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.

Delightful place. The lady pouring the wine wanted to be sure we tried the Chard and we are glad she did. I enjoyed that more than expected. The setting is so quiet and beautiful. The drive is pretty to get here as well.

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!! ❤️

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!

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!

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

Good wines, great people. This is a hidden gem for a place to relax. Bring an all wheel drive car so you can go up and see the view from the top.

Let's start off by saying that I've always believed the best adventures and experiences happen off the beaten path and I'm for Ankida Ridge Vineyards that definitely rings true. From the moment you walk in the service is impeccable, we were greeted by Melinda and she was very kind and explained to us the different options for tasting or for just having a glass/bottle. My girlfriend and I went with on tasting of a flight of 5 and a cheese board and let's just say Pinot Noir in VA is a hit! The board paired very nicely and the wine itself was a hit on every level. As for the view I mean look at this photo it is absolutely stunning, the perfect place to spend the afternoon and soak up the nature with a glass or two of wine;)

Special wines with no snob factor and old-fashioned hospitality.Not easy to get to but worth it, or they hook up with restauraants.

Excellent wine and delicious cheese board ... fantastic view of the mountains! Great service!

Covid-19 Review: Pretty long drive from the main road which was narrow, gravel and lots of hills - definitely helpful if you have AWD. Tasting room has a beautiful modern interior and outdoor large patio area with very comfortable spacious seating with nice big umbrellas to give you plenty of shade. I felt like I was sitting at a resort. TASTING: ALL ANKIDA RIDGE $18 Ankida Ridge Sparkling Brut Blancs de Blane 2017: dry and fruity Ankida Ridge Chardonnay 2017: fruit forward, nice balance Ankida Ridge Rosé of Pinot Noir 2020: really delicious full bodied rosé, purchased a bottle of this and enjoyed it on the patio Ankida Ridge Pinot Noir 2019: I don't really like pinot noir but I was very impressed with how good this was, I just couldn't justify the price point We also tasted the Ankida Ridge Patine 2015: this dessert wine had a buttery honey flavor that was so yummy that we also purchased a bottle of this to go. Only two other people were at the winery so it was very serene with the occasional hummingbird stopping by. We had top notch service throughout our 1.5 hour visit. Pro tip: Definitely drive further up the gravel road to take in the breathtaking views from the very top of the winery. There is additional seating to enjoy the gorgeous view. We visited 5 wineries in the area over a two day period and this was by far my favorite!

Amazing place, wines, staff, food all worth the adventure getting there. Highly recommend Amherst County establishment!

Ankida Ridge was our favorite winery out of the 5 wineries we visited including Barboursville, King, Jefferson, and Breaux. The winery is located in the middle of nowhere, and you have to carefully drive 2-3 miles down a one-way winding road, but it is worth it. Walking into the tasting room felt like walking into a Pottery Barn. The set up was rustic and very cute. They have a fantastic view if you choose to sit outside on the deck (there are two levels), but it happened to be raining on the day we visited. The tasting flight we were interested in was not available, as we did come in an hour before closing, so my husband and I got a bottle of the Pinot Noir to share. Ankida Ridge is known for their Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays, which are difficult grapes to grow. We drove over an hour specifically to try the Pinot Noir, and it was superb. We were amazed that a world class wine could be produced in Virginia. We got an extra bottle to go with us too. The staff here were very warm and hospitable. We got to chat with Melinda and Lindsay and they were the absolute best. They offered to take pictures for my husband and I on the deck since we could not sit outside and take advantage of the views. We were probably the last people to leave, but we never felt rushed. If we lived closer, we would come by all the time. If you appreciate good wine, definitely make the drive out and check out Ankida Ridge. You will not be disappointed.

Too bad the review scale maxes out at 5 stars -- this is a jewel of a winery perched on a mountain overlooking the Blue Ridge and Amherst County, producing a remarkable level of wine. The vineyard is a retirement project of Christine and Dennis Vrooman, who started here in 2008 and quickly shot to the top of the Virginia wine world. We have been a dozen times, and every time we go we learn about more examples of people driving up just for a tasting and leaving with a case, a wine club membership, and plans to come back soon. The pinot noir has now won numerous awards, but it's the perfectly balanced, slightly oaked, chardonnay with apple and apricot notes that I fell for. Delightful people. Well worth a trip.

This place was awesome! My favorite wine is a Pinot noir and this winery is one of the only places that grows excellent Pinot noir grapes in Virginia. This boutique winery is located off the beaten path but it is worth the drive. The hospitality is impressive and the wine even more. We got to meet the owner of the winer, take a drive up to a beautiful viewing area, and have delicious wines. I would definitely go back and plan to do so, hopefully soon! I highly recommend this vineyard. You can also visit nearby Crabtree falls.

Lovely tasting room. Choose from indoor and outdoor seating options. (If it's chilly, they will offer you a fleece blanket). Very friendly service. Excellent wines. Beautiful views. You can sample the wines by flights, or buy a bottle. Charcuterie plates available. Don't let the narrow, windy road deter you. The Pinot is so very worth it!

Awesome service, very nice wines. Had a beautiful cheese & meat board. Did I mention wonderful service and very helpful. Would definitely come back.

Visited earlier in the year (before they had a Yelp page). Definitely far...far...far from any wine trails, but worth a trip for the bold of heart! Ankida Ridge is one of the smallest wineries I've ever visited; 2 acres of vines, although they supplement that with grapes from elsewhere. Getting there is quite a trek; GPSs aren't much help, so read the directions on their website carefully. You literally have to go past the 'end of state maintenance' sign and keep going up...and up...until you find their farm. And this place is definitely a farm! But the view from their tasting room patio is worth it. What I tried: Chardonnay: Very good; both toasty and creamy. I can see why this has won so many awards. 2012 Rockbridge Rouge Bordeaux blend: Very earthy Vin Doux port-style made with Chambourcin: Reminded me more of a tawny port than a ruby port; bought a bottle "Vert" Vidal Blanc: My notes fail me so I can only assume I neither liked or disliked it, although Vidal Blancs are always a hard sell for me. Drum roll... Pinot Noir: Best of the bunch, and some critics would say this is Virginia's best Pinot. This grape needs a high altitude to grow well, so few VA wineries can do it. But Ankida's location is perfect for it, and it shows in the results.

We all have those memories that will stick in our minds forever. The day my boyfriend and I decided to take a chance and try this winery was one of them. We were on a random drive and I said "Hey, wanna go to a winery?" We chose Ankida Ridge and I'm so glad we did. Serendipitous for sure. Once you get past the trek it seems to feel to get to it, you're set back into the woods and the serenity is welcoming. Watching the sheep graze and sipping on our flight was a much needed reprieve from our busy lives. We sat on the cushioned couch on the deck and admired the beautiful view. Melinda our server was so welcoming and friendly. We spent hours sipping wine and munching on an amazing platter of cheese, bread, nuts, salami, and dried fruits. I'm so glad we ordered it. It totally hit the spot! Delicious! We even got to meet that day the owners of this winery! Christine and Dennis Vrooman are the sweetest! Great conversation commenced and I can't wait to return. The wine is delicious (do the expanded tasting!) and the tour we received with Dennis was awesome! This winery is definitely worth the trip and I hope you have as amazing of an afternoon as we did. Thank you Ankida Ridge. We can't wait to return.

Honestly the wine was so unmemorable because the service was so abysmal. It actually took quite awhile finding the place, it is not on the GPS. Once arriving, we stood around for approx 10-15 min without so much a greeting. It was very off-putting, we almost left. My friend had purchased some flights and bottles in advance of our arrival, so the rude service was pretty surprising. I came mainly for the views, but it was a rainy day and every single table outside was taken so we sat inside in a corner. Overall, not a great experience here.

I loved this vineyard! I've been to many in the area, but the intimacy of this one as well as the views from up on the mountain was truly amazing. The wine was also very good! Their brut was extremely tasty and the Chardonnay was very fruity and enjoyable as well. While it is not close to many other wineries it is well worth the visit for the wine and pretty Mountain View's.

Definitely worth a stop if you are hiking in the area. I'm usually not a fan of Chardonnay, but theirs was a great wine for a warm spring day on the deck. And what other vineyard do you have to wait for the sheep to cross the road?

My wife and I visited here on Sunday, November 8 and enjoyed it so much we visited again with our daughter on Saturday, November 14. We have easily been to over 100 wineries in the U.S. and Europe over the last 25 years. Ankida Ridge is one of the best, world class. The location is beautiful. The wines are superb, especially their chardonnay and pinot noir. The service is warm and inviting yet very professional, Melinda is world class as is Carmen. The owners, Christine and Dennis, are approchable and very personable, obviously dedicated to a great wine experience. We enjoyed the wine so much we have joined their wine club. Bottom line: if you want excellent wine and a fabulous wine experience visit Ankida as soon as possible !

After reading about this vineyard winning awards at the SF wine competition, it was one that we had to check out when visiting Charlottesville. It definitely did not disappoint. Go early, do a tasting of these fabulous wines and then buy a couple of bottles. Enjoy them on their deck with beautiful view or bring them home.

If you like wine (especially dry) you have to go. It is off the beaten path but the trip into the mountainside is worth it. Great wine, friendly people and what a view! It's well worth the trip! And there is plenty to do for the afternoon including hammocks, bocce ball, horseshoes and more. I'm definitely going back!

My husband and I had a day of wine tasting planned, and after our first stop here we scrapped everything else. Seriously, it's that good. It's a bit of back road driving to get there, but once you turn off onto the road you can't miss it if you go all the way to the end, and they have helpful signs as well. I was having too good a time to even think about pictures, but the view is absolutely idyllic. I would highly recommend doing the expanded tasting menu so you get to try the brut and rose. The brut was AMAZING! I really liked all of their wines, even the chardonnay was delicious which is a wine I historically don't enjoy. The staff was very personable and knowledgeable, and also made you feel right at home (thanks Melinda!) This was an unforgettable experience and we already can't wait to go back! Don't miss out!

Spectacular view! We visited Ankida Ridge Vineyards the day after I got engaged and they made me feel so special! I even found one of my new favorite wines here. Will definitely be going back.

Every mouthful is amazing. Possibly even more so - the views, the drive there and back, the charming farm and warm and interesting people. Please treat yourself and go! Don't use WAZE - our phones don't always set us straight. Follow the instructions on the website and it's easy to find. Ask about the wine club.

I have never tasted heaven and earth at same time perhaps I didn't even think it possible. Words cannot describe this experience. You really shouldn't miss it if you have the chance to go... the Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Port and the hosts are some of the very finest you will ever come across.

We had wine and cheese plate. It was all excellent. The service was also excellent. The reason only 3 stars is because it is so far off the road, up a mountain on a very narrow gravel road with poor signage and a very poor parking lot with very little room.

Visited on a whim today. One of the first really chilly days of the year. Enjoyed the ride to the winery which was a venture in itself. Beautiful small mountain creeks along your typical central Virginia windy mountain road to a beautiful tasting room set on the side of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Those manning the tasting room, who I believe were the owners and winemakers, were very nice and welcoming. Enjoyed their puppy as well. Had their Rogue red blend and a charcuterie plate of cheeses, meats, warm bread, nuts and dried fruits. Amazing views from the deck that was nicely furnished and comfortable even on a chilly day. As a Lburg native, transplanted to Northern Va, I will definitely be back for the ambience and good wine.

This winery is fantastic. It is a bit of a hike through some windy mountain roads to get to the tasting room, but the Chardonnay, Pinot noir, and fantastic people make the trek well worth it. You will be so happy that you took the time to visit this unique, delicious winery. Everyone you meet is very friendly and highly invested in their wine. Bonus - the view from the deck is breathtaking!