King Family Vineyards

(Been there, checked it!)

King Family Vineyards is a family-owned and operated boutique winery located in Crozet, just fifteen minutes from Charlottesville at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The winery specializes in small productions of ultra-premium wine that showcase the remarkable qualities of nearly 100% estate grown fruit. Founded in 1998, the winery’s first vintage was only 500 cases. Today, the winery produces approximately 5,000 cases of wine per year.

The covered veranda, expansive lawn, or brick patio are perfect for outdoor picnics while the Tasting Room and warm stone fireplace are inviting on cooler days. Bring your own goodies or pick from our gourmet assortments of chocolates, cheeses, salamis, spreads, and hot french bread.

Monday – Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tours are available at 12:00 and 3:00 Saturday and Sunday and by appointment Monday – Friday. Closed Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day. Tastings cost $5 and you get to keep the glass.

We visited King Family Vineyards on 25 July. Here’s a link to Nancy’s post on our visit. Once you pass the peach orchards and apple trees on the drive into King Family Vineyards, the horse farm comes into view and then, as the sky opens up in the distance, you can almost hear the Dixie Chicks singing, “Wide open spaces…” Acres of neatly mown grass border the polo pony barn and polo field, where free matches are held every Sunday from Memorial Day through the end of September. (Bring your picnic and pick up a bottle of Crosé Rosé from the winery.)

All photos from this winery

The attention to detail is everywhere, in the overflowing hanging baskets lining the brick entryway, in the deep leather chairs flanking the rustic stone fireplace, in the romantic barrel room with its burgundy floors and walls and white lights dressing the beams. For $10/person (8 people minimum), you can book a private tasting in the barrel room that includes sparkling wines and up and coming releases.

The uber-personable Judy Bowers walked us through the 6 wines on the tasting menu ($5, includes the glass), then offered a few more, including the excellent 09 Chardonnay ($22) and the memorable Cab Franc ($23) – we bought one of each. She took us on a tour of the Carriage House, a gorgeous, open barn-style room where weddings are held most every weekend night March through mid-November.

King Family Vineyards makes elegance appear effortless.

Viognier; Roseland (Chardonnay/Viognier blend); Crose (French-style dry rose of 100% Merlot); Merlot; Meritage (Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cab Franc, and Malbec); and Loreley (desert wine, Viognier/Petit Manseng blend). We also tasted the Seven, a porto (port) made with 100% merlot and fortified with brandy. Wines available for sale but not normally available for tasting when we visited included Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, and Seven.

From Charlottesville:
Take Rt. 250 West past Western Albemarle High School. Turn right onto Rt. 797 (Hillsboro Lane). Turn right onto Rt. 684 (Half Mile Branch). Go one mile, winery entrance on the left. OR, take I-64 West to Exit 107 (Crozet), turn right onto Rt. 250 East. Go 1/2 mile, turn left onto Rt. 797 (Hillsboro Lane) and then as above.

From Waynesboro and point West:
Take I-64 East to Exit 107 (Crozet). Turn left onto Rt. 250 East. Go 1/2 mile, turn left onto Rt. 797 (Hillsboro Lane). Turn right onto Rt. 684 (Half Mile Branch). Go one mile, winery entrance on the left.