Fall is the ideal time to visit the mountains and valley to our west. In our September 2023 issue, we reveal where to go for great hikes and how to see the area by plane or by car. Plus, we’ve found the best places to eat, drink, and shop — and where to kick back and stay awhile.
Nothing says out-of-office like a cold drink in hand — perhaps while sitting on a porch chair overlooking the mountains. With dozens to choose from, here are some of the most exciting wineries, breweries, distilleries, and cideries to top off your mountain getaway.
Hopkins Ordinary
Put your designated driver worries to rest with a stay at this B&B, brewery, and pub. Small-batch craft beers are served in the cellar of the circa-1820 hotel, where dim lighting and exposed brick walls add to the romance of the experience. Beer ingredients are local, including the barley malted by nearby Copper Fox Distilling. Sperryville
Pale Fire Brewing Co.
You have to respect a brewery named after a Nabokov novel. Not only do co-founders Tim Brady and Jamie Long (both graduates of James Madison University) have great taste in literature, but they also have great products. Award-winning beers include the Red Molly Irish Red Ale and the cream ale Taking Water, a brew that placed first in its category at the 2022 Virginia Craft Beer Cup. Detroit-style pizza is also on the menu. Harrisonburg
The Purple WOLF Vineyard
Learn about the healing properties of lavender, while cuddling goats, sipping infused white wine, and snapping pics for Instagram at this eco-friendly family-run farm. Check out the events calendar for live music. Harrisonburg
Shenandoah Vineyards
The oldest winery in the Shenandoah Valley, where tastings take place in a Civil War–era red barn, is one of the most respected. Purchased by viticulture expert Michael Shaps in 2018, the Edinburg vineyard has been revitalized with varieties that grow especially well in the valley, including rieslings that won gold in the 2023 Virginia Governor’s Cup wine competition. Edinburg
Copper Fox Distillery
This pioneering Sperryville-based operation was the first distillery in North America post-Prohibition to build a malt floor and kiln, and owner Rick Wasmund is known for innovating the distilling process. Take a tour to see the process for yourself, or simply sit back in the outdoor riverside garden with a whiskey flight or craft cocktail. Sperryville
Rockbridge Vineyard & Brewery
This 17-acre vineyard is known for its small-batch, affordable, award-winning fine wines like the 2019 V d’Or dessert wine, a blend of vidal blanc, riesling, vignoles, and traminette, which won gold in the 2023 Virginia Governor’s Cup. After 27 years of focusing solely on wine, it branched out to offer beer as well, with Mexican lager and oatmeal stout on the menu. Ask for flights of beer or wine, and friendly staff will walk you through them. Raphine
Winchester Ciderworks
When Stephen Schuurman moved to Virginia from England, he missed the hard cider of his homeland — American cider was just too sweet. So he created Winchester Ciderworks. More than a decade later, the refreshing, off-dry ciders remain a smashing success. Try the perfectly tart 522 Black Currant for a taste of England. Winchester
Feature image courtesy Copper Fox Distillery
RELATED STORIES:
- Find Fine Dining at These Shenandoah Restaurants
- Where to Shoot the Best Foliage Photos in Shenandoah
- 5 Charming Small Towns to Visit Throughout Shenandoah
- Ride the Rails with the Virginia Scenic Railway
- Where to Stay on a Trip to Shenandoah
- Your Guide to Hiking Shenandoah National Park
- Go Treasure Hunting at These Antique Shops in Shenandoah
- Fun Awaits at these Fall Festivals in Shenandoah
- Insta-Worthy Rentals for Your Stay in Shenandoah
- Explore Underground Wonders in the Shenandoah Valley’s Caverns
- Take a Foodie Road Trip on Route 11
This story originally ran in our September issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine.
