Williamsburg Winery Ltd.
Williamsburg, VA
*Disclaimer: This content is not paid or sponsored in any way. It is written as an informational guide for readers to explore and experience the winery mentioned in the post.
If “Virginia is for lovers”, then “Williamsburg is for wineries”. More specifically, The Williamsburg Winery is for wine lovers. Located just minutes from historical Colonial Williamsburg, the Williamsburg Winery is a beautiful expanse of acreage, grapevines, buildings, forest and history.
The Williamsburg Winery Ltd. has plenty of history, and almost as much wine! The property is the site where one of the original settlers planted 85 acres of vines. It has been used for many different purposes and by many different entities since then. Today, the land hosts a beautiful winery that is big on history and winemaking.
A visit to this winery will be memorable for many different reasons, but you can cater those memories to your liking. With event space, Gabriel Archer Tavern, a tasting hall, picnic areas/outdoor pavilion and overnight stay options, The Williamsburg Winery is sure to have something that will fit your needs.
The Wine:
There is an abundance of different wines at The Williamsburg Winery and it is difficult to know where to start, let alone to fit everything in. For my visit, I was fortunate to experience a Reserve Tasting (more about this in the next section), so my tasting was eight of the reserve wines. I will talk about just a few here but I invite you, whenever you have the chance, to visit the Williamsburg Winery Ltd. to try them for yourself.
Blanc de Blanc Virginia Sparkling Wine was the first one that we tasted. This sparkling Chardonnay gets its bubbles from the second fermentation which occurs in the bottle. The notes on this wine are green apple and pear with a light lemon background. This is a celebration wine that rivals champagne with its soft, playful bubbles.
The 2019 Trianon was one of my most preferred wines during the tasting. Rich, dark berries like raspberry combined with dark cherry combine with a layer of earthiness and tannic pings to create this delectable wine.
The blend in the 2017 Adagio is unmatched. Tannat, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes come together in layers that swirl in the glass and in the mouth, leaving you with an adventure in each sip. Sip this one very slowly to pick out notes of figs, plum, cherry that are accentuated by anise, deep cocoa and black pepper. There is a subtle mushroom, and I mean foraged forest mushroom, quality that plays very well with the bold, yet agreeable tannins. The labyrinth of flavors that this blend of grapes brings balance to the 2017 Adagio.
The Experience:
The experience at the Williamsburg Winery is one of soaking in. Soak in the atmosphere, the history and the wine and you will be delighted. The journey up the drive subtly prepares you for what’s to come. Taking in nothing but flat land and a row of well placed trees, you conjure up an idea of what it might have been like to be a settler in colonial times. You can imagine the hand-built homes and the rows of chopped wood used to heat them. You can almost see the smoke billow up from the outdoor fires that were used to cook meals. When I visited, there was a beautiful sculpture made of barrels and other materials that formed the word ‘LOVE’ (pictured below).
Once on the property, walking to the front door of the winery you pass the tavern and outdoor pavilion, all of which have the quaint colonialism of the time represented. Inside you are invited to explore the walls of wine and other merchandise available between two rooms.
The staff is friendly and around to answer questions you may have about the wine, the history of the winery and more. You may have lots of questions, but my recommendation is to splurge for the ‘Extensive Tour and Wine Tasting’. I was gifted this tour and blessed to experience it with the gifter and I can say it was an excellent time. I had to keep telling myself to remain calm because my inner geek and wine lover wanted to run rampant. It began with a tour of the grounds as we were told about the history, different areas and production of the winery. Then we headed inside and down to the wine cellar. A beautiful area that houses many wine tanks and barrels as the bottling room. After hearing about all of the intricate work that goes on there, we sat in the beautiful private wine cellar where we sampled reserved wines and cheeses with crackers. It was an artist and wine lover’s (me) moment of beauty. We met people from all over and had a wonderful lesson in wine tasting. Highly recommended.
Tastings:
In addition to the Extensive Tour and Tasting, the Williamsburg Winery also offers a highlight tour. Other offerings include wine flights and wine by the glass. Prices vary.
My Takeaway:
There is much to enjoy at Williamsburg Winery Ltd. From history, to views to the wine they produce, everything is a soft stimulation for the mind.
Whether you plan to visit to purchase for take home, sit with a glass or bottle/have a meal or even an overnight stay, this winery is sure to delight you in some way. The history speaks through the land even before you talk to the staffers. It is truly an experience for the mind. History is alive at the and the Williamsburg Winery in Williamsburg, VA is sure to make more.
For more info, go to: https://williamsburgwinery.com
