Jefferson Vineyards

(Been there, checked it!)

We grow grapes and make wine from Thomas Jefferson’s original vineyard sites, first planted in 1774 just one mile from Monticello. We produce between 4000 and 8000 cases annually, depending on vintage conditions. Our white wines are marked by their freshness, vibrancy and full flavor. Our red wines are full-flavored, with subtle complexity, a delicate touch of oak and a delightful elegance. These are wines to be enjoyed at table with good food, family and friends.

Since replanting Thomas Jefferson’s original sites in 1981, we have produced some of Virginia’s finest wines, worthy of his name, and your table.

Open daily 10am to 6pm for winery tours and tastings. Tastings are $5 per person, including glass.

We visited Jefferson Vineyards on 24 July. Here’s a link to Nancy’s post on our visit. “I liked all of them,” Rick said, for the first and, possibly, last time. Whereas I (Nancy) tend to be pretty…enthusiastic, Rick has a narrower, um, palate. He likes what he likes. And he liked everything Jefferson had to offer.

All photos from this winery

Growing on the same sites that Jefferson himself cultivated in 1774, the winery takes itself, and its wines, very seriously. “We suffer no distractions. No weddings, no parties, no festivals. This focus allows us to invest ourselves fully in growing the finest fruit and crafting wines of compelling character, full flavor and delicate balance,” according to Jefferson’s web site.

That said, the winery isn’t completely austere: the low-ceilinged tasting room features a wall of wine bottles that, superimposed against a sunny window, create a stained glass effect. Coupled with the copper-topped tasting bar and beamed ceilings, the room becomes a quiet place for reflection. A shaded, outside deck, extends the mood. And the wine, well, lets just say it invites visitors to stay a while.

Pinot Gris; Chardonnay; Vignier; Rose (blend of Cab Franc, Petit Verdot, Chambourcin, and Petit Mansang); Vin Rouge (blend of Chambourcin and Malbec); Petit Verdot (blend of Petit Verdot, Tannat, Malbec, Cab Sauvignon, and Viognier); Mertiage (Jefferson’s blend is Cab Franc, Merlot, Cab Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot); and Vin Blanc (Traminette and Petit Mansang)