Early Mountain Vineyards

Once the property of Revolutionary War veteran Lieutenant Joseph Early—who served under General George Washington at Valley Forge—Early Mountain Vineyards stretches across the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains and produces classic, Bordeaux-style varietals like Cabernet Franc and Merlot. The vast tasting room, which was voted #1 in America by USA Today, offers both high-end dining and casual lounging for sampling wines from Early Mountain and other vineyards throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. Also a premiere wedding venue, Early Mountain can surely turn a dream party into a beautiful reality. Virginia is for lovers, after all.

King Family Vineyards

Sitting at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains is the family-owned and -operated King Family Vineyards. The winery specializes in luxurious vinos that showcase the remarkable quality and terroir of the Monticello AVA. Beginning with carefully selected estate grapes, winemaker Matthieu Finot creates wines inspired by old-world offerings that are also well-expressive of Virginia, like Viognier, a staple of the state’s white wine bounty. This summer, tasting room visitors are invited to join in fieldside to watch polo, happening every Sunday from Memorial Day weekend to mid-October. Gates at Roseland Polo open at 10 a.m. for folks to tailgate or picnic before the match begins at 1 p.m. In fact, after founders David and Ellen King moved to Virginia from Houston in 1995, their search for a farm had one requirement: Twelve acres of relatively flat ground for a polo field. The thought of wine came later.