5 Area Wineries You Need to Visit

(Photo credit: LeoGrande Vineyard and Winery, via)

Everybody needs to “wine-down” with a nice glass of their favorite wine from time to time. Luckily, there are regional wineries that make some of the finest wines, so that your wine-down becomes even more special. Here are a few to check out. 

Leo Grande Vineyards & Winery 

Located just 12 minutes from Lynchburg, this winery offers a selection of house-made whites and reds like a Chardonnay and Sangiovese. They also offer a tasting room on premise so you can sample some of their select bottles while enjoying views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Make a whole day of it and stop by the Peaks of Otter Lodge or stretch your legs on the Sharp Top Mountain Hike. 

Lazy Days Vineyards

If sampling wine from a family-owned winery while overlooking the Blue Ridge mountains sounds like your definition of a good time, we would be inclined to agree! They originally started in 2007 growing Petit Manseng, Petit Verdot, and Merlot, but now, they have expanded their selection to include favorites like Tannat, Malbec, and strawberry Sangria. They have a tasting room featuring 7 award-winning wines, as well as host events year long, like the Virginia Summer Solstice Wine Festival and Sangria Saturday on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month. And if this winery couldn’t get any better, they are dog friendly! 

Rebec Vineyards

Known for their crowd-pleasing annual event, the Virginia Wine and Garlic Festival, this winery has a vast 70 acres estate just a short distance from Lynchburg in Amherst County.  Here, you can book a winemaking tour and sample their selection, ranging from a Chardonnay to a Cabernet Sauvignon. The vineyard is also kid and pet-friendly!

Ankida Ridge Vineyards

Rated as “one of the top ten hot brands of 2017” by Wine Business Monthly and “The Best Wines of 2020” from Vinepair, this winery is praised for the craftsmanship behind their Pinot Noir. With an elevation of 1,800 Ft., you can enjoy this 6-acre vineyard with gorgeous mountain views. The wine They make limited quantities at a time, but you can join their wine club to make sure you get your favorites! Insider tip, make sure to bring a light jacket as the higher elevation can be a little chilly! 

Lovingston Winery

Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, this winery has 10.5 acres with vines of their high-quality wine selections like Bordeaux, Merlot and Chardonnay. Visitors can take advantage of their tasting room as well as learn about their wine-making process, which employs a gravity-flow production method that eliminates the use of mechanics that could damage the quality of their wine. 

 

Make LYH your Home Base for your Weekend Wine Get-Away

Lynchburg is the perfect home base between the Bedford Wine Trail, Nelson 151 Trail, and the Monticello Wine Trail. Stay at one of Lynchburg’s award-winning boutique hotels like The Virginian Curio Collection by Hilton, or Craddock Terry Hotel. Venture out to one of our local wine shops and tasting rooms like Magnolia Foods and Everyday Sommelier. Enjoy an urban wine tasting experience at Reserve Wine Room or dinner & wine at Fratelli Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar or Isabella’s Italian.