Enjoy a Wine Country Vacation in Loudoun County, Virginia
Loudoun County, VA, is home to more than 50 amazing wineries. However, unlike Napa Valley in California, which started in 1839, Loudoun County didn’t start its wine-producing journey until 1984, when Willowcroft Farm Vineyards released its first wine. Today, more than 40 years later, the area is home to 738 acres of grapes with a wine revenue of more than $48 million. The area also hosts more than one million vacationers each year. Let’s take a look at why you should make Virginia’s wine country your next fly-in destination.
Fly Into Leesburg Executive Airport (JYO) to Start Your Winery Vacation
Leesburg Executive Airport (JYO) in Leesburg, VA, is the second busiest airport for general aviation in the state, behind Manassas Regional Airport (HEF). Leesburg Executive Airport is the official reliever airport for Washington-Dulles International Airport (IAD), even though it only has one runway. Runway 17/35 is 5,500 feet long and 100 feet wide. The airport is open to the public and features a control tower. Jet-A and 100LL are available. They offer tiedowns and hangars, as well as bottled oxygen, and major airframe and powerplant services are available. The airport also holds an airshow every year in the fall.
Wineries to Visit While You’re in Loudoun County
With more than 50 wineries in the area, vacationers have plenty of options to choose from, whether they plan to stay for a weekend or a full two-week vacation. Here are a few fantastic wineries that you might enjoy.
Willowcroft Farm Vineyards
Willowcroft Farm Vineyards began in 1979 when Lew Parker purchased the property that now houses the vineyards and production facility. Willowcroft Farm Vineyards sits on 30 acres in the Catoctin Mountains and is believed to have been inhabited since 1789. In fact, the original 1789 house still stands on the property. The historic house overlooks the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Loudoun Valley.
Lew Parker had a dream when he purchased the scenic property. He wanted to turn the farm into a vineyard and winery, so in 1980, he planted the first vines. Unfortunately, luck was not with him in that first year. The vines all failed. However, he didn’t give up. Lew decided to plant more vines in 1980, and the second set of vines thrived. In 1984, Loudoun County’s first bottle of wine was brought to market.
Today, the winery offers vineyard tours and various events during the year, and they have a Wine Club that provides members with certain discounts and benefits, like access to exclusive events. If you’re looking to taste a few wonderful wines, you might enjoy their Seyval, Cold Steel Chardonnay, Riesling, Rose of Sharon, and Merlot.
Endhardt Vineyards
Endhardt Vineyards is a family-owned winery that’s located in Purcellville, VA, which is about 6 miles (or 15 minutes) from Willowcroft Farm Vineyards. Endhardt Vineyards was established in 2018 and officially opened in 2021. The vineyard and winery encompass 46 acres, and at the time it was purchased, it was untouched. While it meant more work, it also meant that the Endhardt family could make the land into exactly what they needed to grow their grapes and produce their wine. For the first two years, they cleared land and constructed their buildings, like the tasting room and wine production facility.
Guests can visit the winery in the afternoon or make an appointment during their business hours, Thursday through Monday. They are closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Endhardt Vineyards is dedicated to making its guests feel comfortable and relaxed. They have a tasting room, a deck, and a patio where visitors can enjoy a glass or bottle of wine. Endhardt Vineyards offers a variety of wines, including Rosé wine, Chardonnay, Reverie White, Petit Verdot, Sauvignon Blanc, and Golden Turkey. On the property, they sell wine by the glass and bottle. They also have a wine club. Members receive discounts on wine, happy hour specials, and advance notice for special events.
Zephaniah Farm Vineyard
Zephaniah Farm Vineyard is located six minutes from Willowcroft Farms Vineyards. It’s another family-owned and operated vineyard and wine-making facility. However, they weren’t always wine growers. The family started out in 1949 as farmers, and for more than 50 years, they grew various crops. However, the family encountered tough times around the early 2000s and sought a way to branch out. They also recognized that Loudoun County was becoming a new wine country, so in 2002, they started growing grapes. Today, the vineyard sells white, red, and rosé wine, as well as Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Manseng, and Chelois. They offer an on-site tasting room that’s open on the weekends.
October One Vineyard
October One Vineyard is a unique destination when compared to the other wineries in the area. It’s a tasting shop that’s located inside the town of Leesburg. It’s open Thursday through Sunday. However, just because they’re located in town doesn’t mean their grapes are imported. October One Vineyard does grow their grapes locally, but they don’t have a vineyard tasting room. Instead, they’ve opted to open a convenient wine shop in town where they sell their Barrel Viognier, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Stainless Viognier, and Sparkling Cab Sauv Rosé. You can even join their wine club for discounts and exclusive announcements.
Bleu Frog Vineyards
Just north of Leesburg on US 15, you can find Bleu Frog Vineyards. They’re known for being child and pet-friendly, and they’re open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The Kernan family purchased the land for the vineyards around 2016 and debuted their first wine in 2019. Today, they offer Merlot and Noir, as well as their own special blends, including Bleu Moon Port, Mad Frog, Five Dog Night, and ViviBlanc. If you’re looking for some amazing blended wines, you may enjoy visiting Bleu Frog Vineyards.
Relax at One of Leesburg’s Amazing Hotels, B&Bs, or Resorts
Leesburg, VA has a variety of accommodations available, including hotels, bed and breakfasts, and resorts.
Briar Patch Bed & Breakfast Inn
The Briar Patch Bed & Breakfast Inn is located at a historic farm that started its operations in 1805. The B&B offers 47 acres of peaceful land where visitors can go for walks and view nature. It’s a pet-friendly inn with eight rooms in the house and one cottage. If you need privacy, you might enjoy the cottage or one of the two ground-floor rooms. The six rooms upstairs share three bathrooms. One room has a king bed. The rest have queen beds. Each stay includes a hot breakfast, served buffet-style, in the kitchen.
Leesburg Colonial Inn
The Leesburg Colonial Inn is located in the historic downtown neighborhood. It is a full-service hotel with 10 guest rooms and a full-service restaurant and bar. The guest rooms include comfortable double or queen beds, private bathrooms, cable TV, and WiFi. Each room includes a free hot breakfast for up to two guests if they book via the hotel’s website or at the reception counter.
Food is served at the Georgetown Cafe, which is next to the hotel. Guests can choose from a variety of dishes. Breakfast options include crepes, pancakes, waffles, French toast, eggs, omelets, sausage gravy and biscuits, and breakfast sandwiches. Lunch and dinner options include pizzas, steaks, chicken marsala, chicken alfredo, grilled cheese, apple pies, sandwiches, and soups.
Lansdowne Resort
Lansdowne Resort is a resort that’s located in Leesburg. It encompasses 500 acres and includes a hotel, spa, golf course, and restaurants. The hotel offers deluxe guestrooms and luxury suites. The guestrooms include LCD TVs, Chromecast, workstations, WiFi, mini-fridges, coffee makers, and an in-room safe. The luxury suites include multiple-room living and original artwork, as well as plush bedding. Guests can also enjoy a wetbar and a stocked fridge.
The resort boasts multiple golf courses with a combined 45 holes. The first golf course is the Robert Trent Jones Jr. Course, which contains 18 holes. It’s 7,063 yards and a par-72. The second course is the Greg Norman Course. It’s also an 18-hole course with a par-72. Finally, the resort offers golfers the Greg Norman Sharkbite Course. This is a 9-hole course with five sets of tees. Golfers love it because they can customize their experience.
The spa boasts 12 treatment rooms with two additional rooms for couples, relaxation lounges, steam rooms, dry saunas, and whirlpools. Their treatments include massages, facials, and salon services, including haircuts, highlights, pedicures, and manicures.
Great Places to Eat in Leesburg
Leesburg has plenty of places to grab a bite to eat. There are numerous American eateries, Asian restaurants, Italian restaurants, pizza parlors, and coffee and tea houses.
Catty Corner Cafe
If you’ve ever wanted to visit a cat lounge, you may want to check out the Catty Corner Cafe. They charge $25 to visit with the cats, and it includes a hot or cold drink and a cookie. The cats are from Last Chance Animal Rescue and are available for adoption.
1836 Kitchen and Taproom
The 1836 Kitchen and Taproom is well known for their brews and locally sourced ingredients. Patrons can choose from a variety of dishes, including poutine, pretzels, pulled pork nachos, chili nachos, chicken nachos, wings, mussels, tacos, chili, chicken sandwiches, burgers, steaks, and a variety of salads.
900 Degrees Brick Oven Pizza
900 Degrees Brick Oven Pizza provides patrons with amazing pizzas, including make-your-own, Margherita, Hawaiian, meat lovers, white, Napoli, and BBQ chicken, as well as many other types of pizza. They also have turnovers, subs, burgers, salads, and pasta.
There’s plenty to see and do in Loudoun County. Stay at a bed and breakfast or the Colonial Inn, visit the wineries, and dine at some amazing taprooms, pizza places, and steak houses. It’s sure to be one of your most memorable vacations.
