WINERIES, BREWERIES, DISTILLERIES
Chester Gap Cellars
Up in Chester Gap on the northern edge of Rappahannock County, the Jung family owns and operates a farm winery producing handcrafted wines from their mountainside vineyards. Open 11 to 6 Friday, Saturday and Sunday (or by appointment) at 405 Remount Rd. Call 540-636-8086, email bernd@chestergapcellars.com or visit chestergapcellars.com.
Copper Fox Distillery
At the home of Wasmund's Single Malt Whiskey, you can visit the distillery and see where the first Applewood chip-aged whiskey in the world is made. You can also buy bottles on site. The distillery is open 10 to 6 Monday-Saturday, 1 to 6 Sunday, with tours on the half-hour (last tour at 5:30). At 9 River Lane, Sperryville. Call 540-987-8554 or visit copperfox.biz.
Gadino Cellars
Following their Italian heritage, the Gadinos offer quality varietals, Pinot Grigio, Cab Franc, Chardonnay, Cab Sauvignon and Noir from their estate vineyards. Visit their Tuscan-inspired tasting room and sit on the shaded deck overlooking the Blue Ridge. Centrally located between Little Washington and Sperryville, Gadino is committed to producing tantalizing wines and shares them in a fun-loving way with two regulation bocce ball courts outside, and grapes, artisan cheese and Italian sausage inside to go with your wine. Open 11:30 to 5 Friday-Sunday (until 6 Saturday) year-round at 92 Schoolhouse Road, Washington. Call 540-987-9292 or visit gadinocellars.com.
Gray Ghost Vineyards
Gray Ghost is Rappahannock's oldest winery, producing internationally acclaimed wine from 100 percent estate-grown fruit. Gray Ghost is family owned and operated, and a visit to the winery offers a knowledgeable staff, southern hospitality, beautiful picnic grounds and spacious indoor facilities. Ask about Gray Ghost's famous winery events, entertaining tours and the most popular volunteer harvest program in the state! Open 11 to 5 Friday-Sunday March-December, 11 to 5 Saturday-Sunday January-February (call for additional summer hours) at 14706 Lee Hwy., Amissville. Call 540-937-4869 or visit grayghostvineyards.com.
Hopkins Ordinary Ale Works
This craft brewery is in the cellar of Hopkins Ordinary B&B (see listing under Places to Stay), and specializes in traditional beers that are true to style, with a little bit of whimsy. They use local barley and hops when possible and change their selections with the seasons. Come enjoy their beer garden. At 47 Main St., Sperryville. Contact hosts Sherri Fickel and Kevin Kraditor at 540-987-3383 or visit hopkinsordinary.com.
Little Washington Winery
Tucked into the foothills of Skyline Drive between Washington and Sperryville, Little Washington Winery offers eight of their own wines plus a daily Dirt Road Wine Tour featuring incredible other small-batch wines. This spot was named best picnic spot in Virginia for its panoramic Blue Ridge views. Frequent
events and classes are updated at littlewashingtonwinery.com. Open 11 to 5 Friday-Sunday at 72 Christmas Tree Lane, Washington. Call 540-987-8330.
Magnolia Vineyards
Magnolia Vineyards’ farmhouse tasting room and surrounding grounds are the perfect place to relax and "Escape the Madness!" The family-run vineyard and boutique winery makes small lots of mostly Bordeaux varietals. Enjoy them paired with cheese and chocolate. Plenty of interior and outdoor seating plus lots of open ground for picnicking or enjoying the fire pits in cooler weather. Located at 200 Viewtown Rd., Amissville. The tasting room is open on weekends and select holiday Mondays. Call 703-785-8190 or visit magnoliavineyards.com.
Narmada Winery
Narmada Winery offers excellence in wines and ambience. Our small boutique winery offers grand views, a pavilion on the lake and picnic areas. The Tasting Room offers Indian small plates, frequent live music and a gift shop. Open 12 to 5 Thursday, Friday and Monday, 11 to 7 Saturday and 11 to 6 Sunday (hours are seasonal) at 43 Narmada Lane (off U.S. 211), Amissville. Call 540-937-8215 or visit narmadawinery.com.
Pen Druid Brewing
Psych-rock stars (and brothers) Van, Jennings and Lain Carney, who grew up on a farm just down the Thornton River in Woodville, opened their microbrewery — which is named for that farm — in the summer of 2015 in the Copper Fox complex in Sperryville’s River District, and immediately found themselves selling at least as many seasonal, farmhouse, mixed fermentation and barrel-aged beers as they’ve sold albums. Their band, Pontiak, has been touring North America and Europe for a decade, allowing them to sample and appreciate the beers of the world, which led first to a healthy home-brewing hobby and then to their small but popular addition to the River District. Open 3 to 7 Thursday, 12 to 8 Friday-Saturday and noon to 7 Sunday. Call 540987-5064 or visit pendruid.com.
Quiévremont Winery
Quiévremont’s vineyard was established in 2008, the winery in 2012, both located at the center of Reality Farm (see listing under Farms, Orchards, Nurseries). Wine-tasting visitors are welcome to tour the farm or enjoy a stay in its vacation rental apartment on the bank of the Covington River. Tasting Room hours of operation are 12 to 6 p.m. Thursday and Sunday; 12 to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Closed Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays; however, arrangements for private parties can be made for these days by appointment. Call 540-9873192, email info@quievremont.com or visit quievremont.com.
Rappahannock Cellars
At historic Glenway Farm, this state-of-the-art winery is open for tours, tastings and strolls through the vineyard. Enjoy the new tasting room or simply sit on the deck and take in the surroundings. Nine varieties of wine grapes are grown, including traditional European French varieties, French-American hybrids and native Virginian grapes. Open 11:30 to 5 daily year-round (Saturdays till 6) at 14437 Hume Road (corner of U.S. 522 and Route 635) in Huntly. Call 540-635-9398 or visit rappahannockcellars.com.
Sharp Rock Vineyards
At Sharp Rock Vineyards, the owners take great pride in being a small, artisan winery that crafts 12 award-winning wines each year from fruit hand-selected and picked from their own vineyards. They use old-world winemaking techniques, stressing balance and a minimalist style, to create wine reflecting the vineyard’s unique mountainside location. Accommodations in cabins are also available (see under Places to Stay). Open 11 to 5 Friday-Sunday or by appointment at 5 Sharp Rock Road, Sperryville. Call 540-987-8020 or visit sharprockvineyards.com.
Toll Gate Farm & Vineyard
This historic 18th-century farm along the old Richmond Road (nowadays Ben Venue Road) has been Bill Freitag’s and Patty Hardee’s vineyard since 2000, supplying Viognier, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Pinot Grigio grapes for many Northern Virginia wineries. Visits by appointment only at 423 Ben Venue Rd., Flint Hill. Call 540675-2506.