Jefferson Vineyards

Conveniently close by, solid wines, free tasting glass – all in all not a bad experience! The tasting room feels rather crowded since it’s a smaller space, and they have a bit of a patio where you can sit out to enjoy a glass but it doesn’t have the same views as some of the other vineyards around town. My friend and I were a little put out by the woman running the register; she really didn’t seem like she wanted to be there and acted a bit exasperated through the whole encounter, but that being said, the service was great once we actually got to the pourer. Our pourer enjoyed talking about the wines and history of the vineyard and was happy to answer all of our questions.
The tasting was $ 10 and covered a reasonable number of wines. They were all pretty good but none of them wowed us. Jefferson Vineyards is a classic stop for wine tasting on the Monticello Trail for UVa students and families, and the souvenir glass is pretty fun. Fun if you’re doing multiple stops at different wineries around Charlottesville (and Salt is right across the street if you want to stop for lunch)!

Our tasting at Jefferson Vineyards started off terribly, however, the wine server who stepped in was able to make a nice recovery, otherwise this would have been a solid 2 rating and only because the wines were rather enjoyable. We started off walking up to the tasting bar and instead of «hello, welcome to Jefferson Vineyards» we were met by a youngish man with «It’s close to 5pm, I need to find out if we are still doing tastings». To put this into perspective, it was only 4:40pm and again, they close at 6:00pm not 5:00pm. Once he was told to still do tastings by his manager, I’m assuming since she was just supervising behind the bar, he asked the cackling group of girls next to us (who all had stools at the bar-​another big no-​no) to move over slightly to make room for us. After getting the look of death, the rolling eyes, and sighs from them, they grudgingly moved over a tad. The youngerish man got us our glasses, charged us $ 20 for the tasting, and poured our first taste. He was then preoccupied for the next five minutes flirting with the cackling group of girls, one of whom noted they had a bet going on how old he was, to which he seemed way too pleased with himself about. So you’re not left hanging by a thread, he’s 27. He then poured a second wine, and then just disappeared for another 5 minutes, apparently he was getting more crackers for the cacklers. At this point, the «supervisor» swooped in and finished our tasting, and thank god, because I was not prepared to spend any more time next to the cacklers than I had too. She was descriptive, semi-​engaging, and just a complete 180 from the guy pourer.
The wines were nicely varied; a rose, about 5 whites, and 4 reds. My favorite white was the Vin Blanc, which had distinct melon and pineapple accents. I had two favorite reds-​the Petit Verdot and the Vin Rouge. The former was very bold with hints of vanilla and coffee, while the latter was bursting with cherry and cranberry notes.
The grounds are beautiful and extend out far with patio chairs scattered about. You can also bring your own chairs as well as your own food. I would definitely recommend adding this vineyard to your winery tour; just make sure you don’t receive «service» (or lack thereof) from the younger male pourer.

Decent wine but the bartender was kind of a dick. He was upset that we had bar stools at the bar, saying he was worried people wouldn’t be able to use the tables behind us. There was no one else here. We won’t be returning.

Who knew that Virginia makes wines this good? We tasted a flight of ten (red and white) wines in their tasting and they were all good. I would say that they are pricy. For $ 25 a bottle – the average price of a bottle, you get some pretty stiff competition from California or France. Still, we bought a bottle to bring home with us.

Was in the Charlottesville area and stopped by this vineyard because it was close. We LOVED our experience! We did the tasting and all of there wines were delicious! Our pourer was very knowledgeable and took the time to explain everything. He was very personable. We bout a bottle to drink and a bottle to take home. They have a ton of seating options. There is a shady deck, a patio with umbrella tables and many lawn chairs scattered throughout. We grabbed some lawn chairs to soak up some sun and enjoy the gorgeous views. I’m definitely coming back to this area just for this vineyard.
If you love cheese and crackers with your wine then I would say to make sure you bring your own. The options they sell are few and the shop down the street is pretty pricey for such small portions and options.

If you like good wine & Jefferson Vineyards isn’t on your list of Cville area wineries to visit, add it now! Tasted 9 wines on their tasting menu & enjoyed 7 of them. Not sure that’s ever happened before?! The fee also includes the wine glass.
Tasting room is simply just that, a tasting bar with a few small souvenirs available for purchase as well. There is an overflow tasting room just across the gravel drive that offers inside seating, otherwise there’s tables & chairs on the patios & deck, as well as a couple Adirondack chairs on the lawn. Though we didn’t stick around seemed like a great place to sit back, relax & enjoy some deliciously blended wines!

Jefferson Vineyards and Winery is a cool place to stop for the historical significance, but the wines were just okay.

This was my first time visiting the winery. I’ve tried others in the cville area but never made it out here. I’m glad I did because their wines were great. The vineyard itself isn’t that picturesque but the wine makes up for it. There are two tasting rooms, one smaller than the other and a nice patio in between the two. You get to taste 10 different wines for $ 10. The girl leading our tasting was personable and knowledgable about the wine and gave us suggestions on other vineyards to visit. I thought their whites were better than their reds. My favorite was their Viognier and regret not getting a bottle. Out of the three wineries I visited, Jefferson had the best tasting wines by far!

I had a really good time at Jefferson Vineyards when I visited for the first time on a Saturday afternoon. We did 10 tastings for $ 10, and I enjoyed 90% of the wines I tried. The girl who gave us the tastings was very knowledgeable about her wines and went above and beyond while helping us. She even gave us a map of all the vineyards in the Charlottesville area and recommended the ones she thought we’d enjoy. I bought my only bottle (Petit Verdot) from Jefferson and we visited three vineyards that day. I wouldn’t mind re-​visiting if I’m ever in the Charlottesville area again.

We stopped by here after Monticello and it was a really nice break from being surrounded by people. The atmosphere is much more intimate. The tasting room is one long counter and the employees are very nice. Their wine selection is really good and the ambiance is great. We sat out on the patio with a glass after doing the tasting and it was really relaxing. There is not a lot of seating if it was packed but when we were there it was just enough. It was beautiful and I would definitely go back.

I’ve been to Jefferson Vineyards twice now. It’s super close to Monticello, so if you go there on a busy summer day and have some time to kill before your tour time, Jefferson is a good place to do just that. They have two tasting rooms, and a lot of outdoor seating on a deck outside of one and a patio outside of the other. The tastings are $ 10 and include a larger number of vines than some of the other vineyards in the area as well as the glass. I also love that the glass has a silhouette of TJ on it. On both visits, the people who lead our tastings were very personable and really made the experience even better. The last time I was there, our tasting was lead by an older gentleman who was a retired teacher, and he did an awesome job!
I loved most of the wines at Jefferson – my favorites were the Cab Franc and the meritage (pronounced as rhyming with heritage). This is a vineyard that knows how to do wine very, very well. It’s probably one of my favorites for the wine and not just the overall experience. If you’re doing the Monticello Wine Trail, you definitely shouldn’t miss Jefferson. And, they just changed their hours, so they will now be open until 6pm.

Of the 3 wineries we checked out in Albemarle Co yesterday, this was my personal favorite. As with the others, the setting was gorgeous. The quality of the wines, particularly the whites, is what stood out for me above the others. The Chardonnay and Pinot Gris were my two faves. The guy giving us our tasting was also wonderful. Friendly, knowledgeable and offered some great suggestions for other stops in the Cville area. Though it was very busy on a Saturday, they had two tasting rooms open and we didn’t have to wait for a tasting. The tasting was a great deal, too. For $ 10, we got to try 10 different wines and keep the glass.

Jefferson Vineyard is right next to Monticello, the de-​facto epicenter of Virginia wine. The grounds are nice, but then again, how can you go wrong when you’re next door to Thomas Jefferson’s home?
Wines: 3.5 stars
Facilities: 3 or 4 stars, depending on how much you enjoy history
Service: Easily 4 stars; might have been more if not for how busy it was
My $ 10 tasting gave me 10 wines; compared to many neighbors, that’s a good deal. I also appreciated it’s mostly estate grown — always a plus for me. The service was also very good. Everyone knew the history of the estate very well, and had great descriptions of the wine.
I wasn’t a fan of all my tastings, but there were several reds that stood out. The 2014 Cab Franc was very good, and I never would have guessed it was such a young vintage. I also liked the 2013 Meritage quite a bit; it arguably was on the young side but it will get even better with time. While I loved their 2012 Meritage, I came a day too late — it had just sold out! The 2013 Pinot Gris was also pretty good.
The other wines I wasn’t as crazy about. As with many Viogniers, I didn’t like the nose. I wish I knew why some Viogniers are like that for me, but I found this one very off-​putting. I also didn’t like the 2014 Chardonnay much either — again, something with the nose. But as with many whites, that’s just a personal preference for me, as it’s hard to satisfy me with anything that’s not a bold red.
While I didn’t love the others, I didn’t dislike them either. The Rose was OK, and the 2014 Chardonnay Reserve had just a little bit of creaminess. The 2013 Petit Manseng was light on the fruit; I think I got some melon out of it. I didn’t like the nose of the Vin Rouge red blend (can’t remember the components), but I did like the earthy flavor.
All in all, I’d rate Jefferson as about in the middle of my latest Charlottesville wine tasting excursion. Good service & a few standout wines. Not bad for a visit.

Right down the road from Monticello is Jefferson Vineyards. They have one of my favorite chardonnays (if you like oak). Last time I went there though they were all out of it. They also sell this wine at the Monticello gift shop for the same price and I was able to find what I wanted there.
The staff here was very friendly and even gave me a map of other nearby vineyards to check out while I was in the area. The rest of wines were still pretty good and this is one of the better places to go in the area.

I came here today with three friends, and found it to be a decent winery. I wasn’t impressed with the views, but the wines themselves weren’t bad. The tasting costs $ 10, and you get to keep a cool glass with an imprint of Jefferson’s face! I also liked the wooden lawn chairs and patio area with tables outside.
The variety and number of wines during the tasting was nice; I’ve paid more for less at other VA wineries. I’m sure anyone can find something to like here. While the individual tastings are tiny, you can re-​taste as you’d like, and a full-​glass pour is cheap. There are two small tasting rooms — only one has indoor seating. We happened to go into the one without the seating (on the left), and the girl who poured our wines was friendly, approachable, and knowledgeable. This room also has some cute trinkets for purchase, including local chocolates, magnets, and other gifts.
Bottom line: this is a modest winery, good for a small group outing. The views aren’t the best for photo-​taking, but the range of wines in the tasting is pretty good.

Visited this winery after a tour of Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello and it was just the right spot for a relaxing and restful time tasting wines and enjoying one of the wines with an impromptu picnic featuring cheeses and crackers purchased there as well.
The server was personable and shared lots of great stories about the winery and the area. The interior is an intimate space with a long counter and some cute, clever retail items stocked throughout.
It is located in a lovely setting that adds to the feeling that you have truly gotten away from crowds, congestion and commercial developments.
The wines varied from really nice to not quite right for me and the prices seemed reasonable. When we arrived around midday on a weekday, only one or two others were there. But by the time we finished the tastings — and there were several wines to sample — people were lined up all along the counter which seems to indicate this place has a following.
Picturesque, peaceful and not pricey. Good place to know and good place to go!

I have been to Jefferson Vineyards a few times now, and the view and wine have made me a repeat customer. Really like their Viognier and Pinot Gris. They’ve made a Riesling before too that is quite good — it’s dry not sweet.
The grounds are lovely, although the tasting room is rather small. Tastings are $ 10 and you get to keep the glass.
I also appreciate that they are pet friendly, so I can bring the pup to enjoy the vineyard.

Wine was great.
Laid back atmosphere.
Small sandwich shop right before the winery in case you need food.

The ideal winery for novices due to the large sampling of wine, the large grounds, and the quality of the wines served.
This was the first winery I was ever taken to in Charlottesville, and even after visiting a dozen other places this place still holds up. This is one of the most popular wineries due in large part to its proximity to Monticello and Michie’s Tavern (both are wonderful and you should make it a day with those two and this winery). This place fills up early, and is a popular location for bachelorette parties and UVA students. There are two tasting rooms — one long bar in the bar and another in a smaller building off to the side. Jefferson has a large rolling lawn and frequently features live music during the summer.
The tasting is a bit pricier than most other wineries, but you can’t beat the variety of wine that you’ll taste. You’ll taste approximately 8 – 9 wines, and you’ll run the full gauntlet — Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Viognier, Cabernet Franc, Meritage, etc. Although none of them stick out in my mind (except the super sweet dessert wine Vin Blanc), they are all well crafted and reasonably priced per bottle ($ 15.95-$ 29.95).
You can’t go wrong with Jefferson: always reliable with a variety of tastings coupled with its close proximity to tourist attractions makes this a go-​to winery.

We came by here around 11am on a Friday. When we walked in, we just kind of stood by the door because it wasn’t clear what exactly to do. After about 2 minutes of standing there awkwardly, finally a worker asked if we were here for a tasting and that they would be with us in a minute.
We started our tasting and a different lady took over. She was ok, but didn’t really offer many details and actually got annoyed when I had to walk away from the counter for a second to take a phone call. The wine was just ok, nothing really stuck out to us and the tasting was $ 10 which was kind of pricey. The tasting room is small and it’s just the tasting counter and register, there is nowhere to sit inside.
There are tons of wineries in the area, so I would recommend trying some of the other ones.