Where to Wine
Blenheim Vineyard, owned by Dave Matthews, has a gorgeous lodge perched on a hilltop overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains, with surprisingly good wine. The lodge interior has arched ceilings with wooden beams and skylights for an inviting and "rustic" feel, and the back deck overlooks a mountain scene so serene that you're instantly calmed. The vineyard puts out a number of whites and reds each year, from the chardonnays and viognier with scents of honeysuckle and apricot, to the "painted red" with scents of blueberry, cinnamon and violet and lush blackberry jam flavor. My favorite, to be honest, is their "white table wine" - a light, fruity and crisp blend of grapes. It's delicious.
Barboursville Vineyards, run by Piemonte winemaker Luca Paschina, offers 19 different wines for tastings. They range from pinot grigios to chardonnays to cabernet sauvignons to the nebbiolo reserve - there's a wine for everyone there, really. The tasting begins of course with the lighter whites and moves into the more full-bodied varieties, reds, and finishes with the sweet dessert wines; it is truly an experience. Highlights include the Malvaxia Passito 2006, the perfect finish to a decadent meal.
Where to Dine
Basil is a Mediterranean Bistro on the Corner, the chic area adjacent to UVA in Charlottesville. Basil serves mezze and tapas and and array of dishes from Italy to Israel, featuring the flavors from the Mediterranean region. Highlights include date and walnut crostino, Tunisian salad, and Lebanese laffa.
Palladio is the elegant Italian restaurant at the Barboursville winery run by James Beard Award-winning chef Melissa Close Hart. Highlights include the carpaccio di pesce spada, five peppercorn crusted swordfish carpaccio that's paper-thin and light yet packed with robust peppery flavor, ravioli alla spugnole with buttery soft morels, and involtini di melanzane, ricotta stuffed eggplant with micro mustard greens - delectable. Palladio serves authentic Italian cuisine that transports the diner to Tuscany, surrounding vineyards and all.
The Local restaurant was created to provide a venue to showcase the abundant supply of small farmers, artisan cheese makers, breweries, distilleries and award wining vineyards located in the Charlottesville area. Dine in the cozy main room with exposed brick walls and stylish bar or upstairs on the rooftop terrace with flowers hanging above - it's the perfect place for a special summertime meal. Highlights include the crab cakes - large chunks of fresh crab meat, no heavy mayo here - and the zucchini filled with toasted quinoa, dried cherries and goat cheese - even non-vegetarians will not miss meat with this satisfying dish. All the ingredients are fresh and of course local, and the drinks are great, too.
This region is a wonderful place to get away and taste some great wine and meals that showcase the best of Virginia, with mountain views for ambience and near-Southern charm - definitely visit.
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