Blenheim Vineyards

The Blenheim Vineyards winery was built in 2000 using environmentally friendly practices, such as offering white and red house wines on tap. It provides an intimate setting for wine tastings with large windows looking over the sea of green vines and paneled glass floors offering views to the production below.

You can visit the winery on your own—spend the day visiting several wineries or go apple picking in the nearby orchard before stopping to Blenheim. Alternatively, book a private behind-the-scenes wine tour to explore Blenheim Vineyards and other wineries in the area—and leave the driving to someone else.

• Blenheim Vineyards is a lovely spot for wine aficionados visiting the area.

• There is a small fee for wine tastings and a slightly higher fee to sample the reserve wines.

• Due to the size of the tasting room, groups larger than eight cannot be accommodated from November to March.

• For groups between eight and 15 guests, you must reserve in advance.

Blenheim Vineyards is located 20 minutes southeast of Charlottesville, just off of VA-20 South. Take Route 29 from Washington DC or I-64 from Richmond to get to Charlottesville. The Monticello Wine Trail is accessible only by car or organized charter bus.

The best time to visit Blenheim Vineyards and the Monticello Wine Trail is during the fall when the leaves begin to change color. Fall in Virginia offers crisp days and wonderful leaf peeping, perfect for sipping wine and enjoying the surrounding landscape.

Blenheim Vineyards is built on a historic estate once owned by the Secretary of the Colony of Virginia, John Carter, during the 1700s. It is still home to a few 18th- and 19th-century buildings such as a school-chapel and library. In the year 2000, folk singer Dave Matthews purchased the estate and transformed it into the winery you see today.