You may think of Chesapeake, Virginia, primarily for things like water sports and seafood. It’s certainly known for those things, but it has an appealing and growing wine industry. Whether you already have a well-developed understanding of excellent wine or want to start introducing your taste buds to great local wines, there are plenty of ways to do so in the area.
General’s Ridge Vineyard
Located in Hague on an estate that boasts over a century of history, General’s Ridge Vineyard features three tasting rooms. Furthermore, the staff is very knowledgeable about the wines they stock, so it’s a good place to go if you’re looking for a gift for someone who loves wine, or you want some ideas for beverages to put in your wine cooler.
Many of the wines manufactured at this venue are award-winning. If you find one you really love, consider signing up for the Executive Wine Club, which gives you discounts on future purchases.
2016 Chesapeake Virginia Wine Festival
Taking place this year on October 8 at Chesapeake City Park, the 2016 Chesapeake Virginia Wine Festival offers unlimited tastings from over 20 state wineries. Sip your favorite selections by listening to live music, and be sure to check out the merchandise and food vendors, too. If you’d like to go to the festival with seven or more of your friends, festival organizers allow advance table registrations for parties of eight or more.
Pungo Ridge Winery
Located in Virginia Beach, this winery opened a tasting room in 2011 after creating 50 cases of blackberry wine. After that, the establishment stuck with the fruity theme and still focuses on making wines with local fruits. Pungo Ridge Winery is perpetually popular and had to close until June 4 due to extraordinary demand. If you’d like to plan a trip there once operations resume, keep in mind there’s a $5 tasting fee, and each glass of wine is $7. Furthermore, if you’d like to get a souvenir wine glass to remember your tasting forever, it’s also $7.
Ingleside Vineyards
One of the oldest wineries in the state, Ingleside Vineyards is a Colonial Beach establishment with a European-style courtyard where you can sit and sip wine while mingling with others or enjoying special events such as concerts. Furthermore, guests report the staff is very well-informed about the wines offered, and adds personal touches to each tasting session to make it interesting and interactive.
Good Luck Cellars
This Kilmarnock business entices visitors to drink wine in a laid-back setting on Fridays by giving them the chance to bring their own dinners and pair them with wines on the property’s porch. Some of the products from this winery come from grapes that aren’t widely grown in Virginia, allowing you to have somewhat of an exotic tasting experience here if desired.
This list offers just a sampling of some standout establishments that are involved in the area’s wine industry. Consider planning a trip to one or more of these businesses soon, so you can start or expand your list of places nearby to get wonderful wines.
Photo by acme | Licensed under cc BY 2.0
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