What a welcoming experience I enjoyed last week when I met up with my Cornell nursing school mate…read moreand her husband after 58 years. Carson was our phenomenal waiter whose smile and skill we all enjoyed. Mount Ida has been my go to venue for special family and friend events and will continue to be.

Beautiful setting, ornate yet somewhat rustic indoors with multiple sipping & eating spaces plus…read morethe brewing room & bar area where to-go beer cans were prepped. Flowers in vases, fanciful chairs & tables, a circular staircase going to an upstairs tasting room, chandeliers, mirrors & paintings abound and a very curious video of home interiors & exteriors (homes for sale?) is seen on large screen monitors. Outdoors (this is a 5,000 acre property!), there are also many areas to sit including where heat lamps warm you in the colder months, a fire pit with rocking chairs around it, a space for pizza making classes, a large fireplace & bubbling fountains. All overlooking expansive views of the surrounding mountains & meadows. We came on a day when flights of beer (all were so good!) were half priced. The snack foods we ordered were very large (pretzels, cinnamon bites with caramel & softened goat cheese dip with raisins, honey, olive oil & flatbread for dipping. All were filling & flavorful. Staff is super friendly & welcoming. There is ample parking.

We really enjoyed our wine, blueberry cider, and food at Eastwood! Plus, the staff are friendly…read moreand want to ensure you have a great experience. We enjoyed the Gold Medal Tasting. This assortment had two whites and two reds--all of which earned gold medals at competitions. For lunch, we shared the grilled cheese with apple slices and the Eastwood salad, which included apples, blue cheese, nuts, and mixed greens. All were delightful. The tasting room has a warm vibe of a country gathering place with tables, a bar, and a stage. They also have outside seating. Their fermentation room has a glass wall that looks into the tasting room so you can see the tanks. Eastwood is located not far from Monticello and other wineries in the area. I recommend it as a definite stop on any wine outing.

A friend and I stopped here on a recent trip to Charlottesville. I was surprised by the number of…read morefamilies with children, as this is not something I'm accustomed to from living in Washington state for many years. We walked inside and found a great space that included a bar, ample seating, and a stage, where a singer was getting ready to perform. I decided on the White Reserve Tasting, and was able to swap out the oaky chardonnay for the Woodland White blend. My friend and I got a table outside as the weather was nice. We enjoyed our wine and people (and dog) watching. My favorites were the 2024 Viognier and the Woodland White. The 2024 Petit Manseng was good, but a bit tart, and the Artist White blend was too dry for my liking. This is a great winery that you should visit when in the area, that's both kid and dog friendly.

Just opened chambourcin from years ago when they first opened. The best dessert type wine I've…read moretasted. Just the right balance of sweet. So happy to see still doing well. delicious! Kudos

It was a sultry, humid, rainy Saturday and the natives were getting restless. Suffering from cabin…read morefever, my hubby and a couple of friends and I decided to find an outdoor activity to remedy our listlessness. Being pluviophiles, we didn't mind the light, summer rain. But what to do? Enter wineries!! We headed west toward Charlottesville, and first stopped in Palmyra where the winery there was only open for curbside pick up. My friends loaded the pickup with cases of wine but we were still in search of a charcuterie board and an open vineyard! Yelp to the rescue! We called the winery Yelp advised us was only about 10 miles away in Scottsville. It was open! Yes, they had charcuterie!! What a stupendous find! We approached the thistle blue painted sign and charming gate welcoming us to Thistle Gate Vineyard! Through the misty rain, the white barn-like cottage with the serene blue roof looked something from a Nicholas Sparks movie. Utterly quaint and beautiful! The wide porch was open for outdoor seating, wrought iron tables and chairs sprawled along the long planked flooring. Restrooms were located around the side so one didn't have to enter the winery. We were greeted by the owner who handed us a wine menu and their "flight sheet". The four of us chose our wine flights and each got a charcuterie box! Ahhh, this is the life! While we awaited our libations and sustenance, we spied an inviting gazebo near the vineyards. Our host said we were welcome to it! The grounds were lovely, albeit a bit soggy, a barrel fountain babbled along with the now drizzling rain, a bottle tree rooster glistened in the garden, cute slate signs were placed hither and thither around the shrubbery, it was all so idyllic. Our flights were served in pieces of wood made from wine barrels. Plastic cups were used due to Covid, but that didn't diminish the flavors of the fruit of the vine. I chose three reds and a blush. The Cabernet France was full-bodied with a dry finish. The Meritage (a portmanteau of Merit & Heritage) was delicate blend of varietals with fruity notes, the Thistle Red was a well-balanced blend of Merlot & Petit Verdot with a mild berry flavor and a rich burgundy color, and my favorite was the Thistle Blush, a crisp rosé made with Chambourcin grapes, easily my top rated grape! The blush was perfect for this overcast summer day, sipping the day way! I also tasted the St. George's Red Reserve which was also made with Chambourcin grapes and whispered cherry notes. Also my friend shared with me her Chardonnay which was a tad dry to my taste, but if you like white wine, I'm sure you'll like this one! What we took home??? The Thistle Red, couple bottles of Meritage, St. George and of course, several bottles of Thistle Blush! We enjoyed all these fine wines while in the gazebo surrounded by rows and rows of vineyards. What made the afternoon even better was the gorgeously presented charcuterie box! Two types of crackers served with salami, Brie, Swiss, and Gouda along with huge green grapes, dried apricots and salted almond Ghirardelli dark chocolates. I'm not exaggerating when I say this was the perfect complement to our wine tasting! A heavenly day spent in this dreamy winery, the only one in Fluvanna county, certainly cured our doldrums!! We are certainly returning to this hidden gem!! One sign posted says "We're so glad you're here", so are we Thistle Gate Vineyard, so are we!

Pleasant place to sip some wine. We visited Hardware Hills Vineyard on a Friday night and it was…read morepacked. A local band played covers of classic rock songs. The patio is expansive and mostly covered with a view of the vineyard and surrounding trees. I tried a flight of their Cabernet franc, petit Verdot, river bend red, and masquerade red. I liked the Cabernet franc and masquerade red and didn't care for the petit Verdot and the river bend red. Overall, I had a good experience at Hardware Hills Vineyard and would recommend them for a winery experience in the area.

Went to the vineyard on the Friday before Easter and it was a surprise to find a nice crowd and…read morelive music! We met the owners, Rob and Andrea, really friendly couple and the servers, Lisa and ?, were very attentive and knowledgeable about the wines. We did not have any food, we brought snacks.

Found this brewery/winery today and decided to stop in. You have to drive down an unpaved road to…read moreget to the building, which looks like an old farm with outdoor and indoor seating. As I wasn't familiar with this place, I asked if their beers or wines were more popular and was told that most people drink the beer. I was able to try a couple of samples before deciding on a 4-5oz beer sampler. The beers were all very different and tasty. My favorite was What the Fox. There was ample seating both inside and outside. Overall, it's a nice place to enjoy some beverages with friendly people.

I had my 40th wedding anniversary there and it was amazing! The people are so friendly and easy to…read morework with. They serve both beer and wine. They also had a playground for my grandchildren to play on. Everyone had a great time!! I would highly recommend this place to everyone!!

Had a delicious birthday lunch with friends. The views are amazing. Our server Abby was the best…read more So friendly, helpful and attentive. Excellent service

I've been to many wineries in the area and this one is definitely one of the best I've been to…read more The location is great. There's plenty of seating inside with different location options. The outdoor area is perfect for large groups, families, and pet friendly. The two wines I had were very good. The cab sav was good but a bit bitter. The petit Verdot was very good and full bodied. This was a perfect spot with beautiful weather to catch up with lots of old friends for a reunion.

We had a fun evening enjoying the view after a hard rain with mist over the mountains and a view…read morethat kills. Felt like we were looking at hills in Italy. Started with a frose, a sparkling Costo vino and the red and reserve flights. We enjoyed them all and they paired very well with the crispy shrimp wonton and the truffle fries. The basil pesto and burrata was just ok compared to the heirloom tomato BLT and grass fed sliders which were both delicious. BLT needed a little more bacon but we were trying to share between 3 people so maybe that was the problem lol. Service was friendly and prompt. Bit of a walk from parking lot which can be a challenge since spaces are close together. We were just grateful the rain stopped before our walk over to the restaurant which is all gravel so not great for heels. Frose is a bit over priced compared to everything else but we really enjoyed our visit to this peaceful and culinary oasis.

I decided to turn my Sunday into a mid-day siesta escape, heading to the mountains with my aunt and…read moregodmother to finally experience Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards and let me tell you, it did not disappoint! Snow may have covered the ground, but between the stunning aesthetic, incredible wine, and delicious food, I am officially SOLD. This spot has earned a place in my top 5 wineries! From the moment we arrived, the hostess and waitstaff were attentive, welcoming, and full of recommendations. I went with a wine flight (because variety is a must!), and every pour was a hit. As for the food? We indulged in pasta, sliders, short-rib grilled cheese, truffle fries, and a charcuterie board everything was absolutely mouthwatering. We ate, we sipped, and we were very merry! I'm already counting down to a summer return so I can soak in those breathtaking mountain views from the patio.

Jorge is fantastic! His is so passionate about his wine that it is delightful hearing him explain…read morethe wines, especially the port. His enthusiasm is contagious. I loved that he knew who all the customers are and is so happy to see everyone.

Quaint little winery that is Portuguese family owned. The owner/winemaker was there serving us our…read moretasting and was extremely friendly and welcoming. You could tell he loves what he does and tries to make everyone feel welcome. And he makes great wine too. Some of the choices are very unique and unlike anything I've tasted before. They also specialize in port style wines that are awesome. Will definitely be returning here and look forward to seeing how this winery grows over the years.

This place is a hidden gem in the woods. Among winos, it has a cult following, but those who…read moreappreciate a relaxed and unpretentious wine tasting experience will love it here, too. The setting is very rustic, with the glass enclosed tasting room tucked into the trees and outdoor seating scattered throughout the property. Because the tasting room space is small, this location is best enjoyed on a day where the weather is nice enough to sit outside. The staff will bring you a menu and serve you table side. There are plenty of wine options from familiar (like Riesling) to unusual (like Gruner Veltliner). They offer light bites from their kitchen, including a bread service (the baguette is made fresh and served with in-house produced olive oil). On any given day you'll run into the winemaker, Gabriele, here and will most definitely get a visit from Trady, the unofficial host and friendly golden retriever. The whole scene feels like an outdoor living room. We loved the wine and appreciated the friendly service so much that we walked away with a mix of bottles and olive oil to share with family and friends.

The wines are very good and reasonably priced. They also bring bread with oil once you're seated…read moreand the oil is so good that you'll have to buy a bottle to take home!

Not a great sandwich lover. I tend to buy their local eggs…read moreand bread. But: Had their brisket tips with sides - on special. Wow. Unexpected yum. They just might do it again. Please put your specials on your web page. Enquiring hearts want to know. Thanks

When they first opened I ordered (take-out) a burger cooked rare. When wife brought it home I…read morefound that they had burnt it to a cinder. It was so inedible that I threw it in the trash and ate just the bread. I later complained but they ignored my complaint. I live a mile away but why would I ever go back there again?