A leisurely drive on the outskirts of Charlottesville and only 30 minutes from Skyline Drive, this winery is perfect for a day trip or a quick getaway (they have a B&B too!)
I love going to wineries during the week, especially in times like these. There's almost no one else around, and you can wander the grounds without feeling bad about it.
My 30th birthday was earlier in August, so of course I was going to spend my afternoon at a winery. Glass House has been on my list for a while, and not only did they have self-guided tastings but no reservations were required.
The Aesthetic:
If you have heard of Glass House, you likely know about the greenhouse that makes it one of the most unique places in Virginia to enjoy a glass of wine. I did stop into the tropical room and while it looked fantastic, I couldn't resist sitting outside with all the space I could want.
If you're still appreciating the idea of open space after being cooped up in quarantine, Glass House has a lot of tables both close to the winery on an expansive patio and grassy knoll, and a few more right by a large lake. I also loved that you could walk through some of the rows of vines (it's hard to find in Northern Virginia so I consider it a little treat), and one of the outbuildings was covered in crushed glass shaped into wine glasses, wine bottles, and other grape-based designs! Just keep in mind that if you go on a weekend you will likely need to stay at your table just as a safety precaution.
The Tasting
When I say tasting, I mean you can try almost every wine Glass House currently offers! My sister and decided to get the full offering of 15 wines to have as a self-guided tasting (the samples are large enough to split if you are okay with sample of about 3 sips rather than 4 or 5). I also appreciated that there were thorough tasting notes and that every wine was an estate-grown, which you definitely don't see very often. My nephew was with us and we started teaching him grape varietal (grape type) names which was fun!
Unique and Standout Sips
Unique: I tried a Barbera vintage here for the first time and really enjoyed it! Glass House's Barberas have won at the Virginia Governor's Cup four times. Barbera is an Italian grape, and while it's thought to be one of the oldest varietals in Italy its not talked about much. It's normally aged in oak barrels and light in tannins while high in acidity, giving it a lighter feel while still having a burgundy color and berry fruit flavors of a fuller-bodied wine. All in all a very drinkable red wine.
Standouts:
White: The 4 whites have a good range of dry to sweet - my favorite was the Viognier, which is not normally one of my go-tos but on a hot day it had a nice natural sweetness of peach notes and balance of acidity. We got a bottle to enjoy after the tasting.
Rosé: If you're looking for a unique rosé, definitely try the 'Brosé' made from 100% Barbera grapes. It literally tastes like you're drinking strawberries but still not too sweet!
Red: Glass House had 9 red wines on the tasting list, but don't let that deter you if you're not a huge red wine person or don't drink it during the summer. In addition to the drinkable Barbera, there were two Chambourcins which I also find to be a medium-bodied, drinkable wine but a little more on the jammy side, and a blend of both Barbara and Chambourcin. There were also a couple red blends with your more popular red varietals. If you like a fruit-forward (fruitier) red my favorite was the Cvillien which was a 100% Chambourcin with lots of berry flavors. My favorite though was the 2017 Barbera Reserve. I definitely want to go back in the fall to try them all again.
Stacy's Take:
Red Range: ** - gave this red because those who like traditional reds may be a little disappointed, but I personally liked the selection of reds!
Family Friendly: *** - plenty of room in non-pandemic time and still some roomy table areas for families.
Tasting Fee Options: Flights and Bottle sales (no glasses available) - Just Whites $12; Just Reds $16; Chocolate Tasting (4 pre-selected wines $16); Full selection $32
Outside Food Allowed: Yes outside
If you're looking for good wine, a pretty drive, and a charming winery, this is definitely a place to check out. And if you need a weekend getaway there's a bed and breakfast on-site too!
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