White Hall Vineyards

(Been there, checked it!)

White Hall Vineyards is a farm winery located just thirteen miles from historic Charlottesville, Virginia. At an elevation of 800 feet, the winery has lovely grounds, a pleasantly shaded picnic area, and a spectacular view of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains.

The winery boasts a handsome tasting room and a state-of-the art production area. A visit to the vineyard has been described by some as “pure romance”, “winemaking at its best”, and “the perfect Sunday afternoon excursion”.

Wednesdays through Sundays from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. Tastings cost $5.

We visited White Hall on 25 July. Here’s a link to Nancy’s post on our visit. We met owner Tony Champ as we were headed in and he was headed out. He noticed us admiring the abundant bushes and flowers and climbing vines – many we’d never seen before – and stopped to show us around.

All photos from this winery

First, the tasting room, with its long and varied list of pours (9 bottles when we visited, with another 9 for sale but not on the menu), then the airy banquet room overlooking Pasture Fence Mountain, then out back to look over the pricey equipment that produces the winery’s 7,000 cases. And, finally, the landscaping map – the key to the tapestry of romantic plantings surrounding the winery and, we suspect, Tony’s real love. That is, besides his wife Edith, who Tony also included in our impromptu tour.

Edith took us on a tour of sorts, too – a verbal tour of the paperwork involved in running a winery. Let’s just say that Edith is a better, smarter, and way more patient person than we are.

Visitors favor the Viognier and the Cuvee des Champs, a classic Bordeaux blend and White Hall’s most expensive at $29.99. The winery even offers three choices for less than $10 – a $9.99 Vin Gris and a red called Breakheart Blend, and an amazingly-priced $6.99 Sugar Ridge White, a semi-sweet Vidal Blanc. The ’08 Syrah was also on sale for $9.99 when we visited.

White Hall only sells about one-third of their wines through their tasting room, so you shouldn’t have any trouble finding it in stores and restaurants in the region. But stop by the winery anyway. You won’t find many that are friendlier, or offer better deals.

Vin Gris; Chardonnay; Petit Manseng; Gewurztraminer; Sugar Ridge White (Vidal Blanc); Syrah; Cabernet Sauvignon; Touriga; and Cuvee des Champs (blend). A number of wines were also available for sale but not tasting, including Chardonnay Reserve 2008; Viognier 2008; Pinot Gris 2008; BreakHeart Red NV (blend); Merlot 2008; Cabernet Franc 2008; Petit Verdot 2008; Edichi 206; and Soliterre 2006.

From Route 29 in Charlottesville:
Drive west on Barracks/Garth Road to the village of White Hall. Veer right on Route 810 North (Brown’s Gap Turnpike). Turn left on Route 674 (Break Heart Road). Continue straight when the road becomes Sugar Ridge Road. White Hall Vineyards is 1.5 miles on right.

From I-64:
Take exit 107 to Route 250 East. Turn left on Route 240, which becomes Route 810 in Crozet. Continue on 810 through Crozet towards White Hall and follow signs for 810 through the center of White Hall. Turn left on Route 674 (Break Heart Road). Continue straight when the road becomes Sugar Ridge Road. White Hall Vineyards is 1.5 miles on right.