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Blue Ridge Wine Region

Stretching along the spine of the mountains from Nelson and Rockbridge down through Roanoke and into Southwest Virginia, the Blue Ridge Wine Region is where Virginia wine country feels wild, elevated, and wonderfully unhurried. Here, vineyards cling to steep hillsides, tasting rooms overlook rolling valleys and river bends, and the Blue Ridge Parkway winds just minutes from many cellar doors. This is cool-climate country, with higher elevations, rocky soils, and dramatic temperature swings that help preserve freshness and aromatics in grapes. You’ll find everything from crisp sparkling wines and bright international varieties to old-world inspired reds, mountain-grown hybrids, and orchard-driven cider and mead.

The experience is as memorable as the wines: quiet country roads instead of crowds, star-filled skies after tastings, and small, family-run producers who are happy to linger over a conversation about vintages, weather, and what they’re planting next. Use this page as your launch point to explore the Blue Ridge’s wineries, vineyards, cideries, and meaderies, discover hidden tasting rooms just off the Parkway, and start planning a trip where the journey is every bit as rewarding as the glass in your hand. Whether you’re a serious collector or a casual sipper, there’s a Blue Ridge bottle waiting for you.

With more than 30 vineyards, wineries, cideries and craft-breweries across the county, each stop tells its own story — of terroir, family-run passion, and Virginia’s emerging status as a respected wine region. Whether you’re planning a dedicated wine-trail day or weaving in a stop as part of a larger road-trip, Fauquier delivers the perfect balance of ease-of-access, scenic beauty, and handcrafted wines worth stopping for.

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MountainRose Vineyards

MountainRose Vineyards

Southwestern Virginia's Winery Gem.

This family-owned dream is located in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains. David Lawson had a dream that he could change a little piece of earth in Wise County, Virginia into something better. David is part owner and winemaker of this unique family winery and vineyard. David dreamed of being an entrepreneur in high school and he loved the land that had been in his family for over 100 years.  He rooted his first grape vines from a 100-year-old Concord in the family’s yard and planted his first vines while still in high school.

MountainRose Vineyards planted its first vines in 1996 with several varieties on the previously mined land.

Eight varieties of grapes (white: Traminette, Riesling, Vidal Blanc, Seyval Blanc, Niagara, Rkatsiteli, and red: Chancellor, and Cabernet franc) now grow here. Another three acres of young vines (Coroir noir, Chancellor, Cab franc, and Pinot noir grapes) are in future production.  Abundant in minerals, this special soil gives our wines beautiful rich colors and intense fruity flavors and aromas.

Grace Vineyards, in nearby Russell County, is our second vineyard at a lower elevation which helps us hedge our bets against late spring frost.  Grace Vineyards is home to our ChambourcinSeyval Blanc and Vidal Blanc grapes.  All the grapes are hand pruned and grown in the cool mountain air with lots of sunlight, then harvested and sorted by hand so that only the best grapes are used in our wines.

David carefully trains or supervises the training of the vines himself to be assured of the greatest quality wine grape.  Vines are trained on several different trellising systems to improve the wine quality of that specific variety by maximizing the sunlight to each cluster. The reclaimed mine land with its rocky soil and minerals increases the complexity of the fruit flavors at harvest. The vineyard’s elevation creates a mezoclimate in Southwestern Virginia with warm days and cool nights making our wines different from other wines in Virginia with more mouthwatering aromas and fruitier flavors.

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10892
Region
  • Heart of Appalachia Region
Wine Trail
  • Southwest Highlands Wine Trail
Tasting Fee$5.00
Reserve Tasting Fee$0.00
Tour Fee$0.00
First Planted3/1/1996
Vineyard Acres6
Estate Acres10
WinemakerDavid Lawson
Vineyard Manager David Lawson
Emma Holman

Emma HolmanEmma Holman

Hi, I'm Emma, a Content and Community Manager at Virginia Wine Market. If you'd like to update or add to your winery profile here, click the 'Contact Author' button below, and your message will come straight to me. I can also help you claim your profile to self-manage.

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Full biography

Hi, I'm Emma, a native Virginian living in the great city of Richmond. I love all things wine, food, and travel. Follow me as I guide you through the best of Virginia.

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