Pollak Vineyards

(Been there, checked it!)

Pollak Vineyards is a small family-owned winery founded in 2003 with the purchase of a 98-acre farm just west of Charlottesville, Virginia. Today we have 26 acres of French vinifera planted with the intent of making estate grown wine that has the finesse and balance of the traditional French varietals.

Having opened in 2008, the tasting room and patio offer a setting to enjoy our wine and some of the best of Virginia’s wine country.

Tasting room is open daily 11 – 5 pm, April through October; open Wednesday – Sunday, 11 – 5 pm, November through March. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Tastings cost $5, and you give back the glass.

We visited Pollak Vineyards on 18 July. Here’s a link to Nancy’s post on our visit. The clean lines, soaring ceiling, and expansive windows at Pollak Vineyards’ tasting room grab your attention immediately, so different is this modern building than the darker, more rustic look favored by many Virginia wineries. White walls and white leather couches dominate the sparkling room, which is staffed by sharp looking staff in blue polos and tan pants. This is a very professional operation.

All photos from this winery

The $5 tasting fee bought us nine tastes, ranging from a very light and drinkable ’09 Viognier ($20) to a complex ’07 Meritage ($24) and a robust, award-winning Petit Verdot ($24). Pollak’s Cab Franc has been called one of the best in the state.

Despite the impressive pours, the eye wanders back to the tall windows and the Blue Ridge rising sharply at the property’s edge. The outdoor patio sits in the protection of the mountains, surrounded by thriving vineyards. It would be easy to sit there for a long afternoon, with one of Pollak’s cheese plates, a fresh baguette and a bit of JAM according to Daniel (one pound of local fruit in every jar). Maybe a nice Rosé with that.

Chardonnay; Viognier; Pinot Gris; Rose (blend of Cab Sauvignon, Cab Franc, Petit Verdot, and Merlot); Merlot; Cabernet Franc; Meritage (Pollak does it as a Cab Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot blend); and Petit Verdot. Had visisted earlier in the year, we also could have tasted Durant White (blend of Viognier, Pinot Gris, and Chardonnay) and Cabernet Sauvignon, but those were already sold out for this season by the time we got there.

Directions from Charlottesville:
Take Interstate 64 West to Exit 107 (Crozet). Turn left onto 250 West. Go about three miles, passing the estates of Mirador, Seven Oaks, Ramsey and Ridgley all on your right. Just past Ridgley estate, take a right fork onto Rte. 796 (Brooksville Rd.). Continue about a half mile and turn right on Newtown Road. Entrance to Pollak Vineyards is about a half mile on your left.

Directions from Waynesboro:
Take Interstate 64 East to Exit 107 (Crozet). Turn right onto 250 West. Continue as above.