Williamsburg Winery
The Williamsburg Winery is located on one of the oldest farms in America, less than 10 miles from Historic Jamestowne and less than 5 from Colonial Williamsburg. The tour leaves from the retail shop and takes you through the wine operation that started in the mid-1980s. Award-winning wines were produced there within ten years. Tours start every half hour and cost $8 per person. You taste 7 wines and get to keep your souvenir wine glass. I went on the tour with guests from Oregon, who thought that the special reserve collection tasting tour was a bargin at just $30 each. You must call ahead for a reserve collection tour for small groups.
Our $8 tour started with a 10-minute video, which my guests thought was too much like a commercial. I know the winery founder, though, and saw it as quite sincere. He is a big believer in the values our nation's founders proclaimed and he also believes that he is saving what was an old, used-up farm for a "higher purpose." He is an environmentalist, and my hat is off to him for caring for his acreage and promoting a relaxed and quality-focused lifestyle.
The winery tour is as good or better, according to my friends, as any in their home state of Oregon. You visit the cool rooms full of oak barrels and the quaint artifact room. At the tasting, my friends thought the wines were all good and some got a knowing nod and a "very good!" They were a little uncertain about the fruit/wine mix, but my taste of raspberry juice merlot just cried out for a taste of Death by Chocolate cake! Sounds like something I'll have to come back to buy for an anniversary.
I've eaten at Gabriel Archer's Tavern, a restaurant located steps from the winery operation, on previous occasions and it deserves 4 to 4 1/2 stars. The food is quite good and the ambience is superior and very romantic. An Inn will be opening on the property in 2008.
Definitely put a visit to the Williamsburg Winery on your to-do list when next visiting Williamsburg!
