Virginia Wine Country has a way of making you slow down, look around, and wonder why you ever bother drinking wine anywhere else. Over one long weekend, Nicole, Ziggy, and I set out to taste, toast, and tease our way through three stops that are now burned into my happy memory bank.
Afton Mountain Vineyards – A View That Could Outshine the Wine (Almost)
Rolling into Afton feels like stepping into a painting. The Blue Ridge Mountains loom like benevolent giants, and the rows of vines stretch out as if they’ve been practicing their poses for Instagram. We sipped flights that ranged from crisp whites to bold reds, letting the mountain air do half the work of making them taste incredible. Ziggy took in the views. Nicole took in the wine. I took in both.
Eastwood Farm and Winery – Where the Lobster Rolls Meet the Chardonnay
Eastwood Farm is the kind of place that doesn’t make you choose between elegance and comfort. Nicole opted for steamed oysters and I enjoyed a lobster roll that made me briefly question my loyalty to barbecue. There’s a laid-back energy here that lets you linger over your glass (or three) without guilt.
King Family Vineyards – Polo and Pinot, Darling
Some people go to King Family Vineyards for the wine. Others go for the polo. We went for both. On Sundays, the Roseland Polo Grounds come alive with galloping hooves, clinking glasses, and that faint air of I might own a horse someday optimism. It’s hard not to feel a little fancy while sipping rosé on the sidelines, even if your actual polo experience is limited to Ralph Lauren T-shirts.
By the end of the trip, my camera roll was full, my palate was happy, and my sense of time was pleasantly blurry. Virginia Wine Country isn’t just about wine – it’s about the way the mountains wrap you up, the food slows you down, and the moments etch themselves into your personal highlight reel.
