Stinson Vineyards

Stinson is by far my favorite vineyard in Charlottesville/Albemarle, the views are unbeatable, the service is always stellar- Jessi is just the kindest! And their wine is delicious- lido deck and wildkat I can’t recommend enough! Plus they have live music/grill evenings on Thursdays in the summer with delicious oysters from oyster catcher sea farms!

Stinson Vineyards is an absolute gem in Virginia wine country! The wines are fantastic—beautifully balanced and full of character, especially the reds, which have incredible depth and smoothness. The setting is gorgeous, with stunning vineyard views that make the whole experience feel peaceful and relaxed. What truly made our visit special was the lovely lady who helped us during our tasting. She was so warm, friendly, and knowledgeable—her genuine enthusiasm made the experience unforgettable. You could tell she truly loves what she does and cares about every guest’s experience. Highly recommend stopping by Stinson Vineyards for amazing wines, great energy, and the kind of hospitality that makes you want to come back again and again

My brother is a wine club member, so we get buy on occasion even though we live almost an hour away. SO WORTH IT! Great wine, great venue, awesome staff and owners! We absolutely love the Thursday night grilling and music. So much fun and we meet the nicest people every time we are there. I love Stinson bringing the community out for a great evening of wining, dining and making new friends. We can't wait to come back!

Small, casual vineyard with excellent wines. The tasting room is small, so recommend saving it for a good-weather day when you can sit on the aderondak chairs by the vines. I like that it was quieter and smaller than the big, busy places nearby.

My favorite place for many years now. Great wine. Love the staff and owners. Wonderful people here making fantastic wine! Give it a try!

Small vineyard and winery with a beautiful open Mountain View in remote White Hall. Enjoyed our day snacking and tasting on the porch in comfy chairs.

A wonderful vineyard just 30 minutes from Charlottesville. This place is unassuming, small but absolutely lovely. The drive was beautiful- along the farms and on the gorgeous Virginia countryside. The place is tucked behind a building and there is a small sign to let you know you’ve arrived!We went on a cold February afternoon, it was serene, quiet and the mountains in the background were stunning. The view of the vines from the patio is delightful and the wines were nice. Their 2019 Cabernet had just won a prize the week before and I’m glad we were able to sample it. We didn’t linger as it was cold but we will certainly be back when the weather is nicer and the vines have sprouted.

Pretty views, okay even if high priced wine, but having toddlers running around and a woman breast feeding while drinking wine to boot. Both were a huge turn off from coming back. Winery's are no place for kids.

My husband and I visited Stinson Vineyards on a wine tasting trip, and honestly it was one of my favorites! The property is absolutely gorgeous! The wine was also really good and I loved Farmers Rest.

Savor the Simplicity In a town in which everything must be bigger, snobbier, and shinier, Stinson Vineyards takes us back to the basics. Why do we go to Vineyards? We go for the wine and the views. Stinson offers both of these and so much more. With service and owners who are attentive, personable, and very, very funny, Stinson is the perfect place to relax on a Sunday afternoon. To my knowledge, they are the only Winery on the Monticello Wine Trail to have a kid's play area-- courtesy of Wild Rock. With great wine and a charming, picturesque view of the mountains, this small, yet popular winery is well worth a visit.

Beautiful location! Stinson Vineyards is the perfect place to enjoy a casual afternoon. Their wine is absolutely delicious, the staff is so friendly, and the views are stunning. I also love that you can bring your own food as a picnic or to grill!

This place has a hidden gem appeal, and we were pleasantly surprised with it. After coming from some very crowded wineries, it was a relief to not have to fight for a seat. I got the sweet wine flight, and it was pretty good. Everyone else in my group got the other flights, and our overall consensus was that the wine wasn't amazing but definitely decent. I also enjoyed the fire pits and the amazing view. Our experience here was relaxing, and we will be back next time we come to Charlottesville!

Nice small winery with some of the best wine in town. Lots of outdoor seating, fire pits and Mountain View's

Beautiful outdoor seating that showed off the Charlottesville Wine Country! Very friendly service and the wines were all very solid.

We came on a Sunday afternoon, and in an effort to space our visitors we had to make a reservation via open table. They have tables and chairs in the lawn that allow for ample room between groups. When we were seated at our chairs we could only tolerate a few minutes in the direct sun, so they graciously sat us under a new bench in the shade. They had three flight options and by-the-bottle options, both of which were fairly affordable. They have some really unique wines for purchase, and I'm happy to say that after bringing them home and trying I'm very pleased!

Such a lovely and intimate winery! The service here is great and the views are beautiful. Our group got a bottle of the Wildkat. I am personally a fan of skin contact wine and would recommend it if you are too! It definitely reminded me of some Chardonnay's that I have had. Overall a must visit if you're in the area. I beehive they take reservations but we did not have one and got a table just fine.

A 3-hour drive from the Washington, DC, this family-run picturesque boutique vineyard located at the scenic foothills of Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains. We were excited to try this vineyard based on reviews While the scenery of this vineyard was hard to beat, the wine--not so much. They offered different varieties of flights 3 for $10 which I though was nice. However, We were generally underwhelmed by the wines offered in the tastings we sampled, perhaps because it was served at the wrong temperature but honestly super underwhelmed with the service. We arrived ealy at 11 am and were the only patrons upon arrival. Interestingly, the hostess sat us in the far back corner of the covered area with an obstructed view of the beautiful mountains in front of the fire pit which was weird because there was no one else at the vineyard. We politely asked if we could be seated at a table with a view and they immediately obliged. The owner was friendly enough, greeting us upon arrival but honestly we did not hear a thing from them until we left which again was interesting because we were the only patrons at the vineyard--blame it on COVID... Luckily, there were plenty vineyards nearby that met and exceeded expectations. Overall, Stinson is a decent vineyard to visit if you're already in the area but only for the views in my opinion.

An excellent all around experience, each time we visit. All wines, red and white, are fantastic across the board and easily the best in Charlottesville. The space is small and intimate with a farmhouse feel and plenty of outdoor seating to enjoy a view of the gorgeous mountains. This place has all of the charm that to me other area winery's lack. Others try far too hard to impress and Stinson just gets it. Pat, who gave us our tasting was excellent, knowledgeable, friendly, and generous. The Meritage is my all time favorite from them but today the 2017 Cabernet Franc could not be touched. Thanks for always being consistent with your quality of wine and service. See you again soon!

I was a little worried when we turned into what looked a residence, but after turning the corner we saw the entrance. This vineyard is dog-friendly and has an indoor and outdoor area. They have wines from a partner vineyard (Akida Ridge) that is higher elevation, and at times have other "guest" wines. I really enjoyed the calmer and quieter atmosphere here compared to Early Mountain. Every wine we tasted had it's own charm, but we decided to buy a bottle of their darker rose that had a unique taste to it. The vines are a few steps away from the tasting room and the backdrop of the color-changing mountain is great. It's a lot more intimate that other wineries I've been to, and I'd love to go back.

We visited SV during our visit to Crozet for a romantic getaway weekend. Stinson is a cute little spot off the main road and located in an upcycled garage. Photo op galore here! There's live music on Sunday afternoons which was a fabulous touch to the wine tasting we stopped in for. The tasting including several of their better wines, from that list we purchased two different wines, a blush and a white. The weather was gorgeous during our visit to so strolled along the vineyard snapping pictures of the mountains in the distance. It was a romantic date indeed.

If you are around this area, stopping here is a must! Beautiful scenery, tasty wines, great company, chill vibes. Just perfect for a couple's getaway or a friends trip.

Discovered this gem during a snow storm as they were one of the few wineries that stayed open. They have an outdoor heated tent that is warm and spacious. The owners are very friendly and hospitable. Our dog was allowed to be in the main indoor area as long as he was leashed. As for the wine flights, they are all very good with generous pours. In addition, outside food is allowed. We will be back!

We started a girls day wine trip at Stinson, and could easily have spent the day here! Their wines were excellent, and although we didn't order any of their snacks, they had a decent looking menu! Their grounds are gorgeous and the tasting room is on the smaller side, so I'm not sure how they handle larger crowds. I will definitely be back!

Revisited after a year, and still just as impressed as my first time. Liked the whites, but LOVED the reds. At 2,500 cases/year they are still on the small side, but they get all their grapes locally. And yes, their concrete 'egg' fermenters are still on display. The tasting room is also very cute. Unlike most other places they don't have a long tasting bar, but rather 3 'mini' bars, presumably for more intimate tastings. This place is definitely a great option to avoid the crowds. What I tried: 2014 Chardonnay: Mostly neutral oak, with just a little bit of new French Oak in it. 2015 Sav Blanc: Fermented in steel and 'egg'; crisp and citrusy. 2014 Cab Franc: Soft, light cherry finish. 2013 Meritage: Cherry notes, but definitely bolder than the Cab Franc. 2012 Turk Mountain red blend: Turk Mountain is actually from a neighboring vineyard that doesn't distribute their wines. This wine was mostly Petit Verdot, but was too rough & unfiltered for me (which is unusual since usually I like unfiltered PVs). 2013 Tannat: Oh still my beating heart! 22 months in mostly new French Oak; bold up front but smoothes out on the palate. Oh Tannat how I love thee, let me count the ways! Petit Manseng (Desert style): I don't typically like desert whites but this wasn't bad. Strong but not syrupy. Port-style: Mostly...Tannat! No wonder why I loved this so much the last time. This might be the only Tannat blended port-style in Virginia. Unfortunately no Mourvèdre or Merlot this time (sigh).

On beautiful spring Saturday afternoon, some friends and I made our way out to Stinson Vineyards. I am a repeat customer at some of the larger vineyards in the area, and I'm only beginning to explore smaller ones, like Stinson. The winemakers are a father/daughter team, who are strongly influenced by the French style. The actual winemaking is very small scale and occurs in a three car garage! I can honestly say, I was super impressed with Stinson, and I cannot wait to go back! The farmhouse style tasting room is super charming and has artisan things for sale as well as local farm offerings. There is some indoor seating where they offer tastings table side. They have a few bar areas, so even if you are in a group, you have plenty of space around you, and the tasting feels private. The guy who did our tasting was knowledgeable and pleasant. He was able to give us information about the wines, but also let us have our own conversation. Another thing I love about the tasting room is that it is dog-friendly. They have a bowl of water out and offer pups biscuits with the tasting! I can honestly say that all of their wines are very well made. There was not a single wine that I had during the tasting that I would not drink again. For the whites, the Chardonnay really stood out, and the Sugar Hollow White was a very drinkable and would probably appeal to people like my parents, who are more casual wine drinkers. The reds were also outstanding. My favorite wine of the day was the Meritage. So much so, that we purchased a bottle of it. After the tasting, we headed outside with our bottle and picnic that we had brought along. There is ample seating. You can choose between sitting on a nice wood patio with patio furniture or picnic tables in the grass. The seating area offers stunning views of the mountains. There were several other dogs there that my puppy got to play with, and everyone was super friendly and laid back. Stinson is definitely at the top of my list for vineyards in the Charlottesville area!

Stinson was the last stop on our wine tour this past Saturday and I really wish we could have spent more time here. The staff was very friendly, the tasting room and picnic area right outside are intimate, inviting and very well decorated, AND I loved their wine. I think we came home with three bottles of their Chardonnay and two of their Rose. They have cheese and meats available for purchase, but they also offer more hearty eats than the surrounding vineyards we visited. They also have one of the prettiest views I have ever had the pleasure of photographing. I would love to go back and visit them again soon!

One of our favorite wineries near Charlottesville. Great wine selection and outdoor space for enjoying it. Impressive vineyard right off the tasting room.

Really loved this place, as they had gorgeous views, food (a rarity!), and an amazingly accommodating staff. We called because we were on a wine tour that desperately needed food. Due to covid restrictions, many wineries are not having onsite food offerings. When I called, the woman who answered the phone let us know there was food and a deli right down the street we could pre-order food for- what a life saver! She got us a nice shaded spot and we went with some mountaineer cheese, olives, and adult lunchables. The olives they have onsite are some of the best olives I've had in my life. We tried all 3 wine flights and enjoyed them all, particularly the rose. The wine prices were fair and they had good pours on the flights. All in all the people who work here were the best and I look forward to future visits here!

This was our second vineyard stop during a short trip to Charlottesville over the Fourth of July weekend. By the time we arrived, we were really hot and our dog was getting sick of being outside, so I was mildly concerned this place wouldn't have any shade. I WAS WRONG. Not only did they have ample shade outside, overlooking the Blue Ridge mountains, they also warmly invited our giant Great Dane into the air conditioned tasting room with us...and even had a few treats waiting for her. The wine we tried was truly fantastic- I liked every single one. They also had a great selection of bread, cheeses, etc. which we enjoyed outside in the shade. Would go back to Charlottesville just to spend more time here.

A smaller but a happening place! Employees are working hard to take care of everyone. Wine is fantastic. If you like a port wine, try their Imperialis. View is beautiful. Customer service is super.

We had the cheese plate and several red wines. We enjoyed them both. We also loved the ambiance of the mountains in the background. The grounds are sprawling and spacious, which provides plenty of room to enjoy the wines and not feel crammed. We would highly recommend Grace Estate Winery.

Staff was pleasant, the venue was lovely and the flights were good. We had a reservation and got a table under the tent out of the wind. We did our own picnic lunch and had a great time The crowd was pleasant and everyone seemed happy and satisfied. We'd return!

Oh yes, Stinson is my favorite vineyard. I am partial because I live in Crozet and as much as we are blessed here with beautiful wineries, I think Stinson vineyards has the most breathtaking view of them all. If Charlottesville is Paris, then Crozet is Luxembourg. -1 star for the pricing. Stinson has the best Rose (ro-say) in the region. I'm not a wine connoisseur nor a master sommelier... Anyway, just lovely overall. They also sell free range, organic, grass fed animal products you can grill. Or you can bring your own food and have a picnic with your family and friends in the outdoor seats and picnic tables. I can't wait until the leaves start to change this fall.

Adorable tasting room and hands down one of the most spectacular views in the surrounding Charlottesville area. We got a bottle of wine to go and enjoyed it while sitting out back overlooking the mountains and enjoying the fire pits for a little extra warmth in the crisp fall days. The winery is very family and dog friendly, and we enjoyed the energy this brought!

Delicious wine, excellent service, and superb views. The staple of this vineyard are the roaming hens. Make sure to say hello!

This was the second winery we visited during our Virginia wine tour, and we were very impressed! Despite the rain, we decided to check it out and were the first people there. Stinson reminded me of the smaller vineyards one enjoys more than the big production operations. Dave and Ashley greeted us and provided a relaxing wine tasting with several standard and unusual wines, all of which we enjoyed. They left us to enjoy the views and wine, but offered help and answered questions as we tasted. (They also recommended other excellent wineries, which we visited and have also reviewed!) A group of 6 people came with picnic supplies and also seemed to enjoy the experience. Here's the wine nerd part: the Wildkat was one of the most unusual wines we've tried! It was actually light orange and had almost a distilled nose and palate, but would go well with charcuterie and other strong flavors. The Tannat Rosé was very dark making me nervous about being overly tannic, but it was fantastic with lots of acidity but still dry and refreshing. Both the Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc were subtly different than most traditional whites- we loved them! I thought the Sugar Hollow white would be a too-sweet blend of leftover grapes, but it was almost like a Riesling- lots of acid, tropical fruit on the nose, and just a small touch of sugar that surprised me for a Vidal Blanc. The Cabernet Franc was my favorite- bolder than most, but not jammy and fruity like many red wine drinkers want. It was bone-dry, but had cherry accents and some floral notes that would definitely hold up to red meat dishes. We will definitely be back, and we suggest coming early because each wine we tasted was superior and subtle in their bouquets and palates. If you enjoy interesting and familiar wines with a pleasant find, come to Stinson Vineyards!

I cannot wait to revisit - especially when the weather gets warmer and enjoy the amazing views outside. The indoors of this space is small but homey. They have some amazing wines - we were brought to the adjacent room for a tasting. Honestly, they were all really delicious - but my favorites were their cab franc, petit verdot, and tannat. Some of the best we've had in the area! Super friendly staff and they also sell some snacks to enjoy with your wine.

This is my favorite winery in the area! Here's why: -The atmosphere...feels a little less pretentious than some of the other wineries around. Not saying anything bad about any of them, because really they are all fantastic, but Stinson just feels laid back and more casual. I mean, the tasting room has a rustic industrial feel, transformed from a garage to tasting room! Plus, they do tastings right where the wine is made when it gets crowded which I think is pretty cool. (The tasting room is small) -The outdoor seating area is fabulous. It isn't large, but it's beautiful and there are several seating options including a patio area with tables, picnic tables in a small lawn area, and even some cozy patio furniture. -You can bring your own food and grill out...on days when they have live music (I believe Thursdays through the summer) you can grill your own food on their grills, enjoy live music and of course great wine. -The wine, of course. I love their Sugar Hollow White in the spring and summer months, and pretty much any of their reds are great when I want a red. We love this place so much that we're wine club members here...it's that serious.

An unassuming facade visible from the road gives way to a charming vineyard. The outdoor area has plenty of shaded seating with a nice view of grape vines with mountains in the distance. They offer various snacks for purchase, but you are permitted to bring your own. From their wine selection, I tried the Chardonnay and the Rose. The Chardonnay had an interesting caramel flavor, but the Rose had an uninteresting body. Regardless, I would recommend Stinson Vineyards if you are near Crozet.

If you love good wine without pretentious presentation, Stinson is the spot for you. Katie and I made our second visit to Stinson last Saturday. We were scouting venues, something which Stinson is not currently doing, but we were so impressed with the wine and atmosphere on our last visit that we had to come back. The winery projects an urban farmhouse style that is extremely laid back and very pet friendly. In addition to the excellent flight of wines, there are a number of local, farm raised, meats for sale. I am not talking about charcuterie - I am talking about whole chickens, lamb chops, and all sorts of other tasty treats. On Thursday's they fire up the grill and you can cook your bounty right there. If you do, watch out for the chickens that sometimes roam around - they might get nervous! There's a good number of places to sit with a glass of wine. It's been pretty busy every time I've been and there was never trouble finding a seat. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. In particular, when we were waiting for a tasting one gentleman offered to bring the samples over to a table for us. He also brought some water and a few dog biscuits for my dog. We continue to be impressed. In fact, we signed up for the wine club, which is a first for us! I give Stinson 5 wine chickens out of 5.

Beautiful view and tasting room! Small patio but it felt very homey. The wines were delicious and decently priced. Servers were friendly and the place is also very welcoming to dogs!

Website stated that they did not seat large groups together and would not push tables together, so we split our party. We were told upon arrival that they would not seat the second table, and the check in person was very rude about it. Their website needs some clarity and their staff needs a better attitude.

This is far and away our favorite winery of the many (easily over 150) we have visited. The wine is wonderful, the staff is warm and welcoming, and the views are gorgeous. It's small, but has a large variety of wines which are consistently great. Their red Meritage is amazing and their bargain-priced Sugar Hollow White is our go-to summer dock wine. I have been a member of their wine club for about ten years and have enjoyed every visit. They have music on summer Thursdays and on Sundays during other parts of the year. Rachel and her dad are wonderful, as are Jessica, Pat, and Ashley. I highly recommend this winery, when it's your first time at a winery or your 100th.

Everything from my last review still holds true, but with a more detailed tasting update: The tasting is $7 per person (and an additional $5 if you want to keep the glass). In the tasting you're able to taste seven wines. The last time I was here, the Meritage really stood out to me, and it still holds up on repeat tastings. However, I was much more impressed with the white wines, the 2014 Sauvignon Blanc (crisp with passion fruit undertones) and the 2013 Sugar Hollow White (sweet with a cool lemon flavor). I'd also be negligent not to comment on the 2010 La Tour d'Afton, an unfiltered red from Turk Mountain Vineyards. This red blend offers one of the most unique tastings you're likely to encounter - I can only describe it as "earthy." Definitely worth the visit to try this one. Overall, the wines here are very good and the atmosphere is bright and homey.

We stayed here for our anniversary. It was amazing. The wine cellar dinner was one of the highlights of our trip. Chef Megan is amazing!

We went on a Sunday with a reservation. All of the seats were take and they sat us in direct sunlight (no shade available) in 85 degree weather. It was super uncomfortable. We did the flight tasting for $10 and the wine was not good. Veritas/Kings Vineyard had much better wine. Not only was there no shade, but they also let this family without a reservation set up right in front of us which killed the view. I'd recommend going somewhere else.

Great spot! Had a fabulous tasting today with Jessie who was such a joy. Having been to almost 25 vineyards in the Charlottesville area, I have to say Stinson really stands out for its good wine and unique vibe - it's smaller with Adirondack chairs, flowers all over the tasting room, and Eva Cassidy music. I found all the wines to be very reasonably priced, and especially enjoyed the whites and rosés. A great place to spend a casual summer day.

Lovely place, intimate tasting, delicious wines--all in all, I really enjoyed my time here! The vineyard is right up against the mountains, so the backdrop is absolutely gorgeous. Our pourer was so sweet and gave us just enough information for the tasting to be a learning experience, but let us form our own opinions about each of the wines. The Tannat wasn't one of the featured wines on the tasting, so unfortunately I wasn't able to try that (next time, next time), but I felt like they had a great balance of whites and reds that all speak well for themselves! They like to experiment with aging their wines in neutral oak, French oak, steel, and even large eggs, which gives them some interesting variety in flavors and boldness. 7-8 wines to taste for $7, and you can keep the glass for another $5. Individual glasses of wine range from $4 to $8 or so. My friends and I went outside with glasses in hand (I enjoyed the fresh and acidic quality of the Sauv Blanc for a hot summer day, so I went with that one!) and enjoyed the view from the small but very pretty patio area after our tasting. I'm looking forward to coming back to try some of their other wines (I've heard so much about that Tannat...)!

Really lovely wines with beautiful views all around as well. The woman who did our tasting was very friendly and the tasting room itself is very cute and cozy. They also have a lot of meats and cheeses available so it would be an awesome place for a picnic. My favorite wine we tried was their rose - it was dry but had a really unique flavor that was truly refreshing and delicious. Their reds were amazing as well!

We arrived to the winery after our scheduled tasting time, so they were unable to accommodate us for the tasting we'd booked. I must say, though - their wine was the most delicious of the wineries we visited on our excursion. The tasting room is quaint and nicely decorated.

Perfect place, great wines, service and views,so much fun, highly recomended, bring your picnic and enjoy

Wow! This was a beautiful vineyard inside and out. The inside tasting room is rustic yet cozy. Really wanted to buy some of their decor. We did a wine tasting and really loved the Sauvignon Blanc. It was so crisp and refreshing. Perfect for a warm day. We ordered a glass after our tasting of that and bought a meat and cheese tray. They offered to slice and warm a baguette for us too. Umm yes please!! It got better as we sat outside and enjoyed the breath taking views. Was so sad to leave this gorgeous place. Hope I can come back again soon.

While making a day of touring wineries, we had time for one more visit. I found this winery, and we headed toward it. It was a bit smaller than most, but we stepped inside and were warmly greeted. The tasting room, while small, was very nice. Our server was one of the best that we have encountered during our tastings. She was knowledgeable, friendly, and very helpful. Each wine was outstanding. Their reds and whites both were some of the best around. I really enjoyed everything I tasted, and we can't wait to go back and enjoy during warmer weather. The concrete egg was very interesting, make sure you check it out. Wine aged in concrete is certainly unique. If you are looking for a wonderful tasting experience and some great wines, this is your place. Great wine, and great people make an outstanding combination! Thank you Stinson for your outstanding customer service!

When you pull up to Stinson vineyards, you'd easily get it confused with any other vineyard you may have visited in the Charlottesville area. There's a long driveway leading up to a single story house. Lines of grape vines pass you by as you pull up your car on a gravelly path. What makes this one unique is their 2011 Sauvignon Blanc. It truly is a different tasting wine than the rest of the wines you experience in NoVa, and I think that's largely because of concrete egg it is fermented in. That's right, a concrete egg, which is an interesting decoration to their tasting room, and it provides an interesting flavor to the wine. I think it's a hit or miss for some. I really loved it, while I'm sure others might find it. . . well, different.

Stinson is home to the best red wine around, the tour d'afton. If I could only choose one wine to drink the rest of my life, it would be the one. Their other wines are also quite tasty. The tasting room is small but interesting (I've never understood why a big tasting room is a positive). Be sure to check out the concrete egg, used to age some of their whites, next to the tasting room.

Part of the Appellation Trail, Stinson was a nice stop and the tasting consisted of 8 wines. We especially liked the 2010 Cabernet Franc and bought a bottle to age for a few years. We came at the end of the day but the staff was friendly and helpful.

I spent the Memorial Day weekend enjoying wineries in Charlottesville with my bestie and my best dog. Stinson was not on our original list but rather a delightful discovery on our way to White Hall Vineyards. They were busy but that didn't get in the way of us being helped. We had originally left the dog outside, because I know some wineries don't want dogs directly in the tasting room. We were quickly told that we could bring the dog inside by us and was also given a treat to give to the little guy! The bar area was packed, so we ended up getting our own table-side tasting, which also helped with accommodating the dog. The young woman who presented our tastings was so friendly and personable. She gave us less a memorized spiel of wine information and more a comfortable friendly conversation about each tasting, etc. When we had a question about one of their award-winning wines that she was unable to answer, she immediately went and asked someone and not a couple minutes later came back to give us that information. As with many of the wineries we visited on this trip, we ended up enjoying the white wine offerings more than the reds. (Both of us are predominantly red wine drinkers). Particularly surprising was their Chardonnay. I usually dislike Chardonnay because of that thick, buttery taste that completely coats your palate. However, their Chardonnay is unlike that completely. Just light and crisp. It's lightly oaked only 20% in new French barrels, so you only get that small hint of what you typically associate with Chardonnays. I actually never knew that it's the newness of the oak barrels that give Chardonnay that displeasing (to me) finish. The Sauvignon Blanc and Rose were really good as well. I really liked the tasting room and grounds as well. Had a very quaint, comfortable feel. And I loved how the tasting room had big, garage doors that opened it up to the outside. There was a nice patio with covered seating, as well, so you could enjoy your wine overlooking the landscape. The tasting itself was $7 I think, with 7-8 wines on the menu. Sadly, the glass is extra. In general, I've often found the tasting fees for Charlottesville area wineries to be a bit pricey, considering the "sip" you get as a tasting. Some are better than others in regards to amount, free or super cheap glass, etc. However, it obviously doesn't deter me, as I'm a regular visitor to the area for such things. And, again, Stinson and its staff were quite lovely with some very good wines. We ended up ordering a glass of the Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, which I think were $6 or $7 each. And the glasses were filled pretty full. Overall Stinson is a very pleasant place to spend an afternoon, and they have some nice wines to boot.