Visitors to Cana Vineyards will have some delicious new dining options. The Middleburg winery’s Black Oak Café will offer New York–style pizza and Italian gelato.
Black Oak Café will hold a soft opening on Saturday, January 11, for members of the Cana Vineyards wine club, and then fully open to the public on January 18.
Up to this point, Cana has offered light fare such as charcuterie through its main tasting room and occasionally hosted food trucks. Owner Lisa Petty, who took over the winery in 2018 with her husband, Bryce, says they saw an opportunity to expand the winery’s food options.
“We wanted a tasty, quick-service option for our guests,” Petty says. “Pizza and ice cream are popular, so we wanted to play off of that idea.”
The menu currently features a selection of gelato flavors, available by the scoop, in cones, or as cookie sandwiches. The four pizza options — three-cheese, pepperoni, margherita, and wild mushroom and onion — are made in partnership with DMV-area favorite Andy’s Pizza. Light charcuterie such as meats, cheeses, and nuts are also available.
Petty hopes to eventually expand Black Oak’s offerings to include espresso drinks.
The café is in a newly built barn near the vineyard’s parking lot. William Cawood of Cawood Architecture crafted a functional space, and Angelee Marques of Nest Interior Design Studio worked to create its bright, cozy aesthetic.
“We wanted to create a cute and charming space where our guests can enjoy sweet and savory treats either in the café or elsewhere on our expansive property,” Petty says.
The café area spans about 1,800 square feet, with inside seating for around 24 guests, plus a small outdoor patio. The rest of the barn serves as storage for the winery.
Wine is not for sale at the café, but guests can bring in wine from the tasting room. In addition to the seating areas at the barn, the winery grounds have ample green space and seating areas.
Like most of Cana Vineyards (with the exception of the main building’s upper level), the café is kid-friendly and dog-friendly.
Black Oak Café will be open weekends only, 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturdays, and 12 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Sundays. On days when the café is closed, the main tasting room will still provide light fare such as charcuterie.
Cana Vineyards: 38600 Little River Tpk., Middleburg
Feature image courtesy Cana Vineyards
