Shenandoah Valley Vineyards with Views

October is Virginia Wine Month, and the Shenandoah Valley belongs on everyone’s wine-touring bucket list this fall. Not only do Valley vineyards create unique and award-winning wines, but many also boast beautiful mountain views that come alive to showcase the colorful autumn leaves. And though mountain vistas and vineyards shine at any time of the year, fall provides the perfect weather for relaxing on a sunny patio or taking a short nature stroll. Here are some of the best vineyards and mountain views around.

Rockbridge and Augusta Counties

Great Valley Farm Brewery & Winery (Natural Bridge) is a peaceful spot set on a hill overlooking rolling farmland with a wide view of the Blue Ridge. You’ll enjoy sipping from their lineup of wines and beers and breathing in the fresh air. Great Valley started producing wine in 2019 using grapes grown on the farm and from nearby in the Valley. This venue is pet friendly and hosts regular food trucks.

If you love Virginia wine, The City Foxes wine bar and market is a wonderful place to enjoy a variety, including Waynesboro-made Lightwell Survey and Thibaut-Janisson. You’ll also find a menu of local cheeses, paninis, and small bites as well as Virginia-made artisan and food products to take home. The City Foxes is located in downtown Waynesboro and has a nice view of the Blue Ridge. It’s also only minutes away from some of the best leaf-peeping around on the Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Ox-Eye Tasting Room is situated in a historic building in Staunton’s Wharf area. Enjoy a tasting of estate-grown wines and relax on a comfy leather chair inside or on the covered patio. Bring your own snacks or design your own charcuterie board. Check out the gallery space upstairs for rotating exhibits by local artists. And for a glimpse of fall color, take an after-sip stroll up and over the nearby footbridge to Wilson Park to see a new view of the hilly Queen City.

You can’t beat the view from Fishersville’s Barren Ridge Vineyards! Relax on the patio and look over the vineyards and rolling hills to catch the bright, autumn colors dotting the distant mountain ridges. Enjoy tastings and check Facebook and Instagram for events like live music, vineyard tours, open mic nights, and half-priced glasses of wine on Wine Down Wednesdays.

Rockingham County

Bluestone Vineyard (Bridgewater) claims its name from the bluestone limestone found in the area’s soil. You’ll appreciate the award-winning wine and the relaxed atmosphere. Sit inside or outside – both offer incredible views of the mountains and have seating warmed by gas fires. This vineyard hosts food trucks and you can bring your own snacks. Pets are welcome and visitors can enjoy regular events like trivia, bingo, music, and festivals. It’s also the perfect spot to host your next special event.

Brix and Columns Vineyards (McGaheysville) boasts delicious wines and panoramic mountain views. It’s also reducing its environmental impact by using solar energy. This working farm is a perfect spot for both hanging out and tasting wines with friends and for hosting your upcoming special event. This vineyard has great spaces indoors and outdoors to enjoy your wine. Check the schedule for live music.

Page and Warren Counties

Stanley’s Wisteria Farm and Vineyard is a family-owned working farm and winery set again a backdrop of the western slope of the Blue Ridge. Enjoy the Page Valley scenery as you nibble light fare and sip the wines made from sustainably farmed estate-grown grapes. Visitors can relax on the deck or explore the property, which has walking trails, picnic spots, and a picturesque creek as well as free-roaming chickens and Romney sheep. Check the event schedule for live music, yoga, bingo, and trivia. 

Front Royal’s Glen Manor Vineyards takes advantage of its location on the western flank of the Blue Ridge for both the views and soils. The vineyard “produces wines with a sense of place: the soils, the season, and the people who make these wines happen.” The 17 acres of vineyards are located on a Century Farm, which means that Virginia has recognized it for being farmed by the same family for over 100 years. Enjoy a tasting with a knowledgeable staff member, or relax on the patio with a glass or bottle.

Shenandoah, Frederick, and Clarke Counties

Shenandoah County is home to 8 vineyards, and numerous wine growers, the highest concentration in one region in the Valley. Award-winning Muse Vineyards (Woodstock) credits “viticultural science and respect for the traditions of classic winemaking” for the success of its wine and its ties to the Valley. Besides delicious wine and food, visitors to the vineyard can enjoy the fall foliage and river views. The property has a 1.8-mile hiking trail and is adjacent to Seven Bends State Park. Plan a longer stay by reserving the 225-year-old Muse Vineyards Farmhouse that’s beautifully appointed and close to even more hiking.

Winchester’s James Charles Vineyard & Winery looks out on vineyards, orchards, and endless rolling hills. The wine is tasty and there are lots of places to sit inside and on the spacious, shaded patio. Looking for a unique gift? The Adopt a Vine program lets the recipient “engage with the vine-to-wine process on an intimate level.” They’ll receive an adoption certificate, updates on their vine, and eventually, wine.

From its perch high in the mountains, Twin Oaks Tavern Winery (Bluemont) offers “hospitality with a view” along with award-winning wines. There’s regular live music, but even when there’s not, “nature puts on a show” with show-stopping sunsets. Enjoy wine by the flight, glass, or bottle along with mulled wine and wine slushies. The menu includes a few simple sandwiches along with a selection of cheeses, bread, and chocolate.  

Veramar Vineyard (Berryville) makes premium Virginia wine and provides awesome views of the vineyards and mountains from its tasting room and terrace. Enjoy a “spectrum of varietals and blends” made from grapes grown on the vineyard’s 28 acres. For more wine and views, book a private tour, which includes a wine tasting and a guided walk around the production facility.