Celebrate Virginia Wine Month at a Bed and Breakfast

Imagine yourself sitting on the outdoor patio of a Virginia winery, immersed in the surrounding autumn colors and the serene, vineyard scenery. You sip a glass of your favorite wine while your significant other drinks his or hers alongside you. Once you’ve indulged in your fill of the winery experience, picture yourself returning to the lavish comfort of a bed and breakfast. Luckily for you, this imagined scenario can easily become a reality, and since October is Virginia Wine Month, it’s is the perfect excuse to escape and enjoy the establishments of innkeepers and vintners alike. Jefferson Vineyards in Charlottesville is the product of its namesake, Thomas Jefferson. The vineyards were first planted in 1774 but were eventually destroyed by the Civil War. Replanting began in 1981, and now the winery produces 6,000 to 8,000 cases of wine every year. Jefferson’s wine is fully Virginian, and the majority of the fruit ingredients are not only grown onsite, but were also hand-selected by Thomas Jefferson himself. (Click here for nearby Inn Virginia lodging options.) Fabbioli Cellars in Leesburg is a family owned and operated winery that was founded by Doug and Colleen Fabbioli. From the Una Pera off-dry wine to the citrus, vanilla and oak aromas of the 2012 Chardonnay, you’re certain to find a quality red wine that appeals to your senses. The Fabbioli family strives to use environmentally friendly methods of cultivating grapes that blend both traditional approaches with more modern innovations. (Click here for nearby Inn Virginia lodging options.) Chatham Vineyards in Machipongo is an Eastern Shore winery and a historic farm that was patented in 1640. Their vineyards are “high-density, European-style,” and they contain “32,000 Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot vines.” (Click here for nearby Inn Virginia lodging options.) These are only three of the many fantastic Virginia wineries and vineyards. if you’re interested in our Inn Virginia members’ winery specials and packages, click here.   By Tara Stoll