I didn't like here - even for varietals that I normally don't buy. And despite going to literally hundreds of places in Virginia my favorite wine itinerary includes sitting on Linden's porch, ordering a cheese plate and getting a glass of...well...just about anything. read more

Linden Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Linden, Virginia

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Linden Vineyards is one of the finest vineyards in the country, and also in the world. Cultivating great wine in Virginia is demanding work: the weather is difficult and the humidity requires that constant attention be given to canopy management. Too much heat, or rain at the wrong time, or other unpredictable factors make the vintner's skill paramount in coaxing land and sky and weather out of every bottle. Jim Law, one of the founders of modern Virginia wine, is past master of all of this, and much more. That's why his label is known and admired worldwide. Be warned: this is not a "beginner's vineyard." Linden asks that people come with a degree of seriousness and a desire to learn. A policy of parties no greater than four assures that servers can attend to each person and answer questions in-depth. I'd also add that if you're looking for fruit-forward wines, easily-accessible wines, this is not your place. Linden follows a classical European style, with a certain austerity and careful attention to the terroir. The wines are a statement of what happens when human skill interact with land, weather, and sky to produce beverages that are true to themselves, their vintner, and their place of origin. How good is this? Years ago my wife and I moved out of Virginia, saving Linden's wines for special occasions. I still remember opening that first bottle. It smelled of home and took us back. When we finally moved back home, Linden was one of the first places we visited. Good wine-making cannot be rushed. Neither can good wine-drinking. Come and let the wines open up slowly, telling you their story and inviting you to let them become part of yours. If you want a place that is purposely austere so that the wines can speak without clash, and where you can drink them in a place that pays simple homage to their setting, look no further. read more

Great experience, fantastic wine and excellent service! I highly recommend this to anyone whether you're wine aficionado or just exploring.

Deliciousness - 4/5 Happiness - 4/5 Linden is one of the first and oldest wineries in the area. This was absolutely a cool experience. The winery itself is located on top of a hill giving you a truly breathtaking view of the surrounding area. We sat on a balcony and took in the fresh air while sipping some great wine. I HIGHLY recommend you reserve a tasting in the wine cellar. It is a great tour in that unlike most wineries, you get to go down to the cellars and sip wines amongst the oak barrels and dozens of lit candles. The tasting also has you taste the same wine produced in different years so that you can really appreciate how different environmental conditions can impact the taste. I never had an experience that made me truly understand the difference a year can make like this one. I will echo that the staff at the main bar seemed pretty brusque, but that was a little bit of gloom in an otherwise fantastic experience. read more

Based on our recent visits, Linden has corrected the issues that caused some of the bad reiews of the past. We are not club members and reserved a tasting in September 2023. My wife was not participating. The staff offered her a choice among several rooms in which to sit and asked if she preferred the windows open or closed, and then brought her a blanket and water to drink - they couldn't have been more accommodating. We were welcome to sit anywhere we liked after my tasting on each visit. The tasting staff were amazing, and were able to explain the winemaking process and vineyard management for each wine poured and were happy to answer questions. Owner Jim Law stopped at the bar a few times. And while I was finishing my tasting, two or three small groups appeared without the requisite reservations. Jim greeted them and said he could do a tasting for them at a separate bar. After my tasting, I joined them just to listen to what Jim had to say about his wines. I declined a pour saying "I just finished a tasting at the main bar." His reply was, "yes, but you didn't taste this one!" as he poured it for me. It was a sublime experience. As a result of the great first experience, I signed up for a special tour a couple weeks later on the day they were sorting the Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from the once-in-a-lifetime 2023 vintage. The tour guide was extremely knowledgeable as she guided us through the vineyard and very busy production areas. Jim broke off his hard work a few times to give us samples of different wines in various stages and to add information. Meanwhile, the staff was keeping my wife comfortable in the winery. It is too bad these stars don't go to 11, because that would match our experiences at Linden. read more

Re-visited Linden last Sunday (05/30/2010) with a good friend. We arrived late in the afternoon and there was quite a few folks on hand tasting wine. We were greeted with a friendly smile and tasted wines upstairs - and noticed that Jim Law - the owner and winemaker was lending a hand pouring wine. We signed up for the last Cellar Tasting of the day - as a treat - found that Jim was conducting the Cellar Tasting - double bonus! We got to taste the latest releases upstairs. My favorite was the Seyval, but all were nice wines. In the Cellar Tasting, we experienced three pairings: two Vintages of Avenius Chardonnay; two vintages of Hardscrabble (a blended red) and two dessert wines. Jim's descriptions of the methods and philosophy of wine making was an enjoyable accompaniment to the wine tasting. I liked all six wines we sampled in the Cellar Tasting - although I would not be able to drink a lot of the Dessert wines - very sweet! Afterward, we bought a couple of glasses of wine and sat out on the Deck and enjoyed ourselves. For the folks that have contributed negative reviews to Yelp about Linden - there is nothing I can say that will change your mind. BUT I will say that you were never at Linden years ago and the place was overrun with belligerent drunks who think a winery is a place to get drunk, run amok, and misbehave. I saw it several times - with my own eyes. I have no problems with the restrictions that Jim Law has put into place - and there are NOT "numerous" rules - there are three: (1) No buses (2) No groups larger than six (3) Use of the deck is restricted to Case Club members An important caveat: For those who need to stress their problem with the deck policy - what every single one of them has conveniently omitted is that groups of up to four folks who are not members of the Case Club - can access and use the deck on Wednesdays, Thursdays, or Fridays (April through November). I welcome these policies. It has helped return Linden to a peaceful, serene, winery experience. And I have never experienced or witnessed any of the so-called rude behavior that has been attributed to some of the winery staff. While it's entirely possible, I sure would like to see some video of the interaction. I'm betting some of those encounters included some self-important folks who think the world revolves around them. Linden continues to be my favorite Virginia winery. If you don't like Linden - no worries - most everyone else does. They sell out of their wine EVERY year. read more

My husband and I have been to Linden at least 100 times over the last 18 years, and we have never had a bad visit. It is always a pleasure to be greeted by the tasting room staff. read more

The beauty of the property is 5 stars plus. The wines I would round up to 4. The tasting room experience is suboptimal. Let's talk wine first. This based on the tasting and bottles we purchased. Their 2014 Claret is very good. Toasty somewhat coffee like. The 2011 Petit Verdot was also good. Spicy and just a little too tannic for me without a food pairing. I love their 2014 Chardonnay. It's like a crisp apple with some woody tones, but no over the top stick of butter like flavors you get in some cheap Chards. Parking is limited at Linden. Check out their website. They have lots of restrictions, which many may find annoying. The two major negatives for me were: 1) we were trying to relax and escape from DC politics and yet they had political signs up. I don't care who they support either way. I just don't care what my wine maker thinks about politics; and 2) My wife and I brought a friend and we did three wine tastings and bought several bottles. Yet when we asked to have a full pour glass and sit on the deck we were told that is for members only. That's just absurd. read more

Linden Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Linden, Virginia

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Linden was by far my favorite winery during our recent excursion. The place looks like a giant lodge out in the country - lots of wooden construction, warm lighting, and even an old-fashioned fireplace in their indoor patio (accessible to their "Case Club" members)! We had a lovely tasting of enjoyable wines at the counter of the entry floor. Our pourer (Mary?) was lovely and jovial and shared with us a little bit about the winery. While I liked the half-dozen or so wines that we tasted, they were nothing compared to the treat we were about to experience, because we were pretty easily talked into their cellar tasting ($12)... After about a ten minute wait, we were led downstairs by Shari Avenius (isn't that a way cool name?!) into the darkness of the cellar. It was like a setting right out of a Poe story - cement floors, lots of stacked wooden barrels, a plank of wood on top of two upright barrels to serve as a tasting counter, and lit taper candles here and there, providing a dim glow. Comfortably inviting - moody - mysterious. It turns out that Shari (a regal, handsome lady!) is one of the three growers for Linden, and she knows her wine, along with the grapes that go into it. We had a great time listening to and discussing with her, and were blown away by how beautiful the wines we tasted were. We tried two whites, two reds, and a quasi-dessert wine that was mind-blowingly paired with a rich miniature blue cheese cheesecake. Of the two reds, one was a 1999 library wine and another was a 2005 wine made with very similar grapes (soil, weather, growing time) as the earlier one. I thought it was brilliant to pair up the two to see how a really bright new wine can mellow out into something so much richer and more complex. As a clueless wine taster, this really helped me grasp what the big deal is about aged wine. Although the cellar wines were nominally more expensive than any of the other wines available during our trip, I definitely enjoyed them far more. Linden is certainly on my short list for vineyards to come back to, should the opportunity present itself! read more

The premier wines in Virginia. Come for the quiet atmosphere and let your senses be opened to the wines. This isn't the place for groups, but rather for serious œnophiles who enjoy the slower pace of Fauquier County. A must visit! read more

Linden Vineyards - a barrel of wine on a deck - Wineries Near Me - Linden, Virginia

We came here on a rainy day as nonmembers and were able to have essentially a private tasting. The quality is apparent and care blows away a lot of the other local wineries. This is not a place to come with a big group but if you have a more serious appreciation for wine, it's up there in comparison with places we've visited in Charlottesville, Oregon, and Napa vs. most of the other Virginia wineries closer to NOVA. And it really is a lovely spot. I can imagine it would be frustrating to not be able to linger when busier as a nonmember, but we had a great experience. read more

Linden Vineyards is amazing with incredibly knowledgable and friendly staff, I don't care what anyone else writes on here. Our group (4) did a special cellar tasting with Jim Law (omg!) and it was amazing. Each wine we tasted was just beautiful. This is really a place if you truly want to enjoy wine and sincerely want to learn more. I will say, I was a bit skeptical because some reviews weren't so great but a local Linden resident told us that this place is hands down the best. I am so glad we listed to her. If you want an immersive experience, this is a the place! We also did the regular tasting upstairs and Michelle was really awesome. Definitely recommend! read more

Everyone said this place was great so I drove the hour up to go check it out. They were tasting five wines in the tasting room. The place itself was really nice and had a great view on the deck and stuff. The wine itself was just OK to me. I like California style bold wines, they did not have this here (Yes I know this is Virginia). What I find is sometimes winemakers in VA try so hard to be different that they make something that is very foreign to most wine drinkers. I was hoping to find something I liked here and enjoy a glass and the view, but nothing really stuck out for me here. I would like to go back and try the cellar tasting where you may get some other styles. This place was not bad by any means, the wines they had on the tasting sheet on the day I stopped in were not for me though. I am sure given another chance with some other wines I may change my mind... read more

Great vineyard and very good wine. Despite the other reviews about the other servers, our server Amanda was great! Luckily we didn't get the server that people are complaining about since that would probably change my view. Amanda is great, friendly and knowledgeable and makes linden winery an especially enjoyable place. We consider it a treat to get to linden from the DC area and look forward to going back. The wine is also very good-definitely some of the best in Virginia. Love going back!!! read more

The folks at Linden Vineyards were kind of enough to provide a tasting even though we showed up 4 minutes til closing! We tried five wines (2012 Seyal, 2011 chardonnay, 2011 Red, 2010 Petit Verdot, 2010 Vidal Riesling) at a bargain price. My favorite was the chardonnay as it comprised of orange zest, fresh straw, mineral water, sea salt and vanilla cream. End result was a smooth, yet not too sweet, tasting wine. The grounds at Linden were scenic as it was Winter time with plenty of snow still around. I definitely plan to return during the Spring time with ample time to taste and explore this time around. read more

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For the record, I have passed the IWG first level sommelier exam. Jim Law and Linden Vineyards are both craft and business leaders in the Virginia wine scene. Every couple of years I visit, taste, and buy a case of wine. In a blind tasting my wine friends all called his Hardscrabble Chardonnay a delightful and no doubt expensive French Burgundy. I am tasting his 2016 Hardscrabble Red right now. Lovely hints of forest floor and shaved pencil lead to a polished dark fruit midpalate. It is still ruby at the edge and drinking very well. On many visits and tastings, my experience has always been good. read more

My husband had received a few gift certificates for tastings from work and one quiet Sunday we decided to take a drive with some friends and check it out. This place is located at the top of a hill, with a semi steep drive up- a warning to anyone with a low car or without 4 wheel drive. When we arrived at the top we saw a tiny parking section that thankfully had some spaces open. Walking in it was almost as if we were walking into a ski resort. It had a very log cabin feel. There are 2 tasting areas in the main room and a small room with tables and chairs off to the side where you can order a cheese plate and enjoy the view. The view was not spectacular while we were here, but it absolutely has the potential to be at the right time of year. Stephanie helped us with our tastings. We tried 4 wines 2 white, 2 red. The reds were a bit dry for my palette, but I did very much like their Sauvignon Blanc (not usually my 1st, 2nd or 3rd wine choice). So much so that we purchased a bottle. I look forward to visiting again in the spring or fall to take in the views. read more

Still one of the best wineries in VA if not THE best. Love their 2010 Chardonnay. Didn't care for the Claret as much as we did Nov 2012. Pretty views. read more

Linden Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Linden, Virginia

Not able to speak to the quality of wine because of the rudeness of Kathleen when greeting us. We called ahead of time to make sure we could have 2 groups of 4 people and they said yes, however it seems that information was not relayed to the unkind hostess. We left soon after being put off by her. read more

We had made arrangements to come to the winery for our team holiday day events. We were welcomed by a "lady" called Kathleen with the most toxic, abject, rude attitude. You would think you are stepping into Cheval Blanc or Pétrus but no it is Linden VA. We turned around and went to another winery. I hope the owners realize tuf damage that this could cause their winery. We will make a point to never buy one of their wines and make sure to share our experience with our network. Their wines happens to be as pretentious and mediocre as the attitude displayed on site read more

We were astounded by the most unwelcoming host, Kathleen, that greeted us as our very well-mannered and quiet group of 9 arrived at Linden today. Offensive and rude are not even strong enough terms to describe her behavior before we stepped foot on the property. We will take our business elsewhere for our team holiday gathering. Very sad to see there are still businesses that project their type of customer service in what's soon to be 2020. Not to mention we called the vineyard while planning to ask if we would be welcomed today with a group of our size. read more

The wines here are excellent. Period. Many people complain about the rules of the vineyard, namely that they do not allow large groups and the deck is for members only on the weekends. Clearly many people are turned off by this however anyone serious about wine would have checked their website before driving there and would have seen the rules. The owners prefer a quiet, intimate environment for their guests unlike some other vineyards that offer subpar wine and cater to the basic bitch millennial crowd. Virginia is full of wineries and vineyards to suit every style. If you don't like how this vineyard operates, there are plenty more elsewhere but don't go writing bad reviews about how they operate when a cursory check of their website would have saved you a long drive. read more

Would t have known about this place (it's not on the 2017 wine map), had it not been for my gps. I was looking up places after going to winding road to pick up an Easter wine, and thought I'd give it a shot. I'm amazed I never discovered this place sooner. The wine was wonderful, and my server was very knowledgeable - we got to conversing about how the spring weather was affecting their crop, and about the three vineyards where they get their grapes. Their Rose is a great wine, with a subtle dry touch that'd go great with their ham. I also really enjoyed their Claret, which was made from the same grapes as the Rose. I did ask if I could bring a tasting of their Rose on the deck to enjoy after my tasting. They were fine with it, and I had a lovely time enjoying the views, and talking to some other guests there who had glasses. To those who had bad experiences with not being on the deck, I feel shocked (it was the best part of the experience). However, I think their stringency may depend on the day/time. I went on a Friday shortly after noon. Not a lot of people in the area in general. My guess, if you want to sit on the porch/deck, go during less busy hours. read more

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Why would you patronize a place that doesn't want customers? Bottom line is that unless you are in "the club," you are not welcome. Was in the area picking up my allocation of wine from RdV, a new winery nearby in Delaplane. I had heard positive comments about the wines from Linden and I had long meant to visit, so I thought that we'd drop by for a tasting; I want to support our local wine industry if possible. I checked the website and confirmed that they were open. We arrived to a crowded parking lot. We walked in and a woman greeted us with a smile, which I returned, "Are you here for the barrel tasting?" Obviously we were not, and when she found out that we were not in the wine club, her smile turned into a frown. "You can taste over there," and she pointed to the bar, "it is five dollars a piece." In spite of the warm welcome, we tasted three wines. I've spent a reasonable amount of time wine tasting and I have to say that these were the smallest three pours I have ever seen. I mean, barely a drop of wine was placed into our glasses. Given the stingy pour, the wines were difficult to evaluate. As we were finishing (which took all of 8 minutes) the bartender asked the couple next to us whether they would like to buy some wine and some cheese and baguette. We were hungry from our drive and when he turned back to us, I asked whether we could order the same. "Sorry, I can only sell you food if you order a case of wine." Wow. "We also don't have any of the reserve wines available and we have a shortened list of regular wines to taste. Sorry. We're busy today. That will be $10." We left. Talk about shabby treatment (did you know that they don't let you sit down inside the building unless you are a "member?"). I buy a lot of wine and regularly hold tasting events for friends and colleagues. I will not be buying any Linden wines and will be sure to relate this experience the next time someone asks me for advice (which happens quite often). Wine tasting is suppose to be about the opportunity to taste wines that you haven't otherwise experienced, and to establish a relationship with a winery. I found Linden to be an inhospitable place and I would not visit unless you want to feel marginalized and second-class. Frass Canyon of VA. read more

We had a very bad experience here. We stopped by after a hike in the area. We did not want to do the full tasting at the inside bar but instead wanted to buy a bottle of wine and sit outside. Although there were plenty of empty seats outside, a young woman walked up and said we could not buy a bottle of wine since we aren't "members." She kept insisting that we do the tasting but we didn't want to try all of the wines. Rather, we wanted to buy glasses or a bottle. With very few customers in the place, she essentially refused to let us do so. There were only 3 of us - not a large group- and we would have bought a bottle of wine, plus food. We might have even bought other bottles of wine to bring home with us. We simply wanted to have a relaxing visit. With all of the competition and other great wineries in this area, we wish this place the best of luck. We will certainly never go back. read more

This review is purely regarding my experience today, so this isn't about the wine itself. If you want to read my review, this will give you a sense for the people we interacted with today. 1. My friend called in advance to see if limos were ok, we have 4 people. That's fine. This is our 3rd stop in our wine touring. We called in advance to each venue to ensure we were abiding by each vineyards rules. 2. This vineyard will CRUCIFY you if you have a limo or other form of public transport. Again, we have 4 people. We walked in and within 30 seconds the lady made it known limos weren't acceptable and she wasn't going to worry about it, but someone would immediately go outside and talk to our driver. Get over it guys - you should be upfront with folks that are trying to get ahead of drinking and driving. The wine tasting lady we met, absolutely obnoxious. She couldn't get over the limo. 4 people. Dude. I don't understand. Are you physically capable of focusing on my patronage? No, she's not. It got worse. The limo driver, who is literally following our instruction, comes in asking what she should do because he's upset the owner. He doesn't understand because there is plenty of parking. 3. Come here if your Prius is driving. Bring your 1 friend. Don't bring your other friends. If I hadn't been treated like garbage, I'd tell you about the wine, but you know what, your staff was so rude that someone else in our party asked if we could leave because they were uncomfortable. If you care about staff, these folks could use a lesson in etiquette. read more

First impression: wow, this place is gorgeous! Up on the hill with a beautiful view...surrounded by grape vines...oh and look at this gorgeous tasting room! What a perfect blend of rustic and modern. And look--they have ceiling fans connected by cable wire! The interior design nerd in me just loves that. The dining area looks like the perfect place to have a drink after our tasting. Everyone is having so much fun in there! Tasting impression: this lady giving us our tasting has style. I love her necklace. I'm going to tell her so. Oh good, she was flattered...I couldn't decide if she would be since she comes off a bit snobby. These wines are pretty tasty. I especially like this Chardonnay. It's oakey but not too oakey. Really smooth. This Claret is kind of interesting...but not my favorite. I think I got spoiled by the reds I just had at Glen Manor. I DO like this Petit Verdot, however. Full bodied but really smooth...lovely! Last impression: ok, we bought some of the Chardonnay and we're ready to drink it! We're going to take a seat in that lovely looking dining area. Oh, what's that? We can't sit there? It's only for club members? So where can we sit? NOWHERE? You're telling me we can't sit anywhere in this tasting room to enjoy the setting and lovely views because we didn't buy a whole case?? So what are we supposed to do then, LEAVE?? We ARE?? Jesus you sure are snobby in this place. Thanks for your mediocre wines!! Harumph! read more

Such a shame...I was ready to join a wine club membership on my last trip out to Virginia's vineyards, and I was hoping that place was going to be Linden Vineyards. But unfortunately, my last experience was much more like my second visit (refer to my original review) than the awesome initial trip. In fact, the service just seemed so snooty and stand-offish that I just was so put off that I not only decided that I not to join the membership, but I decided that I just never wanted to go back. This is a shame, because I definitely think that Linden has some if the better wines of the region and one of the most beautiful stretches of land I've seen in the area. But a vineyard trip is not just about the wine, it's about the ambience, the feeling you get when you're sitting under the sun and overlooking rolling green hills and clear blue skies. But, while the sample is small, my experiences at Linden left me with a sour taste that overwhelmed my enjoyment of the wine. Maybe Linden just wants to cultivate this assumed "high-brow", overly pretentious vineyard that caters to the 1% as opposed to the standard weekend visitor/taster. If that's the case, then they're doing it very well. But for folks like me, the casual drinker just trying to enjoy a nice weekend in the Virginia hills, Linden lost a visitor and a possible member with that strategy. read more

Update: I bought a bottle of Linden chardonnay over the weekend at a wine store and it is probably the best chardonnay Virginia offers. This wine store also had a Virginia Wine newsletter (Spring 2011 edition) and I picked up a copy - low and behold, a lengthy interview with Jim Law, the owner/winemaker and someone many wine lovers in the state call the father of Virginia wine. He explained in full detail why Linden has some of the policies it has, and I have more sympathy about these policies now. Chateau O'Brien doesn't allow dogs and kids. Chrysalis will put your kids in a "kiddie corner" if you bring kids. Linden only allows case club members to use their deck. Their winery, their rules. When it's about the wine and creating an intimate experience, I suppose these rules are fine. As many (myself included) have stated, there are plenty of wineries in the state that open their gates up for bachelorette parties, "ladies afternoons," and other rather annoying Virginia winery traditions. Mr. Law was asked if he has any pet peaves, and he went right into a discussion about Blackberries and cell phones, and why people are more obsessed with these little devices than the real world around them. When I'm at a winery, especially a scenic one like Linden, the LAST thing I want to do is dive headfirst into a gadget and enter the Matrix. It's a sad statement on current society when many of us get more pleasure from virtual reality than reality. I still give Linden three stars because some of his staff (one woman in particular) have the emotions and friendliness of a sand flea. But I have more compassion for his policies now and can always find his wine at some area wine stores to savor his craft. read more

I visited to the Linden Vineyard a few weeks ago with a small group of people for a wine tasting. Our group came from different parts of the USA to do the VA winery tour. This was the first winery we visited that day so it is fair to say that we did not show up with a ' wine buzz' from other winery visits. Our experience: An older woman with short-medium length blonde hair spoke to our group in a very crass and abrupt manner that included a mix of continuos passive-agressive comments, and direct rudeness that went on throughout the entire wine tasting experience. The behavior seemed to indicative to an unaddressed mental health issue, not just horrible customer service. I actually enjoyed the wine but taking in to consideration the way we were treated we decided not to purchase anything. We did not address her and decided it was best to leave as soon as the tasting was over. I imagine not all the staff behave this way but this one woman really soured the experience for the group. It seemed that other visitors that day had a similar experience because when we exited the venue we heard a small group of people discussing her attitude as well. We compared notes with them and it was the same theme----- passive aggressive comments and rudeness. We travelled so far to visit the Linden Vineyards and it was so disappointing to encounter such behavior and start our day of visiting wineries this way. I do not plan to return to this winery. read more