5 Wines to Cool Down with in Charlottesville & Albemarle County this Summer

King Family’s Mountain Plains series is a small-batch series created by winemaker Matthieu Finot. This dry rosé is 100% Petit Verdot with hints of strawberry and cherry. This wine is bolder than some rosés, but still able to be sipped with friends or enjoyed with barbeque or short ribs. It’s also great to enjoy at King Family’s free Roseland Polo Matches which happen every Sunday in the summer, weather permitting.

Virginia is producing some great Nebbiolo, though not a lot of it is found in the Monticello AVA. That doesn’t matter though, wineries such as Chestnut Oak and Barboursville that are working with this Italian grape are showing Central Virginia how it shines. The wine’s red cherry notes are heightened with just the slightest chill. Grab a bottle and pair it with summer favorites like chimichurri skirt steak, brisket, or veggies fresh off the grill.

Summer isn’t summer without great sparkling wine. Newly opened Oakencroft’s Sparkling White is the perfect bubbly to share with friends as you indulge in shrimp, oysters, fried fish, or sweet treats. Check out the beautiful tasting room on their farm which specializes in sustainable winemaking and regenerative agriculture.

Hear me out here. With its Farm Chardonnay, Blenheim has created an option that is both light and refreshing in the often heavy and buttery world of Chardonnays. Enjoy a bottle at Blenheim’s tasting room with friends, but also be prepared to take one home. Specializing in approachable wines and owned by Dave Matthews, Blenheim’s current releases include several summer favorites. You’ll want to visit and sip here all summer long

The Charlottesville area has wines for every wine lover and if you’re seeking an off-dry option, Eastwood’s Orchard Blend is for you. The wine is made entirely from Virginia grown apples and pears and is perfect for chilling and enjoying on a hot, summer day.

Rounding out this list with a cider just makes sense. Cider has been a part of Virginia’s wine and spirits history since colonial days and there are numerous stories of vineyards that failed or were abandoned and converted to orchards. Ciders are also judged alongside wines as part of the Virginia Governor’s Cup.

My pick for a refreshing choice on a hot day is Potter’s Craft Strawberry Ginger Cider. It is great on its own, but is also amazing in cocktails.

These wines are just a taste of what you can sample in Charlottesville and Albemarle County. We are home to a booming viticultural scene with more than 40 wineries along the Monticello Wine Trail.

Come cool down with Charlottesville’s chilled wines all summer long. Make a summer trip out of it at one of our hotels, cottages, or B&Bs…or consider a stay right on a vineyard!