Early Mountain Vineyards

We recently visited Early Mountain Winery to celebrate my birthday, and it was a wonderful experience from start to finish. The food was fantastic—beautifully prepared and flavorful. I started with the pan-seared rockfish minestrone, which was incredibly good. I have some sensitivities to certain seasonings and noticed a slight throat itch, so just to be safe, our amazing waitress graciously offered to bring me a different dish. I tried the roasted gold bar squash, and honestly, it blew me away. I’ve never had squash prepared that way—tender, perfectly seasoned, with just the right touch of Parmesan Reggiano. We also shared the marinated olives and cheese, and everything was fresh and well balanced. The wine flight we tried included the Madison County Chardonnay 2022, Petit Manseng 2022, Capstone Cabernet Franc 2021, and Eluvium 2021. Each wine had something special to offer depending on your taste. I typically lean toward dry reds, but my husband and I both really loved the Petit Manseng—it had the perfect balance of flavor, texture, and acidity. We ended up getting a bottle and took the rest home to enjoy with Sunday lunch—it was just as delicious chilled the next day. The service and hospitality were top-notch. Every staff member was warm, friendly, and genuinely welcoming—even just walking past, everyone greeted us. That attention to guests really sets the tone and shows how much they care about the experience. The views are absolutely stunning, and next time we plan to sit outside to soak them in even more. The ambiance was perfect for a special occasion or a relaxing date day—we even brought along a couples game to enjoy while we sipped and took in the atmosphere. Kudos to the staff, the chef, the winemakers, and management for creating such a beautiful, thoughtful experience. We’ll definitely be back soon!

Amazing lunch at the restaurant! We came for the wine tasting and were blown away by the delectable food (quite reasonably priced in our opinion). Every dish we tasted had an interesting and well-balanced combination of ingredients and flavors. My absolute favorite was the strawberry gazpacho which was beautifully presented (photo attached) and had a delicious mix of different textures (softness of the strawberry puree/buttermilk vs. crunchiness of the radish/cucumber). Also a special mention for the cheese plate - great to see them showcasing products from Virginia, and all three cheeses were delightful in their own way. Other than the food, the restaurant itself is lovely and provides different seating options - airy and impeccably furnished inside, with a more casual atmosphere on the patio. We chose the latter as it has a view of the vineyards and had a very pleasant time. My only minor comment is that the service could be a little more refined for a place delivering such high quality food. Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our lunch at Early Mountain and highly recommend!

This was truly a chef's kiss experience! My wife and I came to celebrate her birthday and we had an amazing time. Maggie our waitress really took care of us. She was super friendly, helped us narrow down what to eat, and helped us select which flights to try. We landing on getting the cold crab salad, bison tartar, mussels, and bison rib eye and they were all soooo good! Seriously, so damn good! I think we did the Elevate flight with 2 whites and 2 reds and we really enjoyed all of them. We're typically reds folk, but the Madison Chardonay got us. At the end of our feast we walked away joining the wine club and getting 3 bottles to take with us back home. In addition to the food and the stunning atmosphere we also really appreciated the diversity of all the guests dining there. You dont always know what to expect when traveling to smaller towns and cities, but my wife and I felt fully comfortable and respected. We gonna be back... next weekend to bring my mother in law when shes visiting.

We love Early Mountain Vineyard! It is one of the most luxurious vineyards that we have been to, and the food is upscale and delicious. We have a specific love for their white wines. What sells it for us is allowing dogs on their patio, as we hate to leave our 4-legged friend behind!

Amazing food and fantastic service. Being 30 years in the industry, my fiancé and I recently visited you and had a fantastic dinner. Our server Ellie was also knowledgeable and very professional. We will definitely be back. Thank you so much for your hospitality and all of your professionalism and talent to make our anniversary special. Cheers!

Upscale winery experience. Their indoor and outdoor are immaculate, the staff are friendly and knowledgeable about the wines and made excellent recommendations. Their menu was absolutely delicious and paired well with the wines. We came with our dog too and they were so kind and always checked in to make sure there was enough water for her too. I would recommend this winery to anyone visiting the area!

Yes! Everything about this place is just correct. The tasting room and dog friendly outdoor patio are extremely beautiful. There was a wedding there when we arrived and I can see why someone would want to get married in that space. It's stunning. The service was fantastic! Our server, Sarah, was super helpful and attentive. We also met a gentleman who was a food runner who talked to us about his dog, Stella, and he was so kind with our dogs! The food was the best meal l've had in a long time. The Executive Chef trained at the inn at little Washington and he and his team did not disappoint! We had the bread, amberjack, halibut, cavatelli, and bison and everything was delicious and reasonably priced. My partner and I each had a flight and the Petit Manseng was the standout. It was amazing! Tasted like grilled pineapple. Highly recommend this place!

Amazing venue for a wedding. Even better, is the staff that helps you plan it! Melissa helped my fiancè and I plan the most gorgeous wedding that went off without a single hitch. She was even available at the last minute to be my day of coordinator when mine unexpectedly fell through. If I could give 6 stars to her I would! P.S. - if you want (actually) good wedding food book here. One of my biggest compliments following the wedding was how great the food was. We served the steak and lobster!

What makes this winery/vineyard a must visit and also one of the best in Virginia? I'm glad you asked. As someone who has now been to 17 wineries/vineyards in MD and Virginia, it's the entire experience from beginning to end. You walk into a beautiful and cozy atmosphere. The service is great, the views are beautiful, everything is clean, and you also are surrounded by staff that truly know their wines. But forget the atmosphere and quality of staff, the food and wines are next level. The attention to detail in choosing the ingredients and flavors and also the creativity is elevated, unique, and expansive. You will not find a menu like this anywhere else nearby. This was my first time trying caviar and I can't say I'm usually a fan of mushrooms, cauliflower, and raisins, but the chef made everything taste delicious. I would have never expected to enjoy the food so much. Even the grilled bison ribeye. I've tried bison once before and it wasn't bad but this bison was perfection. To put it to you plainly, everything was so good, I wish I had a second order of everything. You ever just eat something and nod your head and be at peace? That's how I felt while eating this food. And the wines were perfect pairings! I loved how light and crisp the Early Mountain, Pet Nat Blanc '23 was. I also really enjoyed the light hint of fruit with the Early Mountain, Chardonnay '22 and how bold but not overpowering the Early Mountain, RISE '19 was. And lastly, the Early Mountain, Brut Rose, NV was paired with our chocolate dessert and seemed to have a taste of a hint of chocolate which I thought was fascinating. I'm not a huge fan of chocolate, but they made this dessert pairing very good. This culinary experience is $80 without the wine pairing is $130 with the pairing. They also have a rental home on their property if you prefer to make a night or weekend out of visiting there. It was beautiful and cozy!

Came to Charlottesville with the hubby and our faithful friend, our pup,, for the long weekend and decided to visit this winery with a mechilin star chef. The hubby made reservations since it's a busy place to get into. We had the wine pairing taste menu. I expected the food to be paired with wine from their winery but the had most of the food paired with French wines. I am a Virginia resident and an all-American gal when I go to a winery in the USA. Thus, needless to say this was a disappointment. The food was good but I wouldn't say memorable to the point I would definitely come back for. The bison was the best out all four courses. It was perfectly cooked and seasoned with the best cooked and seasoned vegetables I have had in a while. As a Latin American the dessert was extremely lacking. The chocolate was great with the passion fruit but as a real coconut lover you either place real coconut over it or skip the failed attempt with what appeared to be coconut "sand". The place looked nice, the service was attentive, but if you want the pretentious ambiance that you had you need to up your food and pair it with your own wines. I don't mind paying for a great meal that makes it an overall memorable experience that I will come back to but I can honestly say that this one of those overhyped places that I can say "been there, done that" but do not care to do again.

Came back today for yet another 5-star visit. Such a lovely time for my sister's birthday. Thank you, Chelsie, for the impeccable service, as always!!

Winemaker Magazine trip to Charlottesville, VA Day 3 Early Mountain Vineyard is a prominent winery located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Madison, Virginia. The tasting room is the highlight, providing a welcoming atmosphere where visitors can sample wines, enjoy local cuisine, and take in the picturesque views. Owned by Jean Case, EMV employs Maya Hood White as their winemaker and except for a few roles is largely ran by women. Fantastic food being created by Tim Moore, Executive Chef, and we were certainly well-attended to by Michael Seay, Director of Wine & Hospitality, both of Inn at Little Washington fame. This venue is simply stunning!

Absolutely loved this place, tasting and food will cost you about $250 for two. 1. Reservation: a must. They're always fully booked 2. Service: servers were very friendly and nice. The manager dude comes out and checks on all tables but skipped us, I wondered if it was because we were the only not all white people table. That was weird, although I wasn't into chatting with a stranger, I hate when you treat your customers differently. 3. Food: 4-4.5 stars I read they were the best food in a vineyard place, it may still be true given the 'vineyard' as a filter. It was quite good, but I won't go as far as to say the best ever. 4. Ambience: really beautiful calming view, nice indoor space, clean bathrooms and tall ceilings make it very serene 5. Outdoor space is great too, with a little stage where bands can play and all tables having equally good view of it. I still think it's a great place, quite expensive compared to other wineries, but worth it.

This was a meh visit and left me unsatisfied as far as wineries go. I felt like the staff was a bit on the cold/snobby side of things and the inside is just for the restaurant, so it doesn't feel like a normal winery and you're not treated the same if you don't have a reservation for the restaurant. However, we only wanted to stop in for wine. Walking in, we felt like we were maybe in the wrong place and when we walked up to the counter where wine was being served, they didn't really pay any attention to us. When they finally attended to us, we were told we needed to go back to the front "desk" (aka the stand with no one there) to "check in"... we did this and then someone showed up and told us we were good to proceed back to the counter... but they never took our name or anything. All in all, just a weird experience and I did not feel very welcome. The wine was just ok and was pricey - unfortunately not enough to make me come back. View outside was decent but I wouldn't return because I really didn't feel that comfortable here.

Had a lovely experience at Early Mountain. The views of the Shenandoah valley were stunning and the food selection was delicious. Started with the hipster wine flight. Our favorite was the cider not sour at all and had citrusy and sweet notes. Also had a dessert wine which was our second favorite and kinda had a honey taste. The brushetta was great almost tasted like I was eating a deconstructed oyster with the anchovy flavor. The tartare was fresh and delicious. The fusilli was fresh and flavorful as well, liked the pine nuts in the pasta. Scallops were pretty good a little overcooked however. Yuzu cheesecake was pretty good as well but not knock your pants off though. Overall a fantastic experience especially with our well behaved pooch.

After driving over an hour and a half and booking an air bnb near so we would not have to drive back home, I was a bit disappointed in my first experience at Early Mountain. I have been wanting to try them for quite some time after following them on social media. The winery is beautiful and the service itself was top notch. The hostess who greeted us was smiley, warm and inviting. The waitress came over almost immediately after we sat down to greet us and go over the menu. The tasting menu was the plan I had in mind before coming however, after arrival I saw it was all vegetarian which is nice for veggie lovers but most things didn't peak my interest. The couple of items on the tasting menu that I did wanna try were not able to be ordered à la carte. We were off to a good start, we ordered a bottle of EM wine that was recommended by our waitress which tasted great. Next came the crab salad which surprisingly was my favorite dish of the night. For $36 the cheese board was the start of my disappointment. It looked nice but was just lacking. We ended up needing more bread which cost $8 more for 3 more pieces bringing the cheese plate over to over $40.00. The ribeye bison was cooked to just the right temperature, however when you got to the middle it went from being tender to very chewy. The scallops were over salted and cut in half so half of it was missing the known scallop sear. I am not 100% sure of what the name of the wine "cocktail" was that I ordered, I saw it come out for another table and requested one from our waitress. It was so delicious that I ended up ordering three more. Although the visit was not the one I expected I truly hope this was just a fluke. I will be back in the area again in June and look forward to giving Early Mountain another opportunity.

We came to Early Mountain Vineyards for a Sunday brunch. We were immediately impressed by the interior decor and setting of the restaurant. The menu offers both fixed price and a la cart options. Each dish comes with a wine suggestion. I tried the fixed price menu but did not include the wine paring. The food was very good but was slightly over-seasoned for me. I think the food is meant to be enjoyed with the wine. My friends who included the wine paring really loved their dishes. Overall, we had a lovely time.

Perfect Sunday Funday adventure! This vineyard is super cute! Kind of far but well worth the drive and experience. Just loved the aesthetics of this place. The vibes were just what we needed to unwind and enjoy the moment on a beautiful fall day. We dined inside and each of us chose a different flight. I ordered the "Blanc" tasting which I enjoyed. A flight of all white wine selections...Nothing really stood out for me to want to share a bottle of and surprisingly neither did of the wines from my friends selections, which 2 opted for the "Taste" which had more variety, which included a white, red and rosè wines and the other had the "Fall" which were red wines. Since nothing stood out for us- we just opted to enjoy a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc which was very nice! Smooth and refreshingly crisp! I feel like a Sauvignon Blanc is always a safe choice... To start we had a baguette with butter and a charcuterie board. The bread was nice and warm...freshly baked paired well with the butter. No complaints on dishes...maybe adding a bit more options...but making due with what was in the menu I ordered a couple small plates: the mussels which were a bit bland...and the Brussels sprouts and they were delicious. The Ribeye and Halibut dishes were also good options. For dessert we also ordered the Rumchata Pound Cake and Crème Brûlée. Both were delicious as well. I did have an espresso with my dessert and I probably could've done without that! But I LOVE espresso!! the espresso tasted like it was burnt or maybe not filtered enough...very bitter and not the taste I was expecting. Anyhoo all in all the grounds alone we're just beautiful. Outside you could feel the breeze of fall vibes in the air! Maybe adding some hot coco/cider for those wanting to venture outside...but I guess with enough wine it'll definitely warm you up!!! Hahaaa! *Cheers!!*

One of the most beautiful wineries in Virginia, early mountain shines in both its atmosphere and its food and wine. The petite manseng was our favorite, the pineapple notes weren't too sweet and tasted unlike any wine I've ever had. As far as food, we had very high expectations as the chef was a sous at the three Michelin star restaurant, the Inn At Little Washington. However, despite the interesting prix fix menu, the execution fell a little short. The caviar for example, had the bright brininess of the caviar but it was overshadowed by the potato and crème fraiche. That seems to be the theme of the meal, really great ingredients and preparation but the balance and execution was just a hair off. I think this would be a great place to come for the wine and a few select bites to accompany but the wine is definitely the star of the show here. Impeccable service and a beautiful environment make this winery a place worth visiting.

Service was great. Wine is really good as well. Don't come on an empty stomach tho. The food is so Amazing but not meant for an actual meal. The ambiance is one of a kind. Loved every minute of it.

Enjoyed a nice late Sunday afternoon here at Early Mountain. We didn't have a reservation but that was no problem as we were quickly seated. My guy and I shared the mixed flight (can't recall the name) of reds, whites and a rosé. For food we ordered the half baguette, butternut squash soup and crispy brussel sprouts. Everything was warm and delicious! Our sever was attentive and helpful. We each had a glass of wine after our meal. The sparking rosé was divine! We thoroughly enjoyed our time here and hope to be back soon!

First off the Whole Restaurant and the vineyard/property is absolutely stunning (both inside and outside). It's Fancy and yet casual. The service and the food was absolutely INCREDIBLE--like Michelin Star quality. I recommend doing the Chefs tasting 4 course meal/menu. It's expensive but worth every penny!

This was my third time visiting Early Mountain and I'm impressed with each visit. Edwin our host made this a lasting memory. He gave my mom and aunt who was visiting out of town the best service ever. He went the extra mile and even took the best pictures of us! We are def looking forward to visiting again and thank you again to Edwin!

This place is amazing for several reasons: 1. The ambiance inside screams luxury comfort! (If you don't know what that means...it's nice without overdoing it or making you uncomfortable) 2. The outside seating gives breathtaking views of the mountain backdrops 3. The food was awesome! They only serve dry wines here but their wines are full of flavor and goes down smoothly.

Such a beautiful winery and the staff were incredible. The food was delicious and everything was so fresh. The wines are also *chefs kiss*. Highly recommend!!

I had a good experience at this vineyard. I tried a white wine and a rose wine which were both refreshing. They also have a food menu. I enjoyed the burger that I had. They have both seating inside and outside. The outside had a nice view of the surroundings and the inside had an elegant country vibe. I also got a wine mug from here which has come in handy.

Went there for the Chef's Tasting menu and while everything was well-presented and tasted flavorful, the wait was very long. We waited an hour just for the first 2 courses to come out, and then another 45 minutes for the last 2 courses. Our waitress gave us fantastic service and apologized profusely for the wait. Next time we'll probably just stick to the wine.

I made reservations for the 12P Elevated tasting experience for my husband and I. It was $80/pp and I booked a week in advance. We arrived 15 minutes early and we were greeted my very friendly staff. The grounds / tasting area was really beautiful. The music wasn't too loud, but was a nice backdrop. They had just opened, so it wasn't really busy - but by the time we left it was pretty busy. We were escorted downstairs to the private tasting area. The elevated tasting seats 8 people total; we were seated with 3 other couples at a long table. The host that gave us our tasting was a really nice guy, but the lack of information (outside of the winery's history) was slightly disappointing. No tasting notes given...and at one point he just said that we can taste at our own pace and he didn't want to give us notes because he didn't want to tell us what we were supposed to taste. The entire time it felt more like we were at a restaurant and told to drink what was placed in front of us; this felt in no way elevated outside of the venue. Maybe some people prefer the less structured tastings, but I am not that person and at $80/pp I thought there would have been more info / structure to the tasting. After 10-15 minutes we were served a plate of cheese, crackers, olives, and a small hot appetizer. All were lovely and it paired wonderfully with 2 of the 5 wines. My husband and I were excited for the next plate to be served....but sadly that was it. No other plates. I was absolutely stunned and thought for sure that the verbiage on the website eluded to more than a tiny plate of cheeses / crackers.... the website specifically says this: "Join us for a beautifully curated wine tasting and culinary experience in our Wine Library". I am sorry....but a small plate of cheese with a tiny slab of rock fish that pairs with only 2 of the 5 wines is not a culinary experience.... it was a small snack and it left my husband and I starving. We laughed it off and just decided to eat in their restaurant (and pay more money). We were able to get a table for 2 upstairs. The food was pretty good. We had the Chèvre board w/ prosciutto to start. That was a HUGE portion. After that we split the sweet crab salad. This salad took almost 30 minutes to arrive after the appetizer was finished. The salad was good, but not great. After that we ordered a glass of the late harvest and the carrot cake. The carrot cake was so disappointing....dry, weird flavors - just not great. Our server never brought the wine so when she finally came back over I asked her about the wine. Her response was "oh, yeah, it is chilling". Uh, ok. I was a server - I get it...it's busy and we forget things. It's ok. But don't lie about it. The three of us all knew the wine was not 'chilling'. Either way, it eventually got to the table and it was not good. I love a good late harvest / dessert wine, but this is not it. Our server eventually comped the wine because "it took so long to get to us" (her words) - but we never asked for it (and we never finished the wine either). That was nice for her to do, but I would rather have had a server that was a little more attentive and our lunch not to take 90 minutes for an appetizer, a salad, and dessert for 2 people. Overall, this place gets the high rating because of the gorgeous setting. The wine was good, but nothing I would buy to consume at home. The Petit Manseng was the best out of the lineup, with the Cabernet Franc being just decent at best. The wines were flabby with no finish. The food was good and honestly something I would come back for if I knew the service would be better, but for the price and the drive I will just go somewhere local and bring my own bottle. All this being said, I think it is worth trying if you normally enjoy Virginia wines. Just go when it's not busy and don't bother with the elevated tasting - do the regular tasting and just order food.

Loved this place! Went after a hike with my dad and husband for my dad's 84th birthday. (He hiked 4 miles on the AT and he's legally blind!!!) My husband and I had flights, my dad two glasses of the Madison red. We also got all the apps to share. Anchovies killed it! Chart board was really good too. My dad hit glass #2 and spilled a good amount of it. They gave him a brand new glass. Service was amazing. Atmosphere is both laid back and formal. As I said we came from a hike- we had sweaters and jeans. There was also a bride's maid party- they were all dressed up. All were welcome.

Ambiance was nice and grand; the interior was elegant and beautiful. It's the perfect spot to splurge on food and wine if you're up for the drive. My friends and I drove almost two hours to Early Mountain Vineyards this past Friday afternoon since it was on our way to our cabin getaway. The hosts were really accommodating and changed our reservation from outdoors to indoors instantly despite our large group size. However, our server wasn't really paying too much attention to our group so we definitely had to wait awhile to get her attention (to get the check and such). MUSSELS - 19 This doesn't seem to be on the menu anymore since they change their food very regularly. There was a good amount of mussels, but one of them wasn't cracked open so I was disappointed that it felt like a waste? The bacon au jus was interesting and unique and the mussels soaked up the flavors decently well. I also enjoyed most of the au jus by itself once I finished eating the mussels. Overall, not bad, but not sure if I'd recommend it. BISON TARTARE - 23 I only had a bite of this, but I'd highly recommend it. One of my friends ordered it because he was curious about how they used Asian-style flavors to create the dish (description: Grilled Rye, Koji Sauce, White Shoyu, Tokyo Turnip, Garlic Two Ways). This was phenomenally done as the tartare was very delicious and well worth the price. It also sat on top of a piece of crispy rye toast that was somehow just really impressive. I really enjoyed this and is the reason why I'm giving this establishment a 4/5 on Yelp. FALL - 24 This is the wine tasting we had (2 white wines and 2 red wines). This is probably my first wine flight which I ended up sharing with a couple friends. I'm not a huge wine expert (and honestly don't really drink), but one of the red wines was relatively enjoyable. The white wines were just OK. Overall, you get 2 oz. of each wine and definitely worth giving it a try if you're a wine flight fanatic! Overall, above average experience. This is my first time going to a vineyard and it definitely made me want to check out more in the future since there's so many in Virginia! I should probably be more open trying the wines and not just the foods, though.

My daughter was married at Early Mountain Vineyard (EMV) this past Saturday (10/5) and it was amazing . The facility is spectacular and we lucked out with perfect weather, so that helped. But from the planning to the event to the cleanup, I can't imagine a more professional and competent crew. The on staff planner, Josh Kleppinger, was fantastic! Even when I wasn't pleased with his answer to a question/request, he delivered it pleasantly and professionally. He was totally responsive, answered calls and emails quickly, and completely knows how to make an event smooth and enjoyable. We had a challenge with one of the guests and he handled it perfectly! From the set up, to the appetizers, to the bar, to the dinner, to the clean-up - they were amazing. On a human note, Josh had a wedding Friday night, my daughter's wedding Saturday night (which went until midnight) and a big wedding on Sunday - Josh handled it all (well, I assume he handled Sunday's event - I wasn't invited!). PLUS, after we all cleared out after midnight, Josh stayed and broke down our wedding and had all the hurricane lamps that we brought repacked and ready for us to cart away Sunday morning! He might be slender but he's a beast! The wedding turned out SO very much better than we could have ever imagined! Thank you Josh and the rest of the EMV team! Oh, I've posted a couple of pics of part of the reception space but these are amateur pics - we won't have the professional ones for some time.

Four of us went there for lunch on a Friday afternoon. We had the charcuterie plate, Sicilian white anchovies, marinated olives, baby burrata, charred halloumi, and for dessert we had the zucchini cake and panna cotta. We had the gold medal Madison County Red and a white wine. Everything was delicious and I highly recommend any one of these items. All were excellent and very tasty. Service was also top notch. Scenery and decor are outstanding. The only issue we had is that we would have liked a salad to go with our lunch but for some strange reason they served salad but only on the meadow menu which didn't make sense to us. We also would have liked to order off the meadow menu for lunch as there were items that we preferred there but we were told that we couldn't because they couldn't mix menus. We had to eat at the limited table menu, which had only 3 choices of mains.

This place is GORGEOUS, with excellent service, great food, and was the place to teach me that I actually like wine. I came here with a friend's family for his graduation dinner and couldn't have had a better experience. The flights were perfectly paired. Highlights included the view, the bison, and beautiful interior.

Yes! Yes! Yes! The endive salad was remarkable. The butter nut squash soup was devine.

Delightful experience at Early Mountain this past weekend. We had reservations on NYE and were surprised to see how packed the winery was. My boyfriend and I ordered flights (Quaker Run, Taste, Cabs) and I had a glass of the sparkling rose and Quaker run rose. The red wine varieties and Quaker Run rosé were my favorites. For light bites we got the charcuterie board and butternut squash soup. I must admit this was the best butternut squash soup I've had in a long time. The Apple bits were the perfect addition/surprise. The winery is beautiful inside and out (even on a rainy day). Would definitely make a drive back to enjoy the back patio during the warmer months.

I'm very fortunate that my wife used to work for the owner of Early Mountain. It means we get to come here often!! This is easily one of the top 5 wineries in all of Virginia. Combine that with the absolutely fantastic experience you can have here on-site and this place is an absolute winner! The wines here are excellent. The price point for most EM wines is a well lower than that of top California or European wines. I've never tried something here that I disliked; more often than not I have tried something that I absolutely loved. The Eluvium, Vow, and sparkling Rosé are winners. Their wide selection of flights will allow you to experience a lot of things. I also have much respect for their willingness to pour wines from other top Virginia wineries - it helps you learn and compare, and maybe put a new place on your list! The food here is fantastic every time I come by. There is almost always a tartare and a mushroom appetizer that are phenomenal. Main courses are also marvelous. They're so good at looking out for your allergies and issues. Service is always top-notch and I've frequently left 30-40% cash tips just to say 'thank you.' Finally, the grounds and tasting room are just stunningly beautiful. In any season, you can have an absolutely beautiful time here. It's so worth the visit, and you'll keep coming back.

We attended the spring wine dinner at this wonderful facility. The wine pairings were excellent, the Petit Manseng with the Sweet Crab petit pois panna cotta and Cabernet Franc with the Veal Tenderloin especially so. Both the wines and the food preparation could not have been better. Each dish and pairing only left us wanting more. The event was held in the Ball Room at one long table seating maybe 50 guests. We felt lucky to be among them. The acoustics in the room make it a bit loud, but understand that it's the construction so little can be done about that. The long grand table concept is ok, but it might have been more comfortable to spilt up into multiple tables with smaller numbers. The highest complements are due the Chef and Sommelier and to all of the servers who were very accommodating and attentive. Well done and we can't wait for the next event.

Absolutely beautiful Vineyard located in the hills outside of Charlottesville. Perfect day trip from VA Beach. Out of all the vineyards in the area we picked this one because they have a full kitchen and turn out some very delicious food. The property is absolutely gorgeous, it's feels like you jumped into a painting. We went in on a Friday and they were moderately busy so I recommend reservations. They also have an absolutely beautiful out back area with a separate "Meadows" menu. They have so many different wines it was hard to choose a flight. All of the ones we tried were delicious, every single one. The charcuterie and fried polenta also went perfectly with all of our wine. There are also several B&Bs' in the area if you want to make a long weekend out of your trip.

Our experience at this winery was phenomenal! We had a wine tasting with Edwin and he was fabulous! We literally loved every wine in the tasting which is unusual. Usually between my husband and I we are like..no not that one..but nope not here! Edwin did a great job of providing education on each of the wines. He took such pride in his job. We also found out this winery is owned by part owners of AOL. The atmosphere within the winery is gorgeous as well. You could sit outside with heaters but the weather just didn't cooperate with us. Needless to say we left with like 4 bottles of wine, only wishing they would ship to our state.

The food! Oh my goodness! It was so delicious. If you stop at this winery grab at least something small. Everything we had was flavorful and delicious. Wine was good as well. Definitely different than I am used to. A little tart, without tasting young on some. Definitely on the dry end. The atmosphere was cute and comfortable. Everything was on the pricy end. So if you aren't looking to spend a ton of money, this might not be the best place for you. But I would definitely recommend at least trying it one time.

7 of us ladies came in for wine tasting (highly recommend you make reservations 2-3wks in advance). We were impressed with the ambiance, warm welcome, attentiveness of your staffs and the decoration of the entire place. We had a few finger food and the range of both white & red wine are really great. If there is one thing to suggest we all agree that chef needs to taper down on using soy sauce (dark sauce in most of the dishes in the menu). Not only the strong flavor is a turn off ( or too salty for some people) its flavor doesn't complement the other ingredients by using soy sauce.

Stopped by on our way to Charlottesville for a quick weekend trip. The winery is beautiful (and back patio, although not open for food or drink service while we were there due to wind, was even nicer) and the staff were great. I loved the large open 'grand hall' feel of the main room. The wine was also some of the better Virginia wine I've tasted. We did a Fireside Tasting (reds) and two glasses of the Petite Manseng (really liked this one for a white, and I don't normally like whites) and the Barboursville Nebbiolo Reserve. The Cab (in the fireside tasting) wasn't bad but was - as advertised - nowhere near as full bodied as a California cab. The food was a bit disappointing. We ordered the chilled Maine lobster in the roasted beet salad. The beet salad was delicious -- although I personally found the accompaniment of row to be a bit odd. The chilled main lobster tasted old/fishy and was overcooked. Our server (I regret not getting his name) was VERY knowledgeable and talked all about Virginia wines and the history and community of the industry. He wasn't bloviating like some do at wineries and really did make the day for us. If not for the food (and the chilled maine lobster, specifically) I would have given 5 stars. I look forward to returning when it's a bit warmer and less windy and enjoying a few more tastings and other dishes on their back patio overlooking the mountains.

Indoor and outdoor seating options at distance. Reservations available via Tock. We did the Patio Reservation, which has enough covering from the sun, but will not get it done if it rains. The views of the mountains and vineyard are excellent. Wine: we did a tasting flight of reds. The standout in the flight was the Eluvium, a blend of Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cab Sauv. While a young wine, it does have good depth and structure. Cherry and blackberry notes with a cedar pine woodsiness. After the flight my wife and I shared glasses of the Rise and the Vow. Both would appeal any red wine fan. The Rise is there flagship red wine. Dark berry notes with a stronger cedar wood than the Eluvium. This wine is a blend of Merlot, Petit Verdot, Tannat, Cab Franc, and a touch of Cab Sauv. The Vow is a blend of Merlot, Petit Verdot, Tannat, and Cab Franc. We thought is was on par with the Rise despite being $30 cheaper. Very similar flavor profile. A smooth wine that pairs well with food or stands on its own. The food: in many ways it's the food the differentiates Early Mountain. The quality and portion sizes allow for one to treat this like a fine dining restaurant. We started with the Artisanal Charcuterie & Cheese Board. This is two cheeses and two charcuteries plus almonds, honey, and pickles. We paired it with half and Albemarle Baking Company Baguette plus butter. Great starter with the wines and good size too. Then we had a bowl of the White Bean Soup with wilted arugula. This is an amazing creamed soup with just a touch of pepper and nutmeg for spicing. We would return just to have this soup again. Finally the Porcelet King Chop, with red cabbage, apple, bacon, and bourbon apple veal demi-glace. Perfectly cooked flavor and textural bomb. Crispy pork rind left on the outside was a nice touch. Just a great fall dish! Service was excellent. We will be back for sure next time we are in the area.

I cannot wait to go back to Early Mountain! The BF and I had a great experience! The ride was so beautiful... I put my phone away and just enjoyed the scenery. When we arrived we were warmly greeted and seated immediately. The service and food were amazing! We both enjoyed the food and some good wine. The menu offers several selections even for vegetarians! Definitely check it out! Don't leave before you try dessert the carrot cake and yuzu cheesecake were both delicious!

This is definitely one of my top 3 favorite wineries in Virginia. I'm sure many folks have heard of them, but I hate to let the cat out of the bag on this gem. They simply make some of the best wine Virginia has to offer. My other reviews will share the other places we frequent as well. We head down to Charlottesville once a year, usually to get away from the NoVa/DC area craziness for the 4th of July, and we always stop at Early. Reserve early and grab a covered patio spot, enjoy some top notch food, and great wine. We enjoy bolder whites and big bold dry reds and this is on e of the few that handle that style for Virginia wines well. If you're willing to pony up the cash, their Rise bottling is their richest offering. Compare it to some Cali blends from Paso Robles or Napa and you'll be just about the same price/quality ratio...and this way your supporting a local winery that knows their stuff. As I've mentioned in other reviews, I rate wine first, venue second. Early Mountain definitely earns their 5 Yelp stars. A few folks bring their very well behaved 4 legged friends, and kids as well, but it's not your average NoVa folks that let their kids run wild. I have to applaud all of the parents that we've seen here over the past few years. Their facility is very upscale, with beautiful stonework, tile, furniture...everything. The staff is just as fantastic. DO yourself a favor and make a reservation to visit this place...just don't taker my spot!

While roughly 30 minutes outside of Charlottesville, this kitchen has consistently produced dishes and flavors that compete with any highly-rated restaurants in the Charlottesville metro area. Olives and almonds are a classic pairing with EM wines, and the crispy brussels is one of the more memorable bites I've had in years. The views are gorgeous and the setting makes for a restful afternoon with friends or a romantic date spot. The staff are always friendly and professional. Consider joining their wine club if you live in the area and can take advantage of the perks from visiting the winery regularly.

This is a beautiful venue to grab a glass or flight of wine. The place is huge! So they have plenty of seating and different rooms for you to enjoy. The menu selections are nice- a good variety to compliment any wine you select. The staff was very kind and knowledgeable about the menu and the wines. If I'm in the area I would definitely visit again!

Beautiful interior and tons of space inside so everyone was socially distanced. Was super amazed by how gorgeous this place is! As a non-drinker, I came to just enjoy the atmosphere and food of course. We got the charcuterie and cheese board along with their French baguette. It was beautifully displayed and also delicious! Waitress was quick and with a reservation (which I highly recommend), we were seated immediately upon coming.

Beautiful facility, and the outdoor dining area features some wonderful food. The wines were all high quality...

This is a beautiful spot to stop by if you're in the area. We had lunch and some wine here and it did not disappoint. Great food and atmosphere - gorgeous spot to just sit and relax. The food is on the pricier side but I think it's worth the splurge if you want to visit a nice vineyard.

Hands down my favorite winery in the area! I've spent the past year slowly making my way through most of the wineries within 30-40 minutes of Charlottesville and Early Mountain come out as a clear favorite so we decided to become members as well. This is probably the best winery in Virginia when it comes to the atmosphere and the wines. They have adapted very well to the pandemic requirements and offer spaced out seating, require a mask (and actually enforce it), and generally made us feel comfortable with the whole experience. The inside is probably one of the prettiest wine rooms I've seen with huge ceilings and gorgeous fireplaces. They have great views from their patio and have live music on the weekend ( I am not sure exactly which days). Their wines are very good quality for Virginia wines - Rise and Eluvium are must tries on your next visit. They even have a quirky Soif that I throughly enjoyed in the summer. Not only are their wines solid but they also distinguish themselves compared to other wineries with their food. Their food is bomb!! I would rather go there for brunch than most places in Charlottesville and that says something as food is not always a priority in a winery. Get a wine flight or do a tasting ( when covid permits) and ask them what food to order with they are spot on!!

I can't gush enough about the customer service, the stunning grounds, the well curated wines and the restaurant quality food. I celebrated my 40th bday last week and we were well taken care of. Alejandro was a fountain of recommendations and kindness. The assortment of nibbles were a knock out especially the bison carpaccio. They are taking health and safety seriously. My group felt safe and lucked out having a gorgeous and warm December day. I'm a fan, and I'm happy to spread the joy and encourage people to swing by, especially if you want to feel special!!

Always have a great time at early mountain. The wine is amazing and reasonably priced. The food is incredible. We really enjoyed the lobster and it was generous for the price. The baguette is always a must and we love the salted whipped butter. The service was okay nothing special

Beautiful winery with a fantastic atmosphere and staff. We did an hour long outside and social distanced tasting that felt safe and relaxed. The wines are very drinkable my favorite being the Sauvignon Blanc and the Eluvium. Very affordable tasting when you are used to California wine country! We tried the pimento cheese with warm baguette that paired perfectly. The tasting room is gorgeous and elegant! Looking forward to an indoor tasting. The staff all had on masks and the tables have a good space in between if you are looking for an outing during this very difficult time to enjoy dining. This business improvised well to keep its customers coming.

Randomly found this location and was glad we did! Dog friendly on an outside porch that has a fireplace and patio heaters to keep warm. Inside is beautiful! Wine was delicious - even bought a bottle of the rose to go and I'm not usually a rose person. Also the cheese plate is a must. All four tables sitting outside while we were there got it and devoured it.

Early Mountain winery continues to be amazing, even during COVID conditions. For the members wine pick up party they took reservations and every employee wore a mask. Tables were very socially distanced and bottled water was provided. Service, as always, was fantastic. Minor changes, like pouring your own wine from the bottle, were made, but didn't take away from the experience. A jazz band was present and had a card to scan for Venmo tips to decrease money handling and promote social distancing.

A pleasant experience for the wine, food, and facility. Everything was clean and neat. Their wine flights were decent for quality and quantity. And the food offered, for example the cheese and meat tray, was fresh and delicious. Overall this was a good experience though we preferred the wine at Revalation.