Where Tastings Still Run Free

(Updated 7/2/11)

Once upon a time  in Virginia, wine tastings were free, and visiting wineries was a fun, cheap way to pass a summer afternoon.  But someone leaked the secret (wasn’t us – swear), and tasting rooms – especially those near large urban centers – got as busy as a grape picker in September.  Bridesmaids and girlfriend getaways and golf buddies and family reunions all found their way to the free pours, and winery-hopping as entertainment for the masses was born.

But fun seekers didn’t make the best wine buyers, and wineries had to protect their small case lots.  Add to that the dawning realization that labors of love don’t buy a new crusher or put fuel in the tractor.  Et voila.

We don’t begrudge wineries their tasting fees; wine folk work hard for their money.  But we sure do love to see those magical words “Complimentary Tasting,” and we thought you might, too.

Special thanks to those wineries still holding on to the past, for reasons of their own. Raise a glass, with them, for free! (Though buying a bottle would be nice, too )

_

Blue Ridge

Abingdon Winery, Abingdon

Brooks Mill Winery, (appt only), Wirtz

West Wind Farm, Max Meadows

Eastern Shore

Chatham Vineyards, Machipongo (Eastern Shore Wine Trail)

Central

Bodie Vineyards, Powhatan

Byrd Cellars, Goochland

Castle Gruen, Locust Dale

Hickory Hill Winery, Moneta (Bedford Wine Trail)

Lazy Days Winery, Amherst

Lovingston Winery, Lovingston

Mountfair Winery, Crozet

Mountain Cove Vineyards, Lovingston

Peaks of Otter Winery, Bedford (Bedford Wine Trail, Blue Ridge Wine Trail)

Prince Michel, Leon (Monticello Wine Trail)

Rebec Vineyards, Amherst

Spring Creek Wine Cellar, Pamplin City (Southern Virginia Wine Trail)

Wintergreen Winery, Nellysford

Chesapeake Bay

Belle Mount Vineyards, Warsaw (Chesapeake Bay Wine Trail)

Oak Crest Vineyards and Winery, King George (Chesapeake Bay Wine Trail)

Heart of Appalachia

MountainRose Vineyards, Wise

Vincent’s Vineyard, Lebanon

Northern Virginia

Dry Mill Vineyards and Winery, Leesburg (Loudoun Wine Trail)

Shenandoah Valley

Barren Ridge Vineyards, Fishersville (Shenandoah Valley Wine Trail)

Blue Ridge Vineyard, Eagle Rock (Shenandoah Valley Wine Trail, Botetourt County Wine Trail)

Fincastle Vineyard, Fincastle

Glen Manor Vineyards, Front Royal

Lexington Valley Vineyards, Rockbridge Baths

North Mountain Vineyard and Winery, Maurertown (Shenandoah Valley Wine Trail)

Rockbridge Vineyard, Raphine (Shenandoah Valley Wine Trail)

Shenandoah Vineyards, Edinburg (Shenandoah Valley Wine Trail)

Southern Virginia

Hunting Creek Vineyards, Clover (Southern Virginia Wine Trail)

Tomahawk Hill Vineyard and Winery, Chatham (Southern Virginia Wine Trail)

_

Tags: Bedford Wine Trail, Blue Ridge Wine Trail, Botetourt County Wine Trail, Chesapeake Bay Wine Trail, complimentary, Eastern Shore Wine Trail, Fauquier County Wine Trail, free, Loudoun wine trail, Monticello Wine Trail, October, Shenandoah Valley Wine Trail, Southern Virginia Wine Trail, tastings, Virginia Wine Month, wineries