20+ Charlottesville Area Wineries To Discover On The 2023 Virginia Governor’s Cup Gold Medal Trail
By: Charlottesville Albemarle Convention & Visitors Bureau | Published February 2023
Looking for the best wines in Charlottesville and Albemarle County? The Virginia Governor’s Cup wine competition is one of the ways wineries and retailers judge excellence within the Virginia wine industry.
Read on to see why these awards are so prestigious and for tips on how to visit these gold medal winners to discover your all-time favorite wine!
Gold medals were awarded to 142 wines from 66 Virginia wineries, cideries and meaderies after a series of rigorous blind tastings. Across the Monticello Wine Trail region, 21 producers earned 62 gold medals. Of these, 7 were selected for the Governor’s Case, representing 60% of the highest-ranked wines throughout the competition. Want to try them all? We’ve divided the region into “neighborhoods” to help you organize your time and travels.
For each winery, we’ve added a brief overview to pique your interest – however, this just scratches the surface of what each one offers! Visit their individual websites to learn more.
Here are some tips for getting around and making the most of your travels:
- Both the Virginia Governor’s Cup and Monticello Wine Trail have passport apps that track visits to wineries and earn rewards.
- Cville Hop-On Tours, Charlottesville Wish Wish Wine Tours, Crozet Trolley, and Monticello Wine Tour & Coach Co. provide excellent tours to area wineries. Look to our wine tours page for upscale transportation options. Local companies can help you develop a personalized itinerary, so all you have to do is just sit back and enjoy the ride!
- Looking for a unique experience? Indian Summer Guide Service leads horseback rides through local vineyards. Both C’ville Picnic and Shaniece Be Just Be Well Experience organize luxurious, sumptuous picnics.
- Consider staying overnight at a vineyard! Visit the winery lodging page for a list of wineries with lodging, and visit the Places to Stay page for a complete list of local accommodations.
Eastwood Farm and Winery: Petit Manseng & 2021 Chardonnay
New to the Charlottesville winery scene, Eastwood opened in 2020, is woman-owned, and is already producing gold medal winning wines! Visiting their property offers options galore including multiple indoor and outdoor spaces to sip their delicious vintages (along with house-made craft beer and cider), plus hiking trails and an on-site food truck. You’ll want to stay all day!
Seasonal Outdoor Seating: Yes
Dog-Friendly: Yes
Reservations Required: No
Maximum Group Size: Contact for large parties
Offers overnight accommodations: Yes
