Barren Ridge Vineyards

(Note – Geo Coords listed here are not personally confirmed. This is according to Google maps and/or another web source; your mileage may vary!)

In 2007 the Higgs gathered dozens of friends to plant over an acre of European vinifera vines on the sloping hills of the family farm. He hired only local contractors to renovate the old barn and add a wing for winery production. For his first vintage he bought grapes from neighboring Virginia vineyards—viognier, traminette, vidal blanc, touriga, merlot, petit verdot, and cabernet franc. He bottled viognier, vidal blanc, traminette, touriga, and a Rosé in the spring of 2008 to prepare for the opening of the tasting room—scheduled for the end of April. The Higgs planted more vines in the spring of 2008 and will continue to plant a total of ten acres, including viognier, chardonnay, merlot, vidal blanc, petit verdot, and traminette.

No tasting fee. Open Monday through Saturday 11 – 6 and Sunday 1 – 6. Call for extended summer hours.

“The tastings here are complimentary, and the only thing better than that is the old apple barn that houses the tasting room. The fireplace, high ceilings, and warm wood beams and floors make you want to settle in for far longer than you should if you plan on visiting several wineries in a day.

But the best part of Barren Ridge is the story: owner John Higgs’ father bought the apple orchard in 1934, and after a career that took them, at times, far from the foothills of Virginia, John and his wife Shelby returned, no doubt finding the grass even greener than they remembered. Friends planted the first vines in 2007, and Barren Ridge is now anything but, with 10 acres of Viognier, Chardonnay, Merlot, Vidal blanc, Petit verdot, Traminette and more.

At the winery: Weddings and private events; picnic spots overlooking the Shenandoah Valley (light snacks available); cozy tasting room with a stone fireplace; kids welcome; four-legged friends welcome, too.

The wines include Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Touriga and Bordeaux blends, plus Chardonnay, Traminette, Vidal Blanc and Viognier

Take Exit 91 off of I-64 (Fishersville). Turn onto Tinkling Spring Road heading towards Fishersville. Turn left on Route 250 West. Just past the Food Lion turn right on Barren Ridge Road and follow for about 3 miles. The winery is on the left.