An Unanticipated Visit to Virginia’s Valley Road Vineyards

This was not a planned stop on this particular Winery Adventure in the Charlottesville, Virgina region. But when we were driving down the road and saw a big “OPEN” flag flying outside of a winery, we couldn’t help but stop. I hadn’t actually heard of Valley Road Vineyards before, so we pulled into see what they had to offer.

After parking we approached the winery and found a station where we could pick up a brochure containing their COVID-19 policies, as well as the various tasting flights they were offering. At this time Valley Road Vineyards was only offering outdoor tasting flights and no one was allowed in the winery for tasting or sales. Everything was being conducted outdoors. There was a large tent set up with tables and chairs for guests to sit outside with their wine.

There was also a table outside for customers to order and pay for their tasting flights. They were offering three flights: Classic Flight (a mixture of reds and whites), Summer Flight (light warm weather wines) and a Red Wine Flight. Since it was a 95 degree day, I opted for the Summer Flight consisting of their Rosé, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Viognier, Destana and Mountain Glen. Once seated I have to admit that I drank through these very quickly. Because we had to stay outdoors on such a hot and humid day – not only was I already sweating but the wines were not going to stay cool long enough for my usual leisurely tasting. Here’s an overview of the varieties I sampled:

Rosé 2019: A dry rosé with a bit of acidity and a pleasing finish.

Sauvignon Blanc 2019: A bright and lively estate-grown wine. I detected hints of green apple and honeysuckle. Nice crisp finish.

Chardonnay 2018: Also 100% estate-grown, this medium-bodied wine is aged in French Oak and finished crisp and clean.

Viognier 2018: A full-flavored white with with fruity aromas of peach, lime and pear. Finishes with a slight hint of vanilla.

Destana 2017: A refreshing blend of Viognier, Petit Manseng and Chardonnay. This is a great summertime porch wine. Dry, yet flavorful with a nice crisp finish.

Mountain Glen 2019: A blend of Petit Manseng and Vidal Blanc. This wine has a just bit of sweetness with some hints of peach. A lovely warm weather white.

As I mentioned before, it was so hot outside that I breezed through these fairly quickly. According to their website they are now open daily, but reservations are required. The winery is now offering indoor seating during inclimate weather and for private parties.

You can visit Valley Road Vineyards at 9264 Critzers Shop Road in Afton, Virginia. Visit their website for more information at https://www.valleyroadwines.com/