Virginia Food + Wine Trip Recap
Hey guys! I know it's been a while since I've posted a blog post on here, but hopefully you've been following along on Instagram. If you have, then you know that I recently went on a week-long trip to Virginia with Virginia Tourism Corporation and got to experience some of the best food, wine and spirits that Virginia has to offer. I don't think words can express how impressed I was by Virginia's culinary scene.
I've been to Virginia a bunch of times, but it wasn't until this trip that I was able to completely immerse myself in the food and wine culture of this beautiful state. Over the course of a few days, I got to see five cities (Richmond, Fredericksburg, Orange, Charlottesville, and Williamsburg), eat at countless restaurants and drink at some of the best wineries, vineyards and distilleries in the state. See some of the highlights below:
Dinner @ Pasture - with a minimalist setting and a focus on local ingredients, Pasture offers a unique and modern Southern dining experience in the heart of Richmond.
The Frenchman's Corner of Fredericksburg - I popped into this tiny chocolate shop while wandering the streets of Fredericksburg and am still dreaming about it. I got a vegan truffle that was filled with peanut butter, cinnamon and agave.
Lunch at Foode in Fredericksburg - Foode offers Southern comfort food in an old bank building. Does it get any better than eating a fried chicken sandwich in a bank vault? I don't think so.
Spirits Tasting @ Bowman Distillery - Getting to tour the distillery and walk through aisles of whiskey barrels was such a unique experience. Couple that with great whiskey and you really can't go wrong. I felt like Mila Kunis in a Jim Beam commercial. Can't you see the resemblance ;)
Wine Tasting @ Barboursville Vineyards - I love wine. All hail the Red, White, & Bubbly. Barboursville is famous for its great wine and beautiful setting. Make a pit stop here and thank me later.
Lunch + Wine @ Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards in Charlottesville - This was probably my favorite stop of the entire trip (hence why I posted TWICE about it on Instagram). Pippin Hill is what all vineyards should strive to be - a beautiful place to drink great wine, eat great food and make great memories. Pippin Hill is truly farm-to-table, with a garden that sources almost the entire menu. You can literally see the garden from your table. It was even rumored that Jennifer Anniston got married here (this was not verified but it still sounds cool). Either way, Pippin Hill is a must see!
Blenheim Vineyards in Charlottesville - Let me start off by saying that this is Dave Matthews' Vineyard, which is awesome in and of itself. This place is also beautiful and unlike some of the other wineries and vineyards that we visited, this place is a working farm. You can tell that the people working there love what they do and you might even wish you could trade places with them.
Beers at DRAFT Taproom in Charlottesville - I am definitely not an expert when it comes to beer, but DRAFT was such a fun experience. Unlike your typical bar, at DRAFT you pay by the ounce. With over 60 beers and ciders on tap, you get to walk around the room, serve yourself and pay for as little or as much beer as you want. It feels like you are in Dave & Busters. Where was this when I was in college?!
Dinner at Red Pump Kitchen - This place is owned by the same people as Pippin Hill and was just as impressive. Red Pump is located in Downtown Charlottesville and is sure to make your taste buds happy. I highly recommend this spot.
Copper Fox Distillery in Williamsburg - This is probably one of the most unique distilleries out there. The owners converted a motel into a distillery and you really need to see it to believe it. They are still in the process of renovating and when it's all said and done it's going to be amazing. Copper Fox also works with Farmers & Distillers in D.C., making me love it even more.
Williamsburg Winery - We ended our trip with an overnight stay at Wessex Hundred at Williamsburg Winery. It was the perfect end to a perfect trip. The vineyard was beautiful, the rooms were full of character and so comfortable that I could barely get out of bed in the morning, and the staff was beyond friendly. We had a five-course dinner with wine pairings on our last night, with all of the food and wine sourced from local purveyors. The meal was out-of-this-world good. I was so impressed that all of the ingredients had come from just miles away.
In all honesty, I had no idea that Virginia had such a vibrant food and alcohol scene. After spending the week visiting restaurants, vineyards and distilleries across the state, I realized just how much Virginia has to offer. I am already planning my next trip and hope I have convinced you to do the same.
This post was created in partnership with Virginia Tourism Corporation.