Last Updated on January 29, 2026 by Maggie McKneely
Looking for the best wineries in northern Virginia to visit in the winter? Here are my top 5 suggestions!
5 Cozy Wineries in Northern Virginia for the Winter
I’m not entirely sure how I ever got into wine tasting. It could have been the stresses of attending a college made for overachievers, my involvement in politics, or the fact that I’m just a natural foodie. Whatever the reason, I have 100% adopted wine tasting as a hobby. So much so that after graduation, I got a part-time job working in a tasting room.
One of the major perks of that job was that I got free wine tastings at every Virginia winery I visit, and anyone who went with me usually got a discount. Some wineries even gave them their tasting for free too. Needless to say, I’ve done my fair share of wine tasting in Virginia. She’d never say so, but I know that that free-winery-visit thing is the real reason my mom tags along on adventures with me.
However, I know most people can’t just pop into a tasting room and demand free wine. You need to be a little more judicious about what vineyard gets your time and money. Fortunately, I’ve done the oh-so-difficult work for you of sampling what the wineries in northern Virginia have to offer.
But here in Virginia’s Wine Country, we face a challenge that our vino-loving friends in Napa and Tuscany and other, more moderate wine-growing districts do not. Here in Virginia, winter is as it should be: cold (except for those random 70-degree days, but let’s be honest, that’s typical Virginia too.)
In warmer months, there is no place better than the outdoor patios at one of Loudoun County’s 58 wineries. Many a Sunday has found me with a glass of White Merlot under the trumpet-vine-covered arbor at Hillsborough, absorbed in a book while honeybees provide that background summertime buzz as they work from bloom to bloom.
But what to do right now, when summer is still far out on the horizon? When you can’t sit out on a patio and sip your wine without twenty blankets and a fire pit? Many of our local wineries capitalize on the natural beauty of Loudoun County and are best enjoyed when it’s more than 10 degrees out. But your resident wine snob is here with recommendations on wineries in northern Virginia to visit on days when you need to scrape ice off your windshield.
Table of Contents
Best wineries in Northern Virginia to visit in the winter:
Creeks Edge Winery
Situated on the banks of Catoctin Creek, Creeks Edge Winery is the exemplar of rustic elegance. Polished hardwood flooring, hand-cut wooden tables, stone facades, and a roaring central fireplace make this the perfect setting for a snowy afternoon. In addition to a selection of warming red wines (such as my favorite, the Petit Verdot Reserve), they also have an extensive food menu, featuring flatbread pizzas, a plethora of sandwiches, and a variety of smaller bites! When the temperatures dip low, Creeks Edge is one of the best wineries to check out in the winter.
Visitor Info:
- Hours: Thursday: 12-6, Friday-Monday: 12-8 PM
- Location: 41255 Annas LN, Lovettsville, VA
- Reservations: Recommended but not required. To make one, go here.
Bluemont Vineyard
Bluemont Vineyard commands the best views of any winery in Northern Virginia – they claim that on a clear day, you can see the Washington Monument, over 50 miles away! That might be a slight exaggeration, but the view really is impressive. But you don’t have to be outside to appreciate it: the original tasting room, with its wooden timber interior, is the perfect cozy spot to take it all in. Or you can grab a glass (or bottle) of their delightful Merlot and sit by one of the blazing outdoor fire pits.
Visitor Info:
- Hours: Open daily 11 AM-7 PM
- Location: 18755 Foggy Bottom Rd, Bluemont, VA
- Reservations: Reservations for the tasting room are highly recommended. Reservations for the wine and food pairing are required. Go here to make them.
Fabbioli Cellars
There’s a good reason why this is one of the most popular wineries in the area, especially for novice wine drinkers. Many of us have heard of the value of pairing food with the right kind of wine, but Fabbioli Cellars is one of the few wineries that actually demonstrates why this is important.
Each tasting wine is paired with gourmet food bites that complement that wine and bring out its unique characteristics. The staff creates a new line-up every month, so you can visit multiple times and always have a different experience. One of the winter selections was the Zinfandel paired with a Spiced Turkey Meatball and Sicilian Gorgonzola Dip on a Beet Crisp – that is sure to warm your taste buds. If not, order hot cocoa made with their Raspberry Merlot – yum!
Visitor info:
- Hours: Open Thursday-Monday 11 AM-5 PM
- Location: 15669 Limestone School Rd., Leesburg, VA
- Reservations: Required for groups of 6 or more.
- Tastings: $20 for 6 wines and food bites
Hillsborough Vineyards
Like Bluemont, Hillsborough Vineyards is one of the best wineries to visit for a great view. The tasting room is situated on top of a hill overlooking the valley between the Short Hill Mountains and Catoctin Ridge. But their cozy tasty room and outdoor fire pits make it the perfect place to enjoy that view year-round. Their stone tasting room, originally built in the 1840s, has a homey, farmhouse-style vibe. The yellow-painted walls, cream-colored tables, and colonial blue décor provide a cheery interior when the weather is less so.
Hillsborough’s signature wine is a robust red called Ruby, perfect for sipping when the temperatures are frigid. It’s also an excellent accompaniment to their homemade brick oven pizzas. But, if you’re more into wine but your tasting partner prefers a brew, Hillsborough also has its own brewery, making sure everyone can order something to keep them warm!
Visitor info:
- Hours: Open daily 12 – 6 PM
- Location: 36716 Charles Town Pike, Hillsboro, VA
- Reservations: It is first-come, first-served
Slater Run Vineyard
Slater Run is actually my favorite winery in the area year-round, but it truly is an excellent one to choose during the chilly winter months.
The vineyard has been in the same family for several hundred years. But don’t worry, the tasting room is very modern and up-to-date. There’s a cozy fireplace on one side of the high-ceilinged room, with several groups of couches and plush armchairs. The winery itself is off the beaten path, about 15 minutes outside of Middleburg and off of a dirt road, which means it’s very rarely crowded. But that is despite tha fact that the winery makes some fantastic red wines. Their Bordeaux blends, “Roots” and “Pit Jumper” are both excellent on cold winter days.
Visitor info:
- Hours: Monday, Thursday, Sunday: 11 AM-5 PM; Friday-Saturday: 11 AM-6 PM
- Location: 1500 Crenshaw Rd, Upperville VA
- Reservations: Recommended by not required. Go here to make one
With that list, you should be set to properly celebrate the holidays or any time when the weather is drab and dreary! So pick a winery, grab some friends, and enjoy some Virginia vino!
Want to go wine tasting without worrying about driving? This tour will take you to several Northern Virginia wineries:
Got questions about visiting wineries in northern Virginia? Let me know in the comments or send me an email!
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These are some great options. My husband and I got to DC a couple of times per year and I will have to add on our must-do list for the next time. Thanks for sharing!
Yes!! That “free wine tasting thing” is quite amazing! BUT…. getting to tag along and test these wineries out with the best “partner in crime” is a treat all by itself! ????????
Definitely, winter isn’t the right time to enjoy a glass of wine sitting out on a patio, but this comprehensive list makes the process of wine tasting a lot easier! Enjoyed the read!
I love visiting wineries and wine tasting. This isn’t too far from where I live. It would make a fun long weekend. Thanks for recommending some great wineries. It’s always nice to know which ones are worth visiting before you go.
Been pouring for quite a few years now for different wineries myself….. we should grab Dani and your mom and let them hang with us!!! Great blog!!! Love you!!
Let’s do it, Jo Ellen!!
What a great guide! I got into wine tasting/drinking because of food and wine pairings, so Fabbioli sounds like a great place for me! Next time I’m in DC, I’ll allow myself some extra time to check out these awesome places!!!
Great round up of Virginia wineries! I am still a little skeptical of the area. My memory from when I lived in DC is that the Virginia wines cost more per bottle than comparably tasting wines from Argentina, Chile, or even Europe. But, for a day trip from DC, it’s a good way to spend a day.
Sounds like a great way to spend the weekend. .. food and wine! Such a great guide thanks for sharing ????
I love wine!!! I would love to do these!! It looked like a blast!
A gal after my own heart. Wineries! I would love to visit these one day but it is a wee bit far away from wee ole NZ. Fingers crossed one day though. I think you might be on to something when you say your Ma tags along for the free wine 😉
I’ve never done any kind of wine-tasting before since it’s not pretty common over here. Whenever I heard about this experience, it would be in either Europe or America and I’ve never been to any of them. I thought it was such a lux experience since over here wine could be so expensive. However, reading your post here, I’m surprised that it could go as low as $8 for the experience. Thank you so much for sharing this! 🙂
I had no idea Northern Virginia had wineries. I would love to visit the Creeks Edge Winery. I was pleasantly surprised at how reasonable their wine tasting prices were. I also love an establishment with a fireplace. Makes the entire experience so cozy.
I never think of wine tasting in the winter – brilliant! I love the fire roaring and the food pairings… sign me up!
We visited some wineries in Virginia in 2010. It is probably time to go back. I see there are some we haven’t been to!
Thanks for sharing ! Nice article with the opening hours and prices ! Never been to Virginia, but would definitely appreciate a list like yours when I last visited French wineries !
Wine tasting isn’t something I usually associate with winter, but these wineries sound perfect for winter, mostly the ones with warm cosy fireplaces. I especially like the sound of learning more about why different wines pair well with different wines as it isn’t something I know anything about – it’s a great idea to add something more to the experience.
Sorry, obviously I meant *different wines pair well with different food
Being a teetotaler, I may never visit it however everything looks fabulous. You have captured some nice shots. Wineries are completely a different world altogether and looks so fresh and cozy at the same time.
I never thought of wine tasting as a hobby but I’m sure it can be kind of fun! Your post is a great guide to wineries and I was surprised to discover how affordable it can be. I’m sure you had a good time researching this post!
As a fellow oenophile, I loved reading this post! In Connecticut, we have the same problem in the Winter months with beautiful vineyards made for the summer months being somewhat less exciting or less accessible. I would love to check out some of the vineyards you mention next time I am in Virginia (especially the ones with food pairings: that is not something you commonly see at vineyards up North)!
I’m a big wine gal but to be honest, I’ve never really thought of visiting wineries during winter. It’s always been a summer season thing for me and my family but I’m for sure intrigued now and will have to book a flight over to VA. Lost Creek definitely sounds right up my alley too. You had me at wine and amazing food and who can say no to sipping a glass in front of a cozy fireplace!
Visiting the vineyards in Northern Virginia looks like such a cozy way to spend a winter day. We’ve visited the area in the warmer months, but perhaps a winter visit is in order.
Virginia does come to mind often as a wine destination but we have had some excellent wine from the region. Next time we are in the area, we need to check out some of this lovely wineries.
The views are amazing. I love that Hillsborough Vineyards also has an brewery on site.
I like the idea of visiting wineries in the winter for a cozy experience. Good to know there are some great choices if we make it back to Virginia in the winter. I love that the wineries are less crowded. But you still get great wines and some impressive views too!