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Virginia’s Interstate 66 becoming a wine region
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Just across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. Interstate 66 begins and spans across Northern Virginia to connect with Interstate 81 at Meadow Mills. Along this span from Haymarket to Front Royal there are numerous wineries and vineyards. The I-66 area is becoming a wine region. From exit 40 at Haymarket to exit 31at The Plains there are seven wineries to visit within thirty minutes of the Interstate (see map).
I have always liked the history that Virginia played from Colonial America to the present. I often think of red clay buildings and bucolic rolling fields when I think of the Virginia countryside. The tasting room at The Winery at LaGrange fits my vision of Virginia perfectly. It is built in a house that dates from the mid 1700’s. General Lafayette, on tour of the Virginia countryside with George Washington, had the honor of naming the property. It just seems proper to have a glass of wine in this house and stroll the property and vineyards. Also keeping its historical roots is the newest Virginia winery to open, July 2009, Vint Hill Craft Winery. The tasting room and winery are built in a barn that is over 100 years old. What is significant though is the barn was the site where the United States military deciphered a message sent to Japan about the whereabouts of the Japanese fleet in the Pacific. Eventually, visitors can taste a wine called Enigma and try to figure out what grapes it was made from. Vint Hill Craft Winery is the inspiration of Chris Pearmund who is also the owner and winemaker at Pearmund Cellars. Chris is one of the leaders in the Virginia winemaking industry. The approach to Pearmund Cellars and tasting room curves along vineyards and gives you the sense that this is wine country.
If you exit at The Plains and drive south you will come to two wineries very close to each other. Mediterranean Cellars is a delightful winery with a passion for Greek wines. Winemaker Louis Papadopoulos has a fondness for his Rechina and you should certainly try this wine and see if you like it. A small outdoor seating area has beautiful vistas for you to enjoy a glass of wine. Close by is a new winery, Marterella which I have not yet had the opportunity to visit.
North of the exit at The Plains are two wineries. Piedmont Vineyards and Winery is one of the oldest Virginia wineries. They were the first to plant vinifera grapes in the state and introduced Chardonnay. They also produce fruit wine and it was a fruit wine that I really enjoyed. The dry peach wine was excellent on the hot summer day of my visit. Less than nine miles away is Chrysalis Vineyards that lies in another bucolic area. Proprietor Jennifer McCloud is a champion for the native Virginia grape Norton. You should try the different Norton wines and see if you enjoy them. Chrysalis has the largest planting of Norton in the world.
The wineries along the first section of Interstate 66 will make you feel that you are in a different part of the world. A ninety minute drive from Baltimore and one hour from Silver Spring, this area offers a must escape from the hectic world that encompasses so many in Central Maryland.
Wine Trail Traveler reviews of Virginia wineries
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