Ankida Ridge Vineyards

I have to take a few moments to share how wonderful it is to experience the Ankida Ridge Vineyards. We went for our first visit to their Summer Solstice Sunset event, and were caught off guard by the kindness of the staff, the beauty of the Vineyard, and the quality of the wine. Miranda, Christine, Debbie, and Gwen all treated us like we were long lost family members- talking and sharing while we overlooked the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains and enjoyed the best wine in Virginia, hands-down. It's clear they absolutely love what they do at Ankida Ridge and that the vineyard is a very special place - it shows in the quality of the wine and the wonderful energy of staff, who are truly family and treat you like part of theirs.

I have finally arrived at Ankida! It's a beautiful three-hour drive from Alexandria, VA, but only 30 minutes from the lovely Airbnb where we stayed. Despite the cloudy and drizzling day, the drive was still stunning. We visited on a Saturday and were fortunate that it wasn't crowded. We even witnessed a beautiful couple getting married and capturing some photos - love was definitely in the air! If you were to tie the knot, which winery would you choose? My significant other is thoroughly enjoying the wine excursions and has fallen head over heels for the Chardonnay. I must admit, he has excellent taste - just like me, of course! I decided to indulge in a flight - five for $25 is quite a steal. My personal favorites were the Chardonnay 2023 and the Pinot Noir. We even bumped into the manager of Boxwood, Erin, and her husband. I heard Ankida is one of her favorites, aside from Boxwood, of course! The view at Ankida is absolutely breathtaking, but I definitely need to return on a sunny day to fully appreciate it. Just a heads up, it's a smaller, more intimate winery with exceptional wines, views, and customer service. Cheers to more wine adventures and unforgettable memories!

Excellent winery with great customer service. Fantastic views. Well worth the drive.

Dog-friendly winery with beautiful vineyards. You're encouraged to bring your own snacks or dinner and we did this 9 years ago when this was a pretty new winery. The character of the place hasn't changed a lot. The deck and indoor area are comfortable and fit in to show off the setting. Dogs are allowed on the winery deck and indoors. They packed up a bottle in ice in a plastic bag for us to take up to the top of the vineyard which is a very steep walk past gorgeous views of the vineyard. Some people drove their AWDs up there. The views from above the vineyard are breathtaking and there are many comfortable seating options including a couple hammocks and a fire pit up there, and a porta potty which was clean and placed kind of hidden from the views. There is a home up just above the viewing area. The resident dog (I assume resident) is enormous and visited us, the only dog that was not leashed. Our dog was a bit nervous and at a disadvantage being on leash in meeting him, and he was persistent in looking for a handout or something I'm not sure, so we headed back downhill a few minutes earlier than we would have but fortunately we got a lot of time there before their dog was let out. It was the end of the day so maybe that's the way to get the stragglers to get a move on. We love it here and will come again but maybe take our car up the hill to protect the dog if needed. But we liked the walk. Also the drive there is one that may be a bit off putting for people not used to driving on roads where 2 cars can't pass at every spot. Drive slowly especially where you can't see around a bend and it's okay. But we'll stick to going at a time we don't expect a lot of people to be coming down and leaving at a time we don't expect a lot of people to be coming up. Check out the photos and you'll see it is worth it, plus the verday was cold, tasty, and a good value. Service was outstanding, by the way. Very friendly host and the serving area was being tidied up continuously and was scrupulously clean.

I would like to begin by stating how GORGEOUS this place is. We went from Miami to Virginia for a weekend and it was not planned to pass by there…however! The day of our engagement we decided to visit and it a great decision! As soon as you walk in you take the views and all the staff was wonderful! When they heard of our engagement we were treated like royalty. We tried a wine flight and then ordered a few more items from their menu, all was top notch, not to mention the smooth jazz playing inside. Since our car rental was not a 4 wheel drive we were unable to get to the top mountain, which was recommended, but the Owner (I believe her name was Christine) took us up personally in order to have the whole experience!!!! Needless to say, the place was gorgeous, the wine phenomenal and the staff was super friendly. We felt really special that day. Thank you Akida Ridge, we will be back!! ❤️

Ankida Ridge Vineyard in Amherst County, Virginia, is truly something special. Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, this winery offers an exceptional experience from start to finish. I recently visited with a planned reservation to propose to my now-fiancé at their beautiful overlook during sunset. Audrey, Kathy, and the entire Ankida team were incredibly caring throughout the process of helping me put this together. They went above and beyond, even surprising us with a celebratory toast in the tasting room afterward with many of their members that were around that day. We had the pleasure of meeting Dennis, the owner, which was so authentic. As for the wines at Ankida Ridge, they are phenomenal. Their Gamay, Vin Blanc, Chardonnay, Brut, and Pinot Noir showcase the best of the best in terms of the quality of Virginia wines. Every wine they offer is exceptional to be honest. The combination of breathtaking mountain views, excellent wines, and warm hospitality makes this place something truly special and breathtaking. For anyone looking to experience the best of Virginia wineries, Ankida Ridge is well worth the trip. It's a perfect blend of natural beauty, exceptional wines, and genuine hospitality. Don't miss the opportunity to visit this hidden gem in Virginia's wine country.

Have been visiting regularly since 2010 and plan to continue as long as possible. Great people and beautiful scenery are just the start. This unique Virginia winery, which specializes in cool climate varietals (Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Gamay Noir) grown at relatively high elevation, produces fine wines that compare favorably to offerings from California and France! Don't take my word for it, plan a visit and stay awhile.

What a spectacular wine boutique! My husband and I truly enjoyed our wine tasting - we LOVED the Rose the best!! The view - simply majestic and relaxing! We wished that we could have stayed longer but it was a 3 hour drive home and driving while tasting... We HIGHLY recommend this quaint, hidden gem!