My bucket list journey to visit all of the wineries in Virginia has just begun. But, I believe I have found my favorite winery…at least for now. Stone Tower Winery, a family-owned winery located just about an hour west of DC. It is beautiful and inviting has some of the best wine in Northern Virginia. Everyone has their own tastes and preferences when it comes to wine, but I think Stone Tower has good options for everyone.
I always enjoy a nice glass of wine or bubbly. I stumbled across this gem during COVID-19. Staying in the house was no longer an option and I needed to do something besides a hike. Wineries were a good option and spring was just around the corner. I did not have any real expectations about Stone Towar vineyard and at the time I did not care. It turns out, the wines are so good that I have been back multiple times and I am now a member.
How Is The Wine?
There is a large variety of wine at Stone Tower! I do not like most Virginia wine but they have some of the best wine I have had in the state. Virginia is really a difficult place to grow good grapes for red wine. Somehow, they have figured out how to combat the terroir to do just that. Usually, I exclusively drink red wine. But, I have tasted pretty much everything they produce. My favorites are the rosé and rosé brut, petit verdot, and the merlot. I even like the chardonnay, and like I said–I do not care much for white wine.
Beautiful Property
My first time at Stone Town Winery was lovely. Its beauty was a surprise. It is super inviting and the atmosphere is great, even when it is crowded (and it is usually very crowded). The barn-style buildings with a backdrop of rolling hills and vines are picturesque and exactly what you would expect to see at a winery. There are so many reasons to visit; after a stressful week at work, a day out with friends, or even a solo day. I always exhale when I pull up to the winery.
Stone Tower Winery has a great ambiance to include its cozy indoor spaces. I have done a few tastings, eaten lunch, or and t hung out with friends in several of Stone Tower’s buildings. There has never been a time when I wanted to leave when I had to.
Wine Experiences
One of the best things about Stone Tower Winery is that they have several events and wine experiences every month. And, if you can not catch something the first time around, they almost always run the same events time and again. My first introduction to Stone Tower Winery was at one of these events. I went to the wine barrel tasting of its 2019 red wine wines. Usually, wine tastings are of only maybe 3-6 wines. But I was shocked to see that the winery had placed 10 nearly full glasses at my table. The tasting included a food parring of cheese, charcuterie, and other small treats.
My second experience at the winery was the Executive Experience, which included a tour of the property, lunch, and wine tasting of about 8 wines and port. This was a good chance to taste most of the wines the winery produces, and the tour guides are fun and lively. Beware, if you are a lightweight, this tour may be a tad much for you. The pours are generous and there are plenty of them. I loved our tour guide, Joe. He is very knowledgeable and is clearly enjoying his retirement working at Stone Tower.
Besides the wine events, you can visit the property any time for a wine tasting or enjoy their menu. My favorite things on the menu are the wood brick pizzas and the parmesan truffle French fries, especially when they are fresh out of the fryer!
If you are a wine lover or just want to have a good experience, I highly encourage you to spend an afternoon or day at Stone Tower Winery!