Guide to Wine Tasting on the Nelson 151 Trail

Explore Wineries Southwest of Charlottesville, Virginia

There is a popular stretch of road stretching southwest from Charlottesville Virginia called "Nelson 151", which is the home to tons of wineries, breweries/cideries, and even a distillery. A few of the wineries along this road lean towards the sweeter side; however, the wineries that I am featuring in this article are far from that and have something that everyone will love! For reference, I am strategically listing these wineries from most northern to most southern. If you are traveling from the south, you may want to reverse the order! All of these wineries are located on the north end of the Nelson 151 corridor.

Pollak Vineyards

Sadly, I don’t have any pictures of Pollak Vineyards because it was a bit of a last minute stop for me. However, it is definitely worth adding to your list! With complex blends such as Meritage (an extremely full-bodied Bordeaux style red wine) and Durant White (a crisp white blend of Chardonnay, Viognier, Pinot Gris, and Petit Manseng), Pollak is sure to have a wine that everyone will love!

Afton Mountain Vineyards

Afton Mountain Vineyards gave us yet another beautiful backdrop for a great day of wine tasting! Tastings at Afton Mountain Vineyards are $10 and you get to try five wines. My favorite wines here were the 2016 Chardonnay and the 2017 Rose'. This is the perfect place to spend the afternoon. Pack a picnic and enjoy the beautiful mountain views.

While Afton Mountain Vineyards would be a beautiful venue for a wedding, they stopped having weddings on site. Instead they recently they have built several cabins and a large guest house for people to rent! Afton Mountain Vineyards offers several cabins and a large guest house for those wanting a romantic escape or vacation in Virginia wine country. Read our profile on Afton Mountain Vineyards.

Veritas Vineyard and Winery

I have visited Veritas Winery in the past, and they were just as excellent this time as the last! The bartenders that were working at the tasting bar during our visit were so friendly and actually quite hilarious. Tastings at Veritas are $10 and you get to taste for seven outstanding wines! My favorite wines here were the 2017 Rose' and the 2017 Merlot! Veritas also offers a small Farmhouse Menu for with a variety of food and snacks! Also, there is plenty of outdoor seating.

Cardinal Point Winery

Cardinal Point was another last-minute stop for me. However, I was so glad that we stopped! We discovered a deliciously hopped chardonnay! It was one of the most unique wines that I have ever tried. Also, Cardinal Point offers free tastings for teachers with an ID.

Dinner at Blue Mountain Brewery

Blue Mountain Brewery is located on the North end of the Nelson 151 trail, and is home of some of the best pizza in Virginia! Blue Mountain has a ton of indoor and outdoor seating, and is the perfect place to hang out at night!

We started with a Flight of Blue Mountain's own Craft Beer and split one of their delicious Godwin Creek Farm Pretzels! For dinner, we absolutely had to get one of their famous pizzas! We ordered the Margherita Pizza and added jalapeño and pepperoni. It was absolutely incredible and I highly recommend it!

Closing Remarks

If you would like to find out more about the area, head to Nelson 151 Trail for more information about the area and a full list of Nelson 151 destinations.

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This particular article originally appeared in Katie Church’s Wine and Weekends Blog. Read her full-length VA Wine Country Blog for 2-3 day itinerary.