Whether you are a wine connoisseur, looking to learn more, or simply enjoy great wine, gorgeous views, and delicious food pairings, you’ll benefit from the recently growing number of wineries in D.C. With urban wineries near and country vineyards a bit further out, we’ve got your guide to the top spots for the wine lover.
DISTRICT WINERY
Bringing winemaking downtown and keeping you from having to leave the city to indulge your inner wine lover, District Winery is a convenient spot for a day of sampling. An offshoot of New York’s Brooklyn Winery, District Winery opened roughly a year ago and is located in a floor-to-ceiling glass box in the up and coming Capitol Waterfront district, The Yards Park.
They serve their own D.C.-made rosé — appropriate given that Food & Wine reports Washingtonians drink more of the variety than any other city in the country — along with other Brooklyn-made wines. The winery’s restaurant, Ana, is also a destination offering one of the best food and wine pairings in Washington as well as outdoor seating and stunning waterfront views.
RDV VINEYARDS
Located just an hour outside Washington in scenic Delaplane, Virginia, RdV Vineyards is a wine lover’s dream that consistently receives praise from experts and visitors from near and far. This upscale vineyard at the foot of the stunning Blue Ridge Mountains embodies Virginia native Thomas Jefferson’s vision for creating French-style wines from American grapes.
RdV offers three tours daily, Thursday – Sunday, which takes you through the beautifully designed main building, the cellars and fermentation room, and the bottling process. The tour concludes with a thorough tasting paired with locally-sourced cheese and charcuterie, all surrounded by the rolling vine-covered hillside of RdV’s vines. Memberships are also available for those looking to receive regular shipments of the vineyard’s wines and more frequent trips to RdV.
PIPPIN HILL FARM & VINEYARDS
If you’re looking for a day trip further out or even a weekend away, Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards is a must-visit. Situated along Virginia’s Monticello Wine Trail just outside the charming town of Charlottesville, Pippin Hill focuses on a variety of wines including crisp Sauvignon Blancs and barrel-fermented Chardonnays, but also puts a strong emphasis on food, offering a group dining four-course experience with Pippin Hill wines, Vintner’s Table.
​​​​​​​Overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains, there’s no better place outside D.C. to enjoy the sunset with a glass of locally-produced wine in hard. For a weekend getaway, book a room at the charming Inn at the Crossroads, a historic bed and breakfast just a few minutes from Pippin Hill. Built in the 1800s and surrounded by a number of other Charlottesville-area vineyards, including Blenheim, Wisdom Oak, Pollack and Hilltop, making it the perfect spot to post up for the weekend and enjoy a couple of days away from the bustle of the city enjoying some of Virginia’s best wines.
