Celebrate Virginia Wine Month in Front Royal

October is Virginia Wine Month

With vibrant fall hues sweeping across the mountainsides, October is a month that typically sees a lot of tourist traffic heading for the Front Royal area. But October brings with it another reason to head to Front Royal, too. It’s Virginia Wine Month! There’s few better places to enjoy Virginia Wines that the Front Royal area! We’re marking the month with five fun facts about Virginia Wine, followed by five suggestions for places to enjoy Virginia Wine in and around Front Royal.

Five Fun Facts About Virginia Wine
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1. Virginia is the Birthplace of American wine

​​When you think of American wine, you might automatically think of California. But Virginia has a prior claim to wine fame! English colonists begin attempting to produce wine in Virginia as early as 1609, making Virginia the birthplace of American wine. 

 2. Wine Production in Virginia Failed Many Times
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You’d never guess it from the many flourishing wineries in Virginia these days, but early attempts to produce Virginia wine were fairly unsuccessful. European colonists found native Virginia grapes unpalatable. However European vines did not flourish in the Virginia climate. 
 

3. Thomas Jefferson Failed to Grow Virginia Wine
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When you think of Thomas Jefferson you may think of brilliant innovation, success, and an amazing legacy. However Jefferson himself was one of the early leaders in the Virginia wine movement. Despite dedicating plenty of money and even 2000 acres of his Virginia estate at Monticello to grape growing and wine production, he never really met with much success.
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4. The Virginia Wine Industry Didn’t Really Take off Until Recently
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Historical events also made difficulties for the Virginia wine industry. The Civil War, Prohibition, and then the Great Depression each in turn contributed to pushing wine production aside for many years. It wasn’t until the 1960s that Virginia saw a real rebirth in wine production. Italian Gabriele Rausse finally managed to successfully cultivate European grapes in Virginia. His great achievements won him the title: Father of the Modern Virginia Wine Industry
 

5. Front Royal is Near the Heart of the Booming Virginia Wine Industry
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Once Virginia wines finally took off, there wasn’t much looking back! The Virginia Wine industry has grown rapidly since. Just six Virginia wineries in 1980 increased to 107 by 2005. Now there are over 280 wineries in the state of Virginia. With its fast-draining mountain soils, the Front Royal area has become the ideal home for many of them. Plan a trip to Front Royal to explore all that Virginia Wine has to offer. 
 

Five Places to Enjoy Virginia Wine in the Front Royal Area
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With wineries out in the country, and wine shops right in town, you can enjoy wine either in a stunning rural setting or on the quaint main street of Front Royal, Virginia. There are many options for the wine drinker in the Front Royal area, but here are five picks to get you started.
 

​1. We’ll start here because it’s our newest wine establishment, Front Royal Wines just opened up on Main Street. Stop in to purchase Virginia wines by the bottle, or enjoy a free tasting.  ​

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2. If a quaint town setting is the ambiance you’re looking for another option is to stroll down the street to ViNoVa a wine bar that serves European style tapas to pair with your drink.  

​3. Heading out into the country, you’ll find the rolling fields and family friendly atmosphere of Rappahannock Wine Cellars. See their events calendar to plan a visit where you can enjoy live music and food truck food with your wine.

4. If you’re looking for mountain scenery, Chester Gap Cellars is another great option in the area. Enjoy a scenic tasting room and delicious wines. Bring your own food, or choose from a wide selection of meat, cheeses, crackers, and breads. 

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​5. It’s a bit further out of town, but if you’re in search of wine with a view, Fox Meadow Winery is well worth the drive. There are jaw dropping mountain vistas to take in while you sip! Plan your visit on the weekend to enjoy small-bite food and wine pairing. 

October is a fantastic month to enjoy Virginia Wines in the Front Royal area. The welcome coolness in the air, the stunning fall colors, and the delicious wines all combine to make it the perfect wine-drinking haven. Plan your trip today for a wine-tasting adventure you won’t forget!