Discovering What’s New at Prince Michel Vineyard & Winery
It has been many years since my initial visit to Prince Michel Vineyard and Winery in Leon, Virginia and so much has changed since then. The iconic wine glasses twirling in the breeze on the front lawn were still there, but once I entered I immediately noticed the difference. Wine tastings are no longer conducted at the counter in what now strictly their gift shop, but they are done in a much larger space (immediately to the left upon entering) which is home to their new Tap 29 Brewery & Brew Pub. Yes, not only do they produce premium wines, but you can also taste the craft brews they now make along with homemade pub grub 7 days a week.
My friend decided to skip the whole tasting process and immediately ordered a glass of his usual style beer – an IPA. I went for a mixed flight with a red and two whites. The wine flights offer a very nice-size pour of each variety, so we there for awhile. My friend even ended up ordering one more beer while I was finishing up my tasting experience. Visitors around us were ordering food from the pub menu, which all looked really good, but we had plans on eating at a nearby German restaurant on our way back to our cabin in Stanardsville and wanted to save our appetite.
Prince Michel has a long history of quality winemaking, and according to my friend their brewing is top-notch too. The property offers plenty of seating (both indoor and outdoor), wine, beer, food and luxury suites for those that want to make their visit a “total experience” and spend a night or two.
You can visit Prince Michel Vineyard & Winery in person at 154 Winery Lane in Leon, Virginia or online at https://www.princemichel.com/