A Day in Virginia Wine Country

A few weeks back, my girlfriend, Morgan invited a few of us on a girl's day full of wine tasting around Charlottesville. If you've never been to the area, you're missing out. There are dozens of wineries, cideries and breweries in and around the city - all within a few minutes drive of one another. The area is beautiful and the proximity makes it the perfect place to enjoy a wine tour.It was a beautiful Sunday in mid-August. The sun was shining, but the humidity was no where to be found. The four of us packed our snacks and hit the road for four wineries in the area. I'm no wine expert, but when Dad is on Finn duty and I have the afternoon free of responsibilities, it's rare to find me turn down any type of wine!

Pollak Vineyard

We started in Crozet, Virginia at Pollak Vineyard. The 360 degree mountain views make it a winner in any category, and any bride-to-be would be lucky to celebrate their big day there. However, the Pollak family makes wine as a passion, and because they are so focused on the wine-making, they do not throw events. It's an admirable move, in my opinion.The Vineyard boasts 31-acres complete with a tasting room, patio, pond and endless rows of grapes. On the day of our tasting, we arrived well before noon, did a tasting inside and pulled up a chair on the patio to enjoy a bottle. It was a great first stop on our tour!

Veritas Vineyard & Winery

It's hard to determine which winery has the best views, but Veritas is certainly up there. I had been to the winery many times before, but had never actually had a tasting. Veritas throws great events throughout the summer and has the perfect space to do so - over 50 acres of land and nestled right into the Blue Ridge Mountains.When we arrived, we opted for a tasting first. We met the sweetest lady, LB, who told us all about her grandson - who just happens to be the same age as Finn. She even talked Hannah and I into becoming Wine Club members! I think I've already got my monies worth out of that decision :)After our tasting, we sat on the deck and enjoyed the views. The best part of the day was the conversation, which ranged from work, to celebrity crushes, to who knows what else!

Afton Mountain Winery

After Veritas, we went up the mountain a few miles to Afton Mountain Vineyards. It was a quick stop, with just enough time for a tasting, but we did manage to get a group shot in front of the views! It was certainly the most casual of all the vineyards we visited that day and I'm looking forward to going back and spending a little more time.

Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyard

We ended our day a Pippin Hill, one of the more desirable wineries in the area. The views are breathtaking, the tasting room is gorgeous, and the wine is delicious. They serve great food as well!When we arrived we decided we needed to take all the pictures. We skipped the tasting and decided to just order a glass of wine and eat as much food as possible. After four wineries, we were all having wayyyy too much fun :)We really didn't need the beautiful scenery and great wine to have a good day. These girls are so much fun, and afterwards I realized I had finally formed a group of people that make me feel like I belong in Charlottesville. It's a reminder that it doesn't really matter where you are, but who you are with that matters in life!