18 Great Wineries an Easy Drive From DC

Best for a View

Leafy Landscape

Crimson Lane Vineyards

Sip estate-grown wines amid rolling vineyards and postcard-worthy Blue Ridge views. Reservations are limited to groups of six to preserve the winery’s intimate, relaxed atmosphere, and private-room tastings can accommodate groups of up to ten. The terrain turns colorful in autumn—full-length windows and a breezy patio offer a great vantage point.

Drive time from DC: One hour

Above and Beyond

Bluemont Vineyard

Bask in soaring Loudoun Valley panoramas from the terrace and covered deck. The modern-farmhouse tasting room is carved into a mountainside, and vineyards cascade downhill toward a remarkable wash of farmland and forests—particularly pretty during leaf-peeping season. Pair red- or white-wine tastings with small plates, handhelds, and flatbread pizzas.

Drive time from DC: One hour and ten minutes

Peak Performance

Linden Vineyards

Founder Jim Law helped put Virginia wine on the map and mentored many of the state’s top vintners. The views from Linden’s tasting room are just as noteworthy. A rustic rear porch has floor-to-ceiling windows, and doors open to vistas of trellised vines and undeveloped peaks in the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains. A short walk to the upper vineyards amplifies the eye candy.

Drive time from DC: One hour and ten minutes.

Best for Activities

The Secret Garden

Southwest Mountains Vineyards

Take a 1.5-mile hike from a barn turned tasting room to a secluded glade with games, swings, and picnic tables. Out-and-back treks pass through the vineyards and climb through forests in the Southwest Mountains. The reservation-only experience on the Glade Trail is $35 a person ($15 under age 21) and culminates in a picnic lunch with wine.

Drive time from DC: Two hours and ten minutes

Horsing Around

Veritas Vineyard & Winery

A partnership with the tour group Indian Summer Guide Service lets you take a horseback adventure around the winery’s stunning 60-plus-acre property. Excursions run an hour and a half, loping through hilly vineyards to a high, grassy knob with 180-degree views of the Rockfish Valley and Elk Mountain ridgeline. Rides cost $185 a person and conclude at the tasting room.

Drive time from DC: Two and a half hours

Marco Polo

King Family Vineyards

After David and Ellen King founded their vineyard in 1999, the polo enthusiasts created a pro-grade club and venue that now hosts free Sunday matches Memorial Day through October. Visitors can tailgate in reserved or first-come, first-served slots around the field. Another option is to spread out in grassy sitting areas. Bring a picnic basket, but buy wine from an adjacent tasting room or circulating golf carts. Food trucks are also onsite.

Drive time from DC: Two and a half hours

Best for an Overnight

Dreamy Estate

Barboursville Vineyards

Enjoy a romantic getaway in the 1804 Inn or one of three cozy cottages, within walking distance of the tasting room. The main building is two Georgian villas that are connected by a central, two-story breezeway and hold three antique-filled suites opening onto rear gardens. The property’s Palladio Restaurant dishes up Virginia-meets–Northern Italian cuisine with wine pairings.

Drive time from DC: Two hours

New Vintage

Pippin Hill Farm and Vineyards

The Crossroads Inn started as an 1820s tavern and hotel on a vital James River shipping corridor. The renovated property is now home to five well-appointed guest rooms and suites plus a cottage that was once a 19th-century summer kitchen. The spaces feature historical touches such as original doors, hearth fireplaces, and hardwood floors. Gourmet country-style breakfasts are included with the stay. A grassy path leads up a gentle hill to the winery’s tasting room and restaurant.

Drive time from DC: Two and a half hours

Cottage Industry

Afton Mountain Vineyards

Slumber in one of five luxury cottages a few miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway. Units overlook the winery and feature sunny rooms that open onto covered porches with sweeping views of the vineyards and mountains. Amenities include kitchens and elegant tile baths. After sampling vintages in a window-lined tasting room, follow with a four-course, prix fixe wine dinner at the Farmhouse at Veritas, a five-minute drive away.

Drive time from DC: Two hours and 45 minutes

Best for Aprés-Hiking

Change of Altitude

Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard

After hiking one of Sugarloaf Mountain’s seven trails, reward yourself with a glass of wine at the base. Grab a spot on the patio for estate pours, live music, and farmland views. You can bring a picnic, order charcuterie, or go all in on sliders, wings, and tots from the onsite food truck on weekends.

Drive time from DC: One hour

Valley Views

Delaplane Cellars

location_on Delaplane, Va.

language Website

Minutes from Sky Meadows State Park and several Appalachian Trail access points, Delaplane Cellars is a natural place to toast a hike well done. Sip award-winning wines while enjoying vineyard and mountain panoramas, live music on weekends, and seasonal charcuterie. Families can gather at picnic tables, while the tasting room and decks are for adults only.

Drive time from DC: One hour

Shenandoah Sips

Quièvremont Vineyard & Winery

location_on Washington, Va.

language Website

Less than 20 minutes from Shenandoah National Park’s Thornton Gap entrance, Quièvremont is an easy stop. After tackling Mary’s Rock, settle onto the patio, take in the Blue Ridge scenery, and refuel with a warm flatbread. Curious about what’s in your glass? One-hour winemaker-led tours offer a behind-the-scenes look.

Drive time from DC: One and a half hours

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Best for Families

Fun in the Sun

Mountain Run Winery

location_on Culpeper, Va.

language Website

Mountain Run Winery gives families room to roam, with a playground, cornhole, giant Connect 4, and an open field where kids can burn off energy. A half-mile forest trail loops around a small pond. Hungry? Order charcuterie or a cheese board, and you can also bring a picnic or have food delivered from a local restaurant.

Drive time from DC: One and a half hours

Doggie Day Trip

Three Fox Vineyards & Brewery

location_on Delaplane, Va.

language Website

Turn winetastings into a dog-friendly outing. Pups can roam, splash, and play off-leash in the large meadow along Crooked Run Creek. Leashed dogs are welcome in the tasting room and on the shaded deck, with water bowls and treats to keep tails wagging.

Drive time from DC: One hour

Juice for All

DuCard Vineyards

location_on Etlan, Va.

language Website

The barn-style tasting room is in a meadow that backs onto the lower slopes of Old Rag Mountain. Relax with a wine flight on various outdoor terraces or grab a table in the grassy seating area. Kids get free juice boxes and access to lawn games, and this is a rare spot where dogs are allowed in the tasting room.

Drive time from DC: One hour and 45 minutes

This article appears in the September 2026 issue of Washingtonian.

Erin Gifford

Eric Wallace