8/7/2019 Charlottesville-Trip-1 by Swirl, Sip, Snark

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/charlottesville-trip-1-by-swirl-sip-snark 1/5

 

Charlottesville Trip #1: Keswick Vineyards, Jefferson

Vineyards, Blenheim Vineyards

It’s funny, we never think of Keswick Vineyards as being right by Charlottesville, but they are, and they

make a good first stop if you’re approaching C-ville from the north or east. The other night, it took us less

than twenty minutes to get to downtown Charlottesville from Keswick. This is a great grouping of 

wineries.

Here’s how we would recommend hitting these three wineries:

Winery #1:

Keswick Vineyards 

1575 Keswick Winery Drive

Keswick VA 22947

(434) 244-3341

www.keswickvineyards.com 

Hours: Open daily 9 am – 5 pm

Tasting Fee: Yes

Keswick Vineyards’ winemaker Stephen Barnard makes a fair number of wines, and there’s something

for most palates. Both the dry and off-dry Viogniers are quite nice, and the Touriga would have Ralph

Cramden saying “homina homina homina.” The tasting room offers some seating inside, but the best

hangout space is outside on the porch or the lawn.

Now, Keswick opens at 9 am, so I would say to stop in an hour to an hour and a half before you’re

planning on eating lunch. That’s because you’re only twenty minutes or so from an awesome lunch.

 

8/7/2019 Charlottesville-Trip-1 by Swirl, Sip, Snark

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/charlottesville-trip-1-by-swirl-sip-snark 2/5

 

Lunch: 

Revolutionary Soup 

108 2nd Street SW

Charlottesville, VA 22902

(434) 296-SOUP (7687)

www.revolutionarysoup.com 

Hours: Monday - Thursday 9:00 A.M. - 8:00 P.M.

Friday - Saturday 9:00 A.M. - 9:00 P.M.

Closed Sunday

We absolutely love Rev Soup, and you can eat like an ape for a reasonable amount. Everything we’ve

ever gotten here has been fantastic. VA Wine Diva is partial to the Senegalese Peanut Tofu Soup, and I

love love love the Lamb Curry Soup. The salads, sandwiches, and wraps are also great, and they focus on

local and sustainable ingredients. You may think it’s a pain in the butt finding parking in downtown for a

bowl of soup , but that’s just because you haven’t been to Revolutionary Soup. Trust me.

Ok, back in the car.

8/7/2019 Charlottesville-Trip-1 by Swirl, Sip, Snark

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/charlottesville-trip-1-by-swirl-sip-snark 3/5

 

Winery #2:

Jefferson Vineyards 

1353 Thomas Jefferson Parkway

Charlottesville, VA 22902

(434) 977-3042

www.jeffersonvineyards.com 

Hours: Open daily 9 am – 5 pm

Tasting Fee: Yes

Jefferson Vineyards is right down the road from Thomas Jefferson’s home at Monticello. Former home,

actually – he doesn’t still live there. Anyhow, they make some good wines here. Winemaker Andy

Reagan makes a really nice Pinot Grigio, and the Meritage and Petit Verdot are quite nice as well. If you

have time to kill and the weather’s nice, there’s a big open deck and some Adirondack chairs pointed at

the mountain. There really isn’t anywhere to hang out in bad weather, but that’s okay. You still have one

more stop!

8/7/2019 Charlottesville-Trip-1 by Swirl, Sip, Snark

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/charlottesville-trip-1-by-swirl-sip-snark 4/5

 

Winery #3:

Blenheim Vineyards 

31 Blenheim Farm

Charlottesville, VA 22902

(434) 293-5366

www.blenheimvineyards.com 

Hours: Open Daily 11 am – 5:30 pm

Tasting Fee: Yes

Full disclosure: I don’t get the appeal of Blenheim’s owner Dave Matthews’ music. Sorry, not my thing.

However, I totally get the appeal of winemaker Kirsty Harmon’s wines. Of the three wineries on today’s

itinerary, I’d say Blenheim’s have the most New World, fruity character. On the last visit we enjoyed the

less-oaked Chardonnay, the Rose, and the Cabernet Franc. The Painted Red was also quite good, and if 

you happen to be a Dave Matthews fan, he does the label for that one.

8/7/2019 Charlottesville-Trip-1 by Swirl, Sip, Snark

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/charlottesville-trip-1-by-swirl-sip-snark 5/5

 

Possible Add-ons:

Ok, if you’re driving yourself, just a reminder to know your limits and be safe. You are sampling

alcoholic beverages after all. Designated drivers are cool people.

Anyhow, if you wanted to add another stop or two, you’re not going to be too far from either of these

two:

Albemarle Cider Works 

2545 Rural Ridge Lane

North Garden, VA 22959

(434) 297-2326

www.albemarleciderworks.com 

Hours: Open Wednesday – Sunday, 11 am – 5 pmTasting Fee: Yes

Sugarleaf Vineyards 

3613 Walnut Branch Lane

North Garden, VA 22959

(434) 984-4272

www.sugarleafvineyards.com 

Hours: Weekends 11 am – 6 pmTasting Fee: Yes

Have fun out there, and be sure to let us know how your trip was!

You can always read our most recent reviews at

www.swirlsipsnark.com