Amtrak – You can reach the Valley directly by train by traveling to the Amtrak station in Staunton, or indirectly by traveling to stations in short driving distance in Charlottesville, Lynchburg, the Washington, D.C. area, and in Harpers Ferry and Martinsburg, West Virginia. Also see Amtrak Virginia.
If you are travelling by air, you can skip the rental car and schedule a private car service with Shenandoah Shores Management Group (SSMG). Our experienced drivers will pick you up from the airport and drop you off at your destination. And they can safely drive you to any other locations in the area.
Interstate 81 is the main north-south route to and through the Shenandoah Valley.
From the Northeast take Interstate 76 or Interstate 78 west to Interstate 81 south.
From the Northwest take Interstate 76 east to Interstate 70. At Hagerstown, MD take Interstate 81 south into the Shenandoah Valley.
To reach the Valley from the east, the main highways are Interstate 66, which brings you directly from the Washington, D.C. area and connects with I-81 near Strasburg, VA.
Interstate 64, which brings you directly from Richmond and connects with I-81 near Staunton. From the west, I-64 is again the most direct route, coming from West Virginia and linking to I-81 near Lexington, VA.
Home » What's New » Taste Your Way through the Shenandoah Valley AVA
The term “flavors of the Valley” often refers to the fantastic farm-to-table movement where local farmers partner with area restaurants to reach a common goal: feed people. However, “flavors of the Valley” also refers to the Shenandoah Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA).
Our AVA is distinct in that nearly every varietal can be grown here. We have a nice range of altitude, plenty of limestone, fertile fields thanks to the watershed of two mountain ranges, and our summers are fairly dry. The Shenandoah AVA was Virginia’s first recognized AVA (1982) and encompasses 2.4 million acres across 10 Virginia counties and two West Virginia “panhandle” counties.
It would be no small task to taste your way through the Shenandoah Valley AVA as there are 37 wineries to mark off the list. Rather, we’ve chosen seven to get you started and included a resource below to help you with additional adventures.
Muse Vineyards | Woodstock, VA
Muse Vineyards is a dog-friendly, Virginia Governor’s Cup-winning, 50-acre river-hugging destination you can’t miss. Trails help you navigate the vines while the modern tasting room delivers beautiful views and delicious food service. Book a night in the 1792 farmhouse; Muse is a great hub from which to tour other wineries.
Muse won the Virginia Governor’s Cup in 2015 with their 2009 Meritage.
CrossKeys Vineyards | Mt. Crawford, VA
CrossKeys Vineyards encompasses 125 acres with the Tuscan-style Bistro and tasting room taking center stage. Once you visit you’ll know why CrossKeys is also a popular wedding venue (it’s exquisite!). Be sure to enjoy a flight and take a guided tour of the grounds and facilities.
CrossKeys’ wines have been included in the Governor’s Case at the Virginia Governor’s Cup in 2018 and 2015.
Barren Ridge is anything but barren. In fact, it was once an apple orchard (1890s). Now it’s a gorgeous, laid-back winery with rolling fields of luscious vines and tremendous mountain views. Most weekends feature entertainment at Barren Ridge. Secure your wine and cheese, a seat, and enjoy the views and music.
Wisteria is a small farm winery raising not only grapes but also free-range chickens and Romney sheep. Bring a picnic to enjoy with a bottle of 100% estate-grown Wisteria Farm wine. The Music Under the Arbor series is each Saturday from June through October.
Wisteria wines have won silver and bronze medals at Virginia Governor’s Cup over the years.
Home to the annual Horse and Hound Wine Festival each July, Peaks of Otter Winery is a working farm winery known for their fruit wines. Sample a wide array of surprising flavors and don’t miss the baby goats!
The pouring began in 2019, yet Star in the Valley is already making a strong showing in its early years. The Beverage Testing Institute recently gave their 2021 Dry Rose 86 points, just three points shy of the score they gave the 2020 Red Blend earlier in May. For sure, their 11,000 vines are going to yield more notable sips to come.
Ecco Adesso Vineyards | Fairfield, VA
Newer still, Ecco Adesso is quickly growing into a unique wine destination complete with multiple lodging accommodations and a large timberframe pavilion. While their grapes have not yet matured for estate wine-making, they’re pouring a few hand-picked favorites from Shenandoah Valley neighbor Barren Ridge Vineyards and others. Keep this up-and-comer on your radar.